Isabella POV
The heavy oak doors of the 72nd Street townhouse closed behind me, shutting out the noise of the city. I dragged my leather suitcase into the foyer, the adrenaline from my confrontation with Brayan still humming in my veins. I wasn't the terrified runaway bride anymore; I was Mrs. Moretti.
"In the library," a deep, gravelly voice commanded from the shadows.
I left my suitcase and walked into the dark, wood-paneled room. Damiano sat behind a massive mahogany desk, Hector standing silently at his side. On the desk lay a thick, cream-colored envelope bearing the Doyle family crest.
"An invitation to the Doyles' annual charity gala tonight," Damiano said, his storm-gray eyes locking onto mine. "Courtesy of my stepmother, Victoria. She and the Doyles wish to parade the 'crippled Ghost' and his 'discarded bride' in front of New York's elite. A public execution of our remaining dignity."
I stared at the gold-embossed lettering. "If we don't go, we look like cowards."
"Exactly." A dark, dangerous smile played on his lips. "But we will not go as victims."
"I don't have anything to wear to a Plaza Hotel gala," I admitted, thinking of my meager bank account.
Damiano gestured to Hector, who stepped into the corner and unzipped a garment bag. Inside was a breathtaking, vintage black silk gown that seemed to absorb the dim light.
"It belonged to my mother, Eleanor," Damiano said softly, though his jaw was tight. "It represents the bloodline of the Conti family. Wear it. The trust fund strictly dictates that family heirlooms cannot be sold, only worn by the lady of the house. It is the only thing of value I can offer you."
I touched the exquisite silk, unaware that his words about the trust fund were a calculated lie to maintain his bankrupt facade. "Then we will wear our armor," I said, meeting his gaze. "We are partners."
Hours later, the flashbulbs of the paparazzi blinded me as we arrived at the Plaza Hotel. I pushed Damiano's wheelchair up the red carpet, the black silk of his mother's gown flowing around me like dark water.
Before we even reached the ballroom doors, Brayan blocked our path, Carmella clinging to his arm. He looked at Damiano with a sneer fueled by male insecurity and family hatred.
"Need a push, Moretti?" Brayan mocked, his voice loud enough for the surrounding rival family members to hear. "Or is this the top speed the 'Ghost' can manage these days?"
A hushed, expectant silence fell over the crowd.
Damiano didn't flinch. He looked up at Brayan, his aura radiating an absolute, suffocating authority that made the air feel heavy. "I move at my own pace," Damiano said, his voice a low, lethal rumble. "Unlike some men, who need to ride on their father's coattails just to clear a path."
A ripple of genuine, awe-struck laughter echoed through the crowd. Brayan's face flushed a violent shade of crimson, his public humiliation complete.
We moved past them into the crystal-lit ballroom, but the Doyles weren't finished. As we navigated through the elite, Carmella suddenly stumbled toward us. With a flick of her wrist, she sent a full flute of champagne flying directly toward my vintage gown.
It happened in a fraction of a second. Damiano's hand snapped to the brake release of his wheelchair. He threw his upper body weight awkwardly to the side, causing the chair to lurch forward violently. He positioned himself perfectly between me and the arc of the liquid.
The champagne splashed across his broad chest, soaking his tailored tuxedo jacket. My gown remained untouched.
"Hector," Damiano commanded, his voice slicing through the sudden gasps of the onlookers. "Send the dry-cleaning bill directly to Don Patrick Doyle."
It was a public, insulting challenge. A declaration of a *Vendetta*. My heart hammered against my ribs, a strange, fierce warmth blooming in my chest at his protective act.
My phone buzzed in my clutch. I glanced at the screen. An unknown number.
*Nice block. Looked like a clumsy accident. Your husband just declared war on the entire Doyle family, ma'am.*
I didn't have time to process the implication that Damiano's 'clumsy' move was a calculated maneuver. Carmella stood there, feigning a gasp of apology.
I stepped out from behind the wheelchair, drawing myself up to my full height. I looked down at the woman who had betrayed me.
"Some women can't hold their liquor," I said, my voice ringing out cold and sharp in the quiet ballroom. "Others can't hold their loyalty. It seems you are incapable of both."
Carmella shrank back, her face pale. I turned my back on her, placing my hands gently on the handles of Damiano's wheelchair.
"Let us go, *marito mio* (my husband)," I said softly.
The crowd parted for us in absolute reverence as I pushed the Ghost of the Moretti family through the ballroom, leaving our enemies choking on their own venom.
