Page 15 of The Billionaire's Pact

I nodded. “I’m sure. Besides, his mother was very bossy.”

Mama scoffed. “Wasn’t she just awful? But he’s worse, spineless.” Her brows knitted. “My parents didn’t show it, but they’re upset. Just stay out of their way…you can enjoy yourself. There are stables down the road if you want to ride. I’m sure mother could be talked into taking you into Manhattan for shopping if you want to, or you can go in with a driver.”

Mama tried to lighten the conversation by talking about things we both knew wouldn’t happen. Somehow, everything had fallen apart, and now, because I defended myself instead of being sold off and probably harmed worse, I’d ruined my prospects. My “challenging family dynamics” were known and looked down upon. Would they ever even find a match? And how does this affect Jacob? I knew my grandparents were counting on the money from our match.

So what will we do?

Mama left for Connecticut soon after, and I’d been moved to another bedroom in the East Wing, closer to the grand suite occupied by my grandparents. No one told me why, but it was much more spacious. It had a lovely fireplace and many books to read, and even my laptop had been left on the desk. The purse Mama had held to my graduation was in the closet, and it made me remember the card Mrs. Cosgrove had given me, which she’d put inside it. She always gone out of her way to make her gifts memorable. Her cards were never just cards. But she’d make sure it connected to something personal. They’d have an art style similar to something I had painted or a poem she’d related to.

Joyously, I carried it back to the bed, sat down, and opened the purse. My hands reaching in and pulling out…pieces? What the hell?

Turning the purse upside down, the contents fell like a puzzle. Shocked and annoyed, a knot lodged in my throat as I put it back together. There was a custom card of a photo of Cassidy, Mrs. Cosgrove, and me holding my hands up in front of the sycamore tree outside the main building on campus at the parent’s visiting day last spring. But it wasn’t only a card, but an open plane ticket to California! Ms. Cosgrove also included a handwritten note.

I swallowed against the knot in my throat. Mama had ripped it, but she must have known I’d find it. Impulsive, jealous, childish, even. But at the core, I understood Mama. She, like me, coveted Mrs. Cosgrove’s freedom, her life, and her love. Sometimes, I wondered how I’d be if I had a friendship with my mom like Cassidy had with hers. She complained, but her mom was her biggest cheerleader and close confidant. I rarely ever heard Cassidy say something was impossible. She had me believing I could do more, be more. Mama felt it too, and I was sure she wanted me to reassure her insecurities. But I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not after she destroyed something that was special. I went to my laptop and ordered a thank you card for Mrs. Cosgrove, then put away all thoughts about it.

No new match came over the next week, but I kept busy. My sketchpads were left in the cellar, but I took them out and went back to drawing. Dreaming. I lived in the illusion I created. I was in a café in Paris, or standing with my arms outstretched at a castle in Tuscany. It was my escape, but in the end, I’d never use that ticket given to me by the Cosgroves. My fate was sealed. I’d marry whoever my grandparents decided on.

Late one evening, a notification sounded on my laptop. It was from Jacob’s social buddy, Cindy. She attached new photos to her activity update email, which include Jacob laughing and painting on an easel outside. My heart warmed. He had a much fuller social life than I did now, which was all I hoped for after all he’d been through. Whatever happened, I needed to keep it that way. While I was sure before, Mr. Belfiore’s promises weren’t as strong as I had thought days ago, which caused dread to creep in as I sat in the bedroom. I needed to stop the nagging thoughts about all that could fall apart. I wanted to call Cassidy, but she was with her family, and I didn’t want to interrupt. I eyed the book on my side table. Maybe later. I could go for another run?

I changed into a jogging suit and left the room.

“Adelina, is that you?” Mrs. Belfiore called out from the bottom of the staircase.

I huffed but called back, “Yes, it’s me.”

“Good. Come down to the living room. We need to speak with you about something important.”

I went downstairs and found Mr. Belfiore in the dining room with a leather-bound folder in front of him. “Take a seat.”

I sat across from him, and Mrs. Belfiore sat next to him.

Mr. Belfiore lifted his chin and opened the case. “As you’re aware, the match with Mr. Ashford ended, but another man has come forward to take his place.” His brows knitted. “Honestly, I’m baffled by his willingness to agree to our arranged marriage. Though with him being still newly rich, he may well benefit from bonding with our family, even with all the issues we’ve had in the past.”

I wanted to ask what issues, but I was more curious about the man he’d arranged to marry me. My pulse increased. “Who is it?”

“Rocco Marini,” he said. They both scrutinized me.

My mouth went dry, and my pulse jumped. Even though I was friends with Rocco’s grandfather, Mr. Luca Marini, I never expected Rocco Marini would consider marrying, let alone marrying me.

“I see you are as surprised as we were by his offer,” Mr. Belfiore said. “He’s a famous billionaire bachelor, and is of a different caliber from Ashford, so even if I wanted to, I can’t refuse him. We have lost too much and aren’t bringing in enough money to keep everything running smoothly.” He straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. “I would never have considered him because of his budding celebrity status caused by his dalliances in film producing. However, he has also shown promising political aspirations and could back key lucrative financial initiatives in the future. That will benefit what we lost covering the extensive Colby debts. But Rocco’s young and not as committed to the arranged marriage he’s been placed in by his grandfather, Luca Marini. I see this marriage as a wild card, and I never gamble.”

Mrs. Belfiore nodded. “If anyone is to blame, it’s Lorelei. She threw her life away for a gambling-addicted poet. I’ve done my part for Adelina, but pedigree is something instilled at birth. She was always at a disadvantage.”

I went still and blanked my face, but the heat in my skin gave me away. Mrs. Belfiore’s words created more scars in my heart. My education, etiquette and language classes never registered with her because she still thought of me as an outsider. Without a doubt, my father, Judge Colby, becoming a poet had robbed them of the chance to take advantage of his judgeship and influence. Not only that, but Mama also became pregnant, and they made her marry him, even though they disowned her for what he’d cost them. That was history.

What bothered them was Rocco Marini. He was a man with significant wealth, power, and status. A man they can’t control.

Mr. Belfiore cleared his throat and adjusted his collar. “Listen, Adelina, even with all your disadvantages, you must make this marriage work. We have a chance of restoring much of what we lost financially, including your grandmother’s Longfellow property, which was her birthright. These five weeks before the official wedding ceremony are essential. I expect you to excel like you’ve done with everything else we’ve given you.”

There were times when I thought my grandparents liked me, though they were often distantly polite. But I appreciated them, dearly. They kept their end of the bargain, and I needed to keep mine. I wouldn’t be another liability.

I jutted my chin. “I’ve always given my full cooperation—”

“We had Lorelei’s cooperation, too,” Mr. Belfiore said and smiled weakly. “I want to believe you, but with a man like Rocco, you only get one chance. If he backs out of this marriage, you’ll have to marry my friend’s son, Percy Sterling. He’s an appeals judge in the 2nd circuit.”

Mrs. Belfiore gasped, but quickly made her face expressionless.

My pulse jumped. All the time I’d known her, I had never seen her this troubled.

---