Chapter 2

The quiet wedding hall was filled with pitiful faces. Distant aunts and uncles, cousins, and distant family relatives who I barely met were all present to grace my death sentence. Barely forty eight hours of my return and I was already getting sold to a stranger I had never seen. With knots tying up my stomach, I kinda wished it was Matteo I was getting married to. At least I knew the type of devil I was dealing with. Be careful what you wish for Alessia, but I know what I wish for. 

      A quick glance around the room gave away what I needed to know. It was a wedding ceremony and despite being a forced union, it would have been a joyful occasion but what was with the burial looks? My relatives looked as though they were mourning my death. I wasn’t dead yet but I’d soon be. They gawked at me like it was the last time they were going to see my corpse before they closed the casket on me.

    As I walked by in the breath snatching dress mother had chosen for the occasion, I heard them whisper amongst themselves. “ Poor girl, look how innocent she looks walking into the devil’s lair all alone.”

  

       “ There’s nothing that can be done, aunt. It’s too late. We just have to pray she survives for at most, four months, before giving up the ghost.”

      “ But how could her father do such a thing? Matteo was even a lesser devil. I ain’t saying I like him but at least her chances of survival with him was way higher.”

     And on and on they went. I heard so much about this husband of mine, and none was a positive statement. Great! Father not only dug my grave, he invited people to bid me farewell.

       

        “There you are. I have been searching all over the place for you Lexi. Come with me.”

    She reached for my hand and tried leading me through the crowd to God knows where. “ No. I’m not going anywhere with you. You and father couldn’t even settle for a lesser monster for your child? What’s all these I’m hearing about Salvatore? Was that why you said you were sorry you couldn’t protect me?”

    Mother couldn’t bring herself to look me in the eye. With head bowed, she mumbled. " Do you have any idea how much my heart aches to see you in such a dress? You can’t even breathe in it. You look like you might explode soon.”

 Okay, but what has the dress got to do with me marrying Salvatore?

   Seeing through my puzzled expression, she held me by my shoulders and looked me deep in the eye. “ Do you think I’m excited about all these? Why not stop and think? Will your mom ever want such a union between you and that messed up fellow? Alessia, if I had my way, Salvatore's head will be hanging at the entrance of your father’s mansion. 

       Speaking of Salvatore, was he here in the hall just taking his new pet in? What does he even look like? I could have done a quick search of him, but I was too occupied with sulking and crying myself to sleep. Three different cakes of foundation powder was barely enough to hide my black bags and how horrible my pretty gray eyes looked at the moment.

        “ Is Salvatore older than Matteo? Is he handsome or does his face look worst than Gianna's soggy noodles?” If I was going to be sold off like some worthless commodity, then they should at least give me away to a man I could stand. Imagine having to deal with a man you dislike and an ugly one at that.

      “ Physical looks? lol, even the most handsome man in Chicago would be jealous of him. It’s not his face or physique that is ugly, Alessia. It’s his soul, and I think that should be your utmost concern. Don’t you think?”

     I’m relieved. At least they got me a handsome beast. “ I don’t care about his soul, Mother. That’s up to him and Lucifer. Now, can we hurry up with this party? I need to rest.” The damn dress wasn’t helping matters neither was the heels. I’ve been standing for too long.

       

      “ That’s the problem. Salvatore is no where to be found, yet..”

 No where to be found? Did he forget about his wedding? “ Call him on the phone?”

  Her worried eyes searched the crowd and sauntered back to me. “ You just wait here, I’ll go check if they’re here yet so we can get this over with.”

  They were such in a haste to marry me off. Was I really that worthless? In the twinkling of an eye, mom had disappeared into the crowd. I decided to have some wine and quench my fiery throat. Luckily enough, I didn’t have to move around searching for a waiter, one happened to pass by and handed me a glass before I could ask.

       I had taken two large gulps and requested for more when Marcella strode over. Blonde, petite young lady who goes about sticking her nose in everyone’s affairs. Being the nosey person she was, she was definitely the right person to ask about Salvatore.

      

       “ Alessia, we meet again.” Of course. How long has it been since I last saw this bitch? Three… five years?

    “ You look good, Marcella. Where have you been hiding?”

 She was a year older than me and was one of my distant cousins.

      “ Been touring the world, Alessia. You don’t look bad either. Not as bad as I had thought you would when I heard you were marrying Salvatore.”

     “Oh.” That was all I could mumble as I searched for the waiter with my eyes. “ Listen Alessia, Salvatore is one hard nut. If you plan on cracking him, you might end up on a hospital bed.”

   I rolled my eyes at her. Who said I was interested in cracking him? I was only thinking of ways I could end my marriage without actually calling it off myself or in a disgraceful manner.

     “ Look at this, he's all over the news... He does have a reputation of being the ladies man. How are you going to deal with it? He's with a new girl in every photo.”

   The ladies man, huh? Not bad. It's either he's extremely breathtaking or stinky wealthy. From all I've heard, he might be both.

     “ Can I see photos of him?” My curiosity got those words out of me.

     Marcella nodded in excitement. I have never seen her this... happy? “ Sure, there are thousands of pictures of him on the internet. Trust me, you got quite a catch. He has a face made for thebillboard.”

      Quite a catch? I was fuming mad already with the way she was drooling over him. I immediately wished the reverse was the case; someone who was fat, ugly, old and has a face made for anywhere else but the billboards.

     “ Really? Then he must be really stunning.” I smiled at her and leaned in as she searched him up.

  Marcella didn't get my hint but instead went on rambling on how gorgeous he looked. “ Yes, he is. His eyes.. his eyes are the most coldest yet charming set of gray eyes I've seen. I mean, apart from you. But yours doesn't come close.”

      I hadn't realized I was actually holding my breath while she searched. It only hit me when I let out a deep breath of relief when the first photo popped up. They were right, he does have a face and body every man would be jealous of.

        “ Isn't he so handsome?” she asked with the most dreamiest eyes I've seen. “ I wish he was mine and not someone else's. I'd do anything to be picked.”

    I stood and watched her spat out garbage until I was fed up. “ Marcella? Hello.. that's my husband we are talking about, you seem to have forgotten.” I snapped my fingers on her face and she jolted to reality.

         “ Your husband? Oops, sorry. I totally forgot. By the way, don't act like you are interested in him. Everyone present knows you were forced to marry him. No, I'll rephrase, you were sold off to him.”

    By mere looking at her, I felt so sorry. All she and every other girl saw was his good looks and amazing physique and wealth. “ You're so naive, Marcella. It's no surprise your father is eager to offer you to the highest bidder. In a world like ours,a beautiful exterior often hid the monster within. You should be careful girl, the streets ain't friendly.”

       I patted her shoulders and shook my head. I noticed her eyes were glued to something or someone, so I followed her gaze.

      “ What did you say earlier? Something about beautiful exterior and monster within. I won't give two fucks about it if that's the man involved.”

   It was him. Salvatore and the pretty face beside him, that's definitely the younger brother I was told about. The one with the more fiery behavior yet very enticing looks.

    “ There's the bride. The most alluring bride I've ever laid eyes on under Chicago's black sky.”

His brother nudged him. “That's probably because you never attend weddings. But I agree, she's indeed a fine one and that's why she's mine. I only get the finest of things.”