Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100332 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 502(@200wpm)___ 401(@250wpm)___ 334(@300wpm)
“That’s nice.” She held out her hand palm up. I put the box in her palm. I would have liked to put the ring on her finger, but I assumed her gesture meant she didn’t want that.
I respected that.
She didn’t put the ring on right away, and I didn’t ask her to, even if I really wanted her to wear it.
The ring was beautiful. If I was being honest, it was more beautiful than the one Paolo had given me. His had been too big, too obvious, as if he wanted everyone to see how much money he’d spent. Maximus’s choice was more subdued and definitely more my style. The diamond was embedded into the yellow gold band. I preferred this style as it was more practical in daily life. I didn’t care if it wasn’t as expensive as the one Paolo had chosen. I hadn’t even expected an engagement ring from him. It wasn’t as if we had a standard courtship.
Maximus watched me closely as I fumbled with the box in my hand. Maybe he wanted me to put it on right away? I took out the ring and pushed it onto my finger. Surprise washed over me at how perfectly it fit.
“Isabella and my mother helped me pick the right one,” Maximus said.
“Oh? I’ll have to thank them.”
“You should,” he said.
“And thank you.”
He waved me off. “I’m glad you like it.”
Suddenly, something dawned on me. “I never thought about changing the wedding bands…Paolo and I picked them out a while back.” It had been a difficult process because Paolo wanted a big wedding ring for me too, but eventually, I’d convinced him of a less flashy piece. His choice, however, was quite prominent, not to mention that Maximus’s fingers were much bigger.
“I’d prefer it if we picked new rings. You will be my wife. I don’t want any signs of your previous fiancé on your body.” He snapped his lips shut, his expression tight with regret. It was the first time he was less restrained and showed a possessive streak. Although I appreciated his attempt to appear calm and reserved in my company, I had seen a different side of him when he’d almost ripped the cage out of the ceiling, fueled by rage.
I nodded. I was still so wrapped up in my own life, in all the changes I was met with, I hadn’t even stopped to think how that would make Maximus feel. I had tried not to think about him at all. “Of course. I don’t mind. I’m not emotionally attached to the other ring.”
“Good. So we’re picking new rings and a place to call home.”
A place to call home. I’d already dreaded moving out when I’d thought I’d move into Paolo’s house that he’d inherited, but now that it meant living under the same roof as Maximus, I was close to panic. I didn’t worry that he’d hurt me. I worried how being faced with him every day would allow me to pretend nothing had happened.
Soon, you’ll have a child who’ll be another reminder.
Could I ever look at him and the child and not think about the past?
The options in Greenwich Village, close to Sara’s parents, were limited. There was one place a few blocks from their house, but it was tiny, only 550 square feet with one bedroom. How were we supposed to live there as a family? And even Sara and I alone probably needed more room and another bedroom. It wasn’t as if being close to each other would be easy.
“This place looks good,” Amo said, pointing at another place, but it was too far away. Sara wanted to be able to walk over to her parents’, though I’d obviously never allow her to walk alone.
“Sara wants to be close to her family. I want to give her this sense of safety. She has enough to deal with.”
Amo leaned back. “It’s not Famiglia-owned, but there’s a place on the same block, even the same street. Here.” He turned his laptop around to me.
“Three bedroom, en suite, extra bathroom.” I fell silent when I saw the price. “It’s 2.7 million.”
That was a bit more than I wanted to pay, more than I could afford without borrowing money. I couldn’t just walk to the bank. That wasn’t how we did it. I’d have to ask Amo or Luca. It felt really icky to ask my best friend. Even if I sold my Rolex, I’d get fifteen thousand tops. That wouldn’t help much.
“How much do you need?” Amo asked without missing a beat.
I grimaced and began shaking my head.
“Don’t be stubborn. I have the money, and it’s not a gift. Maybe one day you’ll have to figure out a way to kill my wife in a very inconspicuous way. That’ll be worth many millions.”
I cocked an eyebrow. He’d said it in jest, but I wasn’t sure that there wasn’t a bit of truth in his statement. He loathed Cressida and despised her for having to give up the woman he really wanted. Not that I doubted Amo’s ability to kill Cressida himself, but it would probably get more messy if he didn’t use me.