- Hurry up with the make-up, please. - The stylist who was still working on the mere details of the dress was even more excited than the bride. Linna was already exhausted from sitting in that chair, even though it was padded, after so long even she was not comfortable.
Her neck hurt as well as her lower back, and the worst part was that she had no idea when she would get out of there. Even though it was a fake wedding, she was anxious, her stomach hurt, and her feet were so sweaty that she felt like her feet were going to be sweaty soon.
That man, her fiancé, known as Robert Nathan Scully or simply CEO Nathan, is weird. He is handsome. Very handsome. Even more than she would have liked. His body is well defined, nothing too big or too tight, just shapely enough for his muscles to show through his dress shirts and his thighs to show through his tight jeans. His Asian features are what makes him the most handsome, his family is Thai with American descent, so even though he is weak, he still has big eyes and a slightly too big nose. What is really beautiful are his full lips and his big hair combed back and almost non-existent on the sides.
Linna would like to focus only on these things, but she knew that the man did not like her very much. É. Although he accepted the marriage, he accepted only for the sake of his parents' small business because he was going to gain from it as well. Among several moments they had to be together, few was the one they truly talked about and then she knew that Robert was not that boring. And that maybe their marriage could flow, even without any love.
She was not there for love either. She didn't feel any kind of feelings for him and she deeply wished she didn't, since, well, you can't command your heart. What she might, at most, feel is a big hard-on for having to sleep next to such a man and do nothing. But feelings? The only feelings that exist in you are kept for your father and mother. She has never been one to believe in love, even though her favorite genre is romance. Because none of the people knew how to respect her space, none knew how to be patient, none gave her what she wanted. Not everything is love, above love there are pillars necessary for a relationship.
And Linna can't live without them.
And she is also sure that the scoundrel Robert doesn't have these pillars either.
But even following what she believes, Linna felt she could be friends with him and have a good time together until the years of marriage are over according to the contract. Five years seems like a short time, but it isn't when you don't know the person, their qualities, their flaws, let alone what they are like. This means that Linna may be preparing heaven for her future husband but clearly she may be getting hell on a plate.
- Your hair looks so beautiful. - The stylist had a girly voice, Justin was his name, and he tweaked some of the curls and added some more crystals to complete the wreath made of beautiful stones. It would be much more beautiful if it was a real wedding. In fact everything looked beautiful.
The bride had come to the ceremony site hours before, to check the preparations, the wedding was going to be performed by a minister, to the surprise of many. And consequently it would not be inside a church. Even though everything would remain the same, chairs in rows, a red carpet in the middle with a large walkway and a makeshift altar. Linna enjoyed participating in this, in fact she had always been interested in organizing this kind of thing, the hostess even showered her with compliments. She hadn't heard from Robert since the day before.
She heard that he had planned a bachelor party. As if at the wedding he would not be with other women. This idea was something that bothered Linna, even if it was something without feelings, it was public and if they saw him with other people it would obviously look very ugly and embarrassing to her. However her temperamental genius just stated that she was going to do whatever she wanted. And she didn't deny it.
She looked at the clock on the table, it was only ten minutes before it was her turn to go in. With Justin's help she got up with her dress, it was simple, not too fancy. It had a V-neckline emphasizing her large breasts, and long lace sleeves with floral designs. The dress had a veil that was only two meters long, without covering her face. It just fitted into her shiny crown as it spread across the floor with a design that looked like a heart.
- I'm nervous. - Linna smiled gracelessly and Justin grabbed both her hands, as if they were great friends. This was one of the reasons she was so nervous, her friends were in the audience as guests, and they all knew the real reason for the wedding.
- It's going to be all right, little Lady. You look beautiful, everything, absolutely everything is perfect. You'll do great, your fiancé will drool. - Drooling in disgust, she thought, since she had no idea why.
- Oh, I hope so. - he joked. - I guess it was my time. - Everything was perfectly fine, too fine. Linna was escorted by Justin behind the curtain that would open as soon as the violin started playing the annoying wedding music, where she found her father and a friend.
- Oh my God. - Raoul, her father's friend, smiled broadly and nudged him.
- Daughter! God, you look so beautiful. - He touched his face with his rough palm and Linna smiled at the gray-haired man. - See you in a bit, Raoul, let me enjoy this a bit. - Raoul nodded, smiling and turned his back to the opposite side of the ceremony.
- Dad, I'm only doing this because I know that this will save our company and get us out of the mud. I want to make you proud, even more so because I like this business and that's why I accepted this proposal. - His father's blue eyes looked thrilled. -It's okay. Now let's go. - They stood in front of the curtain, Linna with her arm supporting her father and the other hand holding a bouquet of sunflowers.
Her favorite flower.
The music started and the curtains opened. For a few brief seconds she felt like she was in a theater. Where all those people were an audience witnessing a scene, eager to know the probable ending. He swallowed dryly, smiling at the people from his family, that was the worst mistake, to invite all those people. The people from Robert's family simply looked too serious, almost all in the same attire, most of them wearing black. Linna wondered if they had come from a wake. She looked over the decorated pillars of the place and down the path with sunflower petals. It was beautiful. His eyes went up to the altar, there was the pastor, apparently happy, holding something in his hand that looked like a Bible, maybe it was. But his eyes were searching for the one person who should be there.
Robert Nathan. The groom. Where was the groom who wasn't waiting for you?
She frowned, three steps away from the altar and everything starting. Then why weren't you warned about any of this? About a situation as serious as this?
- Where is Robert? -she whispered, tilting her head at her father.
- There has been a slight change, he asked to come in after you, to see you at the altar. - Linna smiled broadly and agreed, waving to the pastor and turning to the audience. - Good luck daughter. -Conan denied his daughter's cheek and joined the godparents who served as mere witnesses.
Minutes went by, and Linna got down from the altar steps, totally uncomfortable, taking a deep breath thinking about the stupid thing that irresponsible kid could do, or was doing. Something inside her said something bad was going to happen, and yes she heard that motorcycle roar overhead. It was nothing about walking down the aisle. Shamelessly Robert parked the motorcycle in the middle of the passage that led to the altar, the blonde woman got off her croup, not even wearing a helmet. Linna didn't know her, she frowned expecting what would come from him.
Robert made the blonde hold up her expensive matte black helmet and stared at his fiancée with a look of disgust.
- I only came to this wedding to say one thing. I'm not going to marry you, Linna Gustov." All the guests seemed surprised, except for Robert's parents and the bride herself, Linna seemed to sense that this was going to happen. Yet it was also cause for despair and shame. After all, everyone was there, everyone from her social circle. Believing that this was love.
- What are you doing? -Roney, Robert's father, stood up, buttoning one of the buttons of his tuxedo. His angry face didn't bother, much less frighten his son.
- What am I doing, Dad? I'm giving up this shitty marriage. Because I don't want to marry a self-interested person, for a start. This family only wants to take this from us, this woman only wants our money. - He pointed to the bride, her eyes watering, holding the lifeless bouquet. - You, Linna Gustov, are a golddigger.
- You, Linna Gustov, are a golddigger. - That was all she could say, in stuttering, stuttering words.
- Shut up? That's what you deserve. All this humiliation. You are such an idiot, babbling about your life while we were out together, do you think I was really interested? Everything about you is boring. You are ridiculous. I could never stand to be with a woman like you, ugly and weird. You can't even be smart. For those of you who would attend this wedding, it's just a farce because I could never love that one. - The bride's body crumpled, the bouquet fell to the ground, spilling the flowers due to the impact. Linna felt an enormous pain in her heart, even more so with all those looks, from her family, from her friends. What would become of her reputation after this?
- I order you to stop, Robert. - Roney went to his son and pulled him by the arm, to the surprise of everyone there his hand stopped on Robert's cheek after a sharp slap. That stopped him for a second.
- Why would I stop, Dad? Tell me, I was never the son you wanted, was I? Well, then. You can put an end to this fucking party because I won't be here anymore. - He pulled the arm of the blonde woman who was accompanying him, she seemed frightened by the situation. But she also seemed happy, especially seeing Linna crumble. - This is Lola, this is my wife. Who understands me, who loves me, who knows how to at least give me a good night's sex. Because you don't even know how to do that, Linna," she shouted, her throat burning. The scream made Linna cover her ears and fall to the floor, closing her eyes and crying. - Unfortunately I still remember that night in that nightclub and if I could go back in time I would never have allowed myself to have an experience as bad as this. You don't deserve anyone.
- Enough, Robert. I won't allow you to talk about my daughter like that. - It was Conan's turn to stand up, standing next to Roney. - Control your son!
- Who are you to tell me what to do? You thieving piece of shit. Your company is bankrupt and you still manage to push your little daughter on me, trying to get money. - Robert took a step forward and was stopped by his father, who gave him a big shove.- Baby, let's go. - Lola pulled his hand away, trying to get his attention so that it would be over soon, maybe he had gone too far.- This weekend I'm leaving this place, away from all of you. I'm not taking over this shitty company and much less accepting another kind of marriage. - Robert practically spat in the face of his father, who controlled himself not to hit him anymore in front of all those guests. It was a great shame, there were friends there, partners. A situation like this would become a scandal in the San Francisco media, enough to end years of struggle for recognition for his company.- Your cards will be canceled, all the money in your account will be withdrawn, and you won't get a penny of my money, much less your mo
Ready to go to work Linna looked at herself in the mirror, wearing a feminine tuxedo and a red scarpin. But it is one of the few clothes that give her a more empowered view of herself. The best part is waking up early, reading a little novel, doing some treadmill and taking a cold shower. However, when you get ready to go to your company, it makes you feel much happier. I mean, to look in the mirror after all this time and find a woman who owns herself is something insignificant.She put her hand in her pocket and took a picture, then updated her social networks. She is not the kind of person who posts her entire routine there, but she does like to post pictures of herself and her clothes. At twenty-two she had a totally cliché style and liked it until she was judged in her wedding dress. With the most beautiful wedding dress in the world. Now her style was totally formal, most of her clothes were ensembles, slacks and dress shirts, skirts and shorter blouses, all with the same patter
As soon as Robert left the room Linna faced her son, holding his chin. The little boy looked at her dying to ask who it was, but he didn't dare to do that because he was used to meeting his mother at work. Matthew loved getting to know the company, he was very keen to be there, and has even dared to call friends from school to visit the place where his mother works. Even though he was so small and without any knowledge about the adult world and its achievements, he knew that this was a huge accomplishment for her.- What do you say we go to Grandma's house? Matthew jumped for joy, his grandparents spoil him and of course he loves going there. But in Linna's case, she only decided to go at the last minute because she needed to talk to her mother urgently. As her confidant, she was the one she ran to when she needed to talk.- Come on, Mom. Let's go! - Matthew pulled her hand away, as she ran to get her purse and keys. She held her son's hand back, smiling; just his presence brought her
The answer was yes. To both emails. Linna deep down wanted it to be no and so she wasn't going to well on the matter and would tell her parents that she did what she could in passivity however it didn't seem enough. But there was no going back. Not anymore. Now she was sitting at a table for four, in a corner of the most famous Italian restaurant in town, with classical music playing in the background and people whispering and sipping wine. She wished she could be there if she were in good company.Robert was the first to arrive and didn't know that his parents had been summoned for that conversation. Linna stayed on her cell phone even though it seemed rude, she would do anything not to have to face the man in front of her. He was drumming his fingers on the table, staring at his watch and pretending to be in a hurry, because in truth his evening was completely over.His night had been free for six years.He was surprised by the girl's change. He remembers all his past very well, jus
A week had passed since Linna had met with the Scully family, and no one had contacted you, which was already making her create her own conclusions about it. For herself it was too long to have a breakdown. She felt that she had done the right thing but had done it the wrong way or that maybe she shouldn't have done the right thing.She was insecure. Too insecure. More than I would have liked. Robert's parents apparently loved the idea of having a grandchild, their eyes even sparkled, they both promised to talk to their son and bring answers to this desperate mother. But where are they? Where are they with this so-called answer?Linna was already getting a headache, it was late afternoon and she was finishing updating some price sheets before picking her son up from school. Her company is called Fizz, a marketing company. Most things happen on the app, which is where people have access to various courses from his partners and the company's vice presidents, and learn how to make money
Linna felt her body heavier, blinked her eyes and felt a strong light that made her close her eyes for a while until she got used to it. She moved her arms and noticed a thin sheet over her body, opened her eyes again, sighing deeply and seeing a hospital room. It wasn't the hospital she usually went to, but it was also one of the more expensive ones.- Daughter!Her mother suddenly approached the bed, Linna felt her touch, her hands rough and wrinkled. Suddenly her mother's figure took her field of vision, she looked very worried.- Mom, where's Matt? - He shook his head, observing the whole room and seeing that there was only his mother there with him. And well, it was that man who had taken her there, her son was with her. So Matt should be there.- Calm down, he's with Robert in the eating area.- Oh, shit. - I was still trying to understand what exactly he wanted, what his family wanted. Because that hadn't been the deal.- Calm down sweetheart. - Daise stared at her hands, after
It was already ten o'clock in the evening when Linna finished dressing, a black dress that fell just a hand above her knee, with a scarpin of the same color and almost non-existent makeup. It would be a lie if she dared to say she didn't try to do something more eye-catching, yet she never managed to learn a good makeup, perhaps she didn't have this skill. Just like many others. She left the house taking only a handbag with her documents and cell phone inside, she was going to a bar close to her house, a fancy bar. Its name was Sexy Porsche.She made the decision to drink a little, even alone, after she learned that it wouldn't do any good to stay home crying because her son had been at his father's house for a week and hadn't even called her. She was sad, too melancholic, staring at every corner of the house and remembering her son. Everything was very empty and maybe this was exactly the reason why she decided to give herself a chance and go out.Her friends were not in town, so she
Robert stared at his son eating watermelon lying in the movie room, a cartoon was playing there, in fact the cartoon was playing for the third time. No doubt having a child during this week in his huge and empty house was incredible. Not that his son is noisy, but they both like the same things.He discovered that Matthew likes drums and piano, but also loves to read, plays table tennis and basketball very well, and that his favorite food is sushi. This was a total surprise to Robert, after all his family is of ancient Asian descent, and anyway to see this passed on to his son was even surprising.Matthew visited his grandparents as well, and they talked a lot. The truth was that Matt felt that now his life was moving forward, now he would feel what he was supposed to feel after years of not knowing about all these things. Now he knows that it takes time to know everything, to know his father completely and his father to know him, even if it is easier.- This is your last piece of wat
- What do you say we take a trip this weekend Matt?Robert went to pick up his son from school after feeling guilty for not getting up early enough to take him. Matt was happy that his father had gone and recognized that he was also doing his best to do what his mother was doing on such short notice.- Where to? - Going to places away from home encouraged the pre-teen, fortunately. It was hard to get used to a routine without his mother around.- I thought we might go to Orlando, have you been to Disney?Robert didn't have any trips planned, but he knew that he needed to cool off and his son needed that too. When he thought of a trip to take with Matthew the first place that came to mind was Disney, because it was a totally childish place he wanted to make sure that both of them didn't stop to think about it that way.- Really Dad? I've never been there, Mom always said she would save up money for us to go, but we always ended up taking other trips. She seemed to want to go there more
Three days had passed since his burial, Robert remained lying in his bed, staring at the ceiling of his room. Absolutely nothing was funny. He hadn't slept for a day since he had seen her in that coffin. He had been through grief before, but this was much stronger than himself. The love he felt for her was not able to show even half as much as the illness took her away.At the funeral Robert sat beside her, in the white plastic chair that was not at all comfortable, every second from seven in the morning until three in the afternoon he stayed there. Without eating, without drinking. He stroked her loose curls down the side of her face, would it be too much to say that she looked beautiful? He loved her natural shape, no make-up, pink lips and messy hair. This is how she looked. Linna didn't have pale skin, her melanin glowed. Her outfit had been a flowered dress, she liked joy, she never had this kind of conversation with Robert but he felt she deserved the best. So she asked to be dr
- The methodology we use is the fastest, which has a four-day deadline. - he agreed, he was not interested in what it was but how long it would take. - The cross math is basically when we put together her serum samples with her cells, which would serve as a kind of simulation, what would occur in an organ transplant. If Linna has in her blood composition the antibodies against HLA antigens from the donor's cell membranes, she can almost totally reject the organ received through transplantation, which in this case would be hers. Already in this case, the compatibility test is considered positive, and the transplant is contraindicated. The crossmatch test can use only total lymphocytes, without separation of subtypes, and is called an Initial crossmatch test. So basically people who have the same blood type, for example, are not indicated to do it, because it would certainly snow the organ.- That's fine. - She understood almost nothing of what was said by the short, thin nurse. - In fo
- What are the chances that you are a match? Of any of them being a match? I don't have any hope left. - Robert looked at her like a newborn baby that needed a lot of care. That was how he saw her at that moment. If he could take her into a glass bubble and keep her there until she recovered, he would do it. It would protect her from the world, from everything. Including his own body.- Baby, it's going to be all right! - He knew that this was his last hope. The compatibility test. If they all came back negative there was really nothing to be done, and Linna would just be waiting for the time to go out of their lives. Because she was weak, mellow, pale. When you meet someone radiant and see them like this your will is to give all your strength to that person.- Will you lie here with me? - she asked brazenly.- No. You're in pain and you can't move, not even think. If you want I can lower the arm of the bed and you can lie on my chest. - She rolled her eyes and agreed, in fact she at
Linna opened her eyes slowly, blinking countless times in a second feeling a huge pain in her back. Until her eyes got used to the dim lighting of the place and she could finally see everything around her, including the doctor who was waiting for her to wake up, slouched over the arm of the hospital bed. Her mouth was extremely dry, which made her cough before she could say anything.- My back... - Her voice was very low and hoarse, she tried to move, but Talia denied it with her head, touching her arm lightly. - They hurt a lot.- Don't move. - The doctor came a little closer.- How long have I been here? - The rain was falling hard outside, she was still unable to turn her head to look through the glass window.- Today is the fifth day. - Linna would be able to widen her eyes if her head didn't hurt so much. - You've had another alveolar hemorrhage, Linna. - she sighed. - This time much more intense. We had to put a blood bag of a few millimeters for you. Your body is being attacked
She touched her mother's face, it was impossible not to smile with all that innocence. As if it were easy.- Oh my son, I'd love to but you're a child, you can't. - Matthew hugged his mother's body, Linna hugged him back tightly, smelling the baby soap he has been using since birth because he has allergies to some kinds of soap.- Mom, I don't want to introduce you anymore. You can tell the school and then they'll write another paper! - I said, whispering in his ear, afraid that his father was going to make him go to the presentation because of his grade.- It's okay, Matt. If you don't want to, we won't force you to. - He pulled away and touched his even smaller hands. - See, your dad will call the school and explain what happened, and you'll stay here with me.- Are you sure? - Robert walked over and watched Matt's hair flip up and down like it had after the nasty thing he said. His son just nodded. - Matt, I'm sorry I talked like that, but you have to understand that sometimes it's
- I have a headache. This damn headache again! - He put his hand on his temple and snorted loudly.- Hey. It's okay, if you want you can stay home and I'll take Matt to the presentation, or I can ask my mom to take him.- No, we'll go. - Linna forced her eyes to turn to him and tried to look at him, but Robert noticed her distant eyes and held her fat face in his hands.- No. You're in no condition to go. I'm going to stay here with you and call my mother! - He said, already seeing Linna frown several times in a row, which indicated that she was going to cry very soon.- Go with Matthew, he wants his parents to watch him together at least once. - she whimpered in supplication.- I'm not leaving you alone, Linna. Don't be stubborn. What if something happens and you're here alone? That's no idea. - Matt entered the room and his smile vanished when he saw his mother with her head down and apparently sad.- Mom, is everything okay? - They both looked at him in a rush, she in particular sw
On the evening of that day Matthew had a presentation at school, a theater performance of The Wizard of Oz, where he would be the scarecrow. During the day there were preparations inside the school, he didn't even imagine that his parents were dressed as a bride and groom almost lost on a rented farm in the middle of nowhere. The two looked at each other like never before, if before their love could be exhaled, now it was able to shine like an angel. They got back to each other before nightfall, after they had played catch-up and finished with the bottle of wine.Matt was in the shower while Robert and Linna finished dinner, it wasn't even seven o'clock yet and the presentations would start at eight. There was silence, no cell phones, with a few glances exchanged in shy and sincere smiles. The cutlery banging against the plate, apart from all the cicadas, was the only noise.- How could she sleep for so long with those cicadas? - Linna cleaned her plate after the last bite, the cicada
- I love you, Robert. I've never known love before, I've had other boyfriends but they all become insignificant next to you. I've never felt anything like it. My heart is racing now, and it's racing every moment I think of you, think of being with you. - Linna took his hand and placed it on her chest, Robert felt the palpitations as if her heart were in his hands. - With you I've learned what real love is. I've accepted some things that I considered to be love and you were never even a hint of it. We started living together and even exchanging basic words I felt your concern for me, I felt that in the smallest gestures you cared and did things that showed this like leaving the coffee ready. Even if you dared to say it was for Matthew too. - She laughed weakly through her tears. - When we started to talk, to live closer to each other, I understood that there was already love there. There was already admiration, respect, regret. Repentance was crucial for both of us. We both did horribl