Page 91 of Own Me

It was all Ysabel could do to keep her jaw from dropping.What was Massimo saying?

"But Ysabel isn't used to being in the limelight, and so only a few people knew about our relationship."

"And then you started dating her sister? Isn't that fucked up?"

"I didn't know they were related until Ynez introduced me to her family. When Ysabel and I were dating, a certainaspectof our relationship kept us quite busy—-"

Ysabel could feel her cheeks burning pink as a few reporters snickered at this.

"And so the topic of getting to know each other's families never came up."

"You really think we'd fall for that crap?"

A cold smile curved over Massimo's lips at the question. "And if you do not? What then? Youreallythinkallof you can still live in my city if so?"

There was one second of stark silence, and in the next second, it was as if the billionaire's words had unleashed a hurricane of fear, and this time, her jawdropped as everyone started mumbling about having something else to do.

It was like watching an infestation of roaches fleeing from their impending doom as everyone scuttled back into their cars andstarted their engines in a hurry. Car doors slammed shut, tires screeched against the pavement, and then...silence.

Just like that, only she and Massimo were left standing outside her step-aunt's restaurant, and it almost seemed as if Ysabel had dreamt the whole thing up.

"Are you alright?"

A dazed laugh escaped Ysabel at Massimo's courteous tone, the sound of which only made things feel even more surreal.

"What you did was...brutal."

"But necessary," he answered dismissively. "It would not be in their best interests if they were so foolish again as to forget who owns this city."

"And me?" Ysabel dared to ask. "Are you going to say you own me as well?"

"Do I not?"

"Only if I own you as well." The words were out before Ysabel even realized what she was saying...but how could she take them back, with the way those same words had desire flaring in his gaze?

Another second passed, but just as he took a step towards her, the doors toMammina'ssuddenly opened, and a beaming Carlita came rushing out.

"È stato incredible!"

Massimo stiffened as if coming to his senses, and Ysabel bit back a laugh as he glared at her like he was seriously suspecting herof casting a spell.Oh, amore mio.How long would it take him to realize thatlovewas the only magic she needed to bewitch him?

A smile tugged her lips at the way Carlita was now planting big, fat kisses on both of Massimo's cheeks, and the way Massimo did not dare pull away at such an effusive show of affection was heartbreakingly adorable.

"We all heard what you said,bambino!What a grand romance you and Ysabel have! It is like a fairytale..."

Massimo allowed Ysabel's step-aunt to propel him inside while hisfidanzataobediently followed behind them.

"Since Ysabel did not let you meet us five years ago, we must rectify that immediately,sì?"

Massimo could only nod even though a part of him was still in disbelief over the things he had said to the press. Where the hell had those words come from?

"So, I think you have already met Ysabel'smamaand my brother Arnoldo?"

Massimo expected a change in the older couple's attitude towards him, but both only smiled and greeted him as if it were normal for a man to date one sister...before being engaged to another. Were they not angry with him about hurting Ynez?

It was a question he would seriously like an answer to...in time.But for now, there were more people for him to greet, since it was now apparent to him that Ysabel'sfamigliaalso included the regulars ofMammina's.

A part of Massimo expected them to take advantage of their closeness to hisfidanzata,the way Ynez's friends had nothesitated to ask favors upon realizing he was a billionaire. But with Ysabel's extendedfamiglia,it was the opposite, and even the same group of high school students he had "seen" the other day, pestering Ysabel with question after question about his relationship with Ynez, was looking at him...like he was the enemy.

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