Page 94 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

We found out that she was indeed innocent of all of her husband’s schemes. And that she was genuinely interested in my brand… and still is. But I have to settle some things within me before attending any of her events again.

The train of my open-back, white wedding dress billows behind me as I get closer to the altar. Francesco stands beside Adriano as his best man, his usual grimness softened by a rare smile.

Then my eyes connect with Adriano’s, and for a second, my world pauses. This is all I wanted. Everything I’d wished for. The future I was too scared to dream of.

When I reach him, he immediately takes my hand in his, his eyes showing a softness that’s slowly becoming familiar.

Waves crash behind us as the officiant talks, but I barely hear a word. I tune out everything, my senses attuned to the soft brush of Adriano’s knuckles against my wrist and the genuine warmth in his eyes. Until it’s time to say our vows.

“I, Elena, choose you as my husband. My partner in every dream, my man in every universe, my equal in everything. I promise to challenge you, to build with you, and to love you with the same fierce determination I’ve built everything else in my life.”

He smiles, hands tightening around mine. “I, Adriano, vow to be your shield and your sanctuary. To protect the world you create,” he swallows, looking down at the bump in my belly, “and to create a world worthy of you. My life is yours. My loyalty, my strength… and my heart is yours. Forever.”

I can barely breathe right now. In the haze of it, we exchange rings, are pronounced husband and wife, and the crowd erupts in cheers and applause as he pulls me to him with an intensity that makes my knees buckle.

This is it. My happy ending…. Our happy beginning.

***

Five Months Later

I twirl slowly, raise my hands in the air, then drop low to the floor. Ever since the first trimester, there have been a lot of cravings. And unsurprisingly, today I’m craving a dance for my husband.

The beat drops and the music comes to an end, making Adriano shoot up from his seat.

His smile is wide as he claps his hands enthusiastically, but it’s obvious he’s more worried than happy. The slight arch in his eyebrows says it all.

“Did you enjoy the dance?” I say, heaving like I’d just run a marathon.

“It was so fucking good, Principessa,” he smiles, eyes darting to my extremely protruding belly. “Now I need you to just sit—”

I scoff, pushing him away before he can wrap his arms around my waist. “Were you even watching me the whole time?”

He suddenly looks nervous. “Yes, baby. I wa—”

“No!” Suddenly, tears well up in my eyes. He was watching, scared that I’d hurt myself and the baby. Just like Francesco, Kristina, and every other person who comes around me.

No one even lets me do anything anymore. I’ve gotten too fat, too ugly, too… unattractive.

“You don’t even look at me with love anymore.” A heavy sob wracks my throat. I don’t know if it’s actually my feelings or the hormones.

His eyes widen as he quickly appears before me, pulling me to him as much as my belly allows.

“Ti amo (I love you), don’t say that. You know I love you. I’m just…” he whispers softly, kissing my neck. “I’m just worried. You’ve been… craving a lot of… unorthodox things lately and your due date is close. I just don’t want you to hurt yourself.”

I sniffle and see his face fall as he wipes a tear from my cheek.

“I’m ugly, and I just feel like—”

Pain ricochets through my stomach, cutting the words off. Then, suddenly, I feel a liquid running down my thighs. My eyes widen in horror. I’m not due until next week.

“I think… I-I think m-my water just broke,” I swallow tightly, fear clenching my throat.

“Shit!”

Instantly, he scoops me up, as if I weigh nothing, and carries me from the living room to the garage. Francesco and the guards’ eyes widen in horror when they realize what’s happening.

“B-Boss should I—”