Crimson Silence

Milan, Italy.

Alina

I wish I could punch something in the face. Someone to be precise.

The makeup artist put finishing touches on my face just in time for me to hear a loud knock on my door. I’m so attuned to my father that I can tell it’s him.

I grab the big bouquet of white roses from atop my dresser, taking a minute long look at my form before walking to the door with heavy steps, my heart hammering against my chest.

Someone wake me up. Please.

My shaky hand reaches for the door, closing around the knob tightly. I drag in deep, ragged breaths, my lungs threatening to fail me as the air in the room suddenly thickens and my vision blurs.

“Alina?” His gruff voice calls out from behind the door, causing me to reel myself back into the reality that’s about to become my life.

“Y-yes. Coming.” I respond, my voice cracking out of fear and anxiety.

It feels like a thousand needles piercing my skin at the same damn time.

I pull the door open with a force I didn’t know I have, stepping out with the grace of a duck and waiting to hook my arms around his without even as much as glancing at him.

Once I shut the door behind me, he drags me down the hallway roughly, causing me to stumble over my dress. We reach the door of his study within the blink of an eye and he shoves me inside, slamming the door shut.

I manage to stop my forehead from colliding with the desk, my hand clutching at the edge for support as my heart almost leaps out of my throat.

He tugs at my dress, steadying me from behind.

Thanks for the help, Dad.

“We don’t have time, but there’s something I need you to know.” His voice has now dropped to a dangerous whisper, sending shudders down my spine.

“Don’t try to mess this up, Alina, or I swear to you I’m going to make sure I ruin whatever that is left of you.”

I fixate on him, watching his mouth move with the same slickness I’ve always known. His threats sounds like glass cutting a lifeless skin. There’s no pain. Nothing. It just passes through and the blood bubbles.

That’s how I feel. Numb. Unfeeling. Nothing.

“Do you hear me?”

I barely nod, chewing the inside of my cheek to stop the quiet rage from slipping out. As much as today is the second worst day of my entire life, I can't help but admit that I look absolutely breathtaking in this dress and makeup.

They were able to mask the sadness on my face but not the sorrow slashing at my broken heart.

What a shame.

“Can I ask something?” I question, my voice hoarse with exhaustion.

“Make it quick.”

I take in a sharp breath and finally look him in the eye. That hate from always. It never leaves.

“Why?”

Seconds pass with silence filling the room. I tighten my grip on the bouquet, hoping that he finally tells me why his hatred for me burns deeper every day.

He opens his mouth to respond but a knock on the door stops him. We both turn towards the door, watching with keen interest as the knocking continues.

“Let’s go. And don’t forget to behave.” He says, linking my arm with his with the most gentlest touch I’ve ever had him show.

We step out of the room with fake smiles on our faces. Smiles that don’t reach the eyes if you look closely enough. A young girl that looks to be about my age is standing in front of the door with a big grin plastered on her face. She looks familiar but I can’t recall where I’d seen her.

The happiness drains from her face when she looks up and I don’t need to know why.

Same girl, same.

“Oh, I’m so sorry, but Mr. Ferraro has asked to come fetch you.” Her tiny voice announces as her eyes darts between me and my father.

He nods at her and takes the first step towards the direction of the altar, each step I take only cementing my current fear.

I’m getting married to Adrian.

My stomach churns with disgust and my last meal rises up to my throat but I push it down, shaking the lingering thoughts of Jeremy off my head.

The grey walls of the house mirror my misfortune in a mocking tone. It feels like it’s taking satisfaction in reminding me of all the promises I made behind these walls only to have them dashed before I can even start to live.

Once we get to the hall, I drag in a sharp breath and widen my smile, looking straight ahead. I don't see anyone else but Adrian and dare I say even though he’s the most gorgeous human I’ve ever seen, I’ve never seen him looking this good.

Yet, there’s an ugliness behind his beauty that makes me want to rip my hair out and run away from here.

He’s dressed in a black tailored suit, his midnight black eyes matching the suit perfectly. Both of his hands are inside his pockets as always, and that infamous annoyed crease rests on his dark brows. Two years ago, I would have marveled at this sight and probably droll at it but now, I feel….

“Alina. Behave.” My father’s stern voice warns me out of my thoughts through gritted teeth and I mutter a ‘yes’ just as we step on the altar’s podium where the priest and my soon to be husband are standing.

He let go of my hand and nods at the priest before moving backwards, leaving me alone with them.

Adrian steps closer to me and I inhale sharply, his scent pushing through my nostrils and rendering me weak in the knees. His eyes doesn’t leave mine as the priest urges me to move closer. I do as I’m told, blanking out my mind from Adrian.

I’m over him. I’m just nervous. Besides, I have a boyfriend.

“Adrian Ferraro, do you take Alina Sinclair as your wedded wife, in sickness and in health?” The rest of the priest’s voice fades into the void as I hold Adrian hard stare.

His gaze turns soft for a moment and I don’t miss the flicker of happiness in his eyes before it’s gone in a flash.

“I do.”

He reads the same thing to me almost immediately. The hall goes silent, waiting for me to respond. My eyes dart around, wondering why the small guest of fifty people wants me to lie.

They know. They all know that this isn’t what I want. They know that I’m being forced to do this, so why is everyone staring at me and not helping?

I turn to look back at the priest and I see a faint line of worry across his face, staring at me expectantly. Even though he’s seated far at the back, I can feel my father’s disappointing gaze burning holes into the back of my head.

A tear threatens to slip out of my eyes but I reel it back. I’m not going to let him see me break. He did once years ago and I refuse to let him do it again.

It’s only going to be for a year. I can handle it. I’m going to make sure that I raise his money and pay him every dime that my father owes him.

This is just a trial test and I’m not going to let him see me fail.

I’m not that weak girl he played with years ago.

With determination searing fiercely inside me, I fixate on Adrian with defiance and nod.

“I do.”

Immediately the words leave my lips, applause erupts in the room and I sigh, suddenly pulled back into the uncertainty of what would happen now.

We exchange rings and wait, the moment of dread finally entering the room.

His eyes sweep all over my face, searching for any emotion. I blink at him slowly, smiling triumphantly in my head as I notice the flash of disappointment on his face.

Good.

You shouldn’t see me break me.

“You may kiss the bride.”

The hall goes pin drop silent, my heart thrumming loudly in my ears as he steps forward, his body heat radiating from inside out. I swear it’s like he carries a furnace around in his body.

I shake my head discreetly, shooing away the wild thoughts of him infiltrating my head. I shouldn’t be thinking about this man, yet, he’s all I’ve thought of for the past two hours.

“Peony?” His rough voice calls out and my stomach flutters, warmth attacking me.

As I open my mouth to respond, he closes the gap between us and places his lips on mine. My eyes widen in shock and for a moment, I forget how to breathe until his tongue slips into my mouth and he sucks on mine, gently pulling me towards him by the waist.

Instinctively, I close my eyes and stay still, fighting the demons in my head asking me to kiss him back.

No. No, I can’t.

Imagine he’s Jeremy.

My mouth moves to the rhythm of the kiss but my lungs fail me as my chest twists with pain. When he doesn’t let go of my mouth, I open my mouth and bite down hard on his tongue before I can stop myself.

My body stiffens and he pulls away, touching his lips slightly before glaring at me.

He cusses in Italian and I stumble backwards, clutching harder at my chest, not from the pain of not being able to breathe, but from the sight in front of me.

My world stops at that moment and I forget how to breathe as the room disappears. Only him and the betrayal remain.

Jeremy is staring at me from across the hall.