BE MY WIFE FOR ONE DANCE, THE MAFIA BOSS WHISPERED TO A SINGLE MOM AT THE WEDDING—BUT SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHO HE REALLY WAS

Giovanni was standing beside his car when I walked outside.

He took one look at my face.

"What happened?"

I handed him Sophia's phone.

He read Tyler's message without moving.

Then he passed it to Marco.

"Find out exactly what Moretti promised Tyler."

I folded my arms.

"Did you know Tyler was trying to arrange this?"

"No."

"Did you know I would be at the wedding?"

"Yes. I received an invitation through one of the business sponsors. I didn't know your family connection until I saw you."

"Then why did you approach me?"

He looked directly at me.

"Because I heard him insult you. Because you looked like you were trying to survive a room full of people who were supposed to love you. And because I wanted to give you a reason to stop looking at the floor."

"That sounds romantic."

"It wasn't meant to be."

I laughed bitterly.

"Then what was it?"

He took a breath.

"I was lonely."

The answer caught me off guard.

He continued.

"Isabella's death changed me. After she disappeared, I buried myself in the family business. I stopped trusting people. I stopped allowing anyone close. When I saw you at that table, I recognized something familiar."

"What?"

"Someone who had been abandoned and was pretending it didn't hurt."

I looked away.

"Don't confuse my situation with yours. I have a daughter. I have responsibilities. I can't afford to be reckless."

"I know."

"Do you? Because your enemies know where she sleeps."

His jaw tightened.

"That will not happen again."

"You can't promise that."

"Then I'll promise to do everything in my power to prevent it."

I studied him.

"Why did you ask me to pretend to be your wife?"

He looked toward the street.

"At the time, I wanted Rossi to believe I had someone important to protect. I thought a public appearance would discourage him from approaching you. I didn't expect him to target your daughter."

"And now?"

"Now I don't want you pretending."

I felt my chest tighten.

"Giovanni—"

"I know. You don't trust me."

"Not completely."

"That's fair."

He stepped closer, but didn't touch me.

"I don't want you to be with me because I can offer security, money, or a beautiful house. I want you to choose me only if you believe I can give you a life that feels safe and honest."

I searched his face.

"Can you?"

He didn't answer immediately.

"I am still connected to a world that has hurt people. I can't erase my family's history overnight. But I can decide what I allow to continue. I've already started."

"That isn't enough for a child."

"Then I'll earn her trust, too."

I looked at him for a long moment.

I wanted to believe him.

But I had once believed Tyler when he promised to support my dreams. I had believed him when he said marriage meant partnership. I had believed him when he told me Lily would be better off without him.

Belief was easy.

Trust was something else.

"Let's start with the truth," I said.

He nodded.

"All right."

"Tell me what happened to Isabella."

Giovanni's expression changed.

"I think she was killed because she discovered Moretti's role in my father's business. Rossi helped her disappear, but he also used her as leverage. He has been selling pieces of the story to anyone willing to pay."

"Why would Rossi help her escape and then threaten her daughter?"

"Because he never cared about Isabella. He wanted control of the ledger."

"Then we need to find her."

"We will."

He looked at me.

"And Jessica, there's something else. I had my legal team review your employment history. You were close to finishing medical school."

I stiffened.

"Why were you looking at that?"

"Because I wanted to understand the woman who raised Lily alone."

"That's personal."

"I know. I'm sorry."

He handed me a folder.

Inside was information about a medical education program that offered scholarships to working parents. It included an application deadline and a contact person.

I looked up.

"I didn't ask you to do this."

"I know. You can throw it away."

I closed the folder.

"I don't want charity."

"It's not charity. It's an opportunity. If you qualify, you earn it."

For the first time that day, I felt something other than anger.

Hope.

Then Marco approached.

"Boss, we've located Moretti."

"Where?"

"At Tyler's office. And he's not alone."