I Picked A Blind Match Husband — My Adopted Brother Showed Up With A Bomb Chapter 03
The Sapphire
After Damien and Marco leave, I look straight at Luca.
“Since when does the great Luca Renaldi eavesdrop in hallways?”
He steps out. “What did Marchetti say to you?”
So he didn’t hear.
“How is that any of your business?”
His fist clenches. Then uncurls.
He pulls out a velvet case. Inside is a deep blue sapphire necklace that seems to swallow light.
“The Kashmir sapphire you always wanted. Only one in the world.”
“I took down half a dozen people to get it for you.”
I glance at it, then sweep my hand across the table, sending it clattering to the floor.
“I’ve got a dozen of those in my safe. What made you think a rock was going to fix this?”
Luca drops to his knees and starts hitting himself. He slaps his own face with an open palm again and again until his lip splits.
“I’m begging you. Leave her and the baby out of this. I’m the one who wronged you. I’ll give you whatever you want. Anything. Just name it.”
I tilt his chin up with one finger.
“Anything? Then go die for me.”
He stares up, eyes shattered.
I drop his chin. “Rosa.”
“Yes, Miss Sera.”
I point at the sapphire. “It’s yours now. Keep it or throw it away.”
“Thank you, Miss Sera!”
Luca watches me pour myself a drink with my back on him. Finally, he shakes his head and walks out.
I head to the front hall. Custom gowns are lined up on racks, all of them made for me.
Sophie Voss is already there, running her hands over the fabric.
“Sera! Come help your sister-in-law pick — which one looks best on me?”
Every single one of these gowns was made for me.
Her fingers linger on the one dripping with crystals. The greed in her eyes is practically spilling over.
“Made your choice?” I ask.
She turns, sugary smile snapping into place. “This one’s perfect. It was made for me.”
Then she puts on a look of fake concern. “I know you’re jealous, Sera, but know your place. You’re just a daughter. The Ferrante empire — it all passes to Luca. So don’t envy what I have.”
No audience. No witnesses.
So she drops the act and shows her teeth.
“Rosa.”
“Yes, Miss Sera.”
“Burn the one she’s holding.”
“Yes, Miss Sera.”
Sophie’s smile cracks. She lunges at the gown, shielding it. “Sera Ferrante! Your father is my father now! I’m carrying his grandchild — Ferrante blood! You touch this dress and see what happens!”
Rosa pries the gown from her grip, turns, walks out.
Something snaps behind Sophie’s eyes. She lets out a raw, animal scream and throws herself at me, both hands slamming into my shoulders.
I stumble backward, and my lower back slams against the corner of a mahogany table. Pain shoots up my spine. When I pull my hand away, it’s covered in blood.
But Sophie is already on the ground, crumpled on the carpet with both hands clutching her belly as she wails.
“My baby! It hurts! Luca! Save our baby!”
Her performance is Oscar-worthy, with every detail perfectly calibrated.
Luca is the first through the door. He drops to her side and pulls her into his arms.
“Save her! Save the baby! NOW!”
He snaps his head up and fixes his eyes on me.
“Sera! She never did anything to you! How could you do this?!”
I look at him steadily.
“Your eyes don’t work and neither does your brain.”
My voice drops to a whisper, the kind of quiet that makes people stop breathing.
“Control your woman, Luca. Next time she puts her hands on me, I won’t just make her little performance come true — I’ll bury her somewhere nobody prays.”
That’s when Damien strolls in, ring box balanced on his fingertips.
“What’s all the excitement? Oh — the rings are ready.”
I give him one look. He shuts up.
“One more time, Luca. Keep her on a leash. You know what I’ll do. And you know I mean every syllable.”
I grab Damien’s arm and walk toward the door.
“Get the car here at nine tomorrow. Don’t show up early just to hang around.”
He clicks his tongue. “You haven’t even seen the ring. What about the dress? Go try it on for me?”
I shoot him a look that could stop a bullet.
Those fox eyes blink once, and he looks almost guilty.
“… my wife is terrifying.”
“I’m not your wife yet.”