Chapter 34
“He called over yesterday in ask ma
a what ki
kind of ring you would want.“Tak at her, horrified.
“And he’s going to go all out wally a grand proposal, and I just want you to be excited when he does it, you know?” The walls begin to close in around me
“Russel is a great guy, beraphina.” She takes my hand across the table.
My eyes well with tears. “Why would he want to get married?”
Tecause he loves you and you’ve been together for two years now. You guys are great together.”
“And you told me because.”
“Because I knew you would react like this and I wanted it to be to me and not him. He doesn’t deserve to see your face fall”
Sheer terror begins to run rampant through my body don’t want to get married, Del.”
Why not
Her silhouette blurs and I get a lump in my threat, unable to articulate myself.
“Russel is a great guy.” she tells me.
“I know he is.”
“And you two have great chemistry, and the sex is great.”
“And he loves you and he’s great with the kids. Remember how incredible he was when Buddy died?” I pat my head into my hands.
“You should be jumping from the rooftops in excitement.”
I should
“The only reason I told you is because deep down I knew you wouldn’t be.”
How link
“What?”
dn’t be excited?”
“How did you know I wouldn’t be ext
She stares at me for a beat, watch the two of you together and it’s obvious that his affection is greater than yours. His commitment to the relationship is stronger than yours. He’s one hundred percent all in, and you’re just not,”
“I don’t know what the hell is wrong with me.” I whisper. “Russel is my dream guy, everything about him is perfect. But My voice trads off.
“He’s not him”
“This has nothing to do with Gabriel” I snap,
annoyed.
“Doesn’t it?” she snaps back. “I think it does. I think you’re still hopelessly in love with Gabriel Ferrara, and so man, no matter how perfect he is will ever live up to him”
“That’s complete bullshit. I haven’t thought of Gabriel in yearsTM
Seraphina.” She squeezes my hand in her “You need to learn to love what’s good for you.”
Her silhouette blurs.
“Russel is good for you” She gives me a sad smile. “He loves you.”
ACTEBETRAYAL 100 Faked My Death and Found REAL FREEDOME
Chapter 34
you don’t love him enough to marry him, you need to stop being selfch and let him go so that he can find someone else.”
Iscrew up my face in tears 1 don’t want to lose him”:
Then don1” She smiles “Marry him, he happy. Because that’s what you deserve. A man that worships the ground you walk on.
The thought of marrying Russel tells my stomach, in fact the thought of marrying anyone rolls my stomach
Mease, Seraphina. Think on this, don’t mess up a perfect relationship because you’re neared.”
m.not scared, Theb, that isn’t it.”
“What is it, then?”
“The reality is sadness fills me to say this out loud, something is missing with Russ.”
“Like what?”
I don’t know. If I knew, I would fix it”
Gabriel
1slide the king into place. “Checkmate.” Mark rolls his eyes.
Beating you as becoming boring.” I sigh.
“I only play with you
u because you p
a poy me to,” he replies dryly.
I chuckle and sip my scotch
“Why are we playing chess on a Saturday night, anyway?” he asks.
My eyes roam over to the wall of windows and the twinkling New York lights way down below. “I don’t know.” I sip my scotch. “Do you ever get the feeling that there is something missing?”
I don’t know, I have everything and yet.”
If you want something more when you live the life you do, then the rest of us mere mortals are screwed,” he replies
Isip my drink again as I drift into deep thought. “Maybe I should get married.”
Maybe.” He shrugs. “Ariana is… “Perfect” I cut him off.
He nods
We start a new game of chess as we both fall into our own thoughts. Talways thought when I met the one, I would be chomping at the but to make it legal,” I say as I think out loud.
“Not sure if I’ll ever get married, to be honest.” Mark replies.
“I want children
You need children to pass all this crap down to.” He gestures around my apartment.
For the record, my eighty milhon dollar penthouse is not crap.”
He chuckles. “But
But does it make you ha
happy
“No” My eyes roam around the penthouse. Doesn’t appear to.”
“So are you going to marry Ariana?
Chapter 34
“No”
Who are you goind
try then, if not herm
I dont know. Ariana is beautiful and adoring, halian and everything I should want. We’ve been together for mera gear and I do love her.”
But you’re not in love with her?”
“Maybe I’m incapable of
Trobably.” He thinks for a moment. You owe me five hundred bucks.”
Tor what?
“Te not being your therapist for free, you know,
What solution have you given me, you just told me I’m incapable of love,” I fire back. “And since when did your price rise? He chuckles. “The truth is costly
I walk into my apartment just on six and see rose petals scattered up the hall.
What the hell is this?
“Ariana?” I call, confused. As I keep walking, more rose petals. “Ariana?” I turn the corner and see a huge love heart on the floor made of rose petals with flickering candles and music and Ariana is on one knee.
No.
“What
I love you.” She smiles up at me. I know you’re supposed to be the one to ask, but I can’t wait any longer.” No.
“Sweetheart. I just.”
“Will you marry me, Gabriel?” she asks hopefully as she looks up at me
My heart sinks. The very last thing I want to do is hurt this beautiful woman.
“I love you so much,” she whispers through tears. “Make me the happiest woman alive and become my husband “
And this is it, the moment where I have to choose what I know is good for me. I drop to my knees in front of her, torn between begging for forgiveness that she has to put up with me and the need to run as far away and physically can. “Yes.” I softly kiss her lips.
“Yes what?
Yes I’ll marry you
Seven years to the day after Seraphina left Ferrara Media
1 glance up at the sign hanging over the door.
ELEVEN
MADISONPARK
I push through the door and walk right on in “Good afternoon, Mr. Ferrara, your table is thus way, sir “The waiter nods with a smale
“Thank you” I follow him through the restaurant and see my brother Alessia sitting with my mother at her regular table by the window
She breaks into a broad smile as she se
“Mama“I kiss her two cheeks.
“Cau, mio caru Gabriel.” (“Hello, my darling Gabriel” She smiles
“Alex” I pat my brother on the shoulder before sitting at the table.
Chapter 341
Alessio pours me a glass of wine and posses it over. “Glad you’re here, Moms can lecture you now.” He raises his wineglass before taking a huge gatp.
My eyes flick up to my mother. The surveile, mamina? Qualcosa non–VAT Whats wrong, Mama79
The canceled has date with Arabella” She scowls
Alessio looks nyer at me, deadpan, and Lebuckle.
If you like Arabella so much, you should date ber yourself,” he replies dryly
She is the ultimate woman,” she replies
Tor Gabriel Alessio fires back.
“Gabriel is married”
“Not yet.” I roll my eyes. “Calm down.”
In five weeks so same thing.”
“There’s still time to run” Alessio smirks as he raises his glass to me.
Isole and then drop my face immediately.
My mother’s main mission in life is to marry off her children, she’s being met with harsh resistance on all counts
I open the menu, peruse the choices and roll my eyes. “Why do we always come here. I hate vegan food.”
“And yet you always eat everything on your plate,” Mom replies.
“I want meat.” I s
“When you are married, you will want for nothing”
Ugh. I gulp my wine too, Alessio’s mood is rubbing off on me.
Nagging is her favorite sport.
“Where is Carina?” I ask
“Your siter had an appointment.”
“What did you say to Arabella? Mother asks Alessio.
I glance over and see a familiar face, what was his name. I watch him for a moment as I try to place him Rodney
He worked for me back when Gracie was here.
I wonder
