"Not at all, Mr. De Rossi," Alisha replied. "Dante did more than just pay me to be his wife."
At her response, every eye at the table turned to her. Dante, mid-sip, nearly choked.
A thick silence hung over the dining room as Mr. De Rossi narrowed his eyes, clearly expecting her to elaborate.
"And what does that mean?" he asked.
Alisha kept her cool. "I meant Dante pursued me for a long time before I agreed to marry him," she said with a soft smile.
She didn't care whether he believed her or not. This marriage wasn't for his approval—it was for the press.
Mr. De Rossi gave her a long, calculating look, but Alisha didn't flinch. When he realized she wouldn't back down, he returned to his food with a displeased grunt.
"Dante, my dear," Mrs. De Rossi chimed in, "you should have told me about the wedding. I would have loved to be there. Why did you keep it a secret?"
