Chapter 51

Chapter 51
Chapter 51
Sophia's POV
"I didn't," I protested.
Vito's dark eyes remained fixed on me with that infuriating mixture of amusement and challenge that always made my pulse quicken. We were standing in the hallway outside the bridal suite, where Isabella was no doubt putting the finishing touches on her perfect day with her perfect stolen boyfriend.
"If you want, we could always try," he said.
"I don't want to," I shot back, crossing my arms defensively.
"Liar," he murmured, and the single word carried enough heat to make my cheeks burn.
God, why did he always have to see right through me? Even now, when I was supposed to be focused on surviving my sister's wedding without having a complete emotional breakdown, he could still make me forget everything else with just a look.
"We should go," I said, desperate to change the subject before he could push whatever point he was trying to make. "The ceremony starts in twenty minutes."
The wedding was everything I had expected. White flowers everywhere, fancy decorations, and a beautiful garden setting. But watching Isabella - who was using my name Sophia - walk down the aisle to marry Michael made my chest hurt. Here I was, the real Sophia pretending to be Isabella, watching my sister marry my ex-boyfriend under my identity.
This should have been my wedding. Michael should have been marrying the real me.
But instead, here I was, pretending to be Isabella while she used my name to marry my ex-boyfriend. The whole thing was twisted.
Isabella looked beautiful in her white dress. She always did. And Michael was smiling at her like she was the most wonderful thing in the world. He never looked at me that way when we were together.
Maybe I should have seen this coming.
"Isabella."
Vito's voice was quiet next to me. He was using the name everyone thought was mine - Isabella. Only I knew that the real Isabella was the one getting married right now under my name.
"I'm fine," I whispered, even though I wasn't.
His hand found mine and squeezed. It should have made me feel better, but it just made everything more confusing.
The ceremony went on. Isabella and Michael said their vows about love and forever. The kind of romantic stuff that used to make me dream about my own wedding. Now it just hurt to listen to.
When they kissed, everyone clapped. I clapped too, because that's what I was supposed to do.

At the reception, people kept coming up to me with weird looks.
"Isabella, dear," one of the family friends said. "You're being so brave about all this."
Brave? I wanted to laugh. If she only knew the truth.
"Sophia looks so happy," the woman continued, pointing at my sister. "And you're handling it so well."
I just nodded. What else could I do?
Then came the worst part. Time for me to give a speech as "Isabella" about my "sister Sophia's" wedding.
How am I supposed to do this?
I walked up to the microphone on shaky legs. Everyone was looking at me, waiting. Isabella was smiling from her table, probably enjoying watching me struggle.
"I..." I started, then stopped.
What am I supposed to say? Congratulations on stealing my life?
"Sophia has always been..." I tried again, but the words wouldn't come. How could I stand here and talk about how happy I was for them?
The silence got uncomfortable. People started looking confused.
I can't do this.
That's when Vito appeared next to me.
"If I may," he said, taking the microphone smoothly. His arm went around my waist. "I think what my wife is trying to say is that family is complicated."
Some people laughed nervously.
"Sophia," he continued, looking right at my sister, "you've certainly made some interesting choices. Running away when things got difficult. Going after other people's relationships." His voice was calm, but there was something dangerous in it. "But I guess everyone finds happiness their own way."
Oh my God. He's actually calling her out.
"Some people," Vito went on, "learn that real happiness comes from keeping promises and building something real. Others like to take shortcuts and grab what looks easier."
Isabella's smile was getting tight.
"But today is about celebrating your choices, Sophia. So here's to you and Michael - may you get exactly what you deserve."
He raised his glass. It sounded like a nice toast, but everyone could hear the warning underneath.
People raised their glasses, but they looked confused. I almost laughed. Did he just threaten my sister at her own wedding?
When people went back to talking, Vito led me away from the crowd.
"Thank you," I said quietly. "I couldn't say anything."
"You don't have to pretend to be happy for her," he said.
He's right.
That's when his phone rang.
Vito looked at it and frowned. "I need to take this," he said. "Business."
"Okay." I tried not to look disappointed.
But he answered it right there, and I could hear some of what he was saying.
"...dealt with Maria's case...Yes, sir, she's recovered...Your handling of the situation was effective, although it cost you a few days and prevented you from attending Madam's sister's wedding on time. But the gang has changed their attitude towards Madam..."
"...protecting the family reputation was most important... couldn't let someone challenge Isabella's authority... yes, sir, maintaining unity is key..."
He was protecting me.
I felt like someone had hit me. All this time, I thought he was torn between Maria and me. I thought he was keeping her around because he had feelings for her. But he was handling it to protect my position in the family.
When he hung up and turned back, I must have looked shocked because he looked worried.
"What's wrong?"
"I..." I started, trying to figure out what to say. "I thought you were choosing her over me. Maria, I mean."
"Isabella..."
"You missed part of the wedding because you were dealing with her, weren't you?" I said. "Making sure she wouldn't cause problems for me."
"The family needs to see you as strong," he said quietly. "If they thought there was another woman with a claim on me, it would hurt your position. I couldn't let that happen."
"You could have told me," I whispered.
"Could I?" His dark eyes looked into mine. "You've made it pretty clear you don't want anything real with me. I wasn't sure you'd care why I did it."
But I do care. I care so much it scares me.
Everything was different now.
Because I was so focused, I even overlooked the impact Maria's false accusations would have on me. I wasn't marrying an ordinary man, but Vito, a feared New York Mafia boss. His wife was the godmother of the Mafia, which meant she had to convince everyone.
I refused to listen to his explanations, refused to step up and address the matter, and simply argued with him out of anger.
I dumped all my troubles on him, and he handled everything for me.
Whether he was doing it to protect the family and the gang, or whether he truly wanted to protect me, I owe him my gratitude.
"How do I thank you?" I asked, stepping closer.
His lips curved into that dangerous smile that always made my pulse race. "How do you want to thank me?" he asked, his voice dropping to that low register that did things to my nervous system.
Instead of answering with words, I closed the distance between us, and kissed him.
It wasn't the careful, public-appropriate kiss we usually shared at family events. This was the kind of kiss that acknowledged everything that had been building between us - all the tension and attraction and complicated emotions I'd been trying so hard to ignore.
When we finally broke apart, both of us were breathing a little harder.
"Maybe we should go back to the room," Vito murmured against my ear, "before I do something that gives these people more to gossip about than your sister's questionable taste in men."