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A brooding expression darkened Massimo's gorgeous features as he considered her words, which could only be described as impeccably appropriate. The stories Ynez often shared about her sister had led him to imagine a woman who hadn't the slightest idea of what it meant to live a normal and decent life.

It almost made him consider the possibility that Ysabel had turned over a new leaf.

Almost.

But when he remembered how Sheila had repeatedly broken her promise to him about changing—-

Non essero stupido. Don't be stupid.

A cold mask had already settled over the chiseled edges of Massimo's handsome face when the door to his office suddenly opened, and his grandmother came in unannounced.

Potenziana forgot about the business deal she wished to discuss with her grandson upon seeing what was being played on the giant wall-mounted screen across Massimo's desk. "I have never pictured you to be a stalker,bambino."

"You wound me,nonna. Have you not heard of the saying,keep your friends close, and your enemies closer?"

The older woman's lips pursed. "You are not convinced I have made the right choice for you?"

"You are not satisfied that I am honoring my duty tofamiglia?"

Massimo's tone was mocking, but his dark gaze was cryptic, his thoughts entirely unreadable, and that had always been the case with this grandson of hers.

People often assumed it was Cesare, with his merciless and often violent way of dealing with his enemies, whom one should fear the most among her grandsons. But in truth, it was Massimo who deserved such a title, with his heart of stone effectively disguised under seductively deceptive layers of urbane charm.

While Massimo was not an evil man - not one of her grandchildren was, thank God - neither was Potenziana blind about his faults. Massimo took his honor very seriously, and she had long suspected it was because of this that he hadn't been able to shut Ynez out of his life, the moment it became clear to him that things between them were not working.

And as for the rest of the world that had yet to prove their loyalty—-

Massimo had cruelly exacting standards for them to meet, and those who earned his wrath or enmity were forever banished from his life.

"I need you to give her a chance, Mas."

Massimo's gaze flicked back to Ynez's older sister, who was now chatting and laughing with two retired members offamiglia.

Potenziana was starting to feel uneasy by her grandson's silence. "Is it really that terrible,bambino? To be married to the girl I chose for you? I am not asking you to love her—-"

"I will marry her,nonna.On that, you have my word. And out of respect for you and ourfamiglia,I will keep my vows. But that is all I can promise."

Four

Ysabel

BY THE TIME AFTERNOONrolls in, Ynez and Massimo's names have become the top trending hashtags locally, andMammina'sconsequently reaps the benefits as we welcome an endless influx of #Masnez shippers. They're all happy to order whatever we recommend and in exchange...

"Could you please, please,pleasetell us how they fell in love?"

I'd rather poke myself in the eye, to be honest, but since the one time I refused to talk about it had quickly reached my sister's ears and caused her to accuse me of being jealous of her happiness—-

"It all began when Ynez was still in her third year in university."

The two girls sigh, and the dreamy looks on their faces make it obvious they're busy imagining themselves in my sister's shoes.

"And she was suddenly called out of her class."

"Oh my gosh, oh my gosh."

"It had Ynez worried since she's always been a straight-A student. She couldn't think of any reason why the universitychancellorwould want to see her."

"And then what?"