AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes. I realized I’m having all these firsts, but they aren’t real. And I’m worried that when the time comes for the real version it’s not going to feel the same,” she explains.
Guess I hadn’t thought about it like that. I mean, I never really planned on getting married. Well, I assumed one day I would and have kids, but I wasn’t seeking it out. I suppose there aren’t as many rituals for the groom as there are for the bride when it comes to weddings.
“I’m sorry,” I tell her honestly.
She stills beneath my touch. “I wasn’t expecting that from you.”
I look up at her, fuck she is beautiful, there could be worse people to be married to.
“I’m sorry I’ve had to use you as a pawn in this game, but it truly is the only way I could think of to win,” I confess to her.
She winces at my candidness. “Why are you so desperate to win?”
We haven’t really spoken about my motives, and I guess she deserves to know seeing as she is being used for it.
“I’m trying to prove to my father that I can.” She gives me a knowing smile as her eyes fall on the area where my lip was once split, but thankfully all healed again. “My father likes to tell me how much of a disappointment I am to him. Dario was always his favorite, the firstborn. Rome and I were always treated as the spares, our presences were tolerated. Thankfully, we had our mother who did everything in her power to protect Rome and me from our father’s anger, but eventually, he wore her down and she stopped.”
Natalia’s brows pull together as she stares at me. “I’m sorry. Where is your mother now?”
“She disappeared to Florence, but since Dario’s passing, she lives there almost full-time now. My parents hate each other. I’m not even sure if they ever did love each other. Most of my childhood was spent cowering from my father’s temper. Fuck, saying that out loud is kind of messed up.” I laugh half-heartedly. Why the hell am I divulging my trauma to my enemy? “Anyway, it is what it is. Most families aren’t perfect,” I say.
“You can talk to me, you know,” Natalia says.
I scoff. “Then have you use it against me? No thanks.” I pull my hand from her leg and turn to look out the window, putting distance between us.
“I’m not like that,” she says softly.
“Everyone is when it comes to business,” I tell her.
She doesn’t say anything, and I don’t either, we both sit in silence until we arrive at the event.
The car stops, and the driver gets out and opens the door for her as I come around the other side and join her on the red carpet. The paparazzi are going crazy, calling out her name and now mine, too. She places her hand on my arm and starts to walk. She greets people warmly before posing for some shots and then continues to walk the red carpet looking so beautiful, carefree, and happy, she is radiant. I stare at her as she does some solo posing, and if I’m being honest with myself, I’m damn lucky to have her on my arm. I see the way the other men look at her, wishing they could be by her side. But I am. And I know I don’t deserve her. I believe her when she says she wouldn’t use anything I told her against me, and the shit thing is I would. Natalia doesn’t deserve that, my fight isn’t with her. Honestly, it’s not even with the Fiorenzos it's with my father, and like the fucking black hole that he is, he’s sucking everything into his vortex and destroying them. I don’t want to be like him. You can change. I have no choice as I shake my head, there is no other way.
Once we’ve walked the red carpet, we are handed some champagne. It’s been a while since I’ve been to one of these events. I hated the pitying looks from everyone after Dario’s death, so I’ve avoided them.
“Natalia?” a deep voice calls out to my wife, making me tense. I turn around and am surprised to see Rolando Cappo, a famous footballer. Actually, he plays for my favorite team. How does Natalia know him?
“Rolando?” She gasps, and the next thing I know he cups her face and kisses her cheeks softly as he whispers something to her. Wait a minute, that’s my fucking wife he is manhandling like that. Reaching out, I put my hand on his shoulder and pull him away from her.
“That’s my wife,” I tell him. Rolando stills and looks between Natalia and me.
“Your wife?” He then bursts out laughing as if the possibility is preposterous. Asshole.
“It’s true,” Natalia says, holding her hand up and showing off her large diamond. I’m thankful now that she went and bought it today.
“Oh,” he says seemingly confused. I walk over and wrap my arm around her, letting him know where we all stand. “How strange when she only left my bed not that long ago.”
“Rolando.” Natalia gasps. My hands clench, but I’m not going to knock this guy out at a children’s cancer fundraiser even though I may want to. “I think you need to leave,” she tells him.
“Babe, I don’t understand, what happened? You said you had to go to Vegas for your brother’s bachelor party and then I never heard from you again,” he explains.
“Me walking in on you with another woman was probably a good indication that you’d never hear from me again.”
He rolls his eyes at her. “You told me we were keeping it casual and you didn’t want anything more from anyone.”
“Except me,” I add. The footballer glares at me and then turns his attention back to her.
“I’m happy, Rolando.” She smiles, placing her hand on my chest, the light reflecting off her ring.
