CHAPTER FIVE: Is Your Don Cheap?

Raina remained standing at the altar and some of the guests stared at her with pity while others had mocking expressions on their faces and were gloating over the fact that she wouldn't be acknowledged as the Don's wife by the Retroferds.

Steps suddenly echoed on the stone floor and Lorenzo walked up to her. The guests all thought he wanted to hug her or console her for what just happened. But he leaned in and looked at her face. When he saw the single tear that had ruined her makeup, she grinned in excitement.

“Hahaha!” Lorenzo let out a loud, mocking laugh and turned to the Valente allies, who were standing nearby.

"Look at her!" He shouted, his voice echoing loudly in the quiet cathedral. "Our Raina is so happy she is crying! Tears of joy for marrying the most powerful man in the country!"

“Hahaha!!!” The Valente men also started laughing. Raina just glared at them with so much hatred that couldn't be concealed.

They were all greedy people, who only saw her as something "useful" to the family. Raina glanced around, then she glared at Lorenzo with so much hate that his laugh died down instantly.

"Don't choke on your own tongue, Lorenzo. It's me today, tomorrow will definitely be you" she hissed.

On hearing her words, the people went silent and Michael Valente quickly walked forward and gave her a warning glare. He didn't even look at her face or care about the fact that she was abandoned at the altar.

"Listen to me very carefully, Raina," Michael said, his voice was extremely cold, like he was just giving instructions to a subordinate. "You are a part of the Retroferd family now. But you still carry my blood in your veins. So do not embarrass me at that estate, just do what you are told, and keep your mouth shut….. stay out of the Don’s business or any other thing that wouldn't benefit our family."

He didn't wait for her to answer. He just turned around and walked toward the exit with Lorenzo following behind him like a loyal dog. They left her standing there, alone and she could only glare at their backs as they walked out of the door.

The guests didn't stick around either. They hurried out of the church, talking in low voices and stealing subtle glances at her. 

Within minutes, the big cathedral was empty and Raina just stood in silence. 

She reached up and pulled the veil off her head. It was caught in her hair, but she yanked it anyway, not caring if it hurt. She used the veil to wipe her eyes, smudging the black mascara across her cheeks. And she didn't give a fuck about how she looks at the moment.

She grabbed the heavy skirts of her oversized wedding gown and bundled the fabric in her fists as began to walk. Her heels clicked loudly as she marched out of the cathedral.

When she stepped outside, the sun was bright, but the air felt extremely cold. The street was almost empty, and her father’s cars were gone. Most of the Retroferd cars were gone too. And only one black SUV remained. A man was standing beside it, he was wearing a black suit and had a face that showed no emotion at all.

When he saw her, he took a step forward. "Mrs. Retroferd," he said. The title made Raina’s stomach turn. "I am Pascal. Don Maxton instructed me to pick you up and take you to the estate."

Raina didn't say a word, she just nodded once and climbed into the back of the SUV. She rested her back and stared out the window as the car pulled away.

She wasn't going to let another tear slip out of her eyes. Crying was for the weak, and weakness is an emotion that she can't afford. She couldn't waste her strength thinking about how unfair her father was, as she was already used to his cruelty.

Her mind went straight to her boxing career. She thought about the championship match and the training she was missing because of this whole marriage fiasco.

‘I’ll find a way to train,’ she promised herself.

The drive to the Retroferd estate was long and when they finally drove through the high iron gates, Raina looked around. The place was massive and the security was top notch. Lots of men were patrolling the area and the car Raina was in, had to stop for a security check before they were allowed to drive in.

The car stopped at the entrance of the main building and Pascal got out and opened her door. 

Raina stepped out, she wasn't expecting any grand welcoming, but she was still stunned when she saw that the front of the house was empty and there was not a single person in sight.

She smiled to herself and breathed a sigh of relief as it was better this way. She adjusted the huge wedding gown and started to walk toward the big front doors, but before she could reach them, a middle-aged woman stepped out.

The woman was dressed in a grey uniform and didn't have a smile on her face. She stood in the doorway and glared resentfully at Raina.

"Stop right there," the woman said with a voice full of so much hatred and anger that Raina actually paused.

Raina frowned and stared at the woman's face, just to confirm that she had never seen this before. 

‘Who the hell is this old hag?’ she wondered.

Pascal walked over quickly. "Ma'am Collete," he said with a very stern voice. "Why are you being so rude? Do not forget who this is, she is the Don’s wife now. Even if it is just a marriage in name, she is the lady of this house and you must respect her."

Ma'am Collete’s face twisted as if she had swallowed something bitter. She quickly lowered her head, but she didn't look at Raina.

"I apologize, Pascal," Ma'am Collete said. She didn't apologize to Raina or even look her in the eye.

Raina just looked away and she wasn't surprised at all. She was a Valente in the Retroferd estate. She was already considered an enemy and she didn't need a maid to like her.

Ma'am Collete reached into her pocket and pulled out a bunch of keys. She handed them to Pascal. 

"The Don has given his orders," she said, her voice turning cold again. "The bride is not to stay in the main house…She will stay in the room at the back of his villa."

Pascal’s eyes widened as he looked at the keys and then back at the woman. He frowned, looking like he wanted to argue. "The room at the back? But that’s…."

"It is the Don’s order, Pascal," Ma'am Collete interrupted. "Take her there now."

Pascal sighed and turned to Raina, his expression was a mix of pity and worry, as he gestured for her to follow him. "This way, please."

They walked away from the main building, past the gardens and toward a smaller, but still very expensive-looking building. This was Maxton’s private villa. But they didn't go through the front door, Pascal led her around to the back.

The place was lonely and there were no guards or fancy decorations there. Just grey stone and the sound of the wind.

They arrived at a single, small wooden door at the back of the building and Pascal inserted a key to unlock it. The door creaked loudly as it opened.

Raina stepped inside and froze. Then she felt a surge of hot anger that made her blood boil.

The room was tiny and it looked like a store room. The walls were covered with old peeling wallpaper. There was one small window with dust on the glass. It was obvious that someone had clearly cleaned it recently, but it was still miserable. In the corner, there was a simple mattress on the floor, one wooden chair and a small table.

That was it, no rugs or carpets.

Raina turned to Pascal with a deep frown and she couldn't hide how pissed she was.

"Tell me something, Pascal," she said with an extremely calm and steady voice. "Does Don Maxton really hate me this much? Or is he just cheap?"

Pascal cleared his throat, looking very uncomfortable. "I am sure... I am sure this is just temporary, Miss….. I mean, Mrs. Retroferd. They are probably preparing a better room for you in the main house and this is just for tonight."

“Heh!” Raina let out a loud, sarcastic laugh. It was a sharp, dry sound that echoed in the small room.

"Oh, I'm sure," she said while looking around at the dusty walls. "And I'm sure my father actually loves me, too…We’re all living in a fairy tale, aren't we?"

She stepped closer to Pascal, and even in the oversized dress, she looked really dangerous as she stared at him.

"Go back to your Don," Raina said. "Tell him that if he really wants me far away from him, he should just build a shack in the woods at the back of the estate. That way, he won't have to see me at all, and I won't have to look at his cold face…It’s a win-win."

Pascal shifted his feet and he looked like he wanted to say something nice, but he didn't have the words. So, he just held out the bunch of keys to her.

Raina snatched them out of his hand and didn't wait for him to say goodbye.

She grabbed the edge of the heavy door.

"Thanks" she snapped furiously.

BANG!

Before Pascal could even open his mouth to respond, Raina slammed the door right in his face.