Page 39 of The Virgin I Desire

“What is it?”

“Have you already taken a shower?”

“I have...” I raised an eyebrow, finding her question strange.

“Then go change, put on some nicer clothes.”

“For what?” I remained motionless on the sofa. I imagined if I stayed still, all that discomfort in my chest and the feeling of suffocation would eventually disappear.

“Luca is coming for dinner.”

“Oh! Why?”

“Make the engagement official.”

“Congratulations!”

“Pietra! Nothing is certain yet, he might end up choosing you.”

“We've talked about this, and he doesn't seem like an idiot.”

“Maybe after his choice, Dad will already have a prediction of who your fiancé will be.”

“My fiancé?” My throat felt dry, and my legs started to shake.

“Of course! Or did you think daddy wouldn't marry you off to anyone?”

“I’ll admit I had hopes.”

Perla shook her head and pulled my arm to get me up.

What choice did I have other than to face the candidates and smile, being friendly like my father expected of me?

I went to my room and changed, putting on a nice dress and putting on light makeup. I loved my family and needed to remember my role here.

My sister and I went to the living room together, there I saw my father, my uncle Theo and my aunt Tatiane's family. Luca had his back turned but turned around when he heard the sound of our footsteps. Not just him, but everyone in the room stared at us and I felt a little embarrassed.

“My daughters.” My father gestured for us to come closer, and we went to him.

“Adorable,” Luca commented, looking past us and stopping a little more at my sister. There was no doubt about his choice.

She looked away, messing with her hair, making their relationship even more evident.

I felt as if I didn't need to be there, at the same time I knew I couldn't run away.

“Marco?” He turned away from us and turned his attention to my father. “Do I have your permission?”

“Yes.” My father was firm and monosyllabic.

I wanted him to stop us from reaching that moment, but these were traditions, and it was impossible to fight against them.

Luca Mancini reached into his pocket and took out a small velvet box, opening it to reveal a beautiful diamond ring, surrounded by small rubies in a sphere shape. The Sicilian took the piece out of the box and approached us.

He stared at me for way too long. I was sure that his choice was undoubtedly my sister, however, that moment gave me butterflies in my stomach. What if he was stupider than I imagined?

“Perla?” When he finally spoke my sister's name and the tension dissolved, I had to restrain myself from letting out a long, deep sigh of relief.

“Yes.”

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