"Mom, what if I get married?"

Her mother's eyes widened but she remained tight-lipped as she closed her book. She sipped at her Darjeeling tea before she addressed her. "Just a day ago, you weren't even considering another career... and now, you want to get married?"

Amara shrugged, putting her feet on an empty chair. They were drinking tea at the garden gazebo while her mother read a book. "Why not?"

Callista Genovese-Luciano sighed and set her book down. "Is this about how I found you with an unbuttoned uniform yesterday?"

"Kinda?"

"Princess, I'm not opposed to whatever you do in your spare time. I've lectured you enough on that. But I think marriage after making out is unheard of."

She laughed. "Mom, it's Primo. I've known since we were ten."

"Are you serious?" Her mother gasped. "You swore that you won't ever be together!"

"I changed my mind." Amara rested her elbows on the chair. "You'll support me, won't you?"

"No."

"What!" Amara sat straight, frowning in indignation. "Mom, I have never asked you for anything! Like ever!"

"I'm sorry, princess. But you're father won't agree to marriage just because you want to. You know how our story goes."

She chewed at her bottom lip. Her mother was right. "How about engagement?"

Her mother crossed her legs, grey eyes thoughtful. "Hmm. Depends. What could you get from it?"

"My satisfaction?"

"That's not enough." Callista stood up, not losing the twinkle in her eyes. "You're smarter than this, Amara. Think carefully."

Amara folded her arms. Her mom seemed to give her a hint. She thought back to Luchenko's business which was construction, real-estate, tobacco plantations, and... entertainment. It used to be the Castellano's business but her uncle Franco had sold it to Mr. Aslan.

Her dad and Aslan had worked together in building the Queen palace and countless casinos.

Wait. Didn't her mamma Vida said that their contracts needed to be renewed?

But that wouldn't be a problem if she became their daughter-in-law?

Amara shot up and rushed to her room. She went to her laptop and prepared a presentation for her father. If she recalled correctly, her father's mafia ties demanded him to do business with family alone.

And that other businesses needed to get in line.

Honestly, she thought that having such an elitist view would ultimately be bad for business. Amara knew her dad enjoyed working with the Luchenkos more than any other construction company.

And she could make it possible.

Of course, her main goal was to force Primo to cut ties with Natasha. She was certain that his views on cheating wouldn't let him keep two relationships at once.

"Perfect," she muttered, saving her presentation.

✘✘

Amara paced back and forth in front of her dad's study. She was confident in her plan but she also knew of her father's protectiveness.

"Won't you enter?"

She turned to see her mother in a white summer dress with a ribbon around the waist. Amara smiled and tucked her hand with hers. "Let's go inside, Mom!"

If her mother was here, there's no way her father could get angry. At least not too much.

Castor Luciano looked up as the door opened. He frowned at them before he leaned back and bunched his white sleeves to his elbows. "And why are my favorite people together?"

Callista shot Amara a meaningful look before she went to her husband, kissing him on the lips.

"Gross," she muttered. Amara turned on the projector and set up her laptop. She looked at her parents and thankfully, they weren't making out anymore. "Dad, I have a business proposal."

"Oh?" he mumbled, pulling his wife to sit on the chair's wooden arm. The woman's hands rubbed at his shoulders. "Is this the reason why I'm getting this massage?"

"Hush now, darling," Callista chuckled as she ran her fingers through her husband's hair. "Why don't you explain, princess?"

Amara took a deep breath. She launched into an explanation, listing the advantages of her proposal.

"So, you want to use your engagement to forge a contract between me and Aslan?" her dad mumbled in disbelief. Amara saw his jaw ticked as he crossed her arms. "Why are you doing this?"

"I'm helping you, Dad! It's a good deal, isn't it?"

"Maybe. Except for the fact that you want to terminate your engagement when the time is right!"

Amara bit her lip. "Well... you never know what will happen. It's better to leave a clause like that."

"I don't go back on my word. I can't do that!" he yelled. The man's green eyes snapped to his wife. "You tolerated this?"

"For the record, I said no," she replied.

"Dad!" Amara whined. She chewed at her bottom lip. She couldn't lose at this. "It's also possible I won't change my mind! And even if I do, you could have a five-year contract with YL Builders. Isn't that better than the one you can only renew every three years?"

"Ooh. She has a point!" Callista exclaimed that her husband rolled his eyes. "What? She does."

Castor Luciano let out a heavy huff, pressing a hand to his forehead. He met his daughter's eyes. "What if you regret this?"

"I..." Amara faltered. She wasn't one to seek out fights. She was an observer who liked being at peace. And yet, for the first time in her life, she had taken the initiative.

Primo would probably hate her.

"Let her." Her mother spoke. "We can't protect you forever, Amara. So whatever the consequences are, you need to face it."

"I know that," Amara declared, digging her nails into her palms.

"Fine. Then, pack your bags." Her father stood up. "We're going to Italy."

✘✘

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