Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39233 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 196(@200wpm)___ 157(@250wpm)___ 131(@300wpm)
A cold smile curved over Massimo's lips at the question. "And if you do not? What then? You really think all of you can still live in my city if so?"
There was one second of stark silence, and in the next second, it was as if the billionaire's words had unleashed a hurricane of fear, and this time, her jaw did drop as everyone started mumbling about having something else to do.
It was like watching an infestation of roaches fleeing from their impending doom as everyone scuttled back into their cars and started their engines in a hurry. Car doors slammed shut, tires screeched against the pavement, and then...silence.
Just like that, only her and Massimo were left standing outside her step-aunt's restaurant, and it almost seemed as if Ysabel had dreamt the whole thing up.
"Are you alright?"
A dazed laugh escaped Ysabel at Massimo's courteous tone, the sound of which only made things feel even more surreal.
"What you did was...brutal."
"But necessary," he answered dismissively. "It would not be in their best interests if they were so foolish again as to forget who owns this city."
"And me?" Ysabel dared to ask. "Are you going to say you own me as well?"
"Do I not?"
"Only if I own you as well." The words were out before Ysabel even realized what she was saying...but how could she take them back, with the way those same words had desire flaring in his gaze?
Another second passed, but just as he took a step towards her, the doors to Mammina's suddenly opened, and a beaming Carlita came rushing out.
"È stato incredible!"
Massimo stiffened as if coming to his senses, and Ysabel bit back a laugh as he glared at her like he was seriously suspecting her of casting a spell. Oh, amore mio. How long would it take him to realize that love was the only magic she needed to bewitch him?
A smile tugged her lips at the way Carlita was now planting big, fat kisses on both of Massimo's cheeks, and the way Massimo did not dare pull away at such an effusive show of affection was heartbreakingly adorable.
"We all heard what you said, bambino! What a grand romance you and Ysabel have! It is like a fairytale..."
Massimo allowed Ysabel's step-aunt to propel him inside while his fidanzata obediently followed behind them.
"Since Ysabel did not let you meet us five years ago, we must rectify that immediately, sì?"
Massimo could only nod even though a part of him was still in disbelief over the things he had said to the press. Where the hell had those words come from?
"So, I think you have already met Ysabel's mama and my brother Arnoldo?"
Massimo expected a change in the older couple's attitude towards him, but both only smiled and greeted him as if it were normal for a man to date one sister...before being engaged to another. Were they not angry with him about hurting Ynez?
It was a question he would seriously like an answer to...in time. But for now, there were more people for him to greet, since it was now apparent to him that Ysabel's famiglia also included the regulars of Mammina's.
A part of Massimo expected them to take advantage of their closeness to his fidanzata, the way Ynez's friends had not hesitate to ask favors upon realizing he was a billionaire. But with Ysabel's extended famiglia, it was the opposite, and even the same group of high school students he had "seen" the other day, pestering Ysabel with question after question about his relationship with Ynez, was looking at him...like he was the enemy.
They were all truly concerned for Ysabel, and although this could be considered proof that Ynez was telling the truth about her sister's ability to manipulate other people—-
Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare. Between saying and doing, there's the sea in between.
His mother of all people had spoken those words to him when he was seven, and her drunken state had made her unusually candid. In vino veritas. In wine, there is truth—-and so it was, with Sheila bluntly warning her own son at that time not to believe everything she said just because she was his mother.
It was a hard lesson to learn, but Massimo had taken her words to heart, and since then, he had only trusted the few people who were able to meet his standards. People like his own famiglia, and people like Ynez, who was the opposite of Sheila...on paper.
But then on the other side of the coin, there was Ysabel. She had a college degree that she did not put to use. Preferred to work in her step-aunt's diner with no seeming ambition of her own. Was eccentric to the point of taking a canoe to work. Had no friends except for the regulars in Mammina's, all of whom Massimo had originally expected to sing Ysabel praises while dissing her sister.