Italian-American Heiress: The Fiancée He Underestimated Chapter 01
The Italian I Was Never Supposed to Understand
Before my wedding, my best friend leans and whispers to my fiancé in Italian.
“Come to my place tonight. I bought that lingerie you like.”
Julian smirks and answers her in Italian.
“You went through four condoms last night. Still not enough?”
Cami’s cheeks turn pink. She glances at me, then back at him.”Maybe we shouldn’t. What if Elena finds out?”
“So what if she finds out? She can’t live without me anyway.”
Cami giggles. The whole table cracks up. They all speak Italian.
They think I don’t.
They have no idea I’m Italian-American. I understand every single word.
Julian turns to me. Switches back to English. His voice goes soft and warm.
“Babe, you okay? You look tired.”
I stare at him.I decide to give him one more chance.
“What did Cami just say?”
He laughs. Cups my cheek.
“She said she’s happy for us. Tomorrow we sign the papers. She wants to plan a surprise.”
Something inside my chest goes very quiet.
Fine.
I never told him who my family really is either. I’m the only heir to the Rossi name — old money, the kind that never has to prove itself.
He thinks I’m just some pretty girl. He plays me like a fool. I’ll make him wish he was never born.
……
Cami is still going, still in Italian.
“You think she’d cry right here at the table if she knew? We fucked in every single corner of your honeymoon house last night.”
Julian raises his wine glass. Clinks it against hers. Doesn’t take his eyes off her.
“So what? A successful man is allowed a few extra women, right?”
The girls at the table who understand laugh even louder.
In the middle of that awful laughter, Julian leans in close.
He switches back to English, voice low and sweet.
“If you’re really that tired, why don’t you head home first? We’ve got City Hall tomorrow.”
Cami slides right up to me. Wraps her arm around my shoulders like we’re still best friends.
“Elena. I’ll always be right here with you.”
I want to slap her.
I want to look Cami dead in the eye and answer her in perfect Italian.
You piece of shit. That’s not what you just said.
But before I can open my mouth —
Cami grabs her stomach and folds over.
“Ow — ow, oh God — Julian, my stomach —”
Julian’s hand leaves my waist so fast I almost fall out of my chair.
He grabs her like it’s second nature. Like he’s done it a hundred times.
“Baby, hang on, I’ve got you.”
He looks up at me. His face is all worry.
“Her ulcer’s flaring up. I have to take her to the ER. You’ll grab a cab, right? I’ll be home soon.”
I step back. Peel his coat off my shoulders. Let it fall to the floor.
“I’m not going to City Hall tomorrow.”
Julian pauses. Then he laughs.
He walks over. Cups my face. Kisses my cheek.
“Sweetheart. You’re jealous of your best friend? You know she has a bad stomach.”
“I’ll be right back. You’re just nervous about tomorrow, aren’t you? Come on. You’re the one I’m marrying.”
Then he’s got Cami in his arms and they’re already at the door.
I open my mouth. The door slams first.
The last thing I hear, right before it closes, is Cami whispering to him in Italian.
“So — kitten or puppy tonight, master?”
Julian laughs softly.
The door shuts.