Alle Kapitel von He Took My Wedding, I Took His Enemy: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 10

My mother, Beatrice Rossi, was there, along with several of the Rossi family's longtime advisers and the Lamberto family's lawyer.Red wine and a cake sat on the table. The cake read: Adrian & Livia.Livia Rossi sat beside Adrian Lamberto, the Rossi family heirloom pinned to the chest of her white dress.My expression turned to ice. That heirloom was what my father, Lorenzo Rossi, had left to me.Half a year ago, Adrian had said its hidden clasp was worn and needed to be sent out for restoration. He'd also promised to return it to me himself on the day of our engagement.Now it was on Livia.Anger surged up in my chest. I nearly demanded right then and there why he would give her even the one thing my father had left me.But everyone in the living room looked perfectly at ease, and Adrian showed no sign of intending to explain.When my mother saw me, her tone was casual. "Selena, come here. Your sister's situation is settled. We're finalizing the engagement ceremony for three d

It wasn't until the doctor asked me to confirm the surgery deposit that I discovered my account had been frozen.The night before, my mother had transferred most of Grandma's medical guarantee fund to pay the down payment on tomorrow night's ceremony.I called her, and she didn't sound the least bit guilty. "Livia can't wait. But Adrian has money. Have him cover it.""Grandma has her pre-op exam the day after tomorrow." "That's two days away."Her tone was impatient. "Livia's trust is more important. Stop getting your priorities all wrong."She hung up.I stood at the payment window, staring at my account page, so furious my head was spinning.She actually believed Livia's engagement ceremony was more urgent than Grandma's life.Seven years ago, I had stayed with the Rossi family.Because Grandma's health was poor.Because Adrian said Livia couldn't manage without us.Because my mother said the family needed me.As it turned out, all they needed was my money and my sile

It was as if every sound in the banquet hall had been cut off at once.Livia clung to Adrian's arm, her face pale. "Selena, what kind of joke is this?"My mother's face darkened too. "Selena, today is Livia's engagement ceremony. Do you really have to make a scene now of all times?"I stood on the stage and looked at her. "Weren't you the ones who asked me to be the witness? Since you want me to bear witness, of course I'm going to lay this engagement out clearly."The Trust Board members exchanged glances and whispered to one another.Grim-faced, the Lamberto family's lawyer leaned in and quietly reminded Adrian, "The public confirmation has to be completed before ten o'clock. Otherwise, Livia's eligibility will be reviewed again."As if he had only just snapped out of it, Adrian strode to the front of the stage. "Selena, come down."He kept his voice low. "Do you have any idea what kind of man Matteo is? You'd agree to a marriage like that just to spite me?"I looked at him a

Outside the car window, the lights of the engagement ceremony faded bit by bit into the distance.Matteo sat beside me and handed me a file. "Your grandmother has been transferred to Cassano Medical Center. The lead surgeon arrived half an hour ago, and the deposit has been paid in full."I took the file, my fingers pausing on my grandmother's name. "Thank you.""It's part of the marriage alliance agreement."He said it in a strictly businesslike tone. I turned my head to look at him. "Matteo, you don't have to tiptoe around my feelings like this. You agreed to this alliance because you want control of the Rossi docks. I understand that."Matteo looked at me for a few seconds. "Interests are one reason. But I have no intention of letting my fiancée be humiliated while she's engaged to me."He was so blunt that, for a moment, I didn't know how to respond.When the car pulled up to the medical center, the bodyguards had already cleared the back entrance.Grandma was sitting up

The only people in attendance were the Cassano family's inner circle, a few of the Rossi family's old guard, and representatives from the Trust Board.Grandma's surgery had gone smoothly. She was still weak, but she had insisted that a nurse wheel her to the estate's small chapel."I have to be here to see you."She held my hand. "Your father isn't here, so I'll sit in his place."I crouched in front of her wheelchair and straightened her shawl. "You just had surgery. You shouldn't be running around.""It's one of the biggest days of your life. If I don't come, who will?"She unpinned the Rossi family heirloom and fastened it to my dress. "This time, nobody gets to borrow it."A commotion broke out at the chapel entrance.Adrian had come. He wore a black overcoat, the engagement ring pinched between his fingers.Several Cassano bodyguards stopped him. "Mr. Lamberto, you're not on the guest list."His voice was hoarse. "I'm here to see Selena."Matteo stepped out of the chape