CHAPTER-13

LENA

Today is Kennedy's fundraiser party. I decided to go alone. I professionally got myself ready with a sexy, body-hugging dress to show off my figure. I know Kennedy and her friends will definitely try to embarrass me when I show up looking better than them. It will be sweet to see their faces. Remembering Kennedy's personality, she always selects her minions' clothes for events, and Kennedy would not be wearing heels and tight dresses due to her pregnancy.

Penelope only told me that secret, and after that, she doesn't know anything. Her memories of the time when Alarik came to live with them are hazy due to her father's death. Victoria and Alarik do not share a blood relation. Then why did Victoria send the marriage proposal? Did Victoria gain something from this? Father said it was my duty to marry into the Andressano family, so why did none of them ever contact me? Why do I feel abandoned now? I did not care before; why do I care now? Is it because I am living with them? Watching how everyone has meals together like a normal family? Or am I not worthy of their family? Is that why Victoria lied about me being on a tour with her so none of them would contact me?

Caroline was mad when she learned I was marrying into the Andressano family. Kennedy was shocked; she would have cried to her mother. Good; she must have regretted stealing Enzo from me.

The Lombardi family is also one of the richest and most prominent families in the country. They have the best talent agencies, most media channels, and a strong footing in the entertainment industry. Kennedy will gain more by marrying into the Lombardi family. However, the Andressano are in a league of their own. They have airlines, exports, and construction. They invest in almost every business in this country, legal or illegal. Not only is Alarik the only heir and boss, but his wife will be the matriarch and next queen of high society. Kennedy would have preferred that over her singing career if she didn't try to belittle me in everything.

I would have never cared about my arranged marriage proposal if she hadn't stolen Enzo. Yet I need to know what Alarik gains by marrying me. He must have a reason. I mean, he is the one actively kissing his lawyer in the middle of the night. However, it would have been even better if she had gotten married to Alarik. I would not have to worry about my life. I would have been taking over my father's business.

I have to take over the firm before he or any of his family knows who I am. I cannot predict Alarik's reaction, and Penelope said her mother was against this marriage. Why?

"Why are you smirking?" Alia inquired as she handed me champagne from the passing waiter. I am here at one of the most luxurious banquet halls in the city.

"Well, you can say I have planned a little surprise tonight." Looking at the smiling and mingling Kennedy, Enzo, and my father, jealousy flares in my chest.

"You look like a villainess right now. Hiding in the shadows, planning the demise of her sister. What did you do?" Alia said. As the owner of the best event organizer company in the country, she is also irked that Kennedy hired her rival company for this event.

"What's wrong with shadows? Shadows provide safety. Why would I compromise my safety? I mean, scheming from shadows, watching your enemy not have a clue of what you are doing, only makes this more entertaining. I like them when they are running around like headless chickens." Alia and I both laugh at this.

"I heard you acquired five percent more shares of the Mancini firm. Congratulations! How many more to go?" Alia asked. She knows how I am acquiring Mancini Group's shares secretly.

"It's still a long way. I have only eleven percent now. If I had been engaged to Lombardi, I would have had eighteen percent more." Lombardi is the second-highest shareholder of the Mancini Group, except for my father, who has 42% shares. That was the second reason why I liked Enzo. Kennedy is smart, which is why she would have pestered her father for their engagement. Kennedy must have known my end goal was taking ownership of the business, which would have left her and her mother penniless along with my father.

Alia didn't say anything after that. Alia and I met when we were in college. But due to her mother's pestering, she married right after finishing college. However, her husband was a cheating scumbag.

"How is your divorce finalizing?" I asked.

"Not good; he is making it messy, and my mother is siding with him. They are both making me mad," she sighs. "Why did you ask me for tickets? I thought you were not interested in those."

"It was a bribe for some information."

"Good, because for those tickets someone was annoying me. It is better all the extra tickets are finished now." Before I can ask who, she said.

"Hey, Alarik never attends these fundraisers, right?" She is frowning at something behind me.

"Obviously, yes."

"Well, then why is he here?" she said, pointing behind me.

I turn around; she is right. Alarik is here. He is talking to my father right now. Father looks really happy that he came; he is introducing Alarik to every one of his campaign members.

"What the hell is he doing here?" I am panicking. Now that he is here, he will definitely try to find me, aka his wife.

"Really. Hiding behind a curtain will not help at all. You cannot hide all night," Alia pointed out as I was trying to hide behind a curtain.

"You are right, I should just go home," I said as I made my way to the door.

I bump into someone. "Ouch!"

"Are you alright?" I know this voice, Enzo.

"Sister, you should see where you are going. If you bump into other people's fiancés, they will assume that you did it deliberately." I know her too, Kennedy.

I smile at her and say, "You don't have to worry about me, sister, as I am already married to one of the best men in the world."

Her eyes became cold listening to my words. Tonight is not going to be good if I keep bumping into these people.

"Well, I don't see your husband with you. Is he so busy that he couldn't even attend his only sister-in-law's party?" She said, faking sympathy for herself.

"What are you talking about, Kennedy? Alarik is here. Why wouldn't he attend when I said my sister had arranged this event for poor, underprivileged children? After all this, how selfless you are."

Listening to my words, she perked up. She is someone who craves validation for everything she does. However, validation from Alarik, she wouldn't miss this chance to show how much I am beneath her. I have a strong urge to roll my eyes.