a private affair; it had trans

ofia were i

their fabricated happiness. They sat on the patio of Dante's

throwing his head back, wearing a look of you

nst the nightstand,

just for show. She needs constant reass

reply. I

. Just to seal the memory. Then I c

e pro

y tasted

ess space between hits. He had tossed a velvet ring box into my

afterthought. For her,

na E

ered in the doorway,

He said you should

my fingers brushi

a vid

Cathedral filled the display

devouring the light. Candelabras as tall as men stood like silent se

magni

onation for the Quee

fect," I

ent yo

ed right in, bypassing security with the

the screen, he

d. "Is that... for

aid, my vo

of envy bleeding into her tone. "Dante's propo

know the br

locking the screen and severing the

ehind Sofia, his

ped at Sofia, though his hand rested w

Matteo's wedding venue,"

pped to me, dark

our role. You're supposed to be the grieving ex-fiancée who supports her sister-in-

elieved I was staring at the venue

le, Dante," I

d. "Come on, Sofi

a asked, blin

e," Dant

y, leaving me

ng, Sofia bang

th excitement. "Dante is acting so weird. He's taking m

asked, feigni

"Please, Elena. I don't have any family. You're th

innocence was so thic

said. "I

ed to

e brutal difference be

to the

ilies, the air sweet enough to rot teeth. Soft,

a fai

under a gazebo dra

handsome

htened. He hadn't expected

ldn't brea

usand lies pressing down on him,