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Sorry for the late update, guys! I've been busy with exams and studying. Thank you for your patience. Enjoy this chapter and don't forget to like, comment, and tell me what you think! ❤️Your feedback means a lot to me
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Helena
I wake up to someone nagging right in my face.
At first, I try to ignore it, burying my head deeper into the soft pillow, but the voice only gets louder and closer.
I slowly open my eyes and a loud scream nearly blows my ears off.
"OH MY GOD!"
Before I can even react, someone jumps straight onto the bed, nearly crushing me under their weight.
"Helena!!"
My eyes widen immediately.
"Zoey?!"
My best friend throws her arms around me so tightly I can barely breathe.
"Oh my God! You look so good!" she squeals excitedly, shaking me like she's inspecting a new dress in a store.
I blink several times, still half asleep and completely confused.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, staring at her in shock.
Zoey pulls away dramatically, placing both hands on her hips as if I just asked the most ridiculous question in the world.
"What do you mean what am I doing here?" she scoffs. "Your wedding is literally tomorrow! Of course I'm here!"
My brain slowly begins to wake up.
Right.
The wedding.
I sit up in the bed, running a hand through my messy hair.
"You didn't tell me you were coming," I mutter.
Zoey rolls her eyes and plops down beside me on the bed.
"That scary man of yours sent someone to bring me here yesterday," she says. "Private jet, Helena. A private jet! Do you know how insane that is?"
Of course he did.
That sounds exactly like Vincenzo.
Zoey grabs my hands suddenly, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"I still can't believe you're marrying a mafia boss," she whispers like she's talking about some forbidden fantasy.
I sigh softly.
"You sound way too excited about that."
"Well… I mean…" she shrugs shamelessly. "He's rich, powerful, terrifyingly handsome, and obsessed with you. That's literally every girl's dark romance dream."
I stare at her.
"Zoey."
"Okay, okay," she laughs, raising her hands in surrender. "But seriously, Helena… are you okay?"
Her tone suddenly changes, softer now.
Concerned.
I hesitate for a moment.
How do I explain something even I don't understand?
"I don't know," I admit quietly.
Zoey tilts her head.
"Does he hurt you?"
The question makes my chest tighten.
Images flash through my mind.
The threats.
The anger.
Then yesterday…
The bath.
The way he washed me so gently like I was made of glass.
"No," I say slowly. "Not lately."
Zoey studies my face carefully like she's trying to read something between my words.
"That man is dangerous," she says carefully. "But the way he looks at you… it's weird."
"Weird?" I repeat.
"Yeah," she nods. "It's like he wants to destroy the whole world but also protect you from it."
My heart skips a beat.
Before I can respond, the bedroom door suddenly opens.
Zoey gasps dramatically.
"Speak of the devil."
Vincenzo walks in.
He looks as intimidating as always tall, broad shoulders, dark suit perfectly fitted to his body. His presence alone fills the entire room.
His sharp eyes immediately land on Zoey.
Zoey straightens instantly like a student caught misbehaving.
For a moment, silence fills the room.
Then Vincenzo speaks calmly.
"You must be Zoey."
Zoey nods quickly.
"Y-yes… sir."
I almost laugh.
I've never seen Zoey nervous in my life.
Vincenzo's gaze shifts to me.
And just like that, the hardness in his eyes softens slightly.
"Did you sleep well, kitten?" he asks.
Zoey's jaw nearly drops to the floor.
Kitten?!
I nod slowly.
"Yes."
He glances at Zoey again.
"You'll be staying in the east wing," he says. "Isabella will show you your room."
Zoey nods again like a robot.
"O-okay."
But before she leaves, she quickly leans toward me and whispers loudly in my ear.
"HELENA, HE CALLED YOU KITTEN."
I elbow her hard.
She giggles and runs out of the room before I can kill her.
The door closes behind her. Now it's just me and Vincenzo, He walks closer to the bed.
"You seem better this morning," he says.
"I guess," I reply quietly.
He studies my face for a long moment like he's trying to read my thoughts again.
"Today will be busy," he says finally. "The makeup artists and designers will arrive soon."
I nod.
Then curiosity gets the better of me.
"Did you really bring Zoey here on a private jet?"
He shrugs slightly.
"You wanted someone you trusted here."
My chest tightens unexpectedly.
"You remembered that?"
He looks at me like the answer should be obvious.
"I remember everything about you."
My heart does that stupid flutter again.
I hate that it does that.
He steps closer, gently lifting my hand and looking at the ring on my finger.
The diamond sparkles under the sunlight coming through the window.
"Tomorrow," he murmurs.
"Yes," I whisper.
For a moment, neither of us speaks.
Then suddenly a loud alarm begins to ring somewhere in the mansion. Vincenzo's entire body goes rigid instantly.
His expression turns deadly in a second. The soft man from earlier disappears, The mafia Don is back.
The bedroom door bursts open and Jason rushes in.
"Boss!"
Vincenzo's eyes narrow.
"What happened?"
Jason breathes heavily.
"Our men caught someone trying to get past the security gates."
A cold silence fills the room.
"Who?" Vincenzo asks quietly.
Jason hesitates.
"It's Nathan."
My stomach drops.
Vincenzo slowly turns his head toward me.
His eyes are darker than I have ever seen them.
"Well," he mutters coldly.
"Looks like our guest decided to arrive early."
And suddenly I realize something terrifying, My wedding day might turn into a war.