Chapter 3

Hearing me, Lorenzo leaned against the wall and watched me with a cold smile.

“Serena, if I’m not going out there, who exactly are you planning to marry?”

I was about to answer when my phone rang.

“Hello, I’m calling about a sofa delivery to the Vescari residence. Will someone be available to sign for it today?”

“A sofa?”

I hadn’t ordered one.

Thinking they had the wrong number, I was about to hang up when Bianca snatched the phone from my hand.

“Today doesn’t work. Deliver it tomorrow.”

Then she ended the call and shoved the phone back at me.

“Bianca, what sofa?”

She shrugged as though it were nothing.

“The Italian black leather sofa you picked was too gloomy. It was too dark and formal. I ordered a cream velvet one instead.”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“That was supposed to be my home. Did you even ask me?”

She pointed at Lorenzo.

“I discussed it with Lorenzo. He agreed the velvet would be more comfortable and make the living room feel less oppressive.”

“And when you choose furniture, you always choose whatever looks proper for the family. You have no idea what makes a house feel like a home, so I took care of it.”

Lorenzo nodded.

“I approved it. Bianca even paid for the sofa herself. You should be thanking her.”

Bianca smiled as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“Exactly. Since all three of us will be spending so much time there, I wanted the living room to be comfortable.”

“Oh, and I replaced the old silverware in the dining room too. Everything you picked looked dated.”

My mother’s expression darkened instantly.

“Bianca, what exactly do you mean by that?”

Bianca took my mother’s hand and smiled.

“Mrs. Valenti, the three of us have never been apart. Of course we’ll still live together after Serena gets married.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll stay out of your way tonight—no matter what I hear.”

My mother stared at her in disbelief. “Bianca, you’re supposed to be Serena’s best friend.”

I stared hard at Lorenzo.

He looked away, making it obvious that he had known all along.

I had known none of it.

Bianca covered her mouth with a laugh.

“That’s exactly why Serena won’t make a fuss over something so small, right?”

I looked at her coldly.

“Who said this was small?”

Every argument I could have made rose to my lips, then died there.

I nodded.

“Fine. Do whatever you want. Buy whatever you want. Throw out whatever you want.”

I didn’t care anymore.

I would never live there.

How they decorated the place had nothing to do with me now.

At that moment, the wedding coordinator opened the door.

“Miss Valenti, it’s time.”

I nodded. “All right.”

Lorenzo called after me.

“Serena! Without a wedding dress or a groom, what do you think you’re going out there for?”

I walked out without looking back.