Page 87 of The Billionaire's Pact

I couldn’t help but return to Mr. Marini’s words about marriage. He’d said, “Arranged marriages are hard, but if you’re strong in commitment, yours can last for many years.” His wife Aurora had married him well knowing he was in love with my grandmother. Yet, she’d kept the faith, and given him time. Mr. Marini had eventually fallen in love with her. Could that happen with Rocco? I didn’t know.

Nevertheless, I’d stay the course for what the marriage brought my family. I was a survivor—I had been one for years—so I knew how to endure.

Even if I had to remain loveless.

We started the day at The Duomo, the cathedral at the center of Florence—its heartbeat. That was what Mama called it. She told me once shed visited here with my late grandmother Tessa who’d told her that it was the place to unburden sorrows. She had been younger than me at the time and hadn’t known the hardship that were to come in her life. Had it been her fate? The way Mama told it, I’d believed Grandmother Tessa was psychic, which I wholeheartedly dismissed. Life was pretty cut and dry back then living with her. We’d worked to live another day. But now, as a grown woman about to marry, I sought the same. Coming here with Rocco today I had a chance to let go of my pain.

The doors opened for Mass, and Rocco and I walked inside along with other parishioners. The polished pews and smell of incense was bittersweet. So many times as a child I’d go to a church to feel warm when we had no heat, or to get peace from my father’s wrath. Today, we were here to receive a blessing from Cardinal Torino, who would marry us in just two weeks.

In two weeks, I’d become a Marini. I’d have what I wanted most of all—security for myself and my family.

“Adelina,” Rocco said, and I snapped out of my musings to take a seat next to him near the front. The pews were mostly filled, and the service was soon starting. I wanted to stay present for it, but my mind was heavy with the conversation I had with Mrs. Belfiore early this morning. She’d called me instead of me calling her. I’d been downright upbeat, bubbling to share all that was soon to come….

“I have a final dress fitting today. We’re going for a blessing at Mass in Florence, and then a walk through at the venue—” I babbled.

“That’s standard wedding preparation,” she said dismissively in a clipped tone. “It’s not why I called. Reginald said he told you to give your virginity to Rocco. Did you have sex with him?”

I remembered the heat on my skin, even as I felt a chill run down my spine at her words. She hadn’t asked how I was doing or if I was happy. Just callously disregarded me, and assumed control of my body like she owned it. I detested it, but her and my grandfather still held the cards; Jacob’s care depended on this wedding. So I pushed aside my feelings and told her the truth.

“Uhm, yes, we had sex,” I stammered.

“Hmm, I see. Then I’ll tell you what I told Lorelei all those years ago. There will be no more men that will want to marry you. You will forever be Rocco’s wife and raise his children. As death is the only acceptable reason for divorce in our family—”

“But Mama divorced my father, Judge Colby.”

“He chose to divorce her.”

Another family secret was revealed only when they needed to use it. I’d always wondered how Mama had gotten away from my father. A wave of nausea churned in my stomach, but no one around us at Mass would have known it. I sang the hymn like I was on autopilot despite not having been to church in a long time. It was harder to keep faith when a man like my father could use it to take away your freedom. I’d known better. The Belfiores’ beliefs were imbibed for generations, and they were committed to their values, no matter how outdated. I’d been ready to end the call, telling her I’d see her soon, but she’d had something else to tell me.

“There’s only one man that would still marry you..”

I hadn’t forgotten his name though she’d told me anyway.

“Percy Sterling. He’s the son of Jeb Sterling, an old friend from your grandfather’s Duke University years before he transferred to Yale. Percy’s wealthy and claims he’s religious, but he’s not a good man. If you refuse him, we will have to disown you.”

“You don’t want that, do you?” I asked, my voice catching.

“No, Adelina. I don’t. But I put family duty ahead of my choices. What happened to Lorelei was my fault, my sin. I failed you, too—”

“You didn’t fail me. Rocco’s confident about the marriage. It’s all planned—”

“I know, but I also know life happens in the middle of plans. I’ll pray for you.”

Her voice had wavered, and my heart had swelled as I’d believed she cared.. I’d been sure her iron-armor had broken and my words rushed out in haste. I’d been so eager to say them.

“Thank you, Grandmother.

I’d called her grandmother, but she hadn’t responded. Maybe she hadn’t heard me?

My hand had tightened around the phone, my heart beating hard against my ribs. I…I love you. I love you, grandmother.”

Silence for many seconds. Click. The call disconnected.

It was a cold bucket of water, that hadn’t left me chilled, but burning in shame. Just when I’d thought we’d connected, she’d shut me out. She’d heard me, I was sure of it. How I could expect something different was beyond me. They hadn’t changed, but something had. It was then that it had dawned on me that I was the one who had changed. Being with Rocco here, seeing the laughter, love, and support he had with his family made me think I could have the same.

“Adelina, are you okay?” Rocco said pulling me out of my thoughts.

I nodded and flashed him a quick smile.

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