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Prologue
KAT
Two Years Ago
THE FLOWERS IN MY bouquet were beautiful, and on any other occasion, they would have made me smile. But my nerves were at an all-time high, and I was worried we’d get caught. With shaking fingers, I smoothed down the white fabric of my dress. I would have fallen in love with the dress under different circumstances. It hugged my curves and was covered in tiny rhinestones.
“Katerina, you look radiant,” Fae said.
“Thanks,” I replied sullenly. I stared at my white tennis shoes and moved one foot from side to side so the rhinestones I’d added to them flashed. It was the best I could do to dress them up. Normally, I was a heels kind of girl, but I needed the shoes in case this situation went belly-up.
“She’s ready,” Fae said into her earpiece. She nodded and turned back to me. “We’re on in two minutes.”
My stomach dropped, and I grabbed a flute of champagne off a tray that had been set up in my dressing room, if you could even call it that. It was a tiny space with thin walls. The whole time I was getting ready, I worried that someone would walk in or the walls would fall, and I’d be standing there naked for all to see.
“It’s time,” Fae said, nodding at me.
Her smile was wide, but not because she was happy for me. She didn’t even know me. She came with the package Alessandro had chosen. If only I would have put my foot down and demanded something more elegant. As a struggling artist, this was about all Alessandro could afford, plus no one here would question our intentions. At least, I hoped not.
My family wasn’t here, and I was grateful for that. I followed Fae out of the room and across the hall. The double doors were closed, and I waited for my cue, taking a deep breath for courage. Fae nodded at me and opened the doors. I took one step onto the white runner and froze.
“What the hell?” I shouted.
Alessandro’s head snapped in my direction, and his face morphed into one of his charming smiles. “Katerina, great news. You’re off the hook.”
I stomped down the aisle toward Alessandro, who had his hands intertwined with a petite brunette’s. Who the hell was she? When her eyes met mine, she yanked her hands free and took a step back. The Elvis impersonator—which I distinctly said I didn’t want—jumped back and turned from us.
When I stood in front of Alessandro with my hands on my hips, I yelled, “What’s going on? This is our wedding day.”
He winced but covered it by smiling wider. Then he stepped forward slowly and reached for me. He rubbed tiny circles on the back of my hand with his thumb to calm me. It was a movement he’d done a hundred times over. Only now I realized it was always when he was buttering me up for something or when he needed money.
“Katerina, my love,” he said in his thick Italian accent. “Things between us were good, but I’ve met someone. And she will marry me for love. Not just so I can stay here. You don’t need to worry about helping me anymore.”
I yanked my hand free and hit him with my bouquet. “I wasn’t doing this to help you. We’ve been in a relationship for two years, Alessandro. That meant something to me. I lo—” I paused. Had I loved him? I felt something for him, but it wasn’t really love. “I cared deeply for you.”
His brows pulled together. “I’m sorry, Katerina. I, too, cared deeply, but then I met Bridgette, and I realized that what I felt for you was not real.”
“So, you had me fly you to Vegas under the pretense of getting married so you could marry her? Where did you meet her anyway?” I asked. I had paid for our airfare and the hotel expenses.
He winced and took a step forward, but I stopped him with my hand. “We met a few months ago at an art show.”
“You’ve been cheating on me?” I screeched.
“When you say it like that, it sounds not so good.”
“Of course it doesn’t, you idiot.” I slammed my bouquet against his arm. “It’s horrible! I bought a dress. I snuck away to marry you here.” I waved my arm around at the piece of shit chapel. “Not only so you could stay here and pursue your dreams of being an artist, but also so we could start a life together, and the entire time, you were cheating on me.”
Alessandro frowned, and then his mouth twisted in what might have been remorse. He shoved his hands in his pockets and stared at the ground. “I’m very sorry, Katerina. I cared for you, yes, and all you have done for me.”
“But?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.
“But I do not love you, and I cannot marry you.”
I let out a strangled scream and lunged for him. We fell to the ground. I landed on top and started hitting him repeatedly with my bouquet. Anger and embarrassment coursed through me. What had I done to deserve this? This was the lowest point in my life, and I’d brought it on myself.
Alessandro covered his face but didn’t push me away. Coward. That’s what he was. He was never good at standing up for himself. He was also a con artist, and I planned to report him as soon as I got out of this nightmare.
A set of hands emerged from sequined sleeves, gripping my arms and pulling me off Alessandro, who was cowering in a ball. I yanked my arms free of the Elvis impersonator and kicked Alessandro lightly in the side before turning my attention toward the brunette.
