Chapter Four | Officially Engaged

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 her eyes, one not everyone picked up on. “And that includes the people in it.”

The younger woman takes the hint, knowing there was an insult hiding in her mother’s prideful tone. She just wasn’t sure what it was for. Her hair, again? Her shoes? The way she walked? Liviana couldn’t tell, and even if she could, there was only one thing she could fix in the moment.

Straightening out her back, Liviana picks up her head, trying to keep herself looking prim and proper while keeping her presence small.

She wasn’t supposed to draw attention to herself, meant to be someone who only blended into the background, an extra. She was to be seen, but not heard, known but unnecessary. There simply to fill the space. Her existence held no meaning. Liviana Santora was worthless as she had “nothing but a pretty face” ⏤ her only contribution to society, and her only attribute to her family.

It was a story she had been told since she could remember ⏤ the guidelines to her existence. The entire essence of her being was to be nothing more than her parents’ piece of property that they could use to their advantage. Beyond that, she was nothing more than insignificant, if not a burden.

The story of her life.

“Please, have a seat.” Alonzo offers as he pushes open the door to his office, the room dimly lit and cold, despite the fireplace burning ⏤ a futile attempt to make it more welcoming. But not even the cozy decorations of throw pillows, photos and books or comforting color scheme of reds and browns could shake Alonzo’s cold, hostile mark on the room.

Drusilla pulls out the chairs for Elara and Lucius but the two decline, insisting the engaged couple take their seats as they felt they would need them.

“I have a feeling they need to be sitting for this.” Elara says, asking her son and his fiancé to take a seat, placing a hand on each of their shoulders in urging.

“Why?” Liviana asks quietly, voice dying out with instant regret at the look her parents shoot her. Seen but not heard, she reminds herself.

“Well, I know this is probably very overwhelming for the both of you, and I just want to make sure you’re prepared for what we’re about to do. I believe sitting will help you relax.” She explains, giving the girl’s shoulder a comforting squeeze before looking at her son. “You’re aware of what we’re doing now, correct?”

Blaze nods. “Yes, mother. I am aware. You’ve spent the past week preparing me for it.”

“I just wish to make sure you can handle this process.” She defends her prodding, running a hand over his head, fixing his hair as she does.

“He’s doing just fine, Elara.” Lucius interrupts his wife’s fussing, pulling her away from their son and into his side. “Leave the boy alone.”

“I’ve not done anything to bother him.” She huffs, pushing him away, turning her sights to Liviana instead. “What about you, dear? Are you doing okay? Are you feeling well?”

At the question Liviana couldn’t help the way her brows furrow in confusion, having not been asked that question throughout this whole thing ⏤ or much before that, either. It was a strange question, foreign to her, and though she was quick to put her mask back on, the Castelli’s noticed that, having caught her reaction before she could hide it.

“I’m doing well.” She answers, giving the kind woman a promising smile, though the words were nothing but lies. “Thank you.”

“For what?” Elara frowns.

“For asking.”

Her words unease Elara, who had noticed from the second Liviana came down those stairs. Liviana wasn’t someone prone to love. Nobody has nurtured her. It was obvious she hadn’t known love, and Elara had already sworn to change that. She would bring her into their family, and she would show her what it is like to have one ⏤ a chaotic, messy, loving family.

“Of course.” Elara says, running a hand through Liviana’s hair next, before pulling her into her side for a hug, keeping her close and comfortable as she looks up to the girls parent’s, and though she didn’t say it, they could see she wasn’t very pleased with them, the displeasure shining bright and clear in her eyes. “Let’s get this over with, yes?”

“Yes, let’s.” Alonzo agrees, pulling out the forms they needed and handing them over to Lucius to read over.

It was when the Castelli man gave the green light that Liviana’s heart stopped, along with the world around her. It was like she was watching from above as everything happened ⏤ Lucius and Alonzo signing the merger papers, before handing over the contract promising their marriage, in exchange for the Castelli’s partnership with the Santora’s.

Blaze signed first. After spending the past months doing everything he could to get out of this and failing, he knew there were no other options. And even if there were, he couldn’t bring himself to even try them. This was for the better. It was to help his family and his business. After everything his parents spent sacrificed to build their empire, all the hard work they’ve put into making something of their name so he and his siblings could have the lives they never got to have, he could do this one thing to save it, to promise they all got to live these lives of luxury they spent their lives making. And though this was the last thing he could ever want, no woman was worth destroying everything his family had spent years creating.

When the papers are passed over to Liviana, she went blank, her mind fading away with that last little bit of hope hidden deep within her heart. Looking up at her parents, who pierce her with their icy gazes. They give her slight nods with a glint in their eyes that tells her this was it ⏤ there was no going back, no way to escape. It was this, or an eternity of suffering through their torture. Either way, she was selling her soul. And though the unknown was scary, it wasn’t as terrifying as the fallout she would face for disobeying her parents. The thought alone made her heart race and her hands tremble.

Her hands shook as she took the pen from Blaze, unable to look at him as she did so, ignoring the feeling of her cold hand touching his warm one and the tingles she got from it, the butterflies fluttering around her stomach and filling it with anxiety that felt like she was slowly going paralyzed. It was almost over, and then she would be free, sending herself from one hell into another. His hell.

Liviana takes a deep breath, hands clasped tightly together and resting in her lap to hide the way they tremble as she stares at the line where her name sits in her handwriting, telling her she had really just done it. She had just signed herself over to him; Blaze Castelli, the next don of the largest mafia known. And she was to be his property.

What had she done?

“Perfect.” Alonzo praises, a prideful smile on his face as he looks over all of their signatures. They had finally done it, and now there was no one who could take it away from him. “I will have these looked over and send you a copy when they are finalized.” He informs, holding a hand out to the man. “It is a pleasure doing business with you, Lucius.”

The Castelli man nods, shaking his hand and returning the pleasantry before turning to his wife. “You’re up, mi Amor.”

Elara presses a thankful kiss to her husband’s lips and turning to the engaged couple before her with an excited smile, telling them it was her area of business now. Wedding planning.

“Hasn’t the wedding already been planned?” Liviana asks, looking up at the woman in confusion. She was told the wedding day would take place as soon as the contacts had been finalized, which, if her father had any say in it, would take only days. Her guess was three days at the most. She had assumed that because they had such a brief window of time between the two events, everything would have already been sorted.

“Well, yes.” Elara nods, confirming Liviana’s assumption. “But we planned it for Emilia and her taste. I would like to make some adjustments in the time we have to make it a day for you.” She explains, ushering Livi up from her chair and putting an arm around her shoulders to make the girl walk with her. “Did you see the wedding dress yet? Do you have any ideas about how we’re going to do your makeup or style your hair?”

Liviana shakes her head, mumbling out ‘no’ as Elara keeps firing off questions. She glances over her shoulder, meaning to look at her mother, hoping the woman would help her or join in the wedding planning ⏤ as mothers do. Instead, she locks eyes with her fiancé, and for the first time all night, she saw something other than annoyance in his eyes. Amusement.

She hated to admit it. But his eyes, when they weren’t shining with pure disdain, were beautiful.

---

The day after was no better than the day they met. It may have been even more stressful.

The day after had been filled with Elara dragging her future daughter-in-law around the city, making adjustments for the wedding that would be held in only two more days, and Elara decided that in the time they had they would do everything they could to turn this into a day for Liviana, instead of the one they had planned for Emilia.

They had visited flower shops and replaced the white roses Emilia had chosen with a variety of white lilies and lily of the valley’s, Liviana’s choice. They had her bouquet remade, re-decorated the church Drusilla had demanded to remain the venue, and had added some of Liviana’s favorite dishes to the menu.

Elara’s effort in trying to make this her wedding day instead of her sisters was something Liviana appreciated deeply, but to her, despite how caring and generous the woman’s actions were, they were futile.

This wasn’t Liviana’s day. Changing the flowers or the way they had decorated the church wouldn’t change that. And the thing was, she wasn’t feeling like that because it was a day meant for her older sister, like Elara assumed. It was because it wasn’t Emilia’s day either.

This wasn’t either of their weddings. It wasn’t the day every couple dream of, when the start of the rest of their lives together. A day of celebrating love.

This was a day for their parents. It was a day marking when the Santora’s would become the Castelli’s underdogs. It was a day for business.

This wasn’t a wedding to celebrate love. It was a day to celebrate their family’s success.

Just like this marriage wouldn’t be a genuine marriage, it wouldn’t be one of love or admiration or respect. It was nothing more than a business deal, and Liviana had a feeling this deal wouldn’t have any of those aspects either.

“What’s wrong, dear?” Elara asks, noticing how the girl had zoned out.

Liviana blinks, bringing herself out of her head and looking back at Elara, instead of the image of her in the mirror in a pretty white dress. “Nothing.” She lies, shaking her head and quickly looking away, eyes training onto the floor. “Sorry. I was just thinking.”

“Thinking about what?” Elara pries, moving to stand in front of her, making it harder for Liviana to avoid her eye.

“Nothing of importance.” She assures, trying to change the subject and asking what the woman thought of the dress.

“Don’t lie to me, Liviana. I am not like your mother. I will not accept your deflections and I will not minimize your concerns.” Elara tells her, hands on her hips as she gives the younger woman a stern look. “Anything you tell me can stay between us, alright? You can talk to me. I only want to help.”

Liviana hesitates as she lifts her gaze, wetting her pouty lips as she tries to find the words to explain what she was feeling in a way that it wouldn’t offend her. The mother of the man she was bound to marry. “It’s just...” she trails, struggling to put her feelings into words after being taught the only way to deal with them is to simply ignore them. Everyone in her family put it a different way.

Drusilla’s was “nobody likes a crybaby”.

Emilia’s was “fake it till you make it”.

Alonzo’s was to “be a stone wall”.

And Tino’s was “to keep it behind closed doors”.

Liviana didn’t have one. She was just numb. After twenty-four years of training, she had learnt how to bite her tongue and keep her emotions at bay. She could wear a mask to fake it. She could stonewall it until everyone perceived her as heartless. And she could pretend she hadn’t cried for years when, in reality, she let it out into her satin pillows every night when she was praying for the pain to end.

“You’re scared for the wedding?” Elara guesses.

“Yes… but not as scared as I am for everything that comes after.” Livi admits with a sigh. “I appreciate everything you’re doing for me, with being so nice to me and trying to make this my wedding instead of my sister’s, but-“

“You don’t see it as a real wedding?” Elara finishes the thought for her, Liviana giving an apologetic nod. “It may not be a traditional one and one being held for the wrong reasons, but it is still a wedding ⏤ your wedding. And I want you to make the most of it, make it a day to remember, just like it’s supposed to be.”

“It’s supposed to be a day for two people who love each other so much they want to spend the rest of their lives together.” Liviana deadpans. “That’s what makes it special. I don’t have that.”

“Perhaps you don’t have love, but you have other things to celebrate.”

The raven-haired girl tilts her head, a furrowed brow showing the older woman that she wasn’t so sure about her words.

What did she have to celebrate? Her sister was gone because of this, she was going to be whisked away from the only place she’s ever known, and she was being forced to spend her life by the side of a mafia boss she didn’t know, one who clearly hated her already.

But, if she tilted views, she could see the bright side. Her sister was gone, Emilia escaped. She was being whisked away from the only place she’s ever known, the place that had only given her pain ⏤ this could be her fresh start. And Blaze... She was hoping she could find the silver lining somewhere along the way.

“You’re a beautiful girl, Liviana, with a kind heart and gentle soul. There’s not very many people like that, you’re rare. You’re smart, healthy, and you’re getting free from your parents’ chains.” Elara lists. “Isn’t all of that worthy of being celebrated, or shall I keep going?”

The girl shrugs, her timid exterior throwing itself over her entire being as she becomes ashamed that she was complaining. Elara was right. She had a lot to celebrate, compared to others who don’t have half of the things she has. Who was she to be whining about something she willingly volunteered for? It was selfish, and she didn’t want to be selfish.

“I am so sorry, you’re right. There’s plenty to be grateful for. I’m just being silly.” She agrees, looking down at the wedding dress that was hanging over her, being a size too big to fit.

“You’re not being silly.” Elara consoles, pulling Livi off of the stand and into her arms. “I know this is scary and overwhelming, and I know my son will not make this easy, but I promise you, honey, I’m going to be here every step of the way to help you.” She promises, stroking the girl’s hair to comfort her, holding her close for reassurance.

Liviana tensed, awkwardly wrapping her arms around the woman and patting her back, being taken back to the night before when Elara did the same thing, getting hit with déjà vu.

“You are family now, Liviana, and I’m going to make sure you feel it. And I know everyone else will too ⏤ Leo and Violet have been going on and on about getting another sister ever since they found out about your engagement to Blaze. Armani has been talking to Blaze, and he’s planning on keeping him grounded and reasonable. And Lucius and I are more than pleased to have you join our family. We’ve heard many wonderful things, and we are looking forward to having you around.” She rambles, pulling away to give the girl a sincere smile. “The point is, you have people on your side. You won’t be alone in this. We will make sure of it. And when things get hard, I just want you to know you can come to me. I will do everything in my power to help you. Alright?”

The words sink in and she can’t find a trace of a lie or even a hint of dishonesty. She was being genuine and Liviana, being surrounded by fake people her whole life, appreciated that more than anything else and she showed that with a smile.

She nods, her smile real and heartfelt as she clears her throat, trying not to fall apart in this woman’s arms. It had been so long since she felt like this ⏤ loved and appreciated, respected, cared for. She missed it. “Thank you, Elara.” She forces out, her voice cracking. “You have no clue how much that means to me.”

Elara’s smile only grows as she cups the girl’s cheek, wiping the lone tear that escaped her pretty green eyes. “Don’t cry, honey. It’ll only give the people who want to bring you down the satisfaction of knowing they’re succeeding. Don’t give them that kind of power over you.” She advises, tapping the girl’s nose before pulling her in front of the mirror, moving to stand behind her. “Now, pick up your head and tell me honestly how you feel about this dress?”

“Is it the dress my sister chose?”

“That does not matter, it should not contribute to your answer.” Elara tells her, giving her a look that tells her to just answer the question. “We need a dress for you, and you get to choose it. Not me, or Emilia, or Drusilla. You, Liviana.”

What if she didn’t know what she wanted?

Liviana has never had the freedom to make her own choices, even with decisions as simple as picking out her clothes. That was Drusilla’s job. She always picked out her children’s clothes, claiming if she left it up to them they would look like a “vile bunch of disappointments”, and she couldn’t take the risk of having her and Alonzo embarrassed like that. It would hurt them worse than their children’s mere existence already does, as they’re such let downs it pains them. At least, that was what the parents of the Santora kids always told them.

And that was the last thing Liviana wanted to look like on what was being looked at as her wedding day.

Because Elara was right. This was her wedding day, her wedding dress, and she could choose whatever she wanted. She could look amazing in the way she got to choose. If Drusilla didn’t like what she picked, that was her problem, one Liviana wouldn’t have to deal with since that was going to be her last night home, anyway. And who knew when she would see her family again? It was a problem she wouldn’t have to deal with, and that was a relief.

Just the thought of being protected from her mother’s wrath gave Liviana the confidence to admit she didn’t like the dress.

“Can I pick a different one?”

Elara smiles, proud to see she was already making progress. And though this may seem like a minor thing, it was really a big step. “Of course you can.” She says, giving her arms a gentle squeeze as she steps back, telling her to find her when she was finished changing before leaving the girl to herself.

Liviana takes a moment to change and takes the time to think, going over what Elara had told her. Could she use what was supposed to be the day celebrating her and Blaze’s “love” as a day to celebrate something else?

Could it be the day marking her first night of freedom instead of the day she gave her heart and soul to another? A day marking when this new chapter in her life started, instead of when it turned into the happy end to a love story.

She hoped so, because otherwise the whole day would just be a lie. There was no love, she was not giving her heart to a stranger, and there would be no happy ending.

So, really, why was there going to be a wedding, anyway? A question Livi would continue to ask herself until the moment the day was over and done with.

If she could even make it to that day and survive it, that is.