3. The Wedding

Aria’s pov:

Sitting on the edge of my bed, my thoughts turned to the many ways I could flee the country before my wedding the next day. The thought of walking down the aisle filled me with dread, and I wished I could be anywhere but there. I wanted to make something positive out of it all, but I felt it was going to all go down the drain.

My parents had an arranged marriage, but their love was the purest I ever saw. They lived a quiet life in the states before it all happened one terrible night. Mother and I were alone in the house when there was a sudden and insistent knock on the door. Mother told me to hide under the dining table and pulled the drapes closed before answering the door.

The intruder’s feet were clad in heavy black boots. There was some kind of exchange between my mom and the man in black boots, but then, I heard a series of stabs and screams coming from my mother. He attacked her and slit her throat. Scared to move an inch, I eased my breathing and covered my mouth with my palm. That was me, I have always been like that.

The weakling who couldn’t do anything to help her mom. Maybe if I did step out of hiding place and lounge at the big man, she would still be alive. I shut my eyes close and covered my ears with my hands. I didn’t know he wasn’t done with her yet, not until the smell of gasoline was in the thick in the air. I gasped, tried pushing the chairs out of my way that’s when I saw mother in flames. She was dead long before he set her on fire. I screamed and squealed at the top of my voice, taking the attention of the giant man in our living room. He only stared at me for a while, then, he was on his way through the same door he came in. I rushed to my mother’s side. Her body, charred and her blood beneath her scorched body. I cried and screamed for anyone’s help but no one came.

And when my father finally came from his long day at the office, he met me passed out against the wooden floor. It was hard to know what was going through his mind, but it was clear that he was devastated by what had happened.

He decided to leave everything behind in the United States and start a new life in Venice - I sobbed lightly, recalling all the times I’ve had in the past. The fact I couldn’t save my mom. The fact she had to die such a miserable death. I cried till I had no tears left in me.

“Aria?”. His voice was low and calm. Wiping the tears as quickly as I could, I turned to my father.

“My dear”. He said while hugging my relatively small body.

“Dad, I-“. I broke off into tears.

“It’s okay. Trust me when I say there’s no better match for you”. His voice wavered as his body shook, unable to control the emotion that threatened to overwhelm him.

“Dad, I can’t. I don’t want to”.

“Well, you don’t have to.But I need you to do this for me”. He said, smiling from ear to ear

“You’ll only be safe with Matteo. I need you to trust me on this”.

“He’ll never love me. I’ll never feel loved by any man in my life. He’ll hate my existence” hoping my cry of plea would change his mind.

“No, Tesoro. He will love you ”. The soft words my father spoke sent shivers down my spine each syllable, a jagged knife that cut through me. He’d never understood my plight. I scoffed and withdrew myself from his hold.

“Heard he hits his employees”. I choked

“No, he doesn’t my dear. He’s a good man. He just has his ways of doing things different from other men”.

I chuckled, already furious “Then why do this?! Why sell me out to a man you hardly know!”

“Cause I want you to be safe!!”. He yelled

“Safe from what, dad, I’m safe with you!”. I held him by his arms. “Call off the wedding please”. I was helpless, so I resorted to begging my own father.

“No…no, I can’t”. He said, his eyes never reaching mine.

“Dad please, look at me…I won’t be happy with him. I will never be happy with him”. I cried

“The wedding’s tomorrow”. His voice was a gentle whisper, yet it felt like a storm raging within me. “I can’t do anything about it now”

“Dad”

“Goodnight, Tesoro”. My father spoke in a flat, emotionless voice and then turned and walked away without another word.

*

The preacher swallowed hard and repeated his words, his voice wavering with emotion “Say your vows, Mr. Matteo”.

It was the day. My wedding. My father took my hand and led me down the aisle, and as I turned the corner, my eyes met those of the business guru, Matteo Marino. The moment our eyes met, my heart skipped a beat. He was tall and built. Hair a little on the low side. Beard hair shaven clean and mustache well groomed. There was something about him that was utterly captivating, his presence making my heart race. His scent was alluring, and I found myself drawn to him in a way I'd never experienced before.

But as the ceremony progressed, he avoided looking me in the eye, and I began to wonder if I had imagined that first moment of connection. My husband-to-be was undeniably attractive, but there was something about him that felt off, something I couldn't quite put my finger on. I stepped close to his maddening scent and looked him in his face, but his eyes were elsewhere. I followed his eyes to his father, who sat in a corner watching us. It was for a quick second, but I saw his eyes plead with his father’s but Mr. Marino looked away.

“Mr. Matteo, can you please say your vows to the church” the priest said again.

He was quiet. He seemed distant from us all, like he wasn’t before me.

“Say your vows, Mr. Matteo”. reminding him for the third time now. He turned to his father again, but it yielded no results. His father ignored him and smiled at the couple before him.

“Matteo-” The preacher started as Matteo looked him in the eyes and growled lowly frightening the preacher. He composed himself and clenching his jaw.

“I, Matteo Marino, take you Aria Barone, for my lawful wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I will love and honor you all the days of my life.” His voice, strong and unwavering.

“Your turn, Miss Barone” the priest turned to me.

“I, Aria Barone, take you, Matteo Marino for my lawful husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I will love and honor you all the days of my life”. I said, my voice just above a whisper.

“You may now kiss the bride”

Matteo didn’t let a minute pass to think it through. He placed his palm on the small of my back, pulling me closer to him and kissing me on one of my cheeks, making sure the audience didn’t see. His cologne was even stronger than before hitting my nostrils till I couldn’t breathe the air, just his scent. He pulled away immediately, turned to the excited audience, and clenched his jaw again. Something I figured he does when he’s furious.

His best man, a tall, lanky man, probably American, hugged Matteo. His long hair jumping and he moved from side to side, hugging his friend.

“Congratulations man!”. He screamed, patting his back, turning to me with a smile on his face.

“Congratulations, Aria”. He pulled me in for a hug whilst laughing. His excitement was palpable and beautiful, too. He was happy for two people who weren’t happy for themselves.

Soon, the ceremony was over, and it was time to go home with my newly wedded husband, Matteo Marino.