Chapter 3

Rhea had experienced a turbulent two weeks. Her father had ordered her to infiltrate the Vitale family under the guise of marriage, claiming it was the only way to finally bring them down. And now the wedding day she dreaded was finally here.

Rhea stood before the full-length mirror in the bridal suite, the silk of her wedding dress cascading around her beautiful, shapely body. It was an exquisite creation, hand-stitched lace framing her delicate shoulders, the fitted bodice hugging her form before spilling into an ethereal train. A vision of perfection. A vision of a dutiful bride.

But inside, she was suffocating.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts.

Izzy came into the room and stood beside her, adjusting the delicate diamond tiara placed on Rhea’s rich, curly brown hair.

“You look… breathtaking,” she murmured, but there was sadness in her voice.

Rhea’s lips curved into a hollow smile. “Isn’t that the point?”

Izzy’s grip tightened on Rhea’s hand. “You don’t have to go through with this.”

“Yes, I do,” Rhea whispered. “I have no choice, Izzy. Father literally threatened me.”

Izzy scoffed. "You're about to marry a man who likely won't hesitate to kill you if he discovers your true intentions."

Rhea stiffened. She knew the risks. Knew that one wrong move could cost her everything. But she had no choice.

Izzy grabbed her hands, squeezing tightly. “Just… don’t lose yourself in this.”

Rhea forced a smile. “I won’t.”

But deep down, she wasn’t sure.

A knock at the door interrupted them. Enrico stepped inside, his tuxedo sharp, his expression unreadable. “It’s time.”

Izzy hesitated, eyes flickering between them. “I’ll be right behind you.”

Rhea exhaled slowly, then turned to her father. Enrico held out his arm, a picture of the perfect loving father escorting his daughter down the aisle.

Together, they stepped into the grand hall, where hundreds of eyes turned to watch her. The music swelled, filling the cathedral with haunting elegance.

The grand cathedral stood as a towering monument to wealth and power, its golden chandeliers casting a warm glow over the sea of prestigious guests. Every mafia boss, politician, and business mogul with ties to the underworld had gathered for the spectacle: a wedding not of love, but of necessity.

At the altar, Adrian Vitale stood waiting.

Rhea had seen him many times before, but never like this. The black tuxedo was perfectly tailored to his broad frame, his jet-black hair swept back in a way that emphasized the sharp lines of his chiseled jaw. He looked handsome and powerful.

But his dark eyes held nothing. No warmth. No admiration. Just indifference.

Rhea met his eyes with the same detached composure, every step forward a reminder of the life she was walking into.

At least he was a handsome man. She caught herself thinking.

As she reached the altar, Enrico placed her hand in Adrian’s before stepping away. The brief touch sent a jolt through her. The jolt was not from desire but from the chilling reality of it all.

The priest began speaking, but Rhea barely heard the words. Everything around her faded to a blur of mashed-up words. She could feel the weight of expectations pressing in from all sides.

Then, the vows.

Adrian’s voice was smooth, his delivery flawless, but there was no emotion behind it. He was simply fulfilling his duty to his family. A deal is being sealed.

When it was her turn, Rhea kept her voice soft and demure to signify the perfect obedient wife.

“Do you take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

She swallowed and whispered, “I do.”

She slid the ring onto his finger.

He slid the ring onherers.

The moment their rings were exchanged and the priest declared them husband and wife, Adrian kissed her lightly, and the room erupted in applause.

Then it was done.

The reception was a grand affair, held in the beautiful gardens of the Vitale estate. Crystal chandeliers hung from the towering trees, covering the grounds in a golden glow. White roses and deep red camellias lined the tables, each one signifying an unspoken message of power and love for family.

People drank, laughed, and exchanged pleasantries, but Rhea felt none of it.

She played her role, smiling when expected, offering polite responses to the endless stream of guests offering their congratulations. But through it all, she was acutely aware of Adrian at her side. He was silent, unreadable, and uninterested in her presence.

Then in one moment, everything changed.

One of the Vitale guards approached Adrian, whispering something in his ear. His expression changed into a frown.

Almost simultaneously, one of the Moretti men stepped toward Dante, murmuring something low and urgent.

Dante’s jaw clenched.

Adrian turned to his father, Victor, his voice low and firm. “What happened?”

Victor’s lips pressed into a thin line. “An attack. The Moretti shipment was hit.”

A heavy silence settled over them.

Dante’s gaze snapped toward Adrian, suspicion sharp in his eyes. “Convenient, isn’t it? The day of the wedding, and suddenly our shipment is ambushed?”

Adrian’s expression was unreadable, but there was steel in his voice. “If you’re accusing my family… ”

“I’m not accusing anyone. Yet.” Dante took a slow step forward, his tone laced with threat. “But we expect answers.”

The tension rose between them.

Rhea placed a hand on Dante’s arm, her touch gentle but firm. “We shouldn’t jump to conclusions, brother.”

Dante held her gaze for a long moment before exhaling sharply. “We’ll talk later.”

Enrico, Rhea’s father, called her aside and whispered to her. “The Vitales will be expecting loyalty from you now more than ever, Rhea. The attack on our shipment has only made them more cautious. If we don’t strike back first, they will. Your job is to make sure we always stay one step ahead.”

He then walked away from the wedding reception without a proper goodbye.

As he walked away, Rhea felt the shift in the atmosphere; the truce between both families was already beginning to fracture.

And in that moment, she knew. The real war was only beginning, and now she was in the middle.