Chapter 5

ADELINE

******** Present day ********

I groaned and I felt the splash of water on my face.

" Stand up Adeline, your father asked to see you " my stepmother said.

I gave my her best glare as I stood up to answer my father's call. I do not like my Stepmother one because, firstly she's half my father's age , secondly she hates my guts too, so it's mutual. The only person that made this house bearable since my mother's death is my grandma, but we all call her Nona. I'm sure she's with my father right now, at least one person will be on my side there.

I can't even brush my teeth because my father can be very grumpy in the mornings and I don't want him to take it out on me , I already have enough on my plate at the moment.

I already had sort of an idea why my father wants to see me, I am pretty sure it is because of the stupid marriage whatever. I am so beyond livid right now.

I slept with that brat and the most annoying thing is that I fucking liked it and my body is tingling from the thought , what on earth is wrong with me ?!

I'm angry about this , right?!

I'm sure my father will be very angry with me because I have ruined his image, oh please!

And now there's no way out of this marriage for me.

I walked down the staircase slowly and made my way into my father's study. I didn't bother to knock, I just stepped inside. My father's study was his favorite place in the entire house and it was pretty obvious because he took his time to furnish it. It was a state of the art study with books lines on shelves. It has this vintage feeling although it was very modern, it is really beautiful.

I was right , my Nona already sat beside father, she so in her pearl necklace. She sat there , with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, trying not to smile.

"Yes father,you called for me ?" I said nervously.

He cleared his throat " Adeline, how did you do it ?" my father said grinning from ear to ear.

"Do what , father?" I asked confused.

" I mean how did you manage to hook the heir to the Armani Dynasty in just one night , I never knew you had it you child, I'm so proud of you " my father said .

" Oh shut up Eduardo " my Nona replied him.

Hold up, back up, pause for a second.

Did he just say he's proud of me ???

" I thought I'd have to get my hands dirty by killing those girls in order to secure your position, I didn't know you had this plan of seducing him" my father continued unbothered by the nasty looks my Nona was giving him.

" I mean thank the skies I asked Puncho to follow you when I saw you sneak out, he was the one who took the picture of you two together.

That was all the proof I needed in order to finalize your marriage. This marriage is going to be the source of my neverending wealth, I'll be able to expand the drug line by combining with the Armani's, even their borders. This is the most profitable busin....err I mean marriage ever, thank you, Adeline ", my father said, he then stood up immediately without waiting for me to speak, and muttering something about new guns and more protection.

I was speechless for a while as I processed my thoughts. It was common knowledge in the Cosa Nostra that most marriages were made because of profit and business alliances, and not out of love. Some even go as far as promising their children to people for a contract to be sealed.

This was a common practice in the mafia, or at least so I heard. The Italian Mafia also known as the Cosa Nostra is the oldest Mafia and the first one to ever exist and it's base is here in Sicily. We have grown from generation to generation with this practice making the mafia bonds grow stronger. So the arranged marriages and power combinations were just an attempt to keep the mafia blood line true and pure.

I was aware of this information since I was a child, it's common knowledge, it's unavoidable and I can't run from it. I'm wondering why I'm so annoyed about this when I knew it would happen all along, but why him ?! why ? I thought about these till my Nona interrupted my thoughts.

" Mi Tesoro", she said while patting my head " Do not mind that son of mine, I was so sure I raised him better than this, seeing a business scheme in everything and everyone around him, he takes after his father ".

" I'm just twenty-one, I have dreams and places to be, I planned to travel out of this damn place. I'm tired of this place, I'm tired of being treated like a baby".

" I understand you ,Tesoro" she said.

" No you don't, Nona , you don't "

" Oh please it's marriage, don't make it sound like an everlasting punishment, besides I do understand you, I got married to your grandfather when I was eighteen , against my will too infact but at least I birthed your father and through him now I have you, so this could be a blessing in disguise for you too".

" This is not a blessing, that I'm sure of " I said to her.

" Don't be so negative, Adeline, this could be the stars finally turning things in your favour"

I rolled my eyes , Nona was about to delve into her voodoo and fortune telling beliefs, which are far fetched if you ask me.

Nona continued " You know you haven't truly been happy in this house since your mother, Graciela-lord rest her soul-died and that witch moved in. This might be a way for you to finally be happy, an escape from your boring lifestyle, and who knows you might find happiness along the way " Nona finished.

I blinked back tears that were about to fall as I remembered my mother and how beautiful she was.

She was the most beautiful woman I knew, she was so pure and loving. It's still so painful cancer took her away while she was still so young, when I was just 14. I guess Nona is right , afterall what do I have to lose that I haven't lost already. I hugged her and went back into my room.

I heard there is going to be a pre-engagement dinner between the two families on Saturday, which is in three days time, in order to finalize our marriage and pick an engagement date. I swallowed as I came to terms with it

I guess this is it.

This is my reality now.