“Massimo...?” Alice muttered, her voice still managing to fail because of the shock “What... What did you say...?”
“I could ask if you want to marry me.” Those green eyes looked at her without hesitation or fear “But you are already mine. So, you want to wear a wedding dress, have Millie as a flower girl and have a preacher telling you that you're stuck with me for the rest of eternity?" Massimo questioned her, the firmness in his voice, as if there was not the slightest possibility of him regretting saying that, elicited a response from Alice before she realized what she was doing.
“Of course I do.” She gasped, her tongue escaping to lick her lips when she realized Massimo’s eyes were fixed there.
“Great. Say goodbye to your mother and sister. The next time they see us, you'll be at the altar, telling me yes again.
“Massimo…” Alice’s head spun, but Massimo kept her body exactly where it was, one of his hands still on her chin and the other on her hip.“I know perfectly well what that looks like.” A biting smile appeared on his face “A crazy man who became obsessed with a woman and does everything to get her. But, you know what? I don’t give a fuck.”“Massimo…” Alice tried again, all those discoveries making the words she had locked inside herself so long ago threaten to break free, although the fear and confusion were still too much for her to fight “I… I..."“You already gave me an answer. You said yes." He grunted, unyielding like a judge imposing a sentence, but his cheeks were a little puffed up just like Millie used to do when she
“And this is our hazelnut flavor with dark chocolate cream, imported directly from Belgium. It’s one of our best sellers.” The cheerful baker said proudly, opening another of the dozens of boxes she had brought to take out a tiny decorated cake and place it in front of where Massimo, Alice and Millicent were sitting.“That one looks great.” Alice smiled, although it was very clear to Massimo how tired she looked after a whole day choosing sweets, clothes and decorations for the wedding “Here, honey, what do you think?” She took a bite of the dessert, bringing it to the gaping mouth of Millie, who was sitting in Massimo’s lap.“So tasty!” Millie cheered, moving her face towards him as Massimo used a napkin to wipe the icing off her cheek “Can we choose this one, mommy, please?”“I thought you already chose the strawberry cream.” Alice laughed “We have to decide soon. We don’t want to cause even more problems for the bakers, who will already need to make such a big and beautiful cake in
“Okay, Alice, just let me tidy up that tail a little and... That's it!” Thea cheered, more cheerful than Alice had ever seen her “You look absolutely perfect! You're the most beautiful bride I've ever seen, and I attended all my sisters' weddings.”“Thanks, Thea.” Alice murmured, running her hands down the lacy bodice of the white dress around her "I..." for perhaps the hundredth time in the last ten minutes, she raised her eyes toward the reflection in the mirror, where that bride, who seemed to have left from a magazine, was looking at her. It was strange to say that about herself, but Thea was right that it was very close to perfection. Everything, from the dress with lace sleeves reaching to the elbows, the delicate fabric that hugged her skin like flower petals, the skirt that opened like a big A and the long veil that
“Will he ever stop talking?” a soft growl reached Alice, even where she was kneeling before the altar, next to Massimo.“Massimo!” she hissed, only getting Millicent to cover her mouth with her hands to hide a giggle “He's a priest. His job is to give a speech.”“For twenty minutes? Millicent will end up sleeping and so will I.” He rolled his eyes, impatiently.“Behave yourselves, you two...”“And, with that, I conclude my words.” The priest's loud voice cut through her whisper, causing Alice to quickly straighten up so she could look at him “You may rise, my dear. Or, of course, stay as you are, if you want...” the old man cleared his throat, avoiding Massimo's gaze “It's time for
“Our records show that Mr. Bianchi was discharged a few days ago.”“Oh...” Alice blinked, a pang of disappointment piercing her heart as she looked at the receptionist of that hospital wing “I... I didn't know...”“Even if he was here, this hospital does not allow patients to be visited by unknown people.” The woman replied, narrowing her gaze with pure contempt, measuring Alice from top to bottom “If you are the girlfriend that Mr. Bianchi's relatives talked about, then perhaps you should have come earlier, young lady.”“I didn't plan to visit him. I just wanted to leave these gifts here.” She tried to swallow the lump of discomfort in her throat and maintain her posture, even though her hands were nervously clutching the tiny bouquet and the candy wrapper “Also, my last name might be Dawsey, but the girlfriend you're talking about It's my sister, Amber...”“Of course, of course...” the woman snorted, refocusing solely on her computer “Since there is no one here to receive your gifts,
“Casey, could you excuse us for a moment?” Kendra smiled, her tone suddenly warmer and gentler, only because it wasn't Alice the one who she was talking to.“Uh... Of course...” Casey hesitated, and Alice knew him well enough to know he was eager to walk away from a possible argument. “Just... Please, Kendra, don't be so hard on Alice. It's okay for her to be sad. As much in love as Amber and I are, it was still a betrayal..."“Don’t be so hard on yourself, darling.” Kendra cut him off, with a friendly smile “What happened was just inevitable. I saw the way Alice treated you. Any man would realize sooner or later that they deserve more than a cold woman. As a mother, all I can say is that I am more than happy to continue having you as my son-in-law.”“Oh, uh... Thank you. I... I'll try to talk to Alice when things are calmer.” He promised, but didn't turn his eyes toward his ex-girlfriend before leaving the living room, leaving Alice with that sour feeling inside her, watched by the p
“Did you take my money?!” she gasped, horrified, but that only seemed to make her mother and sister even more arrogant.“You have to agree that you were the only one stupid enough to hide cash, little sister.” Amber laughed.“I only did it so you guys wouldn’t convince Dad to clean out my accounts again, like you did before!” Alice started to raise her voice, but Kendra quickly cut her off.“You forget how merciful I have been to you since you were born, especially in the last four years. I could have thrown you out of this house for being a slut who doesn't even know who got her pregnant, but did I? No! Did I let you continue here, creating a bastard and dirtying our family name, charging only a symbolic amount of rent so that you could learn your lesson? Yes! The money you had in that can? It were nothing more than compensation for the 23 long years I raised you, receiving nothing in return but disappointment and ingratitude. But once again, Alice, I will be kind and give you a choi
“This farm is still as… Rustic and old-fashioned as I remember.” Kendra grunted, as if she wanted to use much less gentle words, as the Dawseys' limousine parked in front of the steps leading to the front door of Massimo's country estate "Now, what are the rules?" she raised an eyebrow, staring at Alice and Millicent with pure disdain.“We don’t meddle in anything. Don't create any problems... And don't bother Massimo.” Alice repeated everything her mother had been repeating in her ears since that terrible night, two days ago.“And this girl? Did you teach her too?” she pointed at Millie, causing Alice to hold her even closer in her lap “I don't want to hear a single word in high society about the Dawseys putting a messy brat in the house of a Bianchi who killed his patience until he got even more sick..."“Millie would never do that!” Alice growled “Then stop right now!”“Who do you think you are, to talk to me like that...?” Kendra was clearly ready to start a fight when a hand appe