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Chapter 1: The Ballroom Cataclysm The moment my palm slipped into Giovanni Fierro’s, the ambient noise of the Bellmont Grand’s top-floor ballroom seemed to evaporate. Two hundred society elites, wedding guests, and corporate sharks stopped mid-sentence. / Chapter 19 / 20

Chapter 19 - The Celebration of a Lifetime

The reception was held out on the sprawling back lawn of the North Avenue estate, illuminated by thousands of fairy lights strung through the ancient oak trees. A long banquet table groaned under the weight of gourmet Italian dishes, roasted meats, artisan cheeses, and, of course, a massive four-tier chocolate wedding cake specially requested by Lily.

There were no press cameras, no corporate spies, and no uninvited guests. Just our closest friends, Sophia and her new husband, Marko and his team relaxing in their suits, and the warm, golden laughter of a family finally whole.

As the string quartet transitioned into a smooth jazz melody, Giovanni pulled me onto the open-air dance floor set up on the grass.

His arms wrapped securely around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest as we began to sway in time with the music.

"Penny for your thoughts, Mrs. Fierro," Giovanni murmured, resting his chin gently against the top of my hair.

I looked up at him, smiling as I rested my hands against the lapels of his tuxedo. "I was just thinking about the Bellmont Grand. Table Twelve. The overflow section."

Giovanni chuckled, a rich, warm sound that vibrated against my chest. "A tragic venue for a very fortunate encounter."

"You planned it, didn't you?" I teased, narrowing my eyes playfully. "You didn't just happen to walk over to my table because you needed a fake wife to dodge your aunt."

Giovanni smiled, his amber eyes twinkling with unapologetic amusement. "Let’s just say I saw a woman sitting alone, fighting tears with more dignity than half my board of directors combined, and decided I wasn't going to let her walk out of that ballroom without changing her life."

"You arrogant, manipulative billionaire," I whispered affectionately.

"Guilty as charged," he laughed, pulling me a fraction closer as the song swelled around us.

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