Choosing The Groom in Shadows

Whether he came back or not, it no longer mattered.

Marco, in a hurry to get back to Bianca, didn't catch the change in my tone. "Alright, don't be difficult. I got you a present."

A photo pinged on my phone. It was a delicate, custom-made handgun with a silver body and a blooming rose engraved on the grip.

Another one of Bianca's cast-offs.

I had become the dumping ground for her leftovers.

I remembered the first gift he gave me—a small knife, also engraved with a rose pattern. It was a gaudy style I disliked, but because it was from him, I treasured it. Until one day, I saw Bianca pull out a solid gold lighter with the exact same rose engraving.

When I confronted him, Marco showed no remorse. "Where would I find the time to pick out gifts? Bianca was just helping. Don't be so petty."

He claimed he was bad at picking gifts, but everyone connected to the Grimaldi family knew the truth. Every year for Bianca's birthday, Marco would book the most lavish club in the city and celebrate with music so loud the whole neighborhood could hear. Jewels that were supposed to appear at secret auctions were endlessly presented to her for her choosing.

He didn't give me a fraction of the thought he lavished on her.

Now, he couldn't even be bothered to come up with a new design to placate me.

As if she couldn't detect the ice in my voice, Bianca chirped cheerfully, "I designed the gift Marco sent you! I hope you like it. You don't have to thank me!"

Bianca smiled triumphantly and nudged Marco to hang up.

Shame was written all over Salvatore's face. He could no longer bring himself to ask me to wait for Marco to come to his senses.

"Are you sure you want to choose Derek? His birth—it will be a laughingstock."

I cut him off, my gaze locked on the unnerving stillness in Derek Grimaldi's eyes. I took a deep breath. "I choose him."

My mother had once mentioned seeing Derek at a top-tier private auction. This illegitimate son was far more complex than Salvatore imagined.

Power or love—I had to seize one of them.

The groom's tuxedo needed to be remade, so Derek and I set the ceremony for a week later. Salvatore’s gaze was conflicted as he let out a heavy sigh. "On the day of your ceremony, I will announce the change in the Grimaldi family's line of succession."

The groom had changed, and so everything else had to change with him. When I went to the family's trusted blacksmith to retrieve an antique dagger left by my mother, I ran into Marco and Bianca, who had just returned to the city.

Our eyes met, and the warmth on Marco's face vanished instantly. "Jennifer, you've got some nerve—managing to convince my father to freeze my access to funds."

His voice was filled with contempt. "I hate being forced into things. Don't think for a second that just because I'm back, I'm going to go through with this marriage."

A flash of irritation crossed his face. "What, are you spying on me, coming all the way here just to corner me?"

Bianca gave him a playful shove. "She's devoted to you—don't be so mean!"

She looped her arm through his and grinned at me. "He's just got a temper. Don't take it personally. I promise I'll have him house-trained before I give him back to you."

Marco let her cling to him, his expression softening with indulgence.