Chapter 5: THE RECEPTION

Two weeks later

"Now class, I want to say how proud I am of all of you in the latest exams and congratulations," Leonardo told his students who erupted into cheers as he sang their praises.

Seeing the smiles on their faces was the reason why he had made up his mind to become a teacher and the thought of being away from either one of them hurt him, even if it was only for a short period.

Leonardo turned his head to face one of his students, who held her hand up, patiently waiting for him to acknowledge her.

"Yes, Isabella"

"Signor Romano—I mean, signor Leonardo, you look worried today" she commented. Her words touched his heart to know that at least one of his students could see his bleeding heart when he was trying to hide it.

Taking in a deep breath, Leonardo stood from his chair and looked at his students. The class went quiet, waiting for him to speak his mind.

"I will be leaving you all for some time" Leonardo told his students and as soon as the words left his mouth, the whispers began, and George lifted his hand.

"Yes, George"

"Are you leaving us forever?" George asked his voice low as though expecting the worse to come from Leonardo. He smiled at his students in an aim to reassure them as well as to reassure himself.

"No, I will not be leaving forever, I will be going back to my home country of Italy and as soon as I am done with my business then I will return. But in the meantime Mrs. Bowler will be your substitute teacher while I am gone"

His students erupted into groans and moans and even though he stood there motionless, his heart pained him; no one loved his students as much as he loved them.

Even as the Romano family arrived at the wine estate in Sicily, he could not forget the conversation with his students. For the past two weeks, all he had been thinking of was the woman that he was set to marry. He knew nothing about her and neither did his parents.

All he knew was that, the girl in particular was adopted into the Russo family at the tender age of eight, she is an only child and her family owns large lands that would be useful to grow grapes used for the Romano family's vineyard. The marriage between them would be nothing more than an alliance between families and it made Leonardo sick to his stomach when he thought about it.

He was an educated man but choosing a wife in this manner went against all the years of studies he had gone through and he did that only for the sake of his mother.

The door to his room swung open, Leonardo looked up, and he was met with his friend's cheerful smile.

"After all this time, my best friend is back!" Ricardo greeted Leonardo and both men hugged one another.

"How are you my brother?" Leonardo asked his best friend who walked around his room, inspecting everything.

"I am doing well. I see your mother has still kept your room the same as you had left it the last time you visited"

"Yes—yes she has. It almost brings back bad memories" Leonardo told his best friend as he looked into the distance. The room went silent and for the first time both men had nothing to say to one another.

"Why are you even doing this?"

"Ricardo not now, not today" He tried walking away from having to discuss this serious matter with his best friend. The topic of his pending marriage with Avena was one he did not like to discus.

"Why not today? You have no idea what you are marrying" Ricardo told his best friend and his words alerted Leonardo.

"You sound like you know this woman"

"Of course I know her, who doesn't know Avena Russo!" Ricardo hysterically threw his hands in the air. His actions terrified Leonardo further.

"Tell me about her"

"Why would you— Please do not tell me that you have not enquired about the woman that you are betrothed to" Ricardo told his friend in disbelief.

"Ricardo, there a lots of minor issues surrounding my marriage to Avena Russo" Leonardo tried explaining to him but Ricardo was not having any of it.

"Well good luck my friend because you have just signed your death certificate"

"Meaning?"

"Meaning you have chosen the most spoilt woman in Sicily to be your wife, that girl is arrogant, spoilt and plain simple evil" Ricardo warned his friend, leaving Leonardo to feel uneasy about his arranged marriage.

"You are probably just overreacting" Leonardo told his friend, hoping that Ricardo was overreacting.

"I am not joking Leonardo, I have met that spoilt brat hence why I was shocked that you have accepted to marry such a cruel woman" Ricardo walked towards Leonardo's shelf and grabbed himself a glass and a bottle of wine.

"Want a drink?"

"No, I don't drink anymore Ricardo and you know that" he reminded his friend. Years ago, his mother's drinking had landed her in hospital to the point where they had almost lost her and that same alcohol was responsible for the biggest mistake in his life. His fear of alcohol had grown from there.

"Oh, I thought that you had finally forgotten that night"

"Well I did not; let's not talk about it anymore"

"Agreed, we shall never speak about alcohol ever again"

"Will you be my groomsman?" Leonardo teased his friend, wine spilling out of both his mouth and nose as.

"Nice try my friend, but unfortunately I will not be here to see you ruin your life with Avena. I have a business meeting in Chicago"

"Oh, I see" Leonardo told his friend, pretending to sound disappointed.

"Hey you really do not have to marry her"

"That is where you are wrong, I have to marry her and I have no say in the matter any longer"

**

It had taken an entire two weeks to convince Avena to accept the marriage proposal and Aurora was forever grateful for it, finally she would realize her dream of becoming a medical doctor. For the very first time, Avena had put Aurora's dreams above her own. Aurora had been cheerful for an entire two weeks, Avena was happy and so were Signora and Signor Russo.

The mansion was in full swing, preparing the engagement party that was to be held for the soon to be husband and wife, with a few socialites in attendance.

Aurora had listened to the other employees talk about how wealthy the Romano's were and how handsome their son was but she did not care for that. Her dream of becoming a doctor was going to be realized very soon and nothing else mattered.

"I still cannot believe that you have convinced that spoilt brat to marry the Romano heir" Signora Meta asked Aurora who turned to face her.

"I begged her and reminded her of all the times that I covered for her" Aurora explained but Signora Meta stared at her quiz idly. "What?" She asked Signora Meta.

"I just find it very strange that Avena did not put up a fight"

"Yes she did but I convinced her, stop thinking the worst of her, Avena is not that bad" Aurora defended Avena. Signora Meta turned to face Aurora and stared at her in silence.

"You are so kind, always seeing the good in everyone else even when their hearts are as black as coal"

"My mother told me to always try to see the good in people"

"Yes, your mother was right but that does not mean that you should be naïve" Signora Meta emphasized, smiling at Aurora, the young woman that she had raised like a daughter.

"I have to go to change my cloths; I can't be seen wearing jeans, sneakers and a t-shirt to the event"

"Yes go and change, the guests have already arrived"

**

"For the first time my son, you are choosing to make me proud" Signor Metteo told his son as they drove towards the Russo mansion. Their car came to a halt and just then, Leonardo wanted nothing other than to turn around and leave. Looking out the window of their limo, Leonardo could see the beautiful well lit mansion, luxurious cars parked everywhere, just what Leonardo hated.

"Father I am a teacher, is that not rewarding enough for you?" Leonardo asked his father, deep down seeking his father's approval more than anything in the world. His father's laugh had sent a pain through his heart and not even his mother could do anything to stop it.

"Teacher, is that a joke. You are a Romano, you could be teaching in one of the best schools in the world but yet you settle for teaching those rascals"

"They are not rascals father!" Leonard raised his voice at his father as this was the last time his father belittled his students in his presence.

"Enough!" Signor Mia shouted at both her husband and son, she had enough of their constant bickering as they arrived at the soon to be in-laws place. "Look, I am well aware that the both of you have unsolved issues between you two but we are at the Russo and if not for your own sake then do it for my sake" his mother pleaded, tears almost forming in her eyes.

"My apologies mother"

"It is okay my son, we are here and I want us to create a united front" Señora Mia warned her husband and son.

Both Leonardo and his father nodded their heads in agreement, the chauffer unlocked the door for them and they all walked out of the car and began making their way into the mansion. Every step that Leonardo took towards the palace of a mansion made him realize why he had stepped away from it.

He hated the extravagant parties, spending millions on friends that were more foes than actual friends, the fake smiles plastered on everyone's face and the uninteresting conversation that held little or no values.

As they got closer, the music got louder and as the doors swung open, the crowds filed the space, typical Italian styled parties where everyone was in high spirits.

"Please behave, do not make a fool out of me and remember your promise" His father whispered into his ear, a stern warning that was meant to be adhered to avoid dire consequences.

"Father I am aware of my duties and I say once more, I am a man of my words, always" Leonardo reminded his father.

All three of them walked into the mansion and right in front of them stood a man and woman round about the same age as his parents.

"Giovanni, Mia!" his father called out to the pair, his hands wide open to embrace them into his big bear hug.