A chill ran down my spine, and I felt my pulse quicken. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, the stakes rising higher.
Vito’s expression softened for just a moment, and then his voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Marry me, Celia.”
The words struck me like a thunderclap, and my breath caught in my throat. I stared at him, stunned, unsure if I had heard him right.
Vito leaned in closer, his gaze unwavering. “Marry me, and we’ll burn Marco’s world to the ground together.”
The room fell silent, the air thick with tension. My heart raced as I struggled to comprehend what he was asking.
His words hung in the air, heavy with promise and purpose. He didn’t say it with desperation, but with certainty—like he believed it would complete the plan. Like he knew this was the next step.
I froze, the world around me fading. Marry him? I wanted revenge, but this? This felt like another layer to the plan—one that could truly send a message to Marco.
“Are you sure?” I asked, my voice tinged with skepticism. “You’re his right-hand man. I can’t believe you’d actually want this.”
Vito nodded, unflinching. “Yes, I’m sure,” he said. “I’m offering this because it will change everything. It will make Marco understand that you can replace him, that you can rebuild your life without him.”
I hesitated, the thought weighing heavily on me. If Vito, the man trusted by Marco, was offering me this, it couldn’t be a coincidence. It felt like the ultimate trap, the ultimate plan to show Marco that I could easily replace him.
“You think this will make Marco regret it?” I asked, my voice tinged with doubt.
“It will,” Vito replied, his eyes steady, filled with a quiet intensity. “Because once Marco sees you with me, he’ll realize he never had a hold on you. Not really.”
His words felt both enticing and dangerous.
“Let’s make him regret it.” Vito convinced.
I stared at Vito, disbelief and anger swirling inside me. His proposal had hit me like a lightning bolt, but somehow, I knew there was no turning back. Not after everything that had happened. Not after Marco’s betrayal.
"I'll do it," I said, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. The words tasted like poison on my tongue, but they were the only ones I could think of.
Vito’s lips curled into a slow, almost predatory smile. “Good. You’re making the right choice.”