Thankfully, Dante had not denied any of them of education. They all schooled but online and even if Bella had wished differently, she was still happy to be educated.
Bellissima Cassato. Oh, she was very beautiful and very different from any of her siblings. To begin, she possessed deep blue eyes and that had shocked each one of them even her father.
Before she was born. Her mother, Alice had to pass through the most pain she had ever gone through during child bearing.
But she looked so beautiful that her mother had laughed heartily when she held her child in her arms.
Right there and then Dante knew that the child would attract so many men and considered her a gem, he showered her with so much love as she grew, getting her gifts occasionally and pampering her with kisses every morning as she woke and every night before she slept.
Bellissima loved her Father so much when younger and loved her name as well. It was different from any of her siblings and was powerful to her.
Alice had told her that when she was born before the doctor had given her to him, he whispered "bellissima"so Softly and immediately their eyes caught sight of the child, they named her 'bellissima' meaning 'very beautiful', but as she grew, no one called her that anymore, she loved to refer to herself as 'Bellissima Cassato but others would call her Bella, Bella Cassato.
Only when her mother wished to scold her, did she call her by her full name but other times she referred to her as Bella, she didn't mind though, she knew she was very beautiful
And indeed, she was.
As the girl aged, she grew even more beautiful, her hair just the same length as Rosa's but very thick in the colour black, charcoal black which complimented her beautiful Ocean eyes.
However, she wished her lips were just like Renata's but that didn't really bother her that much, she was still very beautiful regardless, perhaps that was the cause of the dispute between Renata and her or Elisa and her.
Sometimes she felt for Elisa, to be overshadowed constantly by your twin was such a terrible thing, but Elisa acted like none of that bothered her and she showed no concern.
"girls lunch" Rosa walked in and they all kept whatever they had been doing away and walked down for lunch. It was mandatory that whenever they were called upon to eat they came at that instant or starved.
At first Bella thought they were just threats from her father not until he had starved Elisa and Renata when they had arrived late for dinner did she understand the man was serious.
"Good afternoon father" they said politely one after the other as they took their seats, he nodded at the greeting of each one of them and waited till they had all sat before praying
"Benedici questo pasto o signore"
(Bless this meal oh Lord)
"amen" they chorused and the only thing that could be heard was the sound of utensils hitting each other.
"Bella" her father called
"Yes father" she replied softly pausing her meal.
"We have an announcement " he glared at her and she just stared back anxious.
"You'd be wed this year"
"What?!" They all exclaimed turning to their father. Zeta remained quiet still focused on her meal
"what about me?!" Renata cried worry filling her voice "you can't just keep me here"
" your wedding has been postponed and we would not skip this year"
"But Father I just turned twenty!" Bella exclaimed
" why does that matter?" he eyed his daughter.
" mother" she turned to Alice "please"
" I'm so sorry honey, but your father is very right"
she looked at her mother, tears clouding her eyes.
Bella had no problem getting married, she had no issue with that at all, she knew that was a tradition in the house and had awaited her time, everyone knew she was to get married next year when she would turn twenty one, it was the same way for every one of her siblings.
Rosa had married four years ago at twenty one
Renata was to get married this year after she turned twenty one, so they saw it fit, but Bella had turned twenty, three months ago, how could hers be different??
"But father I have never spoken to Dominico, not even once"
"and you will soon" he said, warning her to keep it shut and she did.
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Dominico Del Gato was the only child of the Del Gato family, a man so greatly loved and cherished. His father adored him, likewise his mother, a young man well respected amongst other families and considered a diamond being an only child to the very wealthy and successful Lorenzo Del Gato.
Lorenzo was so powerful and very attractive but faithful, very faithful to his wife, at least that was all that went around the town and the way Lorenzo treated his wife who wouldn't believe so.
He adored his wife, brought gifts to her occasionally, threw parties and sent her flowers. He respected the woman so much and only considered her opinion when making decisions.
One would think that the man was very worried that he had one heir.
Honestly, Lorenzo didn't mind, he had his nephews all fit, and truth be told if anything ever happened to the Beloved Dominico, Angelo was there, Giago after, carlo next, the man had his life sorted out already.
Angelo, Giago and Carlo were the three male children of his brother Armando.
Armando had never been opportuned like Lorenzo or Dante Cossato, Bella's father, none of these men were born into wealth, they made wealth, struggled and worked hard to put themselves in the high rank that they were today.
Unfortunately, Armando was different, people liked to think of him as lazy and dull, made mockery of his status and compared him constantly to his brother, but Armando didn't mind, he never thought of it as a competition, that was what they all believed from his actions but when the man had killed himself it had shocked them all.
Until today, no one knew the actual reason as to why the wretched man had committed suicide, they could only assume. some thought it was due to his status, in fact most believed it to be insecurity and envy, only few assumed that something else had been ongoing, no one really knew what had occured but even after that Lorenzo had not failed to give his brother a befitting burial and mourn him well.
The burial was grand as expected, a lot of people had attended, so much to feast upon, many didn't even care about the man who had died, they had come to make merry and wine with the one and only Lorenzo.
Angelo the first child of Armando did not mourn his father, not even once, rumour had it that the man had never smiled but that was obviously untrue, Angelo loved his uncle very much, he respected Lorenzo and was so thankful for him, he laughed with him and when around him but asides that his face was always kept in a scowl.
He was handsome just like his father, very tall with thick curly black hair, his eyes Hazel in colour, an insanely attractive man, Lorenzo saw him fit to take over his position if anything happened to his son.
He was srict and intelligent, smart and trustworthy to him, a good leader to his siblings, his very handsome intelligent siblings.
When Armando had died, Giago and Carlo had cried and cried, Giago was only thirteen at that time and Carlo eleven, but five years later they had both grown and matured, they knew what had to be done and always kept themselves composed.
Giago looked way older than his age, just like his elder brother Angelo. Angelo was only six years older than giago but looked way older, one wouls think he was in his late twentys or early thirties.
Carlo however looked exactly like his immediate older brother, when they were younger, people thought them to be twins as they looked exactly the same and possesed the same features as their mother.
Carlo was innocent, naive yet sweet and generous, he loved his family no matter what they had gone through,
In truth, they hadn't really been through much, even while their father had been alive, Lorenzo kept providing and caring for them and when the man had died, he brought them to his place alongside their mother and they all lived together, so they couldn't really say they had been through so much.
Dominico and Angelo were not best of friends, neither the worst of friends, they had no issue with each other, they just didn't talk much or at all, after all, there was nothing to speak about.
Angelo claimed to care for his cousin but dominico could feel the hatred he had for him and that was true, even if Angelo claimed to love his cousin brother, he didn't.
He envied him so much and hoped deeply that the worst would come upon Dominico.
He would walk past Dominico's room several times looking through the window to see what the man was up to, when he had heard that Dominico was bethroted to a very beautiful woman, he got even more pissed than he had been, although he had never seen Bella but off course, it was all over the town that the woman was beautiful and gracious.