"I'm proud of you, brother," I said to Adam, who offered a tight, brief smile in return.

A quiet knot of guilt settled in my chest. I knew his dream had always been to marry for love, believing that mutual affection was the only foundation for a lasting union. But I had been forced to derail those plans for the sake of vengeance. If Adam knew I was orchestrating this match to avenge our parents, he wouldn't feel so pressured or resentful about taking Angelina Bianchi as his wife. Still, I needed to spare him from the weight of those dark memories for as long as I could.

The sharp,...