Chapter 3

Gabriella

I jolted awake as a bucked of ice-cold water was dumped on my head. I looked around but could not see anything because I was in a very dark room. My hands were tied to a chair.

“Oh, the poor thing must be scared” I heard someone whisper.

“Please, please help me!” I cried out. “Is anyone here!” I shouted, blinking against the darkness. “I’ll do anything, please just help me out of here” I whispered sobbing.

“Oh dear, you can't get out of here” a woman said as she pulled the curtains, the sudden brightness, almost blinding me. I could hear the sound of water running in the bathroom, which made me realize there was someone else in the room. 

“I’m Hannah, and I'm to help you prepare for your wedding” she said blankly.

“We—wedding” I stammered, taken aback. “To who?” I asked.

“To the boss of course” she said matter of factly.

“Boss?—What boss?” I asked confused.

“I wonder what he sees in her to even contemplate marrying her. She's not even that pretty.” The other woman said, coming into the bedroom.

“Oh Shush!” Hannah admonished her, “You're just jealous you won’t be warming his bed no more”

She turned back to me saying “You will be getting married to Mr Dante in a few hours my dear.” she said clapping her hands.

“What—No, noo” I whispered in disbelief, shaking my head. “Ma’am wait, you have to help me, I can't get married to him” I said in panic. “I’ve only ever met him once, I don't even know him. Please you have to help me escape” I continued.

“Are you fine miss?” the woman said with concern, touching my forehead. “Oh, seems like you're having a fever.”

The other woman cackled as she left the room, closing the door with a thud.

“I—I” I babbled, searching for words.

“The blow to your head must have really taken a toll on you” Hannah said and I could not confirm if the concern I saw in her eyes was genuine. “No one escapes from Dante Lombardi” she said with finality.

“You’re too young to be put in a coffin. So I'll advice you not to speak to me about escaping ever again. He might have my head along with yours if he finds out”

My eyes filled with tears, my fingers trembling as the reality of my situation finally hits me. I've been sold for fifty thousand dollars, and now, I'm being forced to marry a man I don't even know, talk less of love.

“So, let’s get you cleaned up, i’m going to untie you now, don't do anything funny” she said cautiously.

The moment I was untied, I ran towards the door, pulling on the doorknob but was gravely disappointed to see that it had been locked. A sob escaped out of me as I slid down and soon, I was bawling like a baby. I was thankful to Hannah for giving me a minute before she spoke.

“Are you ready for your bath now?” Hannah asked after some minutes. I nodded, feeling dirty and self-cautious.

“That's good, you're doing very well dear” She led me to the bath and scrubbed me. I was feeling better by the time she finished dressing me in a wedding gown she claimed belonged to Dante’s mother.

“Oh my!” she exclaims. “You look stunning” Hannah said as I stood in front of the mirror. I frowned, finding nothing to be excited about as there was a knock at the door.

“Hannah, the boss says he needs her down now” a man said.

This was It. I thought as my pulse raced, my palms became clammy as Hannah responded.

“She will be down in a minute Rico.”

“Please, I can't. I don't want to do this” I tried one last time to appeal to her.

“You don't have a choice my dear, everyone is waiting at the church for you. He is waiting” she said with kind eyes.

She put the veil over my face and then handed me over to Rico as she opened the door.

“Let’s get this blasted ceremony over and done with” Rico cussed as he escorted me down the stairs and into a black SUV.

I swallowed as we got to the entrance of the chapel. The heavy oak doors—the only thing that separated me from a lifetime of misery— opened. The man—Rico, tightened his arm around mine, giving me a warning look not to try anything stupid.

The orchestra started as I walked down the aisle. I wondered whose idea this was as a man stood on the other end of the aisle in front of a priest with a mask on. I could see his fists clenching, as if he was as nervous as I was.

The priest began to speak but I barely heard him, my mouth felt dry and my head was reeling, desperate for a way out.

“And do you, Gabriella, take Dante Lombardi as your lawfully wedded husband?” the priest asked.

The question hung in the air for a few seconds.

“I—I” I faltered, I could not get my throat to work, the man in front of me was sending daggers my way with his eyes. I closed my eyes, I could feel the gaze of the few people in the church staring into me.

“I do” I whispered. Closing my eyes in pain, it felt like I had just signed a contract with the devil as the priest smiled.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss the bride” the priest said. I gasped in shock as the man—Dante, removed the mask covering his face. 

I gasped in shock as I stared at my husband.