her feet.
‘Elena, how could you?’ she whispered.
I frowned.
‘How could I what?’
‘You deliberately kept this from everyone.’
I almost laughed.
‘Vivian, you invited me here to watch you marry the man who cheated on me.
You didn’t invite me because you wanted to celebrate my happiness.’
Her cheeks reddened.
Marcus stepped between us.
‘Enough.
I don’t care who this man is.
Elena, you need to stop making this about yourself.
This is my wedding.’
Matteo looked at him.
‘Then perhaps you should spend your evening with your bride instead of insulting my wife.’
Marcus scoffed.
‘You think your money makes you better than everyone else?’
‘No,’ Matteo replied.
‘But I know the difference between money and character.’
His words landed harder than a shout.
Marcus turned toward me.
‘You always wanted this, didn’t you? A rich husband.
Someone important.
You couldn’t get it from me, so you found someone even wealthier.’
I felt something inside me finally settle.
For months, I had replayed our breakup, wondering what I could have done differently.
Had I been too ordinary? Too poor? Too trusting? Had I somehow failed to become the woman Marcus wanted?
Now I understood.
I had not failed.
I had simply loved someone who believed a person’s worth could be measured by their family name.
‘I didn’t marry Matteo because he was wealthy,’ I said quietly.
‘I married him because he never made me feel ashamed of where I came from.’
Vivian folded her arms.
‘And you think he will stay interested in you forever?’
Matteo’s expression became colder.
‘You should be careful how you speak to my wife.’
I touched his arm.
‘It’s all right.
I can answer her.’
I looked directly at Vivian.
‘You won Marcus.
Congratulations.
But you didn’t win anything from me.
You took a man who was already betraying me.
That isn’t a victory.’
Her mouth opened, but no words came out.
Then Marcus made one final mistake.
He reached toward my wrist.
Matteo moved between us so quickly that Marcus froze.
One of the security men near the ballroom doors took a step forward, but Matteo raised a finger, silently stopping him.
‘Don’t touch her,’ Matteo said.
His voice was quiet.
That made it more frightening.
Marcus withdrew his hand.
I looked at my former fiancé one last time.
‘You gave me back my grandmother’s ring because you said we came from different worlds.
I spent months thinking that meant I wasn’t good enough.
But you were right about one thing.
We did come from different worlds.
You belonged to a world where people were judged by their money and connections.
I wanted a world where love meant respect.’
I paused.
‘I’m glad I found mine.’
Matteo offered his arm again.
We turned toward the ballroom entrance.
Behind us, I heard Vivian whisper something to Marcus.
Then Charles Caldwell hurried after Matteo.
‘Mr.
Bellandi, perhaps we could discuss the business proposal I sent your office.’
Matteo stopped.
He looked at the older man for a moment.
‘Not tonight, Charles.’
Then he walked away with me.
Outside, Chicago was covered in a cold November drizzle.
The hotel lights reflected across the wet pavement, and a black car waited near the entrance.
I expected to feel victorious.
Instead, I felt exhausted.
Matteo opened
