Fashioned For Sin

Chapter 42

Blair.

I had never been one for grand gestures. The kind of woman who swoons over flowers or cries during proposals in sappy romance movies. But tonight, Leonardo had shattered every defence I’d built.

I hadn’t seen it coming—not the blindfold, the lake, the people, or the words that would forever change my life. My heart was still pounding in my chest as I stared at the ring on my finger, its white gold band glinting under the string lights.

It was perfect. He was perfect.

But in true Blair fashion, I couldn’t let him know how completely undone I was. At least, not yet.

“I can’t believe you made me wear this dress for a lake,” I teased, glancing down at the shimmering gold fabric that clung to my body. “What if I’d said no? You’d be stuck with a dressed-up woman on a dock, looking like a fool.”

Leonardo’s smirk was sharp, his confidence unwavering. “You were never going to say no, Scarlett. Don’t insult me.”

The crowd around us chuckled, their voices blending with the gentle ripple of the lake and the occasional pop of champagne bottles. But Leonardo’s gaze never wavered. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and for a moment, the world around us faded away.

“You love me too much to say no,” he added softly, his voice dipping into a tone that sent shivers down my spine.

I swallowed hard, trying to hold onto some semblance of control. “Cocky as ever,” I muttered, but the grin tugging at my lips betrayed me.

Leonardo’s family was another story entirely. His mother, a striking woman with the same dark, intense eyes as her son, had pulled me into a tight embrace, whispering how thrilled she was to finally meet the woman who had “tamed” her son.

Tamed. If only she knew how wild and unyielding he still was behind closed doors.

His father, on the other hand, was more reserved. He offered a polite smile, his handshake firm but distant. I could feel the weight of his judgment as he appraised me, as if trying to determine whether I was worthy of the name I’d soon take.

Leonardo must’ve noticed because his hand found the small of my back, grounding me with his touch. “Careful, Dad,” he murmured low enough for only the three of us to hear. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

For once, his father seemed at a loss for words, his mouth opening slightly before closing with a curt nod.

----
The afterparty at the lake is in full swing. The champagne flows freely, and laughter fills the air as everyone toasts to us.

My dad sits at the edge of the crowd, nursing a glass of bourbon with a tentative smile on his face.

It had been a last-minute decision to invite him. The last time we spoke was months ago, a phone call I barely remember because it ended too quickly.

We’d never been close—not since my mom died—but something about tonight, about this step forward in my life, made me want him here.

As I approach, his eyes soften. “Blair.”

“hey dad,” I say, my voice quieter than I expected.

He stands, hesitating before pulling me into an embrace. It’s awkward and stiff at first, but then he relaxes, and so do I.

“I didn’t think I’d get an invitation,” he admits, stepping back to look at me.

"It's a special occasion, I know we're not very close, but Leonardo wanted to meet you,” I say, glancing toward my fiancé. Leonardo’s gaze is already locked on me, his sharp features softening when he notices where I’m standing.