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My stomach lurched. His father sounded as awful as all the rest. But that wasn’t the only thing that bothered me. His story was too close to what Luca had said about my grandparents before he died, but hadn’t the chance to tell me the rest.Percy might know. “What do you mean by that?”
He squinted at me and drew back his head. “Surely you know?”
My face warmed. He was toying with me, but I didn’t answer.
“Reg took Constance at the most opportune time from Luca Marini. She became unwanted by any suitable man after her miscarriage out of wedlock. Her father was smart and did the sensible thing by making a deal with Reginald—”
“That’s a lie—” I gritted.
“Ask her,” he taunted. “It’s the truth, and she hates me because I know herrealstory.”
My face jumped, and I felt tears well up in my eyes. However, Percy took too much delight at gossiping and demeaning, and I couldn’t allow him to feel like his story got to me.
“You’re rude and cruel, and I don’t want you either,” I snarled.
He tilted his head, smirking. “The truth hurts. Sorry to be the deliveryman. My daddy was wrong, though; Rocco doesn’t want you either. But if you wanted to keep him, you played it wrong. A man wants what he can’t have, not what comes easy. My Mama said you should’ve gotten pregnant or kept your legs closed instead of showing off your body in pictures, and letting Rocco Marini grope you in public,” he spat out, his voice rising as he stood up to pace in front of me. “It’s shameful howtrashyyou behaved, and now my father’s forcing me to marry you. He just loves to bring me down some pegs.”
My face heated, but I straightened my spine. “I didn’t behave trashy. I wore a designer dress to Cannes, and we kissed….”Because I wanted him.
“You kissed,” he snorted. “You did more than kiss. He fucked you—”
“Whatever we did together is none of your business, Percy,” I said irritably.
“It most certainly is my business if I have to marry you. I want a pure woman that I can take to church.”
My brows knitted, and my temples throbbed. “Then don’t marry me.”
“You honestly think we have control? You’re smarter than that…My lovely wife died, and I can’t marry the woman I want because she’s poor.”
I squeezed my eyes shut. “So now you want to take your disappointment out on me; you can marry her if you want—”
“And become poor? No thanks,” he said and cringed. “This is our destiny, Adelina. We don’t want each other, but we’ll marry.”
“Just tell them no, or maybe Rocco could….” I mumbled and didn’t know what I expected Rocco to do.He’s the head of the Marini empire, he has choices now.
He chuckled. “You still believe in Rocco. He really did a number on you. Where is he? Has he called? I bet he hasn’t. He’s done.”
My temples pounded, and I touched them, not having another argument to give. Instead, I looked away and lowered my head.
“So, you’re getting it. Good. You’re just a pawn for Rocco’s desires. You’ve got nothing to offer a man like him. He fucked you because you’re easy, but he never planned to keep you.”
I scoffed. “You won’t keep me either.”
“Oh, I will, Adelina. You can put that idea completely out of your head. I’ll marry you because I have righteousness on my side. I came here today to give us a chance to come to an understanding.”
“And what is it?” I rasped.
I lifted my head and his expression was flat. “After we marry, that’s the end of your contact with Rocco Marini. You have an affection for him, and I deserve a chance to court you without him being in the way.”
I blinked. His desire to want a connection surprised me after all he shared. Maybe it’s for show or to not compare him to someone he may think above him? But maybe it was Percy’s way. His frankness was harsh, but to be honest, I usually preferred when someone laid out all the cards for me. Then he said, “Now, I don’t know if we’ll love each other, but we will share mutual respect. You’ll be kind to my family and friends, and we’ll grow our families with good children and raise them well.”
I turned away from him on the seat and clasped my stomach. Percy was merely repeating what I’d heard the past eight years. And some of the things he shared made sense. Rocco didn’t need or want me. He got out of the marriage the second he could, and I, like a fool, ruined my prospects by sleeping with him.I did as my grandfather asked instead of what grandmother told me,and now I’m stuck with a man and family that will look down on me, and I’ll live at his mercy for the rest of my life.
Bile rose in my throat. Talking to him left me exhausted. I pulled my sweater off the back of the seat, averted my eyes, and stood. “I’m going back inside,” I mumbled and stepped out of the pavilion.
“Yeah, go on. I decided I won’t fuck you today.”
I whirled around and glared at him. “What the hell did you say?”