Page 13 of Innocent Union
Franco shrugged, and the rest of my siblings looked at him with pure unadulterated disgust. “Just punish her.” He stood up from the table and left.
It wasn’t until years later after Antonio killed him that I learned Franco had poisoned my father. He was the reason my dad was dead.
My mom never punished me.
Looking at Lucia and Luca now, I can’t help but wonder why she’s so open to punishing them when she never did it to me. The rumors I’ve heard about the twins being Franco’s children comesto mind. Could that be the reason? Does my mom secretly hate the twins? I know they don’t make life easy for anyone.
Either way, my mom still gives them more attention because they need it, being children. But their misbehavior also calls my mom’s attention to them. Making me lonelier. I don’t even have my mom to coddle me anymore.
I’m a grown woman trying to find a husband. I need to learn to grow up. It’s just hard when you’ve spent a good portion of your life being the baby of the family. I lost that, too, when my dad died and Franco moved in.
Shaking the thoughts from my head, I pull out a purple evening gown. It’s absolutely gorgeous. While my mom is dealing with the store attendant, apologizing for Luca knocking the mannequin down, I go into the changing room and try the dress on.
It’s a perfect fit.
Off the shoulders. Open leg slit. A bust that hugs my body just right, and a skirt that flares out around my feet, making me feel like a princess. And a deep, dark purple that brings out the brown in my eyes.
I feel beautiful for the first time in my life.
I don’t want anyone to take that away from me.
After changing back into my clothes, I find my mom, Lucia, and Luca near the entrance to the store. “I found my dress.”
“Wonderful,” Mom says. At least she makes the time to smile at me now.
The ball takesplace on Saturday, just as my mom said. She managed to decorate the entire ballroom at the Ritz within just a few days. I’m impressed, actually. I’d be even more so if I wasactually excited about attending. I’m more worried the only men who will show will be like George and Austin—pure losers.
When we enter the ballroom, it’s empty.
“When is everyone expected to arrive?” I ask my mom.
“They should be showing up within the hour. Don’t you worry.”
My mom and I are the only ones here. She didn’t want to spend the night taking care of the twins, so they stayed home. Emilia and Francesca couldn’t make it because they’re in LA. And Gemma didn’t want to steal my spotlight. Antonio is busy being the boss.
The doors open, and I get my hopes up for just a second that a good man will walk through them …
… until I see it’s only Cecilia walking into the ballroom with Theo on her arm.
“What are they doing here?” I ask my mom.
“Moral support.”
“They’re the reason I’m in this mess right now.”
Mom rubs my arm. “I know, honey. But it might do some good if the men coming tonight can see what a good couple Cecilia and Theo make. It might help.”
I plaster on a smile as Cecilia approaches me.
“Hi, Mia,” she says, giving me a quick hug. “Hope you end up having a good night.”
“Me, too.”
We stand there awkwardly.
“You didn’t have to come, you know,” I tell her.
Cecilia frowns. “I wanted to support you.”
