Chapter 3
Serena's POV
Two weeks before the wedding, Vivienne showed up at my door.
"Serena!" She threw her arms around me like we were best friends. Like she hadn't been sleeping with my fiancé for months. "I've missed you so much. You've been so distant lately."
I let her hug me. Smiled into her shoulder. "I've been busy."
She pulled back, those doll-eyes blinking up at me. "Busy with what? You have to tell me everything."
"Just some personal projects," I said lightly. "Nothing exciting."
She settled onto my sofa, tucking her legs beneath her like she owned the place. "Well, I have news." She pressed her lips together, feigning hesitation. "Dominic and I... we've been spending more time together. I know you two are on a break, but I wanted to be upfront with you—"
"You're dating him," I finished.
Her eyes went wide. "You're not upset?"
I poured her a cup of tea. "Why would I be? We're on a break. He's free to see other people."
Relief flooded her face — followed by something else. Satisfaction, maybe. The kind that comes from winning a game the other person doesn't even know they're playing.
"I'm so glad you feel that way," she breathed. "I was so scared to tell you. I'd never want to come between sisters."
Sisters. Right.
I sipped my tea and watched her over the rim. She was good — I'd give her that. The wide eyes, the trembling lip, the constant need for reassurance. She played her role perfectly.
But I'd seen behind the curtain now.
"Vivienne," I said gently, "I want you to be happy. If Dominic makes you happy — then I support you."
She squeezed my hand. "You're the best, Serena. Really."
As she left, she paused at the door. "Oh — one more thing. Dominic's planning a... celebration. In three weeks. He'd love for you to be there. Will you come?"
A celebration. She meant their wedding.
I tilted my head. "I'll think about it."
...
That night, I met Dante at his estate.
The Valenti property was unlike anything in the city — sprawling, dark, elegant. Old money mixed with danger.
He was waiting in the courtyard, jacket off, sleeves rolled to his elbows. The moonlight caught the sharp angles of his face as he turned toward me.
"You look troubled," he said simply.
"My stepsister invited me to watch her marry my ex." I let out a dry laugh. "Does that count as troubled?"
Something flickered in his dark eyes — not pity, but understanding.
"And what did you say?" he asked.
"I said I'd think about it."
He stepped closer. "And?"
"And I think I'd rather she watch me instead."
Dante's mouth curved. It was barely a smile, but on him, it felt like an earthquake.
"Then let's give her something worth watching," he said.
He reached into his pocket and produced a velvet box. Inside — a ring. Not a diamond. A blood-red ruby surrounded by black stones, set in platinum. It was striking, bold, and utterly unlike anything Dominic would have chosen.
"I had this made for you," Dante said. "The day your father first proposed the arrangement."
I stared at him. "Two years ago?"
"I told you," he said, sliding the ring onto my finger, "I've been waiting a long time."
His hand lingered on mine — warm, steady.
"Dante," I whispered. "Why did you agree to this? You could have anyone. Why wait for an arranged marriage with a woman who only said yes because—"
"Because you were angry?" He finished, unfazed. "I don't care why you said yes, Serena. I only care that you did."
His eyes held mine, and for the first time since finding those invitations, I felt something crack open inside me — something that wasn't rage or humiliation.
It was curiosity.
Who was Dante Valenti? And why did he look at me like I was the only thing in the room worth seeing?
Before I could ask more, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then back at me.
"Your stepsister's fiancé just sent out his wedding invitations," Dante said calmly. "Officially."
My stomach turned. "And?"
"And I made sure ours went out tonight." He pocketed the phone. "Same date. Same time. Same plaza. Every guest who received his — received ours too."
I stared at him.
"By morning," Dante said, "the entire city will know. The question is — are you ready for what comes next?"
Two weeks before the wedding, Vivienne showed up at my door.
"Serena!" She threw her arms around me like we were best friends. Like she hadn't been sleeping with my fiancé for months. "I've missed you so much. You've been so distant lately."
I let her hug me. Smiled into her shoulder. "I've been busy."
She pulled back, those doll-eyes blinking up at me. "Busy with what? You have to tell me everything."
"Just some personal projects," I said lightly. "Nothing exciting."
She settled onto my sofa, tucking her legs beneath her like she owned the place. "Well, I have news." She pressed her lips together, feigning hesitation. "Dominic and I... we've been spending more time together. I know you two are on a break, but I wanted to be upfront with you—"
"You're dating him," I finished.
Her eyes went wide. "You're not upset?"
I poured her a cup of tea. "Why would I be? We're on a break. He's free to see other people."
Relief flooded her face — followed by something else. Satisfaction, maybe. The kind that comes from winning a game the other person doesn't even know they're playing.
"I'm so glad you feel that way," she breathed. "I was so scared to tell you. I'd never want to come between sisters."
Sisters. Right.
I sipped my tea and watched her over the rim. She was good — I'd give her that. The wide eyes, the trembling lip, the constant need for reassurance. She played her role perfectly.
But I'd seen behind the curtain now.
"Vivienne," I said gently, "I want you to be happy. If Dominic makes you happy — then I support you."
She squeezed my hand. "You're the best, Serena. Really."
As she left, she paused at the door. "Oh — one more thing. Dominic's planning a... celebration. In three weeks. He'd love for you to be there. Will you come?"
A celebration. She meant their wedding.
I tilted my head. "I'll think about it."
...
That night, I met Dante at his estate.
The Valenti property was unlike anything in the city — sprawling, dark, elegant. Old money mixed with danger.
He was waiting in the courtyard, jacket off, sleeves rolled to his elbows. The moonlight caught the sharp angles of his face as he turned toward me.
"You look troubled," he said simply.
"My stepsister invited me to watch her marry my ex." I let out a dry laugh. "Does that count as troubled?"
Something flickered in his dark eyes — not pity, but understanding.
"And what did you say?" he asked.
"I said I'd think about it."
He stepped closer. "And?"
"And I think I'd rather she watch me instead."
Dante's mouth curved. It was barely a smile, but on him, it felt like an earthquake.
"Then let's give her something worth watching," he said.
He reached into his pocket and produced a velvet box. Inside — a ring. Not a diamond. A blood-red ruby surrounded by black stones, set in platinum. It was striking, bold, and utterly unlike anything Dominic would have chosen.
"I had this made for you," Dante said. "The day your father first proposed the arrangement."
I stared at him. "Two years ago?"
"I told you," he said, sliding the ring onto my finger, "I've been waiting a long time."
His hand lingered on mine — warm, steady.
"Dante," I whispered. "Why did you agree to this? You could have anyone. Why wait for an arranged marriage with a woman who only said yes because—"
"Because you were angry?" He finished, unfazed. "I don't care why you said yes, Serena. I only care that you did."
His eyes held mine, and for the first time since finding those invitations, I felt something crack open inside me — something that wasn't rage or humiliation.
It was curiosity.
Who was Dante Valenti? And why did he look at me like I was the only thing in the room worth seeing?
Before I could ask more, his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen, then back at me.
"Your stepsister's fiancé just sent out his wedding invitations," Dante said calmly. "Officially."
My stomach turned. "And?"
"And I made sure ours went out tonight." He pocketed the phone. "Same date. Same time. Same plaza. Every guest who received his — received ours too."
I stared at him.
"By morning," Dante said, "the entire city will know. The question is — are you ready for what comes next?"