Chapter 11 - The Engagement That Became Real|
By morning, my face was everywhere.
Television screens.
News websites.
Social media.
Even a billboard advertisement near the expressway had been replaced with a sensational headline about the Romano family scandal.
I sat in Massimo's kitchen wearing sweatpants and staring at my phone.
A stranger had posted a photograph of my father's shop with the caption:
CRIME PAYS UNTIL IT DOESN'T.
Thousands of people had shared it.
My stomach twisted.
Hannah sat beside me.
She'd arrived under police protection after giving investigators the threatening package left at her apartment.
"Don't read the comments," she said.
I laughed bitterly.
"That's like telling someone not to look at a car accident."
She took my phone.
"Then I'm confiscating this."
"Hannah!"
"Nope."
She shoved it into her purse.
"You're going to eat breakfast."
I looked at the untouched toast.
"I'm not hungry."
"Too bad."
Before I could argue, Massimo entered.
He looked exhausted.
Dark circles shadowed his eyes.
His hair was slightly disheveled.
For once, he didn't look like Chicago's most feared mafia boss.
He looked like a man carrying too much responsibility.
"Detective Brooks has good news," he said.
I stood.
"What?"
"The financial records show the fraudulent transactions were initiated through an outside accounting service."
I stared.
"So they know I didn't authorize them?"
"They have evidence pointing that way."
My knees weakened with relief.
"But the investigation isn't finished."
I nodded.
"Of course."
Massimo approached.
"There's something else."
I immediately became suspicious.
"That sentence never ends well."
He almost smiled.
"The engagement announcement is tonight."
I stared.
"You're joking."
"No."
"Massimo, the entire city thinks I'm a criminal."
"Exactly."
I folded my arms.
"Explain."
"The announcement gives us a chance to address the allegations publicly."
I looked at him.
"You want to hold a party?"
"A press conference followed by a family reception."
"With people who hate me?"
"With people who need to hear the truth."
I shook my head.
"I don't belong in your world."
Massimo became very still.
"Who told you that?"
"Nobody has to."
I gestured toward the mansion.
"Look around."
He looked.
Then he turned back to me.
"All I see is a house."
"Massimo—"
"A very expensive house."
Despite myself, I smiled.
He stepped closer.
"But it doesn't tell me who belongs inside it."
My heart stumbled.
I looked away.
"You shouldn't say things like that."
"Why?"
"Because this isn't real."
Silence.
Then Massimo spoke quietly.
"Isn't it?"
I looked up.
He was watching me with an expression I couldn't understand.
"We made a deal," I whispered.
"I remember."
"Thirty days."
"I remember that too."
"Then don't confuse me."
He stepped back.
"You're right."
Something in his voice hurt more than it should have.
He turned toward the door.
"There's a dress upstairs if you decide to attend."
Then he left.
That evening, I stood in front of a mirror wearing a deep emerald gown.
It was elegant without being extravagant.
Hannah had helped me choose it.
My hair fell in soft waves around my shoulders.
For the first time in days, I looked like myself again.
Just a slightly more expensive version.
Rosa entered without knocking.
She stopped in the doorway.
"Oh, sweetheart."
I turned.
"Is it too much?"
She shook her head.
"You look beautiful."
My eyes filled with tears.
Rosa approached.
"What's wrong?"
I looked down.
"I'm scared."
She took my hands.
"Of the reporters?"
"Of everything."
She studied me.
"Especially my grandson?"
I didn't answer.
Rosa smiled sadly.
"Massimo has spent years convincing himself that love makes people weak."
I swallowed.
"Does it?"
"No."
She squeezed my hands.
"Love gives people something worth being brave for."
I looked away.
"But this is fake."
Rosa raised an eyebrow.
"Is that what you believe?"
Before I could answer, someone knocked.
Massimo stood in the doorway.
He wore a black tuxedo.
For several seconds, he simply stared.
Then he said softly, "You look incredible."
My cheeks warmed.
"Thank you."
He offered his arm.
"Ready?"
I looked at Rosa.
She smiled.
"Go show them who you are."
The reception hall was packed.
Reporters stood behind velvet ropes.
Business leaders whispered.
Cameras flashed.
Adriana watched from beside the fireplace.
Isabella sat beside Rosa.
And Vittorio stood near the back, smiling as though he already knew how the night would end.
Massimo guided me onto a small platform.
He took the microphone.
"Thank you for coming."
The room quieted.
"Over the past twenty-four hours, serious allegations have been made against Sophie Miller."
My heart pounded.
"Those allegations are being investigated."
He looked at me.
"And I will cooperate fully with the authorities."
A reporter raised his hand.
"Mr. Romano, is your engagement genuine?"
The room went silent.
Massimo turned toward me.
I expected the rehearsed answer.
A polished lie.
A convenient story.
Instead, he put down the microphone.
Then he took my hands.
"Sophie."
My breath caught.
"I know our beginning was complicated."
Someone laughed nervously.
He continued.
"I know I gave you more reasons to run than to stay."
My eyes filled with tears.
"But somewhere between your courage, your stubbornness, and your refusal to be impressed by my last name, something changed."
I stared at him.
He lowered his voice.
"I don't want you beside me because of a deal."
My heart stopped.
"I want you beside me because I love you."
The entire room seemed to disappear.
Massimo Romano.
The man everyone feared.
Had just confessed his love in front of half of Chicago.
May you like
Then he reached into his pocket.
And lowered himself onto one knee.
