In the heart of a modern city, two rival families hold the power. Valentina, a fiercely loyal daughter, and Matteo, a cunning and determined son, find themselves on opposite sides of a dangerous feud. But when their paths unexpectedly intertwine, th...
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I sit down beside Sabrina and Julian, trying to calm the pounding in my chest. My hands are shaking a little, but I keep them hidden under the table, hoping no one notices. Sabrina looks at me, her eyes narrowing with concern.
"Are you okay?" she asks, her voice low enough that only I can hear.
I force a smile, hoping it's convincing. "Yeah, I'm fine," I lie.
But the truth is, I'm far from fine.
The second Marco mentioned the shooting, my stomach twisted into knots.
Even if I hate to admit it, I'm scared—terrified, actually.
Knowing that he was behind the attack, that he's the one who caused all that chaos at the warehouse, it rattles me.
And now he's here, at this ball, acting like it's nothing, like he didn't put Matteo's life—and mine—in danger.
I swallow hard, trying to push the fear down, but it keeps creeping back up. I hate this feeling. I hate feeling vulnerable, like I can't control what's happening around me.
And worse, Marco knows. He saw it in my face back there, saw that he got to me.
Sabrina's still watching me, not buying my act. I can't blame her. I've never been good at hiding things from her.
"Are you sure?" she presses. "You don't look fine."
I shake my head. "I'm fine," I repeat, a little too quickly. I glance at Julian, who's talking to someone else, thankfully oblivious.
The last thing I need is more attention on me.
But deep down, I know I'm not fine. I'm scared of what Marco might do next. And even though Matteo's here, being around Marco feels like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Matteo steps up to the microphone, his presence filling the room as everyone turns their attention toward him. He straightens his tie slightly, glancing briefly at me before his gaze returns to the crowd.
"Good evening, everyone," he begins, his voice steady and resonant, commanding immediate respect. "For those of you who don't know, I'm Matteo Petrova, the only son of the Petrova family, and tonight, we're here not just to celebrate but to acknowledge the strength of the bonds that keep us united."
There's a subtle pause as the crowd listens intently, and I can feel the weight of every word as it echoes through the grand hall.
"The Petrova name has always been synonymous with power, loyalty, and resilience. My parents have built an empire, one that I'm proud to continue to uphold. But no one can do it alone. In this room, we have friends, partners, and allies, each playing a role in the future we're building."
He shifts slightly, and I brace myself as his eyes fall on me. This is the moment—the part of the speech I know is coming.
"I also want to take a moment to acknowledge someone very special to me," Matteo says, his tone softening just enough to capture the audience's full attention. "Valentina Rodriguez, daughter of the Rodriguez family."
I feel the heat of everyone's gaze on me now, the whispers already starting as people connect the dots between our families.
"The Rodriguez family has been a steadfast ally to the Petrova family. Valentina, like her parents, embodies the same strength, grace, and loyalty that have kept our families close," Matteo continues, his voice unwavering. "Her parents have played a pivotal role in ensuring that our shared goals remain aligned, and I am fortunate to have their unwavering support—and hers—by my side."
I force a smile, feeling the weight of the moment. The mention of my family, of our "support," is all part of the performance.
Matteo knows exactly what to say, how to present us to the world, but it doesn't make the spotlight any less suffocating.
"As we look toward the future, it's with people like Valentina and her family that we will continue to thrive."
The crowd breaks into applause, and my smile becomes more forced as the weight of Matteo's words settle over me.
It's all for show, all for the act, but the lines between real and fake blur every time he speaks like this.
Matteo steps down from the stage, his eyes locking with mine as he approaches.
The room is still buzzing with applause, but all I can focus on is the way he moves toward me, the role he's playing so perfectly.
Without missing a beat, he leans down, his lips brushing my cheek in a soft kiss, lingering just long enough for the cameras to catch it.
The gesture is smooth, calculated, exactly what everyone expects from us—the perfect couple.
As he straightens up, the crowd watches us, murmurs of approval rippling through the room.
Matteo's hand settles around my waist, pulling me closer to him as he takes his seat beside me. It's all part of the show, every move designed to make this charade believable.
The applause fades, and the room shifts back to its usual rhythm, but my heart is still racing. Matteo sits beside me, calm and composed, as if nothing in the world could touch him.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to ignore the knot of anxiety twisting in my chest.
I glance at him briefly, but he's already turning his attention to the next guest walking up to congratulate him, leaving me with my thoughts—and the lingering tension of the moment.
Just then, Sabrina walked over, offering a much-needed distraction. Sabrina's eyes softened when she saw me, clearly sensing something was off.
"Val, come with me for a second," Sabrina said casually, though her eyes were searching mine for a deeper reason. "I want to show you something."
I didn't hesitate. "Sure." I slipped out of Matteo's grip, trying not to seem too eager to escape, but I could feel his gaze following me as I walked away with Sabrina.
AUTHORS NOTES Sabrina's gonna wish she never took Valentina out of the ball! Stay tuned guys Please follow my TikTok @heartss4bookss for more updates and content!!
