The Mafia's Innocent Bride

Unfortunate

Rosa's POV.

Xavier had arranged my marriage to Edoardo Costa. He was a very handsome and successful Italian businessman. I was grateful to the Leonardis for respecting my decision and not forcing me to marry Maximo.

I had met Edoardo only once when we went to buy an engagement ring. He seemed nice and was a gentleman. I still remembered the day we went shopping for an engagement ring, and Maximo had to accompany us because Xavier couldn't come. I tried on different rings on my finger, and my future fiancé enthusiastically helped me. But the whole time, I felt Maximo's fierce gaze burning a hole in the back of my head. I didn't know what his problem was. I never understood his on-and-off mood. Maybe he was annoyed because he had to accompany us. Maximo Leonardi's ego was larger than the whole of Italy.

Since Edoardo was meeting me for the first time, he offered to have dinner with me. I was about to agree, but Maximo interrupted.

"I am sorry, Mr. Costa. But she cannot go to dinner with you due to security reasons," Maximo refused rudely.

"Mr. Leonardi, I understand. But I will personally drop her off at home and assure you that I will keep her safe," Edoardo promised.

"I appreciate your offer and your thoughtfulness. But I am sorry again. I cannot allow her to go to dinner with her fiancé. That goes against our traditions and is not safe for her," he lied. He was such a manipulative jerk. "You know she is a part of the Leonardi family," Maximo snorted and arrogantly shrugged off Edoardo.

He was so full of himself. Was he seriously making decisions for me? Like I was a child and couldn't decide whether I should go on a dinner date with my fiancé or not.

Who was he to say I wasn't allowed to go on dates for security reasons? If it were Xavier who had refused to let me go out with my fiancé, I would have obeyed him without question. But Maximo had no right over me.

As usual, Maximo never gave anyone a chance to say anything and ordered me to follow him to the parking lot. I couldn't even say goodbye to Edoardo properly.

We met for the second time on the day of our engagement. I was thrilled and wore a pale blue lace and tulle gown, while Edoardo was in a blue tuxedo, looking very handsome. But my eyes kept stealing glances at Maximo. Why did he have to look so handsome? I sighed when I thought about it.

He was mean and cruel, adding more charm to his personality. He knew girls were throwing themselves at him, and he enjoyed being a heartbreaker. Asshole!

I tried to focus on what Edoardo was saying to me. But all I could hear was Maximo's alluring laugh. It was so wrong to think about another man on the day of my engagement.

Xavier stepped up to the center stage and announced Edoardo and my engagement. Then, Edoardo proposed to me on his knees and slipped the ring I chose onto my finger.

Everyone clapped and congratulated us, but my eyes were watching someone else's reaction intently. Maximo stood near the bar and seemed bored being there. The scowl on his face was not easy to miss.

I was right. He was an asshole.

Vincenzo came and hugged me.

"Oh, Rosa. I will miss you, my best friend," he rasped, his voice heavy with emotion.

"I am not going anywhere, Vin. I will be here in Italy," I whispered as I hugged him back, leaning my head on his chest. Xavier had offered Edoardo and me a place near Leonardi's mansion. He had actually bought a home as a wedding gift for us. He helped Edoardo set up his business here in Florence.

"I know, Rosa," Vin chuckled. "But still, it seems like you will be far away from us," he said, looking at me lovingly.

I loved my best friend. We had always been together since we wore diapers. I was his partner in crime. He knew my secret, and I knew his. It actually felt like a distance would come between us now that I belonged to a different family.

"Come, newly engaged couple. It's time to dance," Mariya announced cheerily.

The music started, and Edoardo extended his hand, asking me for a dance. I smiled and placed my hand in his. He slowly guided me onto the dance floor. He skillfully wrapped his arms around my waist, and I put my hands on his shoulders as our bodies started to move to the music. I saw Xavier and Mia, Uncle Sam and his wife, and Matteo and Anna dancing among the couples.

Edoardo was such a gentleman, and he made me feel very safe and secure with him, unlike Max. But, ugh... Why did I always start comparing the two men? There was no match. Maximo was a prick, and Edoardo was a gentleman.

As I danced with my fiancé, I could feel someone's fiery eyes on me. I turned my head slightly while dancing in Edoardo's arms and saw Maximo frowning, glaring at me with disgust.

My whole body shivered under his fervent stare. What was it with his cold grey eyes? They always caused a tingling sensation whenever Maximo looked at me, as if his gaze was casting a spell on me. I quickly looked away; otherwise, I would have lost my balance since my knees had already become weak.

I thanked God when the music stopped, and we all returned to our seats. I tried to catch my breath, resting in the chair. But before I could regain my strength, Maximo appeared, a cunning smirk on his face. He was looking at me, and I became confused. I wasn't used to him smiling at me. Hell, he never looked happy seeing me.

I looked around and behind me nervously, checking if I was mistaken and he was looking at someone else. But no, his eyes were fixed on me. I gulped when his cold grey eyes raked over my body. I looked down at my hands on my lap.

He extended his hand in front of me, and my eyes snapped in shock to his. He smirked again, his eyes flashing with wickedness.

"One dance with me, doll?" And again, it was not a request; his voice held authority.

"I... I..." I tried to give him a reason why I couldn't dance with him, but I stuttered nervously. I didn't know what was wrong with me. Why did I always feel nervous around him? He was just a human. But for me, he was like the big bad wolf looking at me with his dangerous, hungry eyes, as if he would eat me alive.

"Come on, doll. Just one dance. You can't refuse me and insult me in front of your fiancé," my mouth fell open hearing his bluntness. He had the guts to boss me around.

"Rosa, that is rude. Mr. Leonardi is asking you so nicely. Dance with him," Edoardo said.

Only if he knew how nice and polite Maximo Leonardi could be.

"Yeah, it might be our last dance before your marriage, doll," Max remarked, emphasizing the word 'doll,' glaring at me as if he could devour me whole.

First and last dance.

I corrected it in my mind.

I hesitantly placed my hand in his and shivered instantly as his warm skin touched mine.

'It's okay, Rosa. It's just a dance, and you can survive,' I comforted myself.

Maximo led me to the dance floor and signaled the DJ to play his favorite track. The music began, and he twirled me around and pulled me closer. My back pressed against his rigid torso. I swore I could feel every ridge and groove on his hard and sculpted body.

"I saw you enjoyed the dance with your fiancé, and here, when I asked you, you took ages to agree to dance with me," he angrily mumbled the words in my ears.

An unusual shiver ran down my spine as his hot breath tickled my skin.

"What is it that you are so proud of?" He mocked, trailing his finger down my arms. Then, holding my hand, he spun me again. His arms covered my arms and wrapped around me. My back was pressed against his solid front. This position felt so intimate that my breathing almost caught in my throat.

"Because I enjoy his company, and you are not my fiancé," I managed to counter Maximo Leonardi, and I was proud of myself for answering back.

"Yeah, I am not your fiancé because a girl like you could never get me," he spat out in my ear, and it felt like molten lava scorching my heart.

I closed my eyes, trying to swallow this insult. He was always like this, and even when I was going to be far away from him in a few days, he still didn't miss a chance to humiliate me.

"A girl like me doesn't deserve you, Maximo, because I don't want you," I murmured, struggling to hide the hurt in my voice.

"Yeah, you can pretend to be happy by thinking that you don't deserve me. But that's true, sweetheart. You don't deserve me," that arrogant jerk didn't stop there.

Holding my wrist, he made me move forward and then pulled me back, causing me to slam onto his body. I gasped, and before I could recover, he twirled me and bent my back over his arms, holding my body in the air. I panted and gasped, trying to catch my breath. Then, staring into my eyes, he winked. The next moment, I was on the floor, lying on my back.

Shït!

It hurt. The arrogant asshole had let me fall when the music stopped.

I heard gasps and squeals. Some girls laughed at me. Yeah, his mission was accomplished. He wanted to humiliate me on the day of my engagement.

I heard Xavier scold Maximo. But Maximo left the party without paying any attention to anyone there. Edoardo and Mariya came running and helped me up.

"I am... I am sorry, Rosa. We never expected Maximo could do something like this. He is going to get an earful from me," Mariya apologized.

"It's okay, Mariya. It was an accident, and I am fine," I covered up.

But everybody knew and saw what had happened on the dance floor.

I hate you, Maximo Leonardi, and I will never forgive you for spoiling my special day.

*******************

*The Wedding Day*

Vincenzo's POV.

"Oh my God! Who are you, and what are you doing here? I came here to meet my best friend. Where is she? What have you done to her? And why are you in her wedding dress?" I teased my best friend when I met her in the bridal chamber before her wedding. I wanted to talk to her.

I was stunned to see how beautiful she looked – the most beautiful bride I had ever seen. I was so happy for her. Finally, she was going to get her happily ever after, and she deserved all the happiness in her life because she was such a nice girl.

"Shut up, Vin," she squealed and slapped my arm.

"Stop teasing me. I know I am not looking beautiful," she consistently underestimated herself.

"Okay! If you want to hear from me, I have to admit that I have never seen such a beautiful bride in my whole life," I said and placed a hand before my heart, as if I was amazed and dazzled by her beauty.

She giggled shyly.

"Stop it now," she muttered, and I grinned at seeing my best friend happy.

Mariya and Bella were also there, both wearing matching white gowns, ready to pose as the bridesmaids.

"Okay, so all set? I am going outside to announce that the bride is ready, and we can start the wedding," I declared, my eyes looking at Bella.

She was not looking at me. She had been avoiding me since that incident. I knew I messed up everything. I've tried to apologize to her so many times. But she still has not forgiven me.

I cleared my throat.

"Okay, ladies. So, get ready. Dad is also waiting for you, Rosa, so that he can walk you down the aisle. He seems to be more excited than anyone else at this wedding," I rolled my eyes, thinking about how Dad worked on everything personally to make this wedding perfect.

I left the bridal chamber and walked toward the chapel. I halted my steps when I saw Edoardo hurrying with a lady. He looked panicked and led the lady to a room. I smelled something fishy.

I quietly made my way to the room and stood outside the door, trying to hear what was happening inside.

"You should not come here. You will spoil all my hard work," Edoardo uttered, and his voice sounded angry.

"How could I not come? How could you do this to me? You know I am pregnant with your child. You... you promised me you would marry me. Then how could you marry this girl?" I heard the lady sobbing.

Pregnant? What the hell was going on?

"I will marry you, my love. You know I love you and our child. But not everyone can get this opportunity. I can be close to Xavier Leonardi by marrying that girl, which will benefit our future. I enquired about Rosa, and she is an orphan. Xavier cares about her. So, after we get what we want from this marriage, we will get rid of that girl. Nobody is going to care about her, and we will make it look like an accident," Edoardo said, and my blood boiled at hearing this.

So he was going to marry for money and power. He wouldn't stop there; he wanted to get rid of Rosa after he achieved what he wanted. This man was evil, and I wouldn't let this happen.

Without thinking further, I broke the door. Their heads snapped toward me, and they shivered in panic and fear.

"You son of a bïtch! You think you can deceive us, and we'll just let you? You bãstard, I will teach you a lesson and show you what happens to a traitor," I punched him hard in the face, and he fell onto his back. The lady squealed and begged me to leave her lover, but I was furious. Ignoring her pleas, I kicked between his shins, and he cried out in pain.

I kicked him some more in the stomach, and then, grabbing his collar, I pulled him up onto his feet.

"No, please forgive me. I didn't mean that. I was just comforting this lady. None of it is true. Nothing is true of what you heard," he cried.

But I wouldn't believe him when I knew his plan was evil.

"You think I'll believe you after seeing your real face," I spat out and punched him again.

I dragged him by the collar and took him to Dad. Uncle Matteo and Maximo were also there.

"What the hell is this, Vin? Why are you dragging Edoardo like that?" Dad shouted.

"Shït! You've hit him so badly. Why, Vin?" Uncle Matteo scowled, looking at Edoardo's bleeding face.

"Uncle Matteo! Dad! If you listen to what he has done, you'll want to beat him more than me," I grumbled.

"What happened, Vin?" Maximo asked, clenching his jaw and glaring at Edoardo.

I told them what I had heard about Edoardo's plan.

"Dad, I won't let this man marry Rosa, whether you want it or not. I would rather kill him before you bring him to the altar," I warned him sternly.

"Please, Mr. Leonardi. Forgive me. I didn't mean that. It was a mistake. I will get rid of that lady and the baby. Believe me, I won't ever cheat on Rosa," Edoardo pleaded, folding his hands in front of Dad and kneeling.

"And you expect me to believe you?" Dad snorted.

"Throw this man out of the building. No, wait! Throw him out of this country and ensure I never have to see his face again," Dad ordered, and his men came and dragged Edoardo away.

"Now, what do we do? Everyone is outside. The media is here to cover the wedding," Uncle Matteo asked.

"We have only one option," Dad answered, sounding defeated.

After a few moments, we were all in the bridal chamber, standing before Rosa, waiting for her response.

"Rosa, my darling, I am sorry I failed as a father. I'm sorry, my child. But believe me, I wanted you to be happy. I investigated everything about that son of a bïtch and chose the best man for you. At least, I thought he was the perfect match for you. But I never knew he harbored such malicious intentions in his heart. Please forgive me," Dad knelt before Rosa, apologized, held her hands, and touched them to his head.

But it was not Dad's fault. How could he have known what was going on in someone's mind?

"No, Dad. Please don't apologize. I believe you, and it was not your fault. You wanted the best for me. But I wasn't lucky enough to get the best. Once again, I've been proven unfortunate," Rosa whispered, and my heart ached for her. She deserved happiness. She deserved the world.

My dad sighed and hugged her, caressing Rosa's head.

"Darling, will you agree to one last request of mine?" he asked, his voice pleading.

"Yes, Dad," Rosa murmured in a dull voice.

"Please marry Maximo."