Chapter 6 - The Whispers of the Syndicate
The news of Alessandro Romano’s sudden engagement to a plus-size gardener sent shockwaves through New York's underworld and high society elite alike.
By the following evening, the grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel was packed with mob bosses, corrupt politicians, high-end socialites, and media moguls. Whispers echoed beneath the crystal chandeliers.
"A gardener?"
"I heard she's a common girl from Queens."
"Look at her size... she doesn't fit the Romano name at all."
"Alessandro must have lost his mind after his wife died."
Inside the private dressing room off the ballroom, Lily stood in front of a full-length mirror, her hands shaking as she smoothed down the fabric of her dress.
It was a custom gown made of deep navy velvet, designed to flatter every rich curve of her body. Off-the-shoulder sleeves showcased her soft shoulders, while a fitted corset waist accentuated her hourglass shape, flowing into a dramatic floor-length skirt. Around her neck rested a multi-million-dollar sapphire necklace—a Romano family heirloom.
She looked beautiful, but she felt like an intruder playing a dangerous game.
The door opened, and Alessandro walked in. He looked impossibly handsome in a midnight-black tuxedo, his hand wrapped in a neat white medical bandage.
He stopped in his tracks when his eyes landed on her. His amber gaze dragged slowly from the hem of her velvet dress, up the soft curves of her waist, to her full lips and dark, nervous eyes.
"You are breathtaking," Alessandro said softly, his voice thick with emotion.
Lily looked down, biting her lip. "They are laughing at me out there, Alessandro. I heard them in the hallway. They call me the fat gardener who tricked you."
Alessandro was across the room in two long strides. He grabbed her chin gently, forcing her to look up into his fierce, burning eyes.
"Listen to me, Lily," he said, his voice hard as iron. "Those women out there are hollow shells painted in expensive makeup. Those men are cowards who hire armies to hide their fear. You have more courage, grace, and beauty in your pinky finger than this entire city possesses."
He leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. "I didn't choose you to spite them. I chose you because for two years, I lived in a frozen hell, and you brought summer back into my home. You made my son smile. You made me feel alive."
May you like
Lily’s eyes filled with tears. "Alessandro..."
"Let them talk," he whispered against her lips. "Tonight, we teach them who rules New York."
