My Fiancé Wants Two Brides

Aidan's expression shifted. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," I met his gaze, speaking each word with cold precision, "Aidan Callahan, I don't want your love anymore."

"I'll marry anyone in this world but you."

"Seraphina Moretti, who could you possibly marry besides me?"

"Are you actually going to marry that Dante Falcone?"

He sneered, "You, a Don's daughter, throwing your life away on some two-bit soldier who smells of gunpowder and cheap whiskey?"

"Is your pride worth all that?"

"Seraphina, you've been like this since you were a kid, blowing every little thing out of proportion."

"But this is our marriage, Seraphina. It's not like that toy pistol I replaced for you when you were a kid."

When I was little, another kid lost my favorite Browning pistol, and I cried for days.

Aidan scoured every black market in Chicago and spent three months' allowance to buy me an identical one.

Back then, he'd knelt before me and said, "Seraphina, I'd do anything to make you happy."

And now?

Now he was telling me I was throwing a tantrum.

Isabelle chimed in with that syrupy voice of hers, "Principessa, don't be mad at Aidan."

"He's just trying to do what's best for everyone."

"I promise, I'll never overstep. I know my place."

As she spoke, she deliberately snaked her arm through Aidan's, a defiant gesture right in front of me.

Aidan didn't just let her; he wrapped his arm around her waist.

"Isabelle's right, Seraphina. You're overthinking this."

He suddenly softened his tone, trying to coax me, but it only made my stomach turn.

"You see? Isabelle is so understanding. The two of you will get along just fine."

"She won't compete with you. I'll set you both up in different residences, so she'll be out of your sight."

"She'll handle my daily needs, and you'll be the elegant face of the family at formal events. A perfect division of labor, don't you think?"

He said it as if it were the most reasonable thing in the world. I stared at him, incredulous.

"Aidan Callahan, do you even hear yourself?"

He frowned. "Seraphina, I just need you to be reasonable."

"A man has needs, you understand."

"Better to have Isabelle by my side than for me to find other women out there. At least she's clean and she knows the rules."

"Aidan."

I said his name, my voice calmer than I'd ever heard it.

"You disgust me."

Displeasure flashed in his eyes. "I disgust you?"

"Seraphina Moretti, I'm thinking about our future here. We grew up together; you know how I feel about you. But feelings are one thing, reality is another. Isabelle was an accident, but she's my responsibility now."

"If you really loved me, you'd understand and support me, not throw a tantrum."

A tantrum.

"Fine. Perfect."

I felt a strange weight lift from my chest.

"Aidan Callahan, thank you for showing me who you really are."

I turned to leave, but he grabbed my wrist. "Where are you going?"