of his money or his reputation, but because the man behind the dangerous name had never made me feel small.
And now he was standing in the hallway, looking at my tearful face.
‘Why are you crying?’ he asked.
‘I’m fine.’
‘Elena, look at me.’
I did.
‘You don’t have to pretend with me.’
My eyes filled.
‘I shouldn’t have come.
I thought I could handle seeing them together, but I couldn’t.’
His jaw tightened.
‘Who made you feel this way?’
‘Please, Matteo.
I just want to go home.’
He glanced toward the ballroom.
‘All right.
But tell me something first.
Do you want to leave because you’re finished with these people, or because you think they have won?’
I couldn’t answer immediately.
Then I looked at my wedding ring.
‘I don’t want to be ashamed anymore.’
Matteo offered his arm.
‘Then let’s go back inside.’
I stared at him.
‘You want to go into that room?’
‘Only if you want to.
But I refuse to let you believe that you need to hide.’
I took his arm.
When we entered the ballroom, the wedding ceremony had ended.
Guests were gathering around the newlyweds, champagne glasses raised, congratulating the happy couple.
Vivian saw me first.
Her smile became almost theatrical.
‘Elena! You’re back.
I thought the ceremony might have been a little difficult for you.’
Several guests turned toward us.
Marcus followed her gaze.
His eyes moved from my face to the man beside me.
‘Well, look who decided to return,’ he said.
‘Couldn’t resist watching me celebrate?’
I remained silent.
He looked at Matteo’s expensive suit and then back at me.
‘And who is this? Your latest boyfriend?’
Vivian covered her mouth, pretending to suppress a laugh.
Marcus continued.
‘You know, Elena, I honestly hope you’ve found someone who can afford to take care of you.
We both know that was never your strong point.’
The surrounding guests laughed nervously.
For a moment, the old humiliation returned.
Then Matteo’s hand settled gently against my back.
I took a breath.
‘His name is Matteo Bellandi.
And he is my husband.’
Silence.
Marcus stared at me.
‘Your husband?’
‘Yes.
We got married six weeks ago.’
Vivian’s smile disappeared.
‘You got married without telling anyone?’
‘I didn’t realize I needed your permission.’
A few guests exchanged glances.
Marcus laughed.
‘You expect us to believe you married some stranger?’
Matteo finally spoke.
‘You should believe her.
She has no reason to lie to you.’
Marcus looked annoyed.
‘And you are?’
Matteo straightened his jacket.
‘Matteo Bellandi.’
The reaction was immediate.
A man near the champagne fountain stopped speaking.
Another guest lowered his glass.
Vivian’s father, Charles Caldwell, turned so quickly that he nearly knocked over a waiter.
Everyone in Chicago knew the Bellandi name.
Matteo controlled a vast network of legitimate businesses and possessed influence that extended far beyond the city’s business community.
His family was also known for its connections to organized crime.
He was not a man people casually insulted.
Charles Caldwell hurried toward us.
‘Mr.
Bellandi.
What an unexpected honor.’
Matteo gave him a brief nod.
‘Charles.’
The older man glanced at me, then back at Matteo.
‘I’m sorry.
I didn’t realize Elena was your wife.’
‘Now you do.’
Vivian looked as though someone had pulled the floor from beneath
