Page 179 of The Devil's Fire

“You don’t have to tell her everything but come clean that you were engaged. That’s it.”

I let out a humorless laugh. She doesn’t know Althaia the way I do. The second I tell her, it would pique her curiosity, and she would ask more questions that I wasn’t ready to answer.

“No.” I shut her down and started walking again. Arianna let out a tired sigh and matched her pace with mine.

“Do I have to remind you what happened when you didn’t tell her about Sofia?”

“That’s not the same.” I shot her a piercing glare to mind her own business but she ignored me.

“Damiano, listen to me.” Arianna grabbed my arm to look at her. “You don’t know who told her, and there’s still a chance her mother might talk to her about it. It’s better that you talk to her than anyone else. If she truly loves you too, she will understand.” Arianna gave me a small smile.

A long silence lingered as my gaze remained fixed on her. I raised a questioning brow.

“Are you an expert in relationships now?”

“What can I say? I give the best relationship advice, yet I remain single.” Arianna sighed. I placed my arm around her shoulders as we walked again.

“I know you’re with Dom, even though I told you to end it.” I gave her a playful smile when she looked shocked.

“How did you find out?” She breathed out, and I scoffed.

“You don’t think I know what’s going on with my men?”

“I thought I did a good job hiding it…” Arianna groaned out before quickly shooting me a look. “I will get so pissed at you if you hurt him! I won’t forgive you.”

“If I wanted to hurt him, he would already have been at the bottom of the sea. And not in one piece.” I laughed as she rolled her eyes at me.

“I’m not marrying him, if that’s what you’re hinting at.” She crossed her arms tightly, her gaze fixed straight ahead. “Actually, I will marry him if you get married.” Arianna gave a smug smile.

She knew I had no intention of getting married after what had happened with Sienna, but she didn’t know the newfound hope Althaia had brought into my life.

“I asked Althaia to marry me.” I revealed. Arianna froze in her tracks, her mouth gaping open, and her eyes widening in sheer shock as she stared at me.

“Are you serious?”

“I am. But she turned me down.” I frowned, my words tinged with disapproval, leaving her even more shocked to hear that. “She wants to take it slow and have the baby first.” I explained. But it was okay, I will wait for her, no matter how long it takes for her to be ready to marry me.

Arianna had gone silent as she processed my words.

“She has changed you a lot.” Arianna murmured quietly as we were about to catch up with the others. “But for the better. I have never seen you this happy before and after so long… I finally feel like I have gotten my brother back.” Her voice cracked, and she hid her face in her hands as she broke down.

“Arianna.” I chuckled lightly and pulled her into me. She sobbed into my chest as I rubbed her back in comfort. She was a tough person, and I often forgot that she had witnessed my lowest moments and had been affected by them, too.

We were close enough to the others that they noticed Arianna was crying. Lorenzo’s brows furrowed as he cast a questioning gaze from her to me. He was about to make his way toward us, but I signaled to him with a reassuring shake of my head that everything was okay.

Arianna didn’t cry for long and wiped her tears away once she had calmed down. Suddenly, all I saw was my vulnerable baby sister that didn’t know any better, instead of the tough woman she had grown up to be.

“I know I’ve been fucked up for a long time, but don’t you dare spill your tears over a man. Even if he’s your brother. Understand?” I placed my hands on her cheeks as I talked to her softly. She nodded and took another deep breath.

“You know what would make me feel better?” Arianna asked, looking at me with tears still glistening in her eyes.

“Tell me.” I smiled.

“That jewelry store right there.” Arianna pointed somewhere behind me.

A chuckle escaped my lips as I reached for my wallet to hand her my card. Grinning, she swiftly snatched it out of my hand and hurried towards the store.

“I love you! You’re my favorite brother!” She yelled. Lorenzo’s face twisted into a scowl as he scoffed at her.

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