Page 44 of Let Vengeance Be Mine

“I came to finalize your outfit for tomorrow night. My friend is a designer, we’ve been talking over a few options and she’ll be here in about half an hour with what she’s done. She can make any adjustments needed.” Her eyes widen when they look down at my stomach, making me very aware of the fact I’m only wearing shorts and a sports bra. I wasn’t exactly expecting guests.

“Wait, you’ve organized what I’m wearing?” I check that I'm hearing her right.

“Darling, you are about to step out into society as Matteo Romano’s wife. You can’t just wear any old thing.” Her laugh is condescending and makes me want to grip her over-bleached hair in my fist and rip it from her scalp.

“I’m much more focused on being comfortable these days,” I inform her, just about managing to keep my cool. The idea of wearing anything other than stretch pants, or Matteo’s sweats, makes me want to cry.

“It’s one night, Aria, I’m sure you can make an effort. For the family.” She throws one of her fake smiles at me.

“Ouch,” I wince when the baby takes a sharp jab at my ribs, and Vivian responds by turning up her nose and looking in the other direction.

“Don’t worry it’s just a kick,” I tell her sarcastically.

“Good, we don’t want you doing anything stupid like going into labor, early. This party has taken a lot of organization in a very small amount of time.”

“You could feel him if you want to. He’s really active.” Maybe feeling her grandson kick inside me will help form some kind of bond between us. I can’t believe anyone would be so intentionally cold.

“No, thank you.” She shakes her head and clicks her finger for Anita to come and when she arrives in the lounge she bows her head and starts fumbling with her apron.

“Mrs Romano, we weren’t–”

“Expecting me? I know. I like to make my visits spontaneous,” Vivian interrupts her. “Be a dear and get me a dirty Martini. Anna, here, will have an iced water.” Anita nods her head and scurries off, while Matteo’s mother decides to light her second cigarette.

“I never wanted children, you know.” She surprises me when she’s finished studying my frame thoughtfully.

“To Angelo, it was my sole purpose. I was the privileged one who got to give him his heir,” She laughs spitefully.

“I love Matteo,” I point out.

“I did my duty, and you are doing yours.” She shrugs as if my words don’t matter.

“And what's your duty, now?” I ask, wondering how this woman will fit into the life me and Matteo want to make.

“To make sure my son doesn’t fuck everything up that he has inherited. It’s not just his father’s name and legacy that is at stake. My family’s fortune was the reasoning behind mine and Angelo’s arranged marriage. It was done to protect both our families' power.”

“And, now?” I frown back at her.

“And now, I am the richest woman this side of the state, and my son will inherit that once I’m gone. Your father knows this, Aria, the Romano name has far surpassed his. He will bend to whatever Matteo demands.”

“Is this you reassuring me that everything's going to work out?” I question if the cold bitch may have thawed a little.

“This is me telling you that it has to. My son will kill your father before he lets him take you away from him. You might want to be prepared for that.” She steps closer to me and leans into my ear.

“To be a Romano wife, you have to be able to forgive. Popping out heirs is the easy part,” she whispers.

“Mother.” Matteo steps through the door, right on cue. Immediately snatching the cigarette from his mother’s fingers and stubbing it out in the nearest plant pot.

“I’ve told you about making unannounced visits,” he warns.

“And I’ve chosen to ignore you,” she smiles, taking the Martini from the tray Anita has returned with.

“I’m here to get Aria ready for the party tomorrow night.” Vivian proves that her calling me by the wrong name is intentional. “Menika is on her way over. You remember Menika, don’t you darling? There was a time when the two of you were close, was there not?” She looks at me over her shoulder and smiles, while Matteo keeps a deadly stern look on his face. The awkward silence is disrupted by the crackle of Demitri’s radio when the guard's voice fills the room as he announces the arrival of a guest.

“Let her in,” Demitri confirms, after receiving a nod from Matteo. Vivian looks across to me with a smug smile as she balances her ass on the arm of the couch and smooths out the pencil skirt, she’s wearing.

“This will be fun.”

Menika arrives in the living room after being dragged through all the security checks Demitri has put in place. I notice the dreamy look on her face when she spots Matteo and I hate her already. She is, of course, perfectly pretty, with long, blonde hair that seems to have a natural flow, and a set of slender legs that she’s clearly not ashamed to show off.

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