13. I am not marrying you

Aria's POV

I am the last to arrive in the dining room, Louisa gives me a scathing look before she disappears to the kitchen. The buzz of conversation ceases as soon as I walk in. Don Giovanni is seated at the head of the table. He looks like the king presiding over his loyal subjects. He sits in his chair, hands resting on the table, tapping the golden signet ring on his small finger rhythmically on the wooden surface. My heart matches the rhythm of the slow tick, tick, tick on the table. The silence is deafening. All eyes are on me.

Stefano is seated to the right from the Don, the blonde from earlier next to him. To his left is a young girl. The young girl jumps up from her chair and runs to embrace me.

“Hi, you must be Aria. I am Lilliana.” She says, looking for recognition from me. When I remain indifferent, she continues.

“I am Stefano’s sister, Silly” she says and grabs me by the arm. “You can sit next to me”

I follow Lilliana to the open chairs across from Stefano and the bl