7. Rebellious Bride

Alessia Rossi

I slid kohl into the waterline of my eyes, set it aside, and got up to take a final look in the mirror. The woman staring at me was unlike the one I knew. It appeared pale, with no blush on her cheeks or light in her eyes.

A ringing bell disrupted my concentration, and my glance shifted to the watch, indicating it was time. It's time to step out as a bride.

Bride of Nikolai De Moretti.

My gaze fell on the red rose bouquet that Nikolai had previously sent in the hands of his valet. I crushed the fresh flowers between my palms one at a time before gathering them up. I took a deep breath, clutching the rose bouquet close to my chest, before heading out to face the battle.

I've accepted my fate and realized that death is the only way out of the man I'm about to marry. When I first tried to escape him, he killed my mother and now my father, my brother. He killed my entire family. The Rossi Empire, which my father built with so much hard work, is now in ruins, all because of him.

Every step that I took toward the hall was filled with determination, determination to exact my revenge. Revenge for every drop of blood the Rossis had shed, every tear we had cried because of him.

I entered the living hall, and immediately, every eye turned to me but my eyes remained fixed on my target, Nikolai De Moretti.

He was standing in the aisle talking to someone, appearing like a king among men.

He was dressed in clean black, with gelled hair and a neatly manicured beard. His posture was perfect, but something was odd. Although he seemed to be physically present; he appeared to be somewhere else mentally, as if waiting for something... or someone.

The crowd gasped and whispered of surprise as I walked forward.

Why wouldn't they be surprised?

I am sure it was for the first time that they had witnessed a bride in a black gown.

Yes, black just like my soon-to-be husband's personality.

The moment Nikolai's head turned to me, his jaw dropped and his eyes widened. His reaction was worth capturing.

It may be a wedding for him but for me, it is my funeral. I killed the old me.

~~~~~

Nikolai De Moretti

I was utterly taken aback when I saw my bride. For a moment I forgot how to breathe.

In my dreams, I had always imagined Alessia wearing a white wedding gown, gracefully walking down the aisle. Never in my wildest fantasies did I expect this.

She was wearing a long black gown, which she probably had found in the wardrobe I prepared for her. The gown was swept around her legs like a dark river.

Not only her outfit but her makeup was also black. The kohl was dark and thick, along with the eyeliner. The color of the eyeshadow was black. Her lips were painted a rebellious deep purple, and she held her chin high with a confidence that both startled and captivated me.

The bouquet that she held now had withered flowers, as if she knowingly done it.

I was shocked, tongue-tied like everyone else, as she stepped towards me.

But the more I saw her, the more captivating she looked, even though she appeared completely different from how I imagined her.

My trance broke when I heard the whispers of the crowd. I could see a few of my competitors smirking at her, but one deathly glare was enough for them to look away.

~~~~~~

Alessia Rossi

His surprised reaction fueled my resolve. It gave me more strength and confidence to walk towards him. I could feel a surge of power coursing through my veins. I didn't even blink as my gaze remained fixed on him. A slight smirk of victory played on my lips.

As I stood in front of him, his jaw clenched and his fists squeezed against his sides.

"I hope you find me pretty. Exactly the way you used to dream," I asked, my voice dripping with sarcasm.

For a long, full minute, he remained silent and frozen in his place. Then slowly, he opened his fists and relaxed his jaw. His surprise was now replaced with unreadable emotions.

"I have always found you pretty, regardless of how you look," he stated. "If you think wearing black and defying expectations makes you any less captivating in my eyes, then you are mistaken."

He exhaled deeply, my eyes narrowing at him.

"Yes, it is an insult to me as Capo di Capi, but if you ask Nikolai, you are still the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. Black is my favorite color, and it suits you perfectly."

My heart raced at his words but I quickly masked my emotions with a glare. I can't allow myself to be swayed by his twisted definition of affection. He is insane and I shouldn't forget the fact that he killed my entire family.

Turning to the priest, Nikolai ordered, “Start with the formalities.”

We continued to look into each other’s eyes as the priest carried on with the formalities. I was glaring at him with a hard expression while he looked at me with softness and an amused small smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

He gazed at me as if I were truly the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

The priest recited the vows while I repeated mine in my head. Vows that truly mattered to me. Vows for which I am standing in front of this devil, signing my life to him.

I promise myself that I will not cry a single tear until I have brought him to his knees.

I promise myself that I will carve my pain into his soul, just as he has carved his name into mine.

I promise myself that I will be the same fire in his life that burnt down my empire.

I promise myself that no matter how many chains he wraps around me, I will break every single one of them.

I promise myself that I will make him regret ever believing he could own me.

He stares at me intently as if trying to read my thoughts. I am sure somewhere he knows what I am planning and for some strange reason, it seems like he is finding it endearing. As if... As if I am still the puppet in his game, according to his wishes.

"Do you, Nikolai De Moretti, accept Alessia Rossi as your lawful wife?" The priest’s question broke the chain of my thoughts.

"I do," he mumbled without wasting a single second.

"Do you, Alessia Rossi, accept Nikolai De Moretti as your lawful husband?"

For a second, my lips pressed together as I inhaled a deep breath before parting my lips to enter into this battle that would ruin one of us.

"I do" battle

And those two words sealed my fate.

"You may now kiss the bride."

The guests cheered and applauded. Nikolai wasted no time in wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer to his chest. His grip was firm, possessive as if daring me to resist. His hot breath fanned my face as his lips hovered just above mine.

"I promise to protect you with my life and not let you cry."

I exhaled sharply, placing my palms firmly on his shoulder.

"I promise to defy you at every step of my life and make you cry the tears of blood."

He chuckled darkly before pressing his lips against mine, sealing the beginning of this twisted, cruel game.