Page 83 of Fierce Secrets

As we settled in, waiters appeared from nowhere, serving champagne and appetizers. The conversation flowed easily, warmth flooding my chest as I looked around at my little family.

The ring on my finger was dazzling, and I couldn't stop looking at it, mesmerized by it and the love it represented.

"You definitely love it?" Leo questioned softly as Sof tested a glass of wine on offer.

"So much." I covered his hand with mine, not wanting him to doubt for a second that it wasn't the greatest ring I now owned. Sentimentally, mainly, but I was sure it likely cost a pretty penny too.

Leo was not one to skimp out.

"You know," Gray mused, swirling his champagne, "I just realized something. Mer, when was the last time you had a panic attack? Even with everything that happened last month..."

I blinked, considering this as I tried to recall my last. In all honesty, it had been that time with Leo holding me, before everything had transpired. "I... I haven't had one since everything came out."

"We talked about this once," Sofia leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand, her emerald nails matching her dress. "Remember? About your repressed memories being the cause?"

"It makes sense, somewhat," Leo squeezed my hand as he shrugged. "The weight of those buried memories, the constant strain of not knowing..."

"And now that everything's in the open, you're free from it," Gray finished, although he didn't look convinced.

Whatever the case, I was grateful for the end of my attacks.

The conversation paused as our main courses arrived. I was finishing the last bite of my perfectly cooked steak when Leo's phone buzzed on the edge of the table. His expression shifted as he read the message, a mix of surprise and something else.

He stood suddenly, giving me an oddly uneasy look before he masked it. "Mer, how do you feel about meeting my parents?"

"What? I mean, sure, but?—"

"Good, because they're apparently crashing our engagement dinner." He ran a hand through his hair, looking uncharacteristically nervous. This was not like him at all. Was he truly worried? He'd only said good things about his parents. His father, a renowned man for who he was and known for his iron fist, but also a man with morals and beliefs, had been painted as a man worth my respect despite the family and life he led. Then his mother, a soft woman who loved Leo and was a wonderful wife and mother. She'd sounded sweet in the rare instance we'd spoken about them.

Sofia nearly choked on her wine. "The Donatis are coming here?"

"Did you know they were in the city?" Gray asked, straightening his tie as he stood.

"No, I—" The elevator dinged, cutting Leo off.

We all turned to watch as an elegant couple strode in. Leo's father exuded power with every step, but it was his mother who caught my attention – her warm smile reminded me so much of Leo's rare ones.

"Oh!" his mother exclaimed, taking in the scene. "Canzio, we've interrupted something special." She swatted her husband's arm. "I told you we should have called first."

"Nonsense," Mr. Donati waved off her concern, his eyes fixed on me with a knowing smile. "I wanted to meet the woman who captured my son's heart." He moved closer, studying me with familiar ice-blue eyes. "Now I understand everything. He'd said that day you tended to him, the way you looked at him... you saw him, truly saw him, even then. And considering this," he lifted my hand, nodding approvingly at my new ring before kissing the top of my hand. "I say my son has found something special in you."

"Father—" Leo started, but Mrs. Donati jumped in.

"My son has been entranced by you since you were teenagers. The way he'd speak of you, how he'd light up..." She smiled, and suddenly I saw where Leo got his softer side from. "Welcome to the family, Meredith."

She moved forward to hug me, her perfume wrapping around me like a warm embrace. "Call me Maria, darling. Oh, we have so much to plan! A spring wedding would be lovely... oh, but we shouldn't get ahead of ourselves. My husband here heard that a woman had entered the scene with our son, and we just had to come see who she was. Who you were."

I caught Leo's eye over her shoulder. He looked so happy as his father rested a hand on his shoulder, so complete, that my heart threatened to burst.

This was my life now – a beautiful chaos of family, both chosen and given. And I wouldn't change a single thing about it.

"I heard how you protected your brother during the attack," Mr. Donati said, his expression approving as he embraced my brother in a friendly hug. "You're a strong woman, Meredith. Finally, a queen worthy of our prince."

"She certainly is," Maria beamed, squeezing my hands. "But we should take our leave. This is clearly a private celebration. One we had no right interrupting."

"Oh no, please, you're welcome to stay—" I started, but she shook her head.

"Nonsense, darling. A mother knows when not to intrude." She kissed my cheek, then Leo's. "We'll have plenty of time for family dinners. Tonight is for you and your closest ones."

---