Chapter 1 - THE OFFER NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE
Valentina thought heartbreak had already taken everything it could from her.
Then Dante Bellini offered her his name.
For several seconds, she only stared at his outstretched hand.
Behind them, the church bells began ringing.
Guests would be standing now.
Her father would be checking his watch.
Her mother would be wondering why the organ had stopped.
Luca would probably be deciding which version of the story made him look least guilty.
And Dante—Luca’s uncle, the one man every Bellini relative lowered their voice around—stood below the church steps as if asking her to choose between coffee and tea.
“Why?” Valentina finally asked.
Dante lowered his hand.
“Because if you walk back in there alone, they’ll make you explain his betrayal like it’s your failure.”
“That doesn’t explain marriage.”
“No.”
His gaze remained steady.
“It explains why I won’t let them corner you.”
The word let irritated her.
“I don’t need permission to leave.”
“Good.”
Something almost like approval entered his eyes.
“That means you’re listening.”
Valentina looked at the church doors.
She could already hear voices.
Then Luca appeared.
“Valentina!”
His expression changed when he saw Dante.
“What are you doing here?”
Dante did not turn.
“Talking.”
“To my bride?”
Valentina laughed once.
The sound surprised all three of them.
“I’m not your bride.”
Luca came down the steps.
“You’re upset.”
“No. I’m finished.”
His jaw tightened.
“Don’t humiliate me in front of everyone.”
There it was again.
Not I’m sorry.
Not I love you.
Me.
Always him.
Dante finally faced his nephew.
“She said she’s finished.”
Luca scoffed.
“And this concerns you because?”
Dante’s answer was quiet.
“Because she’s standing outside in a wedding dress trying not to fall apart, and you’re still talking about yourself.”
Luca’s face reddened.
Then Dante looked back at Valentina.
“My car leaves in two minutes.”
“For where?”
“Anywhere you choose.”
“And the marriage?”
He paused.
“That was an option, not a trap.”
That distinction settled something inside her.
Valentina looked at Luca.
Then at the church.
Then at Dante.
“I’m not marrying anyone today.”
Dante nodded immediately.
“Good.”
Luca blinked.
Apparently he had expected Dante to argue.
Valentina had too.
She walked toward the black car.
But before she reached it, Luca shouted:
“Ask him why he came to Tuscany in the first place!”
Valentina stopped.
Dante’s expression changed.
Only slightly.
Enough.
Luca smiled bitterly.
“That’s right.”
He looked directly at her.
May you like
“My uncle didn’t come here by accident.”
And suddenly Valentina understood Dante had known something about this wedding before she ever walked outside.
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