Vows Of Vengeance

ARIELLE'S POV

This was the third time I was wearing a wedding gown.

The cathedral was grander than the others. Matteo's family chapel at the estate. It was obvious that the building had been standing for centuries. His men lined the pew again in dark suits. But this time there were others too, Matteo's cousins and relatives, business associates also clad in dark suits. Women dripping diamonds and dresses that looked like they would cost a fortune.

I stood there, staring at my reflection in the tall guarded mirror. My gown was exquisite, off the shoulder lace that clung to my skin, outlining every curve.

Someone had done my make-up flawlessly. My red swollen eyes were not visible. They were hiding under layers of make-up.

I felt like a corpse being dressed for viewing. I could still remember everything from this morning.

A soft knock on my door, then it opened without my response.

Celeste walked on first, her expensive perfume lingered in the air. Behind her was Lydia, a blond, taller and dressed in a slutty dress. Matteo's guards had walked them to my room.

She closed the door and stepped closer. “Well…” she trailed off, letting her eyes sweep through every part of my body. “You clean up better than I expected, almost like a real Moretti bride.”

Lydia smirked from the corner, hands folded.

I turned slowly. “What are you doing here?”

Celeste stepped closer, voice slow and deliberate. “Making sure you don't ruin this. Do you have an idea what this marriage means to us? The Morretti name gets attached to us. It means protection, money, opportunity, respect. Everything your father squandered trying to play honest. You will walk down that aisle, you will smile. And you will say I do.” she added, "If you cause one more scene, I would personally drag you outside by the hair, do you get that?”

“I laughed bitterly. “Funny how you suddenly care . All these years you treated me like an inconvenience. Now suddenly you're desperate to get me married to the Don of the Morretti clan? The most dangerous man in the city. If being a Moretti is so valuable, why didn't you get Lydia married to the Don? She's always wanted to be the center of everything.”

Lydia's eyes narrowed at me. “You had better watch your mouth, bitch.”

Celeste's smile was cruel. “Lydia has options. You don't. You never did. Eitene kept you soft on purpose, art classes, that pathetic lover of yours, no hint of the real world. Virgin girl, innocent and sweet. He said it would make you useful one day.”

My stomach twisted at those words. “Useful for what?”

Celeste shrugged. “For exactly this. A sacrifice to settle old debt. But he died before he could deliver you to the real man you were getting married to on that day, it was never Jake. So here we are, to save our access and complete his job.”

“Depts? That's not true, my father hated the mafia, he would never…” I trailed off.

“Oh sweet girl,” Celeste cooed as she stepped closer, so close I could see the lines on her face, coveted by make-up. “Your father didn't hate them, he was a part of them. Another syndicate, Matteo's syndicate, had old scores to settle and took the bull by the horn.”

Lydia snorted. “Poor Arielle, thinking Jake loved her, he took the money faster than a whore takes cash. He said you cried too much anyway, with his mouth on my pussy lips, last night.” She announced and that was another stab in my heart.

My supposed fiance who had sold me off to the Don, was fucking my sister the same night. Was that even the first time or I was just hearing of it?

Pain spreads through my heart with every passing second.

Celeste leaned in, dropping the final bomb. “You were never truly Eitene’s daughter anyway. Your real mom was some nobody, that claimed he knocked her up before he met me. He only kept you because one day you would come in handy, a bargaining chip, and look, today you are.”

I gripped the edge of a chair to keep myself from falling.

Not his daughter? Father's quiet pride during school days when he called me “ma petite,” the stories of my mom dying during childbirth, it was all a fabrication.

“You’ve heard all that there is to hear, so it's up to you now to walk down that aisle and do your duty.” She turned to leave and Lydia followed, turning to smirk at my expense.

The door closed

I stood alone, for a long time, staring at nothing. I felt numb as a lone tear rolled down my cheek. Then something inside of me snapped.

Betrayal upon Betrayal. From my father, to stepmother, to my own fiance. And the man standing at the altar had started this mystery.

I looked at myself in the mirror, the woman in front of me was calm, composed despite the turmoil in her mind.

I smoothed my dress and stared at myself.

Let them think I was broken, Let them believe I have no choice. I would marry Matteo Alessandro Morretti. I would stand by his side until I learned his secrets.

And one by one I would ruin them, those who used me, sold me and lied to me. Starting with the groom.

And as the doors opened, I lifted my chin, held my bouquet tight. That was how I found myself in front of Matteo again for our wedding.

The priest began. “Do you Arielle Vasquez take Matteo Alessandro Morretti…” the voice rang in my ears.

“I do.”

And in the silence that followed. While Matteo slid a ring in my finger, a heavy platinum set with a single black diamond. I met his eyes and smiled.

Not a smile of a shy bride, but the smile of one who had just declared war. I would make him pay with every single blood running through my veins.