ARIANA Her mother sat on the chair. She passed her assuring smile that she was well but blotches on her left cheek, forehead, arms, and collarbones said another story. However, she covered it with foundation. Her beautiful smile was doing a miracle but she knew her mother was in pain. She blinked the tears and bit hard on her tongue to stop the tears. Her father wouldn't like it. She was taught to endure pain and tolerate unfairness. The silence was making her nervous. She swallowed heavily. She snapped her head as her elder brother squeezed her hand. His gaze was on his wristwatch. He was waiting for his father to arrive at the dining table. He was a made man, a future heir to replace his father's position in the outfit. She wanted her mother to leave her father. Or she wanted her father to die. So her mother could breathe happily and they could sit like a happy family in the dining room. Her brother had always protected
She wanted to hold time if she could. But a week passed quickly. Marcella and the other staff got busy after hearing about the upcoming wedding. It was usual to spot them hurrying here and there, following her mother's orders. ' It isn't a big occasion. Our families and our Capo's family, underbosses are going to be part of this. Of my slaughter. ' Salvatore peered into her room from behind the door after giving a soft knock, "Are you ready, Ria?" He asked her. Whirling, she glanced at her brother with sad eyes. She had spent these past days smiling in the daytime and crying at night. She was wearing a backless tight blue dress, reaching her knees. Her blonde hair was curled and spread over her shoulders. She wanted to hide herself. She drew into a deep breath, "I guess," She blinked. Her tears seemed to dry crying the entire week. She glanced at him again but couldn't ask the question. "They are here," He replied to her unasked question
She was skittish after she felt his grey gaze on her. But the butterflies in her stomach were something new. He was handsome but dangerous too. Was she ready to go into his hell? She let out a long and slow breath as they walked out of the dining room. She was feeling more free getting away from his dark gaze. The kids had slept. Danny and Travis were holding them. Olivia gestured to them to follow her to their room. 'I'm curious. I've heard a lot of things about her and NY' Capo. Did he really kidnap her and then force her into the wedding? I don't want my curiosity to put me in any danger. And I'm going to avoid the ring.' "How did you meet Liam?" She asked, hesitantly and fearfully. But she was sure, Rose wouldn't mind telling her. Isha and Rose swiped their heads at her. Rose's cheeks turned pink. "Oh! That was truly amazing. They met in the club." Isha excitedly replied. Rose blushed harder as she cast her
Marcella brought the wedding gown that they purchased from the most expensive designer during the given time of the last week. Everyone was excited, apart from her. After all, it was she who was going to stay with enemies. Her father had ordered to decorate the backyard's vast garden for the wedding. Kairo wanted a simple wedding. But he also wanted to show their money power. After the bridal shower, she returned to her room. Heat crept into her face, all she was worried about was her wedding night, him taking her against her will. Tears stung in her eyes. She wanted to spare the tradition but her mother insisted on it. This was the part where she ruled. It was her last day in her parent's house. Her mother spent time with her as much as she could. She took a long hot shower as she was thinking it would cancel the wedding. She opened the door after her mother knocked on it repeatedly. "Ria! Are you okay?" 'They'd br
KAIRO He got behind the wheel. He was about to ignite his car. When the passenger side of the door opened. Danil got in the car and buckled himself. He creased his dark brows, "Where's your car, Dan?" He asked in a bored tone. "Your night wasn't pleasant. I guess," Danil smirked. He ignited the car and drove out of the garage, ignoring the topic. "What do you expect from an arranged marriage?" His shoulders deflated. He gripped the steering wheel with both hands, "I don't love her," He said. "But you like her," Danil retorted. He thinned his lips in a straight line, "She's beautiful." He sighed. "Oh! Your night must be painful," He smirked again. "Are you here to pull my leg?" He asked, shifting the gear. "There's an emergency meeting. Vincent would be there too. Brother wants us to attend the meeting," Danil's tone turned serious. He glimpsed at him and narrowed his eyes, "Is
ARIANA The ground dropped from her feet when Olivia told her that Vincent would be here at dinner tonight. 'Why is he here? Is my mother alright? My brother, Sal!' Tension encircled her. She grabbed her phone and immediately hit the call button on her brother's number. "Ria! Are you alright? What took you so long to make a call to me? You're not even replying to my messages?" Her brother's worried voice reached her ears. She never thought her brother would be so helpless. "I'm sorry. I was cooking for my new family." She said, sitting on the couch. She heard him snorting, "Don't they have staff?" His voice was a little crude. "They have. Indeed, my mother-in-law has appointed a bodyguard for me too. I can go out if I wanna go." She smiled. She always wanted freedom. "You don't sound frightened or worse. As I imagined." She heard him heaving. "I'm not. They are far different from what we have heard about them." She mutte
He offered his hand. She cringed. She squinted at Rose, Isha, and Olivia. They were already heading out of the store with their husbands. Olivia was walking ahead of them. Her bodyguard, Todd was walking a few steps behind her drifting his gaze around and a few guards were already guarding out. Her heart flipped when he took a step closer and gripped her hand. Her skin tingled and heat snaked her body. She fidgeted. He was fast. He pulled her with him out of the store. Holding her breath, she waited for him to leave her hand. They walked over to his car. She did not want to sit alone with him. She was thinking. He would scold her once they would be alone. Unexpectedly, he opened the door for her. He was looking calm. She had seen her parents. Her dad always looked calm but after her father went out for business, She knocked on the door and always found her mother with bruises. She wasn't prepared for this kind of hell in her life. She was scared when
KAIRO It seemed to sour his mood. He wasn't sure he should be happy hearing her denial or was sad. 'I want her fear. She already does. And pleasure! She will soon agree to it.' He halted his strides as he saw Rose waiting for Liam. Her stomach was round. She was rubbing her hand on it absentmindedly. He shook his head. He didn't want Ariana to wait for him in this condition. His thoughts shocked him. He pushed them away and drifted his steps toward the couch. "Shouldn't you rest?" He asked her, towering over her. She glanced at him with sad eyes. He frowned, "Are you alright?" He asked, worriedly. He wasn't bothered to show it over his face. "I wanna go out for a walk on the grass." She said with a smile. Then her gaze turned to Vanessa, her bodyguard. She thinned her lips in annoyance, "She doesn't allow me," Her irritation could be felt in her voice. He chuckled as he glanced over at her bodyg