Page 18 of Pretty Plaything

Chapter 8

“EVERYTHING HAS BEENagreed on,” my father says, and I can see it in his eyes that there’s no changing his mind.

I’m going to marry Alessandro Bellini, and there’s nothing except my death that can stop the wedding.

“Your mother will help you prepare. We want the wedding to be held as soon as possible. Alessandro will choose your wedding dress and send it to us a few days earlier,” my father adds.

My mouth falls open. “What? Why does he get to choose my wedding dress? That’s preposterous.”

It’s not about the dress.

I don’t care about the stupid dress.

It’s my freedom I’m worried about.

My future husband is already trying to take it away. He’s trying to control me.

Something as little and insignificant as my wedding dress. Why would he care what my dress looks like? What is it to him?

Unless he wants me to wear a dress that’s been in his family for decades or something.

“It was his request. Since he agreed for the wedding to be in the Lionetti Castle and we’re going to take care of everything else, I don’t see why allowing him to choose the dress for you is a problem. A dress is just a dress.”

“Is that like a tradition in his family?” I tilt my head.

“No, I don’t think so. He said he’d buy the dress.”

My mom’s brow is furrowed, and her mouth twitches.

I expect her to say something about the inappropriateness of it or that she was hoping I’d be wearing her wedding dress, but she remains quiet.

“Isn’t that going to be bad luck or something?” I ask.

“Nonsense,” my father says and places his hands on my shoulders. “Never forget that you’re doing a very important thing for our family. You are our angel. Without you, I don’t think he would’ve agreed to the deal.”

He’s lying.

His eyebrow is twitching.

He wants to make me feel special and important. Like this whole thing wouldn’t even be possible without me.

I can’t know what Alessandro thinks, but I remember the numbers I’ve seen, and I highly doubt his decision had anything to do with me.

Except, he’s going to choose my wedding dress, so maybe he does care for some weird reason I can’t even imagine.