Panic raced in my veins as I sat there staring at him shocked.

"You— you're saying that my p-parents were a part of—" I slowly said.

He nodded silently in response.

Was he being serious? Why the hell is he telling me like this?

How could— Wait!

It all made sense. All the business trips… all the money… I always thought that he was doing business.

All those meetings he had. The way people randomly showed up to our house to speak to him in private… oh my god!

"Sh— show me the proof. If I don't see the proof I am not going to believe you." I finally said, standing up and turning to look towards the window.

My hands shook, and my heartbeat quickened as I stared out the window.

I gasped the moment I heard him get up, and make his way towards me.

"Here." He said softly.

I turned to see him holding out a tablet towards me. "What is this?" I asked, frowning.

"It's the only thing that contains the files of information about your parents and their families. I've already had all the copies of this information erased from the web, and on any other device by Jasper. All except here, on my phone." he explained.

My finger slid across the screen, as my eyes began to scan the information in there.

Everything was there before my eyes. Their birth names. Family members, the feud that caused them to leave this country. What they'd been doing this entire time. Information on their deaths… Everything.

It was then I discovered just how massive a lie my life has been.

Every single thing I ever believed was no longer true.

How the hell could they do this to me?

How could they hide this from me?

Why would they hide this?

I broken sob escaped through my lips as the device slipped through my fingers.

Edward quickly caught it, throwing it into the couch, before pulling me into a fierce hug.

"I know this wasn't the best way to tell you, but I wanted to be honest with you… and I know that you're hurting right now, but everything that you just saw isn't the only thing I found…" He softly said.

This wasn't all of it?! Oh god. This was only going to get worse wasn't it?

My eyes stung as the tears fell nonstop, my hands latched onto his shirt, clinging myself to him helplessly as I cried my eyes out.

I hated being weak in front of someone else but this wasn't something I could hold in. It was too much.

As my legs gave out, I felt him lifted me into his arms, and took us to the couch before sitting me on his lap.

I was so distraught, I didn't even care that he was holding me like this.

I just wanted answers but the answers I received thru me for a loop.

"Principessa, mi dispiace davvero che tu abbia dovuto scoprirlo in questo modo. Ma non c'era davvero nessun altro modo per dirtelo." He murmured soothingly. (Princess, I'm truly sorry that you had to find out this way. But there truly wasn't any other way to tell you.)

"Why did they do this?" I softly asked, distraught.

There has to be a reason. I know this. My dad doesn't do something without reason.

Meaning if what Edward just showed me is true then, something must have happened….

"To protect you. Just like I plan to do." He replied as he reached up with his hand and gently used his forefinger and thumb to pull my face up to look up at him.

I felt my face scrunch up in confusion, even though the tears were still falling.

"Protect me? From what? Who?" I asked.

"There's more to the story than those facts you saw. My father knew and worked with yours closely. It was his last remaining wish that we protect you from the Capri syndicate. More specifically the Endrizzis." He informed me.

"En— Endrizzis? Who— who are they?" I asked.

"The Endrizzis were the family your mother was supposed to marry into, more specifically, to Marino Endrizzi. It was all business with them. Unfortunately, for them, your mother met Carlo Savinelli. It was all lost for them then. " He explained, as he got a faraway look in his eye.

"Married? How do you know all of this? Were you there?" I asked, shocked.

He hummed, nodding once before he sighed. "I was eight by then… My father is the one who helped your parents and you leave the country without being detected. I saw your father every three years after that. We— we attended your mother's funeral after the accident…" He replied, as I flinched. "Sorry." He added apologetically when he saw the pained look on my face.

"It's okay. I hardly remember when my mother died, or when she was alive… I just remember my dad always avoiding the subject everytime I brought her up. I only know her from old home videos and photo albums." I whispered, sniffling.

"I'm so sorry for that." He replied, as I felt him kiss my hair.

I didn't know how to feel about that… About someone besides Alice and Rosalie caring about me. No one else had ever bothered to care about me before.

"Why am I in danger?" I asked him quietly.

"Because the Endrizzis believe they have a right to claim you. Which they don't. My father and I have gone out of our way to protect you. I almost had a heart attack when I found out you got on a plane and came here while I was in Florence. Do you have any idea what they will do to you if they get their hands on you?" He asked, pulling back to give me a concerned look.

I gaped at him, before swallowing thickly and shaking my head at him.

"Neither do I, and luckily we won't have to find out." He promised.

I frowned at him. "Why— why is that?" I asked him, dubiously.

He smirked at me, "Because you're my princess and I won't allow anyone to hurt what's mine." He replied.

I scoffed at his response, rolling my eyes before shifting slightly in his lap. "I'm not yours. Or anyone else's. I am my own person." I firmly said, trying to shift off of his lap.

He tightened his grip on me before sighing, and letting me go. "I'm not saying you're my property. I'm simply stating facts. Because in this world, well for them at least, nothing is off limits. If I place my claim on you, you will become off limits. You'll be safe from anyone hurting you." He explained.

I frowned, "That's fucked up." I muttered, put-off.

"I know it is. But you currently have a target on your back, and while the Gracos and Savinellis have long since settled their differences, I wouldn't put past one of their rivals to try to get the drop on them by hurting you." He pointed out.

My head was beginning to hurt from the information overload. But I had to know.

"How will you be staking your claim on me?" I asked, as my stomach clenched in anticipation.

He swallowed thickly, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath.

My eyes zoning in on the way his Adam's apple bobbed up and down enticingly, as he did.

"An engagement ring could do the trick. I'll also have to give you a piece of jewelry with our family crest on it but first I really do need to give you this." He replied, as he reached inside his packet, and pulled out a box.

I frowned, looking down at it, hesitantly reaching for it, before snapping it open.

To my surprise it wasn't a diamond ring. It was a large, princess cut, sapphire ring, with a simple dainty platinum band.

"I— I really don't think this is a good idea. I mean I was all for faking it. But what does our arrangement mean now? How will it work? Where do we stand on that?" I asked.

He frowned, "It means that fake can no longer be a part of our agreement." He said, finality in his tone.

Wait. Then that means… oh no! I'm only nineteen for Pete's sake! I don't want to be married, at least not now.

No. Absolutely not. I won't do it, even if he is the hottest thing to walk the planet. With his attitude he might as well be horse manure.

"You can not be serious." I replied, near hysterics.

"As a heart attack, dolcezza." He said, biting his lip.

I scoffed, before moving off his lap and walking back towards the window. "No." I replied.

"No? Why the hell not?" He asked, shocked.

I stared up at him in disbelief, "Are you— are you joking? I just met you! I don't fucking know shit from you. You expect me to agree to marry you when I don't even know you? Please tell me you're not that stupid to think that marriage is the only possibility." I scoffed, shaking my head.

He sighed, "So, that's it? No. That's your fucking answer? I am trying to keep you safe and you and your smart mouth are making it a pain in the ass and head to do so." He replied shortly.

I hummed in response, giving him a nonchalant look. "Well, fucking find another way to keep me safe because the way I see it. I might as well stay locked in this room because it all comes down to this... It'll be a cold day in hell before I agree to marry a stranger! And you can fucking kiss my ass if that's what you think!" I snapped back.

He opened his mouth a few times before taking a deep breath, and mumbling fast Italian.

"Alright fine, if that's how you want it. So be it." He calmly said.

"Good. I'm glad we understand each other then." I snapped turning away again.

A moment later I heard his footsteps retreating, and the door closing a second later.

The moment I was alone, I climbed into the bed, and hugged a pillow to myself as I began to scream into it.

Author's Note:

Well, there ya go.

Hope y'all enjoy this while I'm away. I'll hopefully see y'all on Monday...

Have a great weekend, stay safe, and make good choices!