Free His Discarded Bride: Lied to from birth. Manipulated into marriage. Does love stand a chance? by Melita Joy Page B

her hourly with updates, and the poor eager fool had called her every forty-five minutes over eager with anticipation for some naughtiness that she definitely wouldn’t be committing.
    “Well,” Renato barked impatiently.
    “Just as I thought, they are approaching Pontelandolfo now. See I told you there was no need to worry. Come have a drink with me and relax a little before your guests start arriving. You seem so wound up,” she poured a shot of fine single malt Dalmore scotch over ice and handed it to Renato. Camilla had a reasonably good reason to suspect that his precious bride to be was unfaithful. If she were to confront Renato with the information, he would think she was catty. Besides the proof wasn’t concrete enough for Renato’s standards and possibly he wouldn’t considering this was surely a marriage of convenience. She would hold onto the information, after all knowledge of any Favalli scandal was definitely an opportunity.
    Renato rubbed his temple and downed the drink. He needed space from Camilla and ordered her to go check on the catering and staff. Truthfully, he was furious with Camilla for leaving Leilani in Rome on her own. She was his future wife and he owed her his protection. His phone rang, and the doorbell peeled with the arrival of guests. “Pronto.”
    “Ren, I’ve just heard from my man who was tailing your fiancée and driver today.”
    Savino’s findings did not lighten Renato’s mood. He would need to put on his best performance tonight and then later he would ensure his wife understood some ground rules.
     
    Leilani’s heart was racing faster as they neared the town of Pontelandolfo. What a day it had been. On top of all that she had been through she now had to face a crowd of strangers dolled up to the point of ridiculousness and unrecognizable she was sure to even her mother. By mid-morning she’d already suffered enough embarrassment to pluck up the courage and tell Camilla that she would be okay for the day with the schedule and a driver. Relief had visibly washed over the woman’s face and after a few quick phone calls Leilani was assured that she was being left, in good hands, to get her ready for the ball.
    The first port of call had been to a very exclusive day spa where she had been subjected to waxing, scrubbing, massaging and all kinds of lotions. It was while she still had a red upper lip and eyebrows that she decided Camilla no longer needed to witness her complete humiliation. With the woman gone Leilani tried to relax. The beauticians simultaneously worked on a manicure and pedicure while she worked out a way to see Anselmo without a word of it getting back to Renato.
    Leilani got into the car and was driven to a very upmarket clothing boutique. Grimacing she got out of the car, “my schedule states that I have a lunch break after this appointment,” she said to the driver.
    “Si, I have instructions on which restaurant to take you to for lunch.”
    “Oh,” she felt deflated. “On second thoughts,” she ran with her idea hoping the driver would buy it. “I don’t fancy taking lunch in a restaurant on my own. I mean I’m sure initially I was supposed to have lunch with Camilla but since she has left, I thought it might be nicer to got to a simple local cafe or restaurant.”
    “Uh,” the driver looked hesitant.
    Leilani seized the opportunity and did her best to issue a directive. “Please meet me here at two o’clock. That will be enough time for lunch and to get me to my next appointment on time.” Leilani whirled around quickly and scurried into the shop before the driver could reject the plan.
    Not much of a shopper Leilani found the experience draining. The owner of the boutique, Rita, was a friend of the Favalli family. She was petite, and Leilani would be surprised if she were five feet tall heeled. What she lacked in stature, she made up for in bite. Looking down her uplifted nose she sized Leilani up and marched her into the dressing