Chapter 3
Richard barely slept that night.
One sentence kept replaying in his mind.
"He refuses to attend any wedding that humiliates Mara."
It wasn't Luca's anger that bothered him.
It was his certainty.
The next morning, Richard arrived early at his downtown law office.
His longtime business partner, Charles Donovan, was already waiting.
"You look terrible."
Richard forced a smile.
"Family problems."
Charles laughed.
"The wedding?"
Richard nodded.
"Vanessa's getting married this weekend."
Charles smiled.
"Congratulations."
Then Richard casually mentioned Luca's full name.
"Luca Romano."
Charles stopped smiling.
"The Romano family?"
Richard frowned.
"You know them?"
Charles stared at him.
"You mean... the Romanos from Chicago and Naples?"
"The family that owns Romano International?"
Richard blinked.
"I... I think so."
Charles leaned back slowly.
"My God, Richard."
"Do you have any idea who your future son-in-law almost was?"
Richard's stomach tightened.
"What are you talking about?"
"Luca Romano isn't just another businessman."
"His family's real estate group develops luxury resorts across Europe."
"They own hotels in Italy."
"Commercial property in New York."
"Investment firms."
"Shipping companies."
Charles paused.
"They're worth several billion dollars."
Richard felt the blood drain from his face.
"Billion?"
Charles nodded.
"And from what I've heard..."
"Luca rarely attends public events."
"He only makes exceptions for family."
Richard suddenly remembered something.
Mara had never talked about money.
Not once.
She never posted expensive vacations online.
Never wore designer labels.
Never bragged.
She had simply... lived.
Charles looked confused.
"Why are you asking?"
Richard hesitated.
"My daughter is engaged to him."
Charles smiled.
"That's incredible."
Richard couldn't return the smile.
Because only one thought filled his mind.
His daughter.
The one he ignored.
The one his family had just refused to invite to a wedding.
Meanwhile...
Across town...
Mara sat in a small café with Luca.
Neither of them mentioned her family.
Instead they finalized seating charts for Italy.
Luca slid a guest list across the table.
"My grandmother has one request."
Mara laughed.
"What is it?"
"She wants to dance with you before I do."
Mara smiled for the first time in days.
"I think I can manage that."
Luca reached across the table and squeezed her hand.
"My parents also asked something."
She looked curious.
"What?"
"They want to know if you'd let them call you their daughter."
Mara's smile disappeared.
Not because she disliked the question.
Because no one had ever asked it before.
She looked down at her engagement ring.
"I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything."
Luca replied gently.
"They already love you."
A tear escaped before she could stop it.
At that exact moment...
Her phone buzzed.
Dad.
She stared at the screen.
It rang once.
Twice.
Three times.
She declined the call.
Seconds later...
Another message arrived.
Can we talk? I didn't know who Luca really was.
Mara read it twice.
Then quietly locked her phone.
Luca noticed.
"Your father?"
She nodded.
"What did he say?"
She handed him the phone.
Luca read the message.
Then looked back at her.
"He didn't say he missed you."
"He didn't apologize."
"He only said he didn't know who I was."
Mara gave a sad smile.
"Exactly."
For the first time in years...
She realized something.
If Luca had been an ordinary accountant...
If they had rented a small apartment...
If there had been no wedding in Italy...
Her phone would probably still be silent.
She slipped it back into her purse.
"I'm not calling him."
Luca smiled.
"What do you want to do instead?"
Mara looked out the café window.
The rain had finally stopped.
"Let's finish planning our wedding."
"I'd rather spend my energy on people who actually want me there."
Neither of them noticed...
Across the street...
Vanessa had just stepped out of a bridal boutique.
She froze when she saw them laughing together.
Then her eyes landed on the elegant folder sitting between them.
Embossed in gold were the words:
Villa Serafina – Positano, Italy
Her confident smile slowly faded.
A strange feeling settled in her chest.
For the first time...
She began to wonder if her sister had never been the failure the family believed.
May you like
And whether excluding Mara...
Had been the biggest mistake they had ever made.
