Bride of the Damned — The Grandest Ceremony

I'd known Enzo's look for eight years. Annoyed, but restrained. Elena, why dig up the past? The flowers were an accident.

If you're that upset, I'll ask the Don to make my oath with Sophia a formality. It'll save your face. Happy? A formality?

Father said it can't be canceled. Sophia needs your oath to keep her protection. Elena, be reasonable. I laughed.

Reasonable? I reason with everyone. Father calls it talking back. Mother says girls should not push.

Marco calls me petty. I thought you were different. But you cannot stand me speaking up either. I did not.

You did not listen. You assumed I would give in, like always. Just as father assumed I would shut up, mother assumed I would swallow it,

Marco assumed I would let it go. I stepped back. His footsteps followed, then stopped. Maybe Sophia called him back.

Maybe someone wanted to keep planning the ceremony. He did not follow me. Three years ago, when I accepted his proposal, his eyes had shone.

Now that light was gone. I returned late to find them lighting fireworks in the yard. Enzo, will Elena mind us lighting fireworks here? Mind what?

You worry too much, Sophia. Ignore her. Exactly. Enzo shot your roses.

If that is not fate, what is? is. Oh, stop. Elena would not like hearing that. The Don said all three pairs from the shooting would take their blood oaths together. One woman refused and was cut off. That leaves two pairs. I will not let your ceremony be outdone. I will make yours the grandest. After

ceremony was the only thing he could give her. Perhaps it made up for the love he could not return. But my ceremony dress will not be ready. I can only wear something plain. Enzo