Chapter 2The Second Choice Never Stayed

Luca’s private Instagram stayed active all night.

He rarely posted there. The account was only open to people inside the family circle, but that night he uploaded three stories in a row.

The first was South Dock at night.

The second showed his black speedboat under the pier lights.

In the third, Mira stood beside him in the red dress I had chosen for her. The sea wind had blown her hair loose, and Luca was tucking it behind her ear, his fingers lingering there as if they had known each other for years.

I stared at the screen.

Replies started coming in almost immediately.

You really took her to South Dock?

Bella has never even been there, has she?

Who is she?

A few minutes later, Luca replied.

Bella is family. Don’t make it weird.

Then he posted another photo, this time only Mira’s profile.

The caption was short.

Be nice to her.

No explanation. No hesitation.

He placed me inside the neat shell of family, then brought a woman who had only gotten his number the night before into a place I had never been allowed to enter.

More comments followed. People praised Mira’s looks, said Luca was finally serious, and joked that the Moretti family might be preparing for an engagement soon.

I watched for a while before replying.

You look good together.

Then I turned my phone face down on the table.

I had already decided to draw the line, but my chest still ached, like an old wound pressed again.

Mira came back very late.

She carried a large bouquet of white roses. Her lips were darker than before, her coat hung loosely over her shoulders, and there was a red mark near her collar that she had not bothered to hide.

The girls in the side wing gathered around her at once.

“He really took you to South Dock?”

“That’s Moretti’s private dock. Outsiders never get in.”

“Luca has never shown anyone off like this.”

Mira held the flowers, blushing just enough.

“He said I’m the first girl he has ever officially brought there.”

When she said it, her gaze passed over me lightly.

I sat by the window and said nothing.

Soon she came over, her voice careful while satisfaction hid in her eyes.

“Bella, I only just found out you’re not really Luca’s sister.”

“They said you’ve liked him for years.”

“If this bothers you, I can apologize.”

“No need.”

I cut her off.

“They were talking nonsense.”

She clearly did not believe me.

The other girls went quiet too, their eyes moving between us. Someone asked, “Then do you like anyone?”

I had not planned to answer.

At that moment, my phone lit up.

A news alert appeared on the screen.

Julian Romano returns to New York for tomorrow night’s charity auction.

In the photo, Julian stood on the second floor of an auction hall in a black suit, his expression cold. Two guards stood behind him.

The Romano family and the Moretti family had been circling each other for years, and Julian and I had disliked each other since childhood. We fought over the first dance at family parties, then over riding, shooting lessons, and business courses. For more than a decade, we could not meet without arguing.

In the past two years, I had been too busy with Luca to deal with him.

Looking at that photo, I thought his name was perfect.

Distant enough.

Sharp enough to hurt Luca.

“Yes,” I said.

The girls immediately asked, “Who?”

I picked up my phone and pointed at the screen.

“Julian Romano.”

The room went quiet.

Someone drew in a breath.

“Bella, are you serious?”

“That’s Julian.”

“He isn’t like Luca. He doesn’t play games with women.”

I smiled and gave no explanation.

For a second, Mira’s expression stiffened. She probably had not expected me to name someone like him after listening to her talk about Luca.

Neither had I.

But the moment I said it, something inside me felt lighter.

For five years, I had always feared Luca would misunderstand, get angry, or think I was not sensible enough.

Now I suddenly did not want to be afraid anymore.

I put my phone away and returned to my room.

Behind me, people were still whispering about Julian and praising Mira and Luca. Once the door closed, their voices blurred.

Luca had called me family.

Then I would be family.