BELLA

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    I stood before the mirror, staring, and the mirror stared back at me. It was the day of the wedding–yay me–but joy was the bst /bthing I felt.

    The week had rushed by before I could even draw a breath. Usually, I would be thrilled, but ever seen that day at the cafe, I’ve been anything but. He hasn’t called me since then. I haven’t even seen his shadow.

    “He’s going to make this difficult,” I muttered.

    “Who?” Gianna asked, holding my veil.

    “My husband–to–be.” I turned away from the mirror, facing her. “What do you think of him?”

    She shrugged. “I don’t know. I can’t figure him out.”

    “You’ve met your match then.”

    A knock came at the door, and it opened. Papa walked in slowly, a small smile on his face.

    “La mia bambina,” he whispered, his arms wide open. I stepped in, burying my face in his neck and he wrapped his arms around me, patting my hair. “I’m sorry it has to be this way. I wish my only daughter were getting married because of love and not business. But look at the bright side of things, mia cara. I married your mother this way, and yet I loved her more than anything. You and your husband wille to love each other.”

    I scoffed, pulling away from him. “I doubt it.”

    I was sure that prick didn’t have a single bone in his body that was capable of something like love. And me… love again? Never again. I would sooner drive a knife through my heart than go through that shit again.

    A frown formed between Papa’s brows. “What’s that? I thought you were looking forward to this day.”

    “Sí, but that was before I found out how big of a prick my husband–to–be is.”

    Papa’s expression hardened. “What did he do to you? Tell me and I’ll teach him a lesson.”

    I sighed, letting Gianna put the veil on me. “He did nothing. I was just the one stupid enough to have high expectations.”

    “Sei bellissima,” Papa said softly, cupping my face. (You look beautiful.)

    I managed a small smile back. “Grazieb, /bpapàb.” /b

    I did look beautiful. My gown was silk, simple yet striking. Off–the–shoulder, it skimmed my body before flowing into a soft train. No beads, noce, just clean, elegant lines that made it all the more stunning.

    My hair was styled half up, half down. My makeup was simple.

    I sighedb, /bturning back to Papa.

    “Let’s go get married.”

    ***

    It was more like a meeting rather than a wedding. Two families sitting across from each other, their fake smiles bon/bb, /band their

    b1/3 /b

    b4:59 /bbpm /bPP PD

    eyes sharp. There were a few people from our side, and even fewer people on their side.

    This was a deal wrap in bvows/b, signatures sealed with rings. I wasn’t a bride; I was an agreement dressed in white.

    55 bvouchers /b

    Papa didn’t walk me to the altar. There wasn’t even any music, noughter, none of the warmth that should fill a day such as this. Kade and I just exchanged rings and said a few words, and that was that. And now I understand why the wedding was scheduled in the evening, so everybody could just call it a day as soon as it was done.

    It filled me with bitter rage. It made bme /bwant to scream and break everything. I had a chance to have a fairytale wedding once. That fairytale almost came true, but it was brutally taken from my grip.

    Almost absentmindedly, my eyes searched until theynded on eyes filled with evil. Medea stared back at me with her eyes filled with satisfaction, a twisted smile on her face.

    My body shook with anger, my eyes burning. I wanted to kill her. I wanted to wrap my hands around her neck and squeeze until she stopped breathing and dropped dead. She should sufferb, /bshe shouldn’t be-

    A figure stepped in front of me, blocking my view and cutting off my train of dark thoughts.

    I looked up and my eyes locked onto mismatched ones. My heart skipped a beat. “Kade.”

    His eyes trailed over me, a frown between his brows. “You look green.”

    I couldn’t help but smile a little. “Are you worried about me?”

    b“/bbA /blittle.”

    My smile dropped and I could just stare at him. He stared back before he sighed. “Want to get out of here?”

    I nodded, following him out of the suffocating hall.

    The air outside bwas /bcooler, fresher, like a balm against the suffocating weight that had been pressing me down on the inside. I drew in a long breath, letting it fill my lungs, and only then did I realize how tightly wound my body had been.

    We stopped walking and just stood in a corridor. We were upstairs so we could see a bit of the city. Kade loosened his tie, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

    “You didn’t have to save me back there,” I said, staring at his ridiculously handsome side profile. “But you did. Why?”

    “You looked like you were going to set the ce on fire,” he answered without looking at me.

    A smirk tugged at my lips. “Would that be such a tragedy? Those people deserved to be set on fire, because they only see us as tools.”

    His mismatched eyes finally looked at meb, /ban odd look in them. “It would have been a tragedy for them, yes. For you… it would have been ugly.”

    I tilted my headb, /bsavoring his attention and admiring him. Earlier, when we exchanged rings, I couldn’t get a good look at him because I was trying so hard not to throw up. But now I could look at him.

    He was as handsome and cold as always. His suit was well–fitting, his hair tied up and sharpening his features, a few strands falling into his faceb, /b

    “So you’re worried about meb, /bthen,” I whispered.

    He said nothing, but at least he was still looking at me. Then he sighed, looking straight ahead.

    b2/3 /b

    b5:00 /bbpm /bPPPD

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    “I’ve never dreamed of getting married,b” /bhe said, digging into his jacket and taking out a cigarette, “but I’m sure you have. I’m sure this isn’t the fairytale wedding you wanted.”

    I watched him as he lit the cigarette, inhaling and blowing out the smoke. “Not even close.” How could someone look so good smoking? “I didn’t know you smoked.”

    “I only do when I’m stressed.”

    My eyes were glued to his lips bas /bhe drew in another smoke.

    “Are you going to give me ba /bfairytale wedding, Kade?” bI /basked slowly. “Even though it’s bjust /bpretending. Even though it’s just fake. Please.”

    He looked at me, his eyes fixed on me. “Even though it’s just pretending.”

    I smiled, a weight lifted from my heart. “When we go back to Italy, we could just throw a small-b” /b

    b“/bWe?” he asked, turning fully to face me. “You’re going back to Italy?”

    I frowned back at him. “Both of us areb./bb” /b

    His frown deepened. “Why? For our honeymoon or what?”

    I was bing confused. “Didn’t you read the contract? Italy is where you would be staying. You will be taking a position in ourpany. You could say you’re starting a new life in Italy.”

    His eyes grew wide.

    My brows knitted. He didn’t know. He hadn’t read the contract, and nowb, /bstaring at me like I just handed him a death sentence, I realized… this marriage was about to be even moreplicated.

    He put out his cigarette, brushing past me, and a ball of fear formed in my stomach. That look in his eyes… He looked like he was going to murder someone.

    “Kade, wait!”