Re-Arranged

Time. It was a funny thing. Confusing and scary, dreadful. For some, it was much more positive than that. They found hope in time. "Time heals all wounds." They looked forward to the next day ⏤ the next week ⏤ month ⏤ year, and so on. They anticipated getting older and the change that time would bring them. The wisdom and knowledge ⏤ the experiences they would have in that time, the ones you're told to enjoy because they happen in the best years of your life and time flies, so you're supposed to enjoy it while it lasts. Liviana never knew what the hell those people were talking about. "Time flies," yet her days dragged on until she gave up and ended them early, crawling into her bed at merely 6pm just to make it feel like the day was over and she had made it. "Time heals all wounds," but why hadn't it healed hers? She still sat in pain, waiting for it to lessen with each passing day, but it never did. If anything, it only hurt worse. Time is something Liviana hated. She loath

"He's here." The words Liviana Santora had been anticipating all week, ever since she made the deal of marrying Blaze in place of her sister, just so Emilia could be free. Livi had spent the past seven days preparing for this moment, the moment she would meet the man she was to spend the rest of her life with. But despite all the time she took to in convincing herself everything would be fine, she still couldn't help but panic at her brother's words. He was here. Blaze Castelli ⏤ her fiance ⏤ the man she was marrying in only a few days, and the one she hadn't met yet. How was she supposed to marry a man she's never even met? Well, she figured they had the rest of their lives to get to know each other. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe Emilia was wrong and this wouldn't be the thing to end her life ⏤ maybe it was the thing that would finally start it. "Take a deep breath." Tino advised, placing his hands on her shoulders, trying to comfort her in any way he could, though he wasn'

Dinner ended soon after that, when Elara brought up the possibility of Liviana becoming the next mafia queen.Conversation died down and as soon as their dishes were empty, everyone rushed off in desperation of getting away from the tension that just kept getting thicker with each passing second, suffocating them all slowly.“Blaze, Liviana, could you follow us up to the office, please?” Alonzo requests, his respectful side coming out for their guests. It was a tone rarely heard within the four walls of the Santora’s home, not unless there was someone Alonzo and Drusilla wanted to impress.Liviana ducks her head, giving a curt nod as she pushes out of her seat, following her parents and the three Castelli’s out of the dining room, leaving the rest behind to mingle.“You have a lovely home.” Elara compliments as they walk the halls leading to Alonzo’s office.“Thank you, Elara. We try our best to keep it perfect.” Drusilla says, glancing back at her daughter with a judgemental glint in

The evening was spent sipping on fancy champagne glasses and complimenting the expensive booze while picking at the platters of fruits, vegetables and cheese the waiters carried around to serve the room full of people who were practically famous, and not all just for business reasons.It was a room full of dangerous people, one’s known to be involved with crime and others simply suspected, but there were very few guests with a certain innocence, who were either clueless or reckless enough to have befriended these people. It was hard to spot a guest with that title of innocence, though. Next to impossible, really. Which is why a good number of people in the room were also dressed in uniforms that read “security”, standing out from the sea of women dressed in lavish dresses with faces full of makeup and jewelry to match, and the men in dapper suits who sported just as expensive accessories as watches and rings.Everyone was trying to outdo the next person, showing off how much they had,

“This is bullshit.”Blaze Castelli curses as he storms back into his dressing room, his brother and father in tow. “Blaze-““I thought we would be able to get through this as fast as possible, but instead, I’m stuck waiting for her.” He scoffs. “What kind of bride is late to her own wedding?”“One who doesn’t wish to be married.” Lucius says, taking a seat and looking up calmly at his son as he gives a reminder. “It would do you well to remember that you are not the only one opposed to this arrangement. Liviana wants this no more than you do.”“I don’t care what she wants.” He says. “I care about our reputation, and she is putting that in jeopardy right now. What will they think when the wedding is pushed back an hour, or two ⏤ however long it takes for her to get a hold of herself? They’re going to think she’s tried to run, just like her sister. What then? What will they think of us? Of me? Having chased off two brides? They’re going to start questioning our capabilities to hold dow