Chapter 6

• Clara had never felt so stuck in her life. The engagement dinner wasn’t a party—it was a big, loud show of who had the power. She was just a piece on their chessboard, moved around in this messed-up game of deals and control. Every single person in the room—the tough mafia bosses with their slick suits, the underbosses with sneaky grins, the family members with sharp eyes—watched her like hawks. They were waiting, judging, wondering if she’d follow the rules or crack under the pressure.
• She wanted to yell. Wanted to jump up, flip the table, and tell them all to shove it. But she couldn’t. Instead, she grabbed her champagne glass, forced a smile that hurt her cheeks, and held it up like she was fine. Inside, though, she was a mess—seconds away from losing it completely.
• Dante sat next to her, cool as ice. He didn’t look like someone whose life was being turned upside down. His fingers played with the edge of his glass, tracing slow circles like this whole thing was just a boring chore for him.