Alessia
I must've slept longer than I expected because when I finally opened my eyes, the morning had already gone further than I wanted. The sunlight streaming through the large window felt intrusive, an uninvited reminder that I had failed in my plan to leave before dawn.
Damn it.
I had hoped to slip out quietly, avoiding unnecessary questions especially from Isabella. But now, I am stuck. I sat up with a groggy sigh, rubbing my temples. The events of last night flashed through my mind: Marco's ridiculous comment about marriage, Isabella's bright-eyed excitement, and the way Marco had smirked at my irritation like he was enjoying every second of it.
A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts.
I tensed instinctively. "Who is it?"
The door creaked open, revealing the same maid from last night. She gave a small bow before stepping inside.
"Miss, breakfast is ready. You're invited to join the family."
I nearly groaned.
I wasn't in the mood for socializing. The last thing I wanted was to sit around a table with Marco, pretending to be his fiancée while his sister prattled on about our nonexistent love story. But my stomach betrayed me, twisting in protest at the mere thought of skipping a meal.
Fine.
"Alright," I mumbled, dragging myself out of bed.
The maid led me down the grand staircase, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries making my mouth water. As I stepped into the dining room, Isabella's face instantly lit up with excitement.
"You're awake!" she practically squealed. "I was going to come wake you up myself!"
I forced a small smile, taking a seat beside her. "Yeah… I guess I overslept."
"Don't worry! I made breakfast just for you," she announced proudly, pushing a plate toward me.
I hesitated, but then I saw her expectant expression. There was something so pure about her excitement that it made it impossible to refuse.
"Thanks," I muttered, taking a bite.
For a while, breakfast passed with Isabella's endless chatter. She spoke about everything, from school to her love for Italian pastries, and while I mostly nodded along, I found myself oddly entertained by her enthusiasm.
Then, the room shifted. A tall figure stepped inside.
I instinctively stiffened, my grip tightening around my fork.
The man was lean, but not too lean—broad shoulders, sharp features, dark hair similar to Marco's. But there was something more intense about him. His eyes, a deep shade of brown, were sharper, more calculating.
He wasn't just some random guest, I could tell. He was a Vitale.
For a moment, he simply stood there, looking at me. I couldn't tell if it was suspicion or curiosity, but whatever it was, it made my skin prickle.
Does he know who I am?
No. That was impossible. No one knew who I really was… right?
"Rafael!" Isabella's voice cut through the silence. "You're finally joining us!"
Rafael?, So this was Marco's younger brother.
He walked toward the table with an unreadable expression, giving Isabella a small nod before his gaze flickered back to me.
I swallowed.
"This is my special guest," Marco's voice interrupted my thoughts as he strolled in casually, a smirk already playing on his lips. "Leona."
Rafael's gaze lingered on me for a second longer before he took a seat.
"Special guest?" he echoed, his tone unreadable.
Marco leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying this.
"Yes. She's staying with us for a while."
Rafael didn't respond immediately, but his eyes didn't leave mine. There was tension in the air, subtle but heavy enough to feel.
And then Isabella, in all her innocence, just had to chime in.
"Actually, Marco should've said fiancée," she corrected with a giggle. "Can you believe he didn't even tell us he was getting married? I had to find out on my own!"
A heavy silence followed.
Rafael's expression didn't change, but something shifted in his posture.
Oh no. He wasn't buying it.
Unlike Isabella, Rafael wasn't fooled so easily.
I glanced at Marco, expecting him to correct his sister, but to my absolute horror, he grinned.
"Ah, you caught me," Marco said smoothly, draping an arm over my chair. "I was going to break the news properly, but Isabella's just too sharp."
My mouth fell open slightly. Was this man serious right now?
I shot him a glare, but he only smirked, completely unfazed by my silent death threats.
Rafael, on the other hand, didn't look amused.
"You're engaged?" he asked flatly.
Marco nodded, far too relaxed. "That's what I just said, isn't it?"
Rafael leaned forward slightly, fingers tapping against the table. His gaze never left Marco's.
"I just find it odd," he mused. "You've never mentioned her before."
Marco shrugged. "Well, I like to keep my private life private."
Rafael's brow lifted slightly. "Since when?"
Isabella, oblivious to the growing tension, gasped in excitement.
"Oh! Does that mean there's going to be a wedding soon?"
Marco turned to me with a smirk.
"What do you think, cara mia?"
I clenched my fists under the table. This….man. I was going to kill him if he said more of this nonsense.
I plastered on a sweet smile. "I think," I said through gritted teeth, "that we should discuss these things privately."
Marco chuckled. "Oh, come on, don't be shy. This is family."
Family my ass.
Rafael didn't look remotely convinced. He was watching us like a predator waiting for a misstep.
Then, finally, he sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"Well," he said coolly, "congratulations."
But I didn't miss the coldness in his voice. He wasn't congratulating Marco. He was warning him.
Marco, of course, seemed completely unbothered.
"Well, thank you, fratellino," Marco said, flashing a grin. "That means a lot."
Rafael hummed, sipping his coffee. "I'm sure it does."
The silence stretched again, heavy with unspoken words.
Isabella, however, remained blissfully unaware.
"Oh! I should start planning the wedding!" she gushed. "Do you two want a big one? Or something small?"
I was about to shut that idea down immediately, but Marco beat me to it.
"I think we should elope," he said casually, winking at me. "Something intimate."
I kicked him under the table, hard.
He barely flinched.
I, on the other hand, was about five seconds away from flipping the damn table over.
I opened my mouth to end this ridiculous conversation, but before I could, Rafael suddenly stood up.
"I should go," he said, placing his napkin down. "I have some business to take care of."
He looked at Marco one last time, his gaze unreadable.
Then, with one final glance in my direction, he walked out. The moment he was gone, I turned to Marco with an icy glare.
"What the hell was that?" I hissed.
Marco smirked. "What? You don't like being my fiancée?"
I wanted to slap that stupid grin off his face. But before I could, Isabella sighed dreamily.
"You two are so cute."
I nearly choked on air. Marco chuckled, clearly enjoying every second of this.
And I…..I wanted to disappear.