It was a Tiffany custom-made engagement ring.
Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
Where the hell did Luciano get such money from?
My cheeks burned when I remembered again that he was in the Mafia.
He hadn’t called or shown up since then.Did he ...did he not want me anymore?Why was I even bothered about that?
I hissed through my teeth, taking out the ring.Then I slipped it on.I gasped as I put my hand up, letting the diamond sparkle in the sun.It fit so perfectly, like it was made for me.If this whole thing wasn’t crazy, I’d have fallen in love with him.
How did he even know what I’d like?
The steering wheel of my car was seized in my tight grip as I took a deep breath, trying to rehearse the story.
I got engaged a few months back but wasn’t ready to share it with the family yet.My fiancé will be joining us later.He has some important work to attend to.
Knowing how self-absorbed Sofia and her mother were, they wouldn’t even notice if he didn’t show up.
One of Dad’s ridiculous guards showed up to get my things once I got out of the car.As I approached the entrance, I snuck a glance at my reflection in the floor-to-ceiling window to see if I looked presentable enough.
My brown hair was wrapped in a messy bun, leaving my neck bare except for my simple studded earrings.I was wearing a knit blush pink sweater dress that was off the shoulder, clung to my curves like a second skin, and stopped at my mid-thigh.
My face scrunched in a grimace.Why was I even bothered?It didn’t matter what I was wearing.Sofia and her mother would always have something to say.
I walked off.
The massive foyer brought back nostalgic memories once I was in the house.An image of myself running around the house while my mother chased me embedded itself in my memory.It elicited a laugh from me, almost prickling my eyes with tears at the same time.
My chest squeezed because my mother would be rolling in her grave right now if she saw how the house she built with her husband had been tainted by vermin.I genuinely hoped she wasn’t seeing it.Being stuck in oblivion was far better than this.
“You’re late.”
The sharp, vibrant voice and a thick Italian accent of my stepmother attacked me from the entrance that led to the first living room.
My gaze swung across the room.I wish it hadn’t.
Lillian had her blonde hair twisted into a conservative bun that almost gave away a cluster of veins on her forehead.Her makeup was a few layers thick, making her appear older than her age.Pearl accessories adorned her ears and neck.
Her black sleeveless chiffon blouse was tucked in gray pants, and her outfit was paired with black Louboutins.
Her red lips twitched into a grimace.
“Hello, Lillian.It’s so good to see you.”My voice was devoid of warmth.
“You should have been here an hour ago!”she snapped.
“Got held up with work.”I approached her and made to walk past her, but she grabbed my wrist harshly, glaring daggers at me.
My teeth clenched.
“Let me go.”
“You will not ruin this trip for my daughter.Do you understand me?”She squeezed harder.
“Now, let me go.Your perfume is choking the life out of me,” I sassed, unwilling to let her see how affected I was.
I snatched my wrist from her and walked into the living room.
