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“This is a wedding present from your father,” he explains. “Dr. Steward is undoubtedly the best in the business.”
“What business?”
“Cosmetic surgery.”
I’ve never so much as gotten lip injections, much less wanted any kind of surgery. I push it back to him.
“Why does my father think I need surgery now? Am I not pretty enough, on top of everything else?” I scoff. Armata laughs as if I’ve made a joke.
“No one would suggest that, Miss Lovera. But your father is adamant that everything that was done to you should be undone, and it will be. You’ll have your first time as you should have.
On your wedding night. Everything can be repaired, including innocence. Your wedding night will still be perfect. Not even Salvatore Mori can take that away from you.”
The offer is so absurd, I’m almost too numb to react.
“And if I don’t want it?” I ask, icily, already anticipating the answer.
Dr. Armata shifts in place.
“Well…I’m sure you can speak with your father and your fiancé about that. That would be a decision for you all to make together.”
“That’s very thoughtful of him,” James interrupts, thanking him profusely and sending the old man on his way. “Jesus Christ, they’re just trying to help you,” he mutters bitterly as he sits again.
“Who does this help?” I ask, flipping the card around between my fingers. “Me? Or your ego? Did you ask for this?”
“No. But I didn’t turn it down. For your sake.”
I don’t want to hear it anymore. I tear the business card between my hands while James quietly seethes behind his dreamy, lovestruck smile. I’m not surprised by how good he acts. He tricked me with it for long enough.
My eyes wander over the doorways. Exits shift in and out of my vision, obscured by dancing couples. How far would I get if I ran? A few feet? A few miles? Would it matter?
I have no desire to run anymore. Maybe James is right, in his own way. I tried to run from this life and look where it got me. I can’t run from it anymore. I swipe two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter. I place one in front of James. He eyes me suspiciously. I make a silent toast to Vera, downing mine in a single, unladylike swallow.
I stand and sling the glass into the floor, where it shatters into a thousand shards.
All eyes turn to the sound of cracking glass. James is half-risen out of his chair, too slow to stop me. I swipe his drink next, lifting it into the air now that I have the attention of the crowd.
“Everyone,” I call out, over the music and the murmurs, “I would like to make a toast.”
The hammer of my heart pounds as all the attention draws to me. “First, to you. For all of you that are here tonight. I’m so, so grateful that you would come here and celebrate with me.
But, of course, I can’t thank those who are here, without thanking those who can’t be.”
James looks like he might throw up. Glasses lift in solidarity.
“The ones who gave up everything, who made the ultimate sacrifice to try and rescue me.
And then, the one who refuses to be here. Of course. My father.”
Uneasy laughter shakes the room.
“Gio Lovera is a titan,” I continue, “though I’m sure many of you don’t know him, and likely never will, you know his reputation. He is…uncompromising.” Murmurs of agreement sweep the crowd. “For example, two weeks ago, I was on the verge of settling peace with the Mori family,” I say, louder, forcing my voice to carry through the hall over the music. James’s hand curls around my arm, but he can’t threaten me with all eyes in my direction. “I had arranged it so this conflict could come to an end. Peacefully. But again, my father is uncompromising. He sent your sons, your husbands, your nephews, on a suicide mission.”
The glasses begin to lower, the uncertainty bristling in the crowd. A sea of stares has no opinion, telling me nothing as my eyes seek out each face, looking for a shred of agreement among them. Now that I’ve started, I can’t bring myself to stop.
“Tessa, that’s enough—” James snarls in my ear. I pull away from him.
“My father doesn’t know the cost of war because he’s never seen it. He’s never had the stomach to look most of you in the face, has he?”
