There’s this weird sense of what seems to be happiness—no, that’s too strong of a word, let’s use satisfaction—that I getknowing Massimo is at least giving me a beautiful wedding. If I’m only going to be able to do this once, it might as well be the way girls dream of when they’re younger.
“I guess we’ll see,” I mumble.
Staring into the mirror, I ask myself, am I really ready to do this? I’m about to walk down the aisle to a man I don’t want, but at the same time, somethingdeepinside me is saying maybe this isn’t the worst thing that could happen to me. My conflicting feelings are throwing me off, and I’m not sure what’s going to come of it.
22
LIANA
While we walk out to the ceremony hall, I can’t help but feel like I’m taking my last steps as the woman I once was to become a woman I never thought I’d be. Will this turn out to be my biggest regret?
We stop in front of the closed doors that will eventually open to my new life. My new life with Massimo Bonetti.
“You ready, Liana?” Teo asks, holding out his arm for me to weave mine through.
I let out a slow and controlled breath, hoping it’ll calm the nerves that have been spurring in my stomach since Massimo first propositioned me.
“I am,” I say.
“You know, you still have time to back out,” Enzo says, standing on the other side of me. “Or if there’s something stopping you from bailing on this wedding, I can always object when it comes time.”
“I’m pretty sure most weddings have gotten rid of that part of the ceremony,” I mutter.
Enzo furrows his brow. “They have?”
“Why do you think there wasn’t one at yours or Izzy’s weddings?”
“Because I assumed everyone knew if they objected, they’d get killed, so no need to put people’s lives in danger.”
I shake my head and roll my eyes. “No, that tradition has been dwindling, and while I appreciate the offer, I don’t need you to object. I promise, this is exactly where I want to be.”
Enzo takes my arm and weaves it through his. “I don’t?—”
“Enzo,” Izzy hisses. “What did I tell you about today?”
“Hey, someone needs to look out for Liana, so?—”
Izzy steps toward Enzo, holding up her fingers. “I will drag you out of here by your ear.”
He holds up his hand. “Alright, alright, alright. I’ll keep my mouth shut, damn.”
“I don’t believe you, so keep in mind, my fingers are ready and willing to yank you out of that room atanysign of you acting up.”
The wedding planner comes up from behind us. Her blonde hair is pulled tightly in a low bun, looking professional as ever. “Are you ready, Liana?”
I give her a smile. “I am.”
“Perfect. I’ll give you the go ahead once we’re ready for you.”
“Ladies, follow me, and I’ll have the three of you enter from the side.”
“I still can’t believe you guys didn’t want them to walk down the aisle,” I mutter to my cousins.
“Really? Because there was no way I was going to let Lux walk down with one of Massimo’s brothers,” Teo grumbles.
“Yeah, fuck that. Amalia is perfectly capable of walking in on her own,” Enzo says.
“You realize how insane you both sound, right?”
