As much as her family wanted to protect her, she was getting married into the Delmont family and nobody save her from Vincent Delmont.
"I want to change school, papa. I cannot go back, not when I was humiliated, everyone watched as he dragged me like an insignificant thing" She went downstairs after Vincent left.
Her father was silent, he was just watching her.
She sat down at her chair and served breakfast for herself.
"How are you? How is school?" Her mother tried to break the silence.
"It is fine mother, I topped the records and I applied for Oxford and Stanford but as it is, I do not think I will ever attend college," She got up and left.
Her father followed her.
"Dad?" She cleaned her eyes.
"I am sorry that you have to do this. I am so sorry, my dear."
Mila lowered her head.
"I know it is out of your control, do not worry," She smiled.
Steven looked at her.
Mila stopped talking and looked at her brother.
"I thought he was your friend?" She asked him.
"There is a line between duty and friendship," Her father replied. "Go to bed, you will go back to school tomorrow," He told her.
Mila looked at her father.
"I cannot go with a giant ring stuck to my finger. The sisters will not allow me to pass with it," She said.
"Everything has been sorted. There is no need to be concerned," He told her and left.
Mila went downstairs after everyone was asleep. She opened the most expensive wine at the bar and drank directly from the bottle.
"Mila," She heard her brother's voice and did not bother to put the bottle away.
Austin sat beside her and smacked the back of her head.
"You are too young to be drinking alcohol," He said and collected the bottle from her.
She laughed.
"I am too young to do anything except marriage," She sighed.
Austin looked at the bottle.
"Dad is going to kill you," He laughed. "You opened his most expensive wine."
Mila collected the bottle.
"You have to return to school tomorrow, why are you still up?" He asked her.
"I feel I should not have even gone to school. All these years I have studied hard only to be forced into marriage with your so-called best friend. I mean, where is the bro code, the one that says stay away from my sister? I will have to move back to America and start my life afresh. I mean I do not know anyone there, there will be no one to run to and I will have to depend on him alone," She cried.
Austin hugged her.
"I am also moving to America. Dad is retiring from his position, so I will start work immediately after Vincent is boss," He replied.
Mila held his hand.
"Help me, Austin. I do not want to marry him, I have big dreams and I cannot forfeit any of them. I know you would do anything for me, please just help me," She cried.
Austin lowered his head, he was helpless in this situation. He knew how brutal the members of the Cartel were and they would not forgive even if it were their family member. Mila made it worst by doing what she did.
"I am sorry, Mila. There is nothing we can do now. You should return to your room," He closed the bottle and dropped it back.
Mila laughed at her helplessness, the fate she could never escape.
"Do not think of running, you know what will happen if you do. Please do not be selfish and put us all in danger. I know Vincent, even if he lets out a bad character for us to see, he is loyal and will protect you and stand by you no matter what," He said to her, giving her hope.
Mila turned to him.
The following day, Austin packed some provisions for Mila and put them in his car.
"Are you not going to have breakfast, honey?" Her mother asked her. There was only so much she could do.
"I am not hungry, mama," She replied and fiddled with the ring on her finger.
She tried taking it off with baby oil and it was still stuck.
"You should eat because you are skinny. I do not want people to think you are my child," Vincent walked in with Susan.
Austin sighed and continued what he was doing. Susan looked unhappy.
"You should not come here without informing us," Mila spoke.
Vincent found her amusing.
"When have I ever had to take permission before visiting? You do realize I basically lived with your parents long before you were born but that aside, this is my in-laws' place," He said and sat beside her carrying a plate to serve himself.
Mila was angry.
"Your in-laws' place? You came here with your girlfriend and do you think we will ever go through with this wedding?" She asked boldly.
"Your tone, Mila," Her mother reminded her. She could not have Mila anger him more. She was going to marry him and she should try to get on his bad side.
"Mother, can you not see he is being disrespectful to me and all of you?" She asked her mother.
Vincent ate slowly and cleaned his mouth with a napkin when he was done eating.
"She wanted to tag along and I did not see any reason why she could not but if it makes you angry, then she will be gone. I am the one dropping you off at school, I do not want to hear that you have run away. Your parents and Austin give you too much leverage and it should not be that way," He spoke.
"I am not going with you," Mila shouted and was about to go upstairs.
She saw her father.
"Good morning, papa," She greeted and paused.
"Good morning, Mr. Steven," Vincent greeted him politely.
Steven nodded his head.
"Mila, Vincent will be dropping you at school today. I do not want to hear any other thing. If you do not want to go with him, then you should forfeit school completely," He said and coughed.
Mila went to get water.
"What is wrong, papa?" She asked, she had not noticed her father's face.
He looked weak and pale.
"Do as your father says and do not give him a reason to be angry," Her mother told her and told her father back to his room.
Mila cried. These days she had been crying more than usual.
"He got sick because of me?" She asked Austin as he came into the house.
Austin hugged her.
"Do not worry, I will give him medications and he will be fine," He replied.
She stood outside and watched as Vincent carried her bag and put it in his car.
"What about me?" Susan screamed.
"I told Angie to book a flight for you to return to Italy. I need some alone time with my fiancée," He replied.
Mila raised her eyebrow and sat in the car.
"You are choosing the child over me? I am a supermodel, V. I am rich and I can do what this little girl cannot do," She raised her voice.
Vincent hugged her.
"You gave me good sex, Susan. Now be a good girl and return to Italy. I will visit you when I have time to," He smiled and entered the car.
Mila put on her seatbelt.
"You better go back to her because I cannot give you what you want," She told him.
Vincent did not respond until the almost reached the school. He stopped the car and faced her.
"You will give me anything I want or I will take it from you," He put his hand on the back of her head and kissed her cheek.
"I hate you," She said after he released her.
Vincent chuckled and removed the colorful pins holding her hair.
"Do not wear this again I do not like it. I do not want you to look childish," He replied.
Mila smiled.
"Then I will continue doing what pisses you off, maybe then you will realize that I am not the one for you," She said and adjusted it so the pins were visible.
She hated being around him, hated that she would have to be with him forever and only one thing could annul the relationship and it was death. She hated the society and how they made rules that never favored women.