Page 57 of Seduced by Her Billionaire Fake Fiancé

Andie registered it, then turned to Patrizia.

“Darling, Max has told us about your mother,” Patrizia said, gently, as Emilia squeezed Andie’s arm. “We were so sorry to hear; such an awful loss.” Tears sparkled on Patrizia’s lashes.

“Thank you,” Andie murmured.

“I would like to hear more about her,” Patrizia said. “But for the moment, I wanted to say—”

“We wanted to say,” Emilia corrected.

“That we really do want you to think of us as family. We know we can never replace her, but…” Patrizia sucked in a breath, eyes turned to Emilia for a second, for strength, then back to Andie. “If anything ever happened to me, I would want to know that Emilia was loved and welcomed and adored by the family of whomever she chose to marry. Family matters very much to us,” she added. This was an unnecessary clarification. Andie had seen for herself this weekend just what family meant to Max’s nearest and dearest.

The pit in the bottom of her stomach grew. She felt hollowed out.

“What my mother is trying to say is that we really, really like you. We think you are wonderful. And what you have done for Max, after everything he’s been through, well, we love you for that. You’re so good for him, Andie.”

Andie felt as though her heart had been drilled out of her chest now. She tried to smile but her lips wouldn’t cooperate. She hated to think what she must look like, suspecting she probably resembled a deer in headlights.

“And we hope he is good for you too,” Patrizia added. “You deserve to be happy, darling.”

Andie’s emotions were all over the place. “Thank you”

Patrizia kissed Andie on the cheek, squeezed her hand. “I really would like you to tell us about your mother when you are ready. She will be a part of our family now too.”

Andie had to fight to hold back her tears.

“Now,” Patrizia changed the tone with effort, clapping her hands together. “That is not what we brought you in here for.”

Another squeeze of the arm from Emilia.

“I know you will very likely have your own ideas, and perhaps your own things from your mother too, so please do not feel pressured…” Patrizia moved to the suitcase and undid the buckles, so the lid parted to reveal several neatly folded items. “These are my wedding things,” she said, turning to Andie and smiling. “I wanted to show you, just in case you wanted to wear any of them. You are a similar to size to me, or to what I was,” she laughed, “And I can have whatever altered as needed.”

She removed a pair of delightful shoes first, then a horseshoe made of lace, next a veil, so beautiful and long with ornate detailing down the sides and at the edge. She sighed as she placed it on the sofa, running her hands over the fabric reverently.

Then, there was the dress.

“It was my mother’s, and before her, it was my grandmother’s, so it is quite old.”

“And you might hate it,” Emilia added, clearly keen to remove any pressure from Andie’s shoulders.

But how could Andie hate it? The dress was a stunning creation, not overly frilly or decorated, it was simple and classic. Silk, cream, with long sleeves and a scooped neck, she could imagine how flattering it would be.

“Would you like to try it, Andie?” Patrizia asked.

Oh, she wanted to, but Andie knew she couldn’t. She couldn’t possibly try on the wedding dress that had belonged to her fake fiancé’s mother, grandmother, great grandmother…she couldn’t possibly try on a dress she had absolutely no right to wear, that would never be worn by her on an actual wedding day.

Except, Patrizia and Emilia were both looking at her with such happy expectation and Andie couldn’t bear the thought of them thinking she didn’t like the dress, or that she was ungrateful for their thoughtfulness and kindness, and so she nodded quickly. “I’d love to. It’s beautiful.” And then, with a lump in her throat, “I’m so happy to have met you both.”

It was unequivocally true, but what she didn’t add was how sorry she was that she wouldn’t get to know them for longer, because as Andie looked from mother to daughter to dress, she knew she had to end this fake engagement sooner rather than later, before anyone could get hurt by their deception.

Thirteen

THE WHOLE FLIGHT BACK from Italy, Andie’s heart was in her throat, and she couldn’t easily say why. Because she was leaving that country? Because Max’s place and his family’s home had become like ports in the storm for her? Because she loved being there, loved spending time not just with his family but even alone with Max? Or was it because she knew that returning to New York meant facing the reality of this, of them, and of what she had to do?

It meant redefining their relationship, so they were simply business partners.

And she knew, because she’d studied Max before approaching him with this deal, what that would mean.

When the Valentinos first acquired a new business, they were actively involved in every aspect of operations. But after the company was turning a profit and things were moving smoothly, they implemented a sound management structure and stepped back.

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