Chapter 4

Vincenzo

“So, to safe our family, I need to marry this spoiled brat who fell in love with me at first sight?” I shook my head in disbelief.

This situation required a meeting with my brother, but Christian, who could not stop making fun of me, had also invited himself over for a good laugh.

If anything, this alliance would not be good for the Lambertis as it would potentially challenge their power.

“I thought I’d let her down gently,” I whispered, befuddled. I knew she had a thing for me because she had been stalking me at the wedding, I tried to keep my distance when Stella introduced her to me, and I told her I wasn’t looking for a relationship, but still…

“I always told you to stop flirting with everyone.” Christian shrugged, smiling. “I called it.”

He did.

Christian always told me that my flirtatious ways would one day backfire, and he was right. To be honest, I had expected something more scandalous like a secret baby—but an unwanted marriage?

“Call Oscar and tell him the deal’s off.” I turned to Nic. I would rather drink toilet water than marry the Morales daughter, especially after all those nasty rumors surrounding her.

Nic furrowed his brows. “Vince!”

“No, I won’t do it,” I stated. “From what I’ve heard, she’s an entitled, spoiled brat who believes the world revolves around her.”

“And after begging her daddy to arrange a marriage with me, she has exactly proven that point.”

“You need to give us another reason.” Christian laughed.

“She’s twenty.” I cracked my brains. She was too young and immature to be my wife. It was a surprise she didn’t ask me to marry her on the spot that evening. “She’s not even allowed to drink, I mean come on—I’m twenty-six!”

“She’ll be twenty-one next week—so that won’t be a problem!” Nic added. “We got an invitation in the mail, by the way.” He spoke. “Christian, I assume you received one as well?”

“Yes, we sure did,” Christian confirmed. “It looks like I’ll have to up my game for Siena’s birthday.”

“Guys!”

“Oh, right—the girl.” Nic facepalmed. “Christian, you’ve met her. What do you think?”

Christian shrugged nonchalantly. “She didn’t seem all that bad to me.”

“Oh, please—you can’t remember a thing after saying I do.” I jumped in. “You couldn’t even walk in a straight line.”

I did remember. I couldn’t forget the way those dangerous eyes shot daggers at Serena, who had nothing but kindness in her soft heart.

“Because he can’t hold his liquor,” Nic called out Christian, smacking his shoulder.

“That’s not true!” Christian denied. “It’s because I hadn’t had a solid drink in over two years.”

“I’ll not marry her and let her have her way. I won’t.” I interrupted their conversation yet again. The girl was gorgeous. I’d give her that. I was sure the Morales girl would have no issue finding someone else to marry—but one thing was certain, that someone wouldn’t be me.

“Don’t you care about this family?” Nic pulled a sad face. He was doing this on purpose because he knew I cared. Bringing us back on top where we belonged and showing others they could trust us again was my only goal.

“I do, a lot.” I sighed. “But I won’t marry that girl.”

Christian shrugged. “Maybe she’s not that bad once you get to know her.” His tone was doubtful enough for me to almost fall for it.

“I don’t care if she’ll turn out to be the fucking nicest human being on this planet.” I came back to my senses. “I already told you a long time ago that I won’t marry anyone, and I mean it.”

I could not put my all into someone in fear of losing them one day like dad lost mom, and I could not forget about her.

Serena, the same woman who belonged to my best friend. To Christian.

“Was this what I used to sound like?” Christian cackled, shooting me a dirty look.

“Yes.”

“Vince, you don’t even have to love her. You only need to say, I do—that’s it.” Christian tried convincing me. “Just let her life in her delusional little fantasy and become the hero of the Garcia family.”

“I never thought I’d hear something like that from your mouth ever again.” I rolled my eyes. “Especially now that you’re a married man and all.”

“Nic and his wife would like to go back home as well, Vince.”

I turned to my brother, Nic—who had yet to say a word. By the look on his face, I could tell those were the actual words he wanted to say, but he couldn’t.

Vince, if you won’t do it for yourself—at least do it for me. He was dying to say those words.

I felt guilty.

Had I not been such a failure son and had the strength and courage to be there for dad, things wouldn’t have turned out this way. If I had been there for him when he needed me the most, he would’ve never lost his humanity and turned into a monster.

“Christian,” I spoke. “I don’t want to stand behind my wife and watch as she leads not only her family but also mine—because that’s what will happen.” I shared my feelings. “The plan was to restore what we’d lost, not to become the Morales’ puppet.”

“Then you’ll have to make them believe,” Christian spoke. “Make them believe you’re their puppet—and as for your wife, if that girl is so in love with you, she wouldn’t mind you pulling the strings behind the scenes.”

Putting together our forces would only hurt his family, which was why I couldn’t believe my ears. Wasn’t he supposed to be against all of this?

“Christian, we shouldn’t force him.” Nic gave up all hope. “It’s okay. I’ll tell Oscar that the deal is off.”

What he meant to say was—it’s okay, I’ll tell my wife and daughter that we can’t go home yet.

I felt sorry for my brother. He was only here because he felt like he owed it to us after leaving us behind with our twisted father. As the eldest, he was merely trying to fix the issue he felt responsible for.

But could I marry the Morales girl?

What if she would expect something crazy, such as my love, in return? I couldn’t love her. I would never be able to love her.

Especially not after learning she had pulled every little string for me to put a ring on her finger, even after I rejected her. That, to me, was not someone worthy of getting what she wanted.

That was a coward.

A loser.

A pathetic and hopeless case.

Still, this union would not only be good for the Garcias, but also for Nic and Luis. Nic and his wife could finally go home, and Luis would not have to worry about me anymore.

Despite his age, Luis was very intelligent and knew all too well that our family wasn’t exactly wanted around here. He also had to experience the physical and mental abuse of our monstrous father but had somehow still managed to create enough space in his heart to worry about his brother’s well-being.

“I’ll do it.” I barely whispered.

Nic blinked. “What did you say?”

“I’ll do it,” I spoke loudly. “I’ll marry the girl and save our family’s honor. I’ll do it.”

“You will?” Christian spoke, shocked.

I smirked. “Yes, I’ll fool her and play pretend until I’ve cleared the Garcia name.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

“And after that…I’ll divorce her.”