A ROUGH START.

On this sunny day in Palermo, I found myself sweeping over the dirt off the driveway, and wondering about my upcoming 28th birthday. Would it be a repeat of previous years where I spent the entire day working?

The thought of it alone excited me, despite my uncertainty I had a good feeling about this year's birthday. In three days' time, I would find out why.

I was humming my favorite Westlife song when I heard my name being called.

"Yvonne." My little sister, Ariel, called from outside the porch.

"What's up sis?" I asked.

"Dad sends for you." She replied.

"Oh, I will meet him soon. I just…"

"No, he asks that you come now." Ariel snapped.

"He has a guest and he wants you to meet with him."

A guest? My dad never gets guests, he loathes having people in the house, something was weird.

"Oh, okay sis. I will be with him in less than 2 minutes."

Walking to my dad's office, I wondered who could be the guest, been sleeping in my room all day, I had no idea who came in and who went put.

I placed a knock slightly on the door and my dad gave the permission to come in, I took a deep breath in and walked in.

The room felt stuffier than usual because my dad had allowed three men to stay with him in the tiny office. I only recognized one of them, he was the soon-to-be mafia lord.

I wondered why he had come to visit my dad.

"Hey dad." I greeted.

"Hey Princess, please have your seat." 

I did as my dad ordered and took my seat, I paid no mind to the soon-to-be mafia lord or his bodyguards, I was there for my dad and him only.

"Mr Enzo, this is my daughter, Yvonne."

"Yvonne, as you may know him, this is Late Mr Matteo's son, soon-to-be Mafia lord, Enzo."

I gave a little bow to him and looked back at my dad. I knew who he was, everyone did, he was a ruthless monster and again, I wondered why he was at my dad's office.

My dad never puts himself in danger, so why was the ruthless man here and why did my Dad seem sad.

No longer holding my thoughts anymore, I blurted out, "Why is he here dad?"

Enzo raised an eyebrow and glanced at me, I paid no mind.

"Actually, I have something to tell you." My dad struggled to say.

"What is..?"

"I…" my dad started.

"Let me speak." Enzo interrupted.

"Your father took a loan of 10 billion dollars from the Cartel and hasn't paid back."

My eyes shone brightly in surprise, looking at my dad, I could tell he was ashamed and that only hurt me.

"He has no means to pay back which means death."

Upon hearing that, a tear dropped.

"D…eath? Loan? H..."

"Yes, death. No one owes the Cartel and lives. Everyone in Palermo knows that."

"I…."

"But, I will spare him!" Enzo added sharply.

"Spare him?" 

"Only on one condition.."

"What is?" I asked, ready to do anything.

"Only if you get married to me. For better understanding, I'm going to but you."

My heart skipped a beat upon hearing those words.

"W…what?" I questioned.

"That's the only way out. It's either you get married to me or I kill your dad and your sister."

I turned to my dad, hoping that he would tell me it's a prank, but he looked worse than I do, I could tell he had cried his eyes out.

"Dad…." I reached for his hands.

"I'm so sorry. I don't want this either but he says he would kill everyone."

I wiped my tear and stood up to Enzo, literally, oh, he was tall.

"And if we say no?"

Enzo scoffed, "Then everyone in your family dies, including you."

"I have a boyfriend."

"Why isn't he helping your dad then?"

"Give us time. II….

"It's been eight months. I can't give you more time."

"I promise, I will pay back."

"How? You are not well off, neither is your dad. You work at a Coffee shop where you earn a little penny every month? How do you intend to pay back 10 billion dollars?"

At that moment, I don't know if I was angry that he was mocking me or because of what he was proposing.

"Pl…ease." I went down on my knees, holding the hem of his trousers, "I can't get married to you." I sobbed.

Enzo went down to his knees to get to my level, "How bad can it be getting married to me? You would have everything you want. I take your mother to the best hospital to Italy and you and your family get to live well-off." He offered.

"However, if you don't, I will…

"I will do it!" I exclaimed.

A smirk played across Enzo's face, "Do what?"

"I will get married to you. Just please spare my family." I sobbed.

He raised my chin and said, "That's a good girl."

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ 

I spent all day in my room, covered up in my blankets and thinking about where everything started..

I wondered why my dad had to borrow such a huge sum of money, was it because of my mom's health? Would I blame him for it? Of all women here in Palermo? 

Why me? What would Enzo Matteo stand to gain from getting married to me?

I wanted to cry so badly but I was out of tears, I was hungry, but I didn't want to leave the room, because I didn't want to see my dad, he was hurt too, I didn't want to see that.

A knock came on the door and Carlo spoke up, "Princess. Can I come in?"

"No, you can't." I answered sharply, not minding he had been here about 100 times, asking if he could come in.

"Please?" Carlo pleaded.

I sighed, my dad was best friend, I hated having misunderstandings with him, so it was taking a toll on me that what happened today happened, however, I can't ignore my dad forever, on that note, I asked that he come in and he did.

"Hey Princess." Carlo greeted.

"Hey dad." I sat up, responding.

He sat beside her on the bed, "Are you still mad at me?" 

"No, I'm not." I lied.

Of course I was mad at him, if only he communicated with me about him wanting to take a loan from the Mafia's Cartel, I would have talked him out of it, but he didn't so yes, I was mad.

Carlo took a deep breath in, "I'm sorry I couldn't do much for us."

Hearing the sincerity in my dad's house caused my heart to melt, he held my hand, "I really am."

"You shouldn't apologise, dad." I said.

"I should. I'm the reason you are in this mess." 

I could hear the tears in his voice and it only broke my heart.

"I just want your mom to get better, I didn't think it through, I'm sorry." Carlo continued, tears coursing down his cheeks.

"It's okay, dad, it's okay." I assured him, though, I highly doubt it was.

I was getting married to a man i didn't love, I was getting married to Enzo Matteo, it scared me, I was scared and I knew my dad was too, i drew him for a hug, but mostly for myself, I needed a bit of comfort, just a little bit.

▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎ ▪︎

As I gazed at the mirror, I could hardly recognize myself. It was as if I was looking at a completely altered version of me.

A sigh eluded my lips as i lowered my eyes, nervousness kicking in and the fact that i'm really getting married to Enzo Matteo.

As the priest went on, i tried hard to maintain a brave face, but my sad eyes made it hard.

"....till death do you part?" The priest recited and waited for my reply.

I took a quick look at everyone, most of the guests were from Enzo's side, dressed in their suits, their expressions unreadable.

This isn't what I imagined my wedding to be, I imagined I would be happy on my wedding, I imagined I would be getting married to the man I truly loved, Henry.

Oh, Henry, my heart sank whenever I thought of him.

"Miss Yvonne.." the priest called, "Till death do you part?" He repeated.

I clenched the bouquet tighter in my hands, and just as I was when I was about to answer.

Henry barged in, "I order that this wedding ends now!" He yelled.

H..Henry? Why was he here? Who told him? 

The crowd was as surprised as I was.

"Oh no, Henry." I whispered.

Henry walked to the front of the podium, not minding that all eyes were on him. 

"Yvonne." He called. "W…why?"

I avoided eye contact with him, I couldn't bring myself to look at him. 

"And what do you think you are doing here?" Enzo asked, while keeping his calm demeanour but I could tell from his eyes that he was mad as hell.

I turned to Henry, "You shouldn't be here." 

"So it's true. You are really getting married to this devil here!"

"Please stop." I begged.

"Please go."

"I can't, not until you answer my question." 

"Do you love him? Do you love that man?" He asked.

Why did he have to ask me that? I love Henry more than life itself. I felt torn knowing that he doubted how I feel for him.

"Do you?" He questioned. 

I swallowed hard, and answered, "Yes Henry. I love him."

I watch the hope in his eyes die as I made that statement, Enzo was pleased with my answer, I could feel it and I hated it, so much.

"So, you should go." I added.

"Y….Yvonne." Henry called.

"Guards, take him out!" Enzo ordered and the guards did as they were ordered and all I could do was watch in despair.

"Please, go on, Priest." Enzo persuaded the priest as soon as everywhere was calm, I hated that he was having fun with this.

The priest cleared his throat and repeated, "Please repeat after me, Miss Yvonne."

The priest recited the vows and I repeated,

"Till death do you part?"

I clenched tighter onto the bouquet in my hands, "Till death do us part."

He slid the ring onto my fourth finger, holding the wedding band in her right hand, i took a hold of his right hand and it felt warm, then i slid the ring onto the rightful finger.

"....now, I pronounce you husband and wife." The priest announced and a light cheer and applause erupted.

"You may kiss the bride.."

He took steps closer and stopped once he was in front of me.

He leaned closer and closer, so much that I could smell his expensive cologne.

The moment his eyes met his mine, his lips locked with mine.

His kiss deepened and I felt his hand on my back tightened a bit..as if surrendering, my eyes slowly shut.

Suddenly, he pulled away from the kiss and as i fluttered my eyes open, then he whispered, "You are mine now."