Chapter 9 - THE TRUTH ABOUT THE FERRARO MARRIAGE
The marriage arrangement had been negotiated between families.
Nora's late father had once helped Luca's uncle during a financial crisis.
Years later, the families proposed a marriage.
Luca agreed because it seemed practical.
Nora agreed because she wanted stability after years of hardship.
Neither expected love.
But Luca had made assumptions.
He believed Nora preferred distance.
She believed Luca didn't want her.
Both had mistaken silence for agreement.
One evening, Luca sat beside her in the garden.
“Nora.”
She looked at him.
“Yes?”
“Why did you marry me?”
She hesitated.
Then smiled sadly.
“Because I thought maybe being wanted for practical reasons was better than not being wanted at all.”
Luca closed his eyes.
The answer hurt.
Because he understood what he'd done.
He'd given her a marriage without making her feel chosen.
May you like
And now he wanted to change that.
But he knew wanting wasn't enough.
