The Secret Comes Out

Aria's POV

“This marriage will create an alliance between the Livoti and the Caruso families. Their conflict ends tonight.”

Aiden immediately steps forward. “No!"

Don Viti turns his gaze to him. “Your engagement to Aria is cancelled.”

Aiden's face turns pale.Then Veronica speaks.

“And what about me?” Don Viti turns toward her.

“Your engagement to Massimo is cancelled as well. Don't worry, you'll find someone better. You all are just getting married to gain power."

Veronica stares dagger at him. “You can't do that.”

"I'm sorry. Ver"

Veronica spuns on me. The anger in her eyes can end me, but she just stormed off.

“No.” The word leaves my mouth before I can stop it.Everyone turns toward me.

I look at Don Viti, hoping he will understand that this is madness.

“Don, please. You can't make this decision for us.”

His expression doesn't change. He looked serious, dead serious.

“I already have.”

“But I don't want to marry him.”

Across the room, Massimo's jaw tightens.He steps forward.

“Neither do I Sweetheart". I rolled my eyes, but for the first time that evening, I almost agree with him completely.

Don Viti looks between us. “You both have made your positions clear.”

“Then cancel it,” Massimo says.

“No.” His voice is final.

Massimo's eyes darken. “You're forcing two people who despise each other into a marriage.”

“I am preventing two families from destroying each other.”

“My family didn't start this.”

“Neither did hers.”

Don Viti walks toward us.

“You think I don't understand what I'm asking?” Massimo says nothing.

“You both want freedom. I understand that. But freedom has consequences in our world.”

I shake my head. “Don, I made one mistake. One.”

“One mistake that could cost thousands of lives if the wrong people use it.”

I feel tears threatening my eyes. “Please.”

He looks at me for a long moment.Then he shakes his head.

“The wedding happens tonight.”

My heart sinks. “Tonight?”

“Tonight.”

Aiden suddenly steps forward. “Don Viti, you can't—”

“I can.”

Aiden looks furious. “She was supposed to marry me.”

“That engagement is over.”

“This is insane.”

Don Viti's gaze hardens. “Be careful, Aiden.”

Aiden immediately falls silent.

I stare at Massimo in confusion. Neither of us knows what to say.

A few minutes later, two women approach me.

“Miss Caruso, we need to prepare you.”

I blink. I can't believe I'm about to do this. Can this day get any worse?

“Prepare me for what?”. They exchange a look.

“Your wedding.”

My stomach twists. I closed my eyes. This can't be real.

One of the women smiles. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you.” My voice is barely audible.

When she leaves, I stare at myself.

Aiden was supposed to see me like this, I was supposed to walk toward him. I was supposed to marry the man I loved.

Instead, I'm about to marry Massimo Lockwood.

A man who has spent the entire night arguing with me. A man who probably hates me.

A knock sounds.

“Come in.”

My father enters the room looking perplexed. I immediately stiffen.

He looks at me with his large bulging eyes. For a second, there's something unreadable in his eyes, then it disappears.

“You're ready.” I nod.

He steps closer. Too close that I could feel his breath on my face.

“Listen carefully.” My stomach tightens. I know he isn't planning to say something pleasing.

“What?

“After the ceremony, you will go with Massimo". I stare at him and kinda roll my eyes in a way he won't notice.

“And?” His voice drops.

“You will find a way to kill him.” My blood runs cold.

“What?” I fake surprise.

“You heard me.”

“Father, no.” His eyes become frighteningly cold.

“If you fail, I will kill you myself". I take a step backward.

“You can't be serious". I shook my head, I didn't wanna believe what he's saying.

“I am.”

“You're asking me to murder my future husband.”

“You're asking me to trust you.”

My eyes fill with tears.He turns toward the door.

“Do what you're told". He doesn't look back, then he leaves.

I stand completely frozen, the music outside begins.The wedding is starting.

Now I have to go pretend as if I'm fine with all these. I grab the bouquet, Chin up. It's me against the world. This time I won't run, like I used to.

"I need to go get married", I inhaled deeply.

I walk down the aisle to Massimo, my heart pounding.

"He's..." I whisper to myself before quickly looking away.

I am going to marry the man I love in...

The church suddenly goes silent. I look toward the altar. He doesn't look nervous, neither does he looks happy.

He looks like a man attending a funeral.... My funeral.

The priest stands beside him, holding the Bible tightly in his hands.

My heartbeat becomes louder with every step.

"We've gathered here today to witness the marriage of Massimo Livoti and Aria Caruso."

The priest turns towards Massimo.

"Massimo Livoti, do you take Aria Caruso to be your wife? Do you promise to love her, protect her, remain faithful to her and stand beside her through the difficult times, for as long as you both shall live?"

Massimo exhales loudly. It actually sounds kinda boring.

"I do"

"Aria Caruso, do you-"

"I do!". I say confidently. Massimo snickers.

"What?"

"Nothing". Massimo's face softens into a smile.

"You may now kiss the bride."

"Ok let's get this over with."

Massimo grips my jaw and kisses me passionately. My heart did a back slip, although the kiss didn't last.

I'm now married, to the very man I hate the most in this world. My head swam, the reality crashing down- this is the beginning of a new life. One I never chose.

The Livoti estate is enormous.Guards surround the entrance, more guards line the driveway. There are men stationed near every door.

It doesn't feel like a home at all, It feels like a God damn fortress.

I step out of the car and Massimo walks right beside me. Neither of us speaks though.

We enter the mansion and the doors closing behind us. Now I'm starting to feel like I'm trapped here.

Massimo turns toward me. “You'll have your own room.”

I blink. “What?”

Of course I'll have my own room. I can't sleep on the same bed with my enemy.

He gestures toward the staircase. “Second floor. Last door on the left.”

Massimo is standing outside.He was looking at me as though he were about to do something I would despise.

“You're locking me in?”

“Tonight, yes". My anger explodes.

“You can't lock me in my own room!”

“You're my wife now.”

“That doesn't give you the right! That reason doesn't even make any sense.”

He looks at me calmly. “Your father wants you dead if you don't kill me.” My blood freezes.

“How..... do you know?”

“I heard enough.”

I stare at him as he closes the door.The lock clicks again.

I angrily throw a pillow at it. “Arrogant idiot!..... Asshole.”

Silence. I snap.

My husband locked me in my room, on our wedding night? I didn't even get to meet his family.

I pace around the room for several minutes. Eventually, exhaustion wins.

I climb into bed fully dressed, I don't even bother changing.

I close my eyes, and within minutes, I'm asleep.

I'm awake, feeling cranky.

I change into a simple cream blouse and long skirt. I am still fixing my hair when I hear a soft knock.

“Come in.” The door opens. A little girl peeks inside.

She has the brightest smile I've ever seen.

“Are you Aunty Aria?”

I blink. “Aunty?”, she nods enthusiastically.

“My name is Chloe.”

I smile despite myself. “Hi, Chloe.”

She walks straight into the room. She looks adorable. Her blue eyes is a testament to her sweetness.

“Daddy said you're my uncle's wife.” I freeze slightly.

“Your daddy?”

“Uncle Keanu.”

Of course. Chloe comes closer and takes my hand. Then she notices the bracelet around my wrist.

“Pretty!”

“Thank you.”

"Can I have it?". I hesitate. It was my mom's, but I trust that it'll be in safe hands.

"Ok sweetie."

She beams. I take it off and hand it to her.

"It's beautiful."

“Really?”

“Really.”

She throws her arms around me. I giggled and hug her back.

For the first time since yesterday, I feel something warm. Maybe this place won't be completely unbearable.

Breakfast is over. I walk towards my room and shut the door behind me.

I look towards my bed, my mouth drops.

Aiden! And my father.

“Father?” Neither of them answers.

Aiden walks towards me.

“What are you doing here?”

My father's expression is cold.

“You were given an instruction.” My heart begins to pound.

I know exactly what he means. “I haven't forgotten.”

“Then why is Massimo still alive?”

I look at Aiden. He stares at me with disgust.

“You've had an entire night with him.”

My eyes widens. “You're asking me about this here?”

“Answer me."

I shake my head. “I can't kill him.”

My father steps closer. “Why?”

“Because he's my husband.”

Aiden laughs ridiculously. “Your husband?"

His voice is filled with bitterness.

“That's the excuse you're using?”

“It's not an excuse.”

“You were supposed to kill him!”

I flinch. “I can't.”

My father slaps me. My cheek snaps to the side. For a second, I can't hear anything.

I slowly turn back toward him. Tears fill my eyes, something breaks inside of me.

“Father...”

“You will do what I told you.”

Aiden steps closer.

“You've become pathetic.” I stared at him.

The man I had loved. The man I was supposed to marry. The man I had imagined spending my life with. Now he is standing in front of me, watching my father hurt me.

“You're different,” I whisper.

He frowns, “What?”

“You're not the Aiden I knew.”

He scoffs. “Maybe you never knew me.”

The words shatter something inside me, but I wipe my tears. “I loved you.”

“And look where that got you.”

My breathing becomes uneven. My father grabs my arm.

“Enough crying.”

I try pulling away but I'm not strong enough.

“Dad! Let me go.”

“You're going to listen to what I'm about to tell you now.”

“I said let me go!”

Aiden grabs my other arm with just as much force. They force me backwards right to the corner of the bed.

Fear rushes through me. “Stop!”

I struggle against them but to no avail. “Please!”

My father didn't listen, his expression frightens me.

“You will kill Massimo.”

“I won't!”

He raises his hand again. Before he can strike me, a loud crash comes from the hallway.

Everyone freezes for a second. I pray it's Massimo.

Then another sound. The door explodes inward.

I knew it, it's Massimo. He looks like he's about to kill them. I could already see the fear in Aiden's eyes, but my father remained calm.

Massimo storms towards Aiden , seizing him by the collar and yenking him off the ground.

"How dare you touched my wife."

His wife? I'm glad to hear he's acknowledging me as his wife.

I punch him really hard on the first. The second. The third. Blood comes out from his nose.

Massimo releases his grip on him and he falls to the ground.

He spins his head to my father, who's standing right next to me looking unbothered.

"So this is how you treat your daughter. I can't believe this."

"This is a family matter, stay out of it Massimo!". He says angrily.

Massimo rounds his fist, swear dripping from his face. "Well you're on my property. you just assaulted my wife.

A group of men storms in. "Get this disgusting people out of here!"

They pick Aiden up from the ground, also grab my father and forcefully pull them out.

"You don't know who you're messing with."

Massimo says nothing.

Silence. I burst into tears.

Massimo drops on his knees and pulls me into his arms. "Hey it's ok"

I was speechless, the man I once used to love maltreated me just now. I'm deeply hurt.

Massimo takes my face into his hands, and turns it to face him.

"Hey hey, please don't cry".

I look at his lips and stop crying for a moment. The only thing I can think of now.

I pull him by his collar and kiss him without hesitating. He kisses me back.

The kiss didn't last. He pulls away from it. He looks like he's in a shock.

He gets on his feet and just leave without turning back.

I was also as surprised. My head is spinning, my eyes are shutting.