Page 24 of The Billionaire's Pact

Rocco took a sip of his sparkling water, then placed it down. “You seem surprised. Arranged marriages are still marriages, just not for love. I don’t care about love; commitment to duty is what lasts. I need someone who upholds obligations, because in the art industry, it’s a must.” He sighed. “But you’re young.” There was an apprehension in his tone. It wasn’t just our seven-year age difference; we had completely different levels of class and experience.

I lifted my chin. “I am in age, but I spent fourteen years away from the Belfiore family. It wasn’t easy, but it taught me not to waste time on fantasies.”

“So, I’ve heard. My grandfather sees willingness and perseverance in you.” He gave me a dazzling smile that made my knees weak. “That’s what I want.” His piercing blue eyes and sculpted jawline made my pulse race. His lips were full, sensual. So sexy. He made it hard for me to stay focused. “So, with that sense of family and duty, do you consent to marrying me?”

My brows raised. It surprised me that he asked, but it eased some of my tension, even though it caught me off guard. “Isn’t it too late to ask that question?” I let out a nervous laugh.

“No, it’s never too late to change your mind,” he said. “I’ve told you why it’s important to me. Why is it to you?”

I blinked. “Well, it’s for my family. We’ve had issues in the past, but I have a chance to make things better for future generations.”

“And you? What do you personally want?” he asked and leaned closer to me.

“I…I want stability,” I murmured. It was the one thing I didn’t need to elaborate about. He caught me on my worst night when I was at the end of my rope.

“That’s a good reason, and I can give that to you,” he said with conviction infused in his tone. “The arranged marriages in my family have been the same for generations. They all ended up happy.”

“It doesn’t always work out like that.” I averted my eyes.

“I know, but things only work when you work on them.” He took a sip of his water, then put it down. “Let’s spend time together. Date.”

I grinned. “‘Date?”

“Yes,” he said. “Get to know each other. We do have something in common already.”

I put my fork down. “We do?”

“I raise money to fight famine abroad and here,” he said. “No one should go hungry. I read you raised money for charities?”

Pride swelled inside me. It brought me joy, helping women like Mama. “Yes, I did. For women to be safe, and children in need.”

His expression was serious. “That’s important to me, too. You know the evil in the world and want to make it better. Tell me something else you like to do.”

“I paint. Sometimes I paint stories people tell me,” I told him.

He smiled. “Illustration. That’s something to cultivate. We’ll make sure you do.”

A bubble of excitement bloomed inside me. Could I really illustrate? Paint? The possibility took my heart on wings, soaring into dreams. I lowered my head. Not possible.

“What did I say that made you stop smiling?” he asked.

I licked my lips and wanted to ask why it mattered to him, even though I liked that he’d asked. “It’s all so new and we don’t know each other….” It was the only answer I trusted myself to share. His family held all the cards in the marriage. Even with the niceties, I was bound to Rocco. He would decide to marry me. What if his grandfather, Luca Marini, changes his mind? Or what if something happens to him? Or what if we don’t get along. So many things can go wrong.

“I have time to get to know you, Adelina,” Rocco said confidently. “It’s up to us. We could have a lifetime.”

Could was the key. We could have one. But a lifetime? Just the idea made my head spin. Never had I thought that far ahead in my life.

“Grandpa felt lost and alone without Grandma—all his grandchildren had grown up—but then he found you. He told me your messages brought joy back into his life in a way he never expected.”

“He’s my friend…He sort of saved me, too,” I croaked.

“I’m glad you had him, Adelina. And it was partly because of that connection that I was happy about our arranged marriage. He’s a good judge of character and he likes yours,” Rocco said, and I sighed. I’m glad I had him, too.

“Thank you for saying that, Rocco, I appreciate it.”

He smiled broadly, and it made me a little breathless. Then he reached inside his suit jacket and took out a box with a small ribbon.

My pulse jumped and my fingers trembled as I went to open the box. It was an engagement ring. It had a big diamond, and smaller ones making up the band. No one for miles will miss this huge rock.

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