Chapter 63GuiliaHe drove us to a club downtown; just the place I wanted to be in. He didn’t ask any questions, ticking more points in my imaginary good guy checklist. I’d created one while he was driving us here.I was thankful for his discretion as I didn’t have the energy to say anything regarding what happened a few hours ago.We meandered through the people who were swinging their bodies wildly to the music blasting out from the speakers. The intermittent screams from the drunk dancers, the loud music and the handsome stranger standing beside me were enough to keep me distracted for the rest of the evening.When we finally got a space to sit, a bartender came to attend to us. I glanced around, searching for a spot that would be perfect for me to unleash all the crazy ideas that had built up in my head.“Do you like this place?” he yelled at the top of his voice.“Yes, I do. It’s perfect,”The bartender leaned closer. “What would you like to have, ma’am?”“Anything he’s having,”
Chapter 62GuiliaI blinked hard, my heart cutting into two. “What is she talking about, Vladimir?” my voice quivered, betraying my effort at being nonchalant.“Don’t listen to her, Guilia. She’s just bluffing,” he replied, but I just couldn’t believe him.“Bluffing?” she scoffed. “My stomach is thrice bigger than it has ever been and you call that a bluff? Okay, if you don’t believe me I’ll have to show you guys some proof,” she brought out her phone, scrolling through it.Vladimir approached me, looking torn and confused with Dmitri standing behind him. He made an attempt to touch me, but I shrank back, sending him a very harsh glare.“Don't you dare touch me, Vladimir,” I warned him sternly.Marian chuckled, showing us her phone screen. Bile rose to my throat immediately, chills sprinting down my spine. The picture she had on her phone was enough proof to show that he’d truly cheated on me.It was clear; the way he grabbed her butt and allowed her hands to roam over his body while
Chapter 61GuiliaMy attention was drawn to the door, the moment I heard it open. My lips widened in a bright smile as I spun around to stare at the only man who was never good at following the rules.“It’s forbidden to see the bride before the ceremony, Vladimir. Do you not know that?” I mustered a fake scowl that I threw at him even though my heart was leaping for joy.How could I think of getting angry at him when he looked this good? His three-piece suit sat on him as though it was just tailored for him. The deep greenish colour made his brown eyes stand out, giving it an espresso hue instead of its usual chestnut. “I’m sorry, princess. I was too excited to stay alone at the patio so I thought to see you before the ceremony began, and seeing how gorgeous you look I can say that I didn’t make a mistake with my choices,” his eyes sparkled as they swept over me in complete admiration.My dress was an elegant off-white dress that Ariel had chosen for me. Getting married to Vladimir
Chapter 60 GuiliaShe collapsed on the chair again, shaken and disarrayed. “I can’t believe this is happening,” her voice trembled.“Look, Mom, Igor has already told me his own side of the story but I want to hear yours. I want to know why you were kissing the ex-lover of your sister. I want to know why–”“It’s because I loved him and I still fucking do!” she shut me up, throwing her hands in the air. “I loved him so much but he never loved me back. That’s why I’m married to your father,”My breathing took a pause for a second as I tried hard to imagine my mother being this emotionally distraught. It was hard, but that was what love did to us. It took hold of our ability to reason and just threw us into a deep hole of delusion and stupidity where the only thing that mattered was what we felt. Not what made sense. “You shouldn’t be saying that. The walls have ears,” Igor warned.“I don’t care. If you had come with me we wouldn’t be having this conversation,” her tone was bitter. Raw
Chapter 59Guilia Taking it slow and steady was safer, I decided as Igor and I waited for our flight in the airport. Vladimir should have taken us, but his brother, the Capo had sent him on a mission which I was more than grateful for. At least that would provide me the chance to ask Igor all the questions on my mind.I didn’t need anyone breathing down my neck while interrogating him.“Didn’t know you missed your parents this much,” he began a conversation which made my mission much easier.“They gave birth to me and even though I don’t remember much about them, I still can’t obstruct the course of nature, you know,” I replied flatly.He nodded in agreement. “I don’t have any parents to miss. You should enjoy it while it lasts,” he had this wistful expression carved on his face.“Igor, do you have kids?” He whipped me a sharp, surprised gaze, swallowing hard as though I’d thrown him off guard. “I don’t,”“Have you ever been in love before?” His eyes narrowed into a squint, confus
Chapter 58GuiliaI flinched when Vladimir’s voice rumbled behind me. How was he able to get to the door that quickly?Without hesitating, I tucked the envelope into my short, fast and smooth, hoping with all my heart hammering hard against my ribcage that he wouldn’t notice what I did.“You look as if you just saw a ghost? What’s the matter and why are you standing by the door?”My eyes darted around everywhere, but his face. I knew I was acting all suspicious, but it was hard to come up with a lie that would get him off my back.“Ummm… nothing… It’s nothing serious,” I stuttered uncontrollably, my face flushing. “I just thought I heard a knock and went to the door. Apparently, there was no one there,” That was half lie and half truth. Did it make me insincere?He put aside the towel he was drying his hair with, drawing me closer to himself. “The next time someone knocks and I’m stuck in the bathroom or anywhere that isn’t the living room, come to me first,”I nodded absentmindedly,