She Tried to Poison Me, but My Plant Died First! novel · Chapter 10 of 24
Chapter 10: Ring Day
My father announced the engagement at seven that evening, in the ballroom, with a hundred guests and a string quartet.
He wasn't angry about the photograph at all.
He had a grin on his face from the moment we walked in.
"The Gattuso and Varenna families will finally be one," he said, and he lifted a glass of champagne. "Eighteen years of blood, and my daughter will end it."
The room applauded.
Rocco stood at my side in a black suit with his jaw set tight.
I stood in a borrowed green dress, with the heavy vest hidden under a loose silk jacket.
Everything I owned was inside it.
The pen was in one pocket, and the handkerchief with the green letters was in the other.
Mom sat in a gilded chair by the wall, pale and perfect in cream silk, with Fiora at her feet.
Neither of them looked at me.
That was the first thing I noticed.
Dad pulled a small velvet box from his pocket and opened it.
The ring inside was thick gold with a square dark stone.
"My mother's," he said. "Rocco, put it on her hand."
"Emilio, I'd like to talk to Nerina first."
"Put it on."
Rocco looked at me.
I held out my left hand.
He slid the ring onto my finger.
It was heavy and cold, and the whole room clapped.
Then Fiora stood up.
She stood slowly, in a white dress with her hair pinned up, holding a folded paper in both hands.
"Father," she said. "I'm so sorry to do this tonight."
The applause thinned.
"What is it, sweetheart?"
"I can't keep quiet anymore. It isn't right."
Her eyes were already shining.
"I went to the shelter this morning to bring Nerina home. A boy there told me something."
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