OLIVIA'S POV
" I've heard about this young man, and I must say, he comes from a reputable family," my father remarked, sipping his tea.
Mother nodded, "Yes, indeed. The De Luca family is known for their wealth and influence. A good match for our Antonia."
I was sitting across from them, trying to hide uninterested expressions. Mother continued, "His name is Marco, and he is the heir. I've heard he's quite charming."
Father chimed in, "And he's expressed a keen interest in meeting Antonia. It could be a wonderful match for both families."
Mother and father had worked tirelessly trying to find me a perfect match after Elena had snatched my husband to be away. It really became annoying and I had to bear my mother's nagging about people assuming I must be lesbian because I had no interest in marrying anymore.
They had set me up with different men, the majority of them were ugly and not filthy rich.
I hesitated, "I appreciate your efforts, but I'm not interested that you know very well."
Mother's smile dropped , "That's nonsense . We have already arranged a meeting . I'm sure you'll find him quite pleasant."
The discussion continued, inspite of my continuous protest.
" Come on let's get you ready.."
" I'm not doing this anymore I don't..."
Before I could continue my protest my mother rose from her seat , anger reflecting in her eyes , I had no choice but to obey.
Mother, took charge, guiding me through a transformation that felt more like a chore than a celebration. She began with my hair, intricately weaving curls and securing them with delicate pins. The tightness of the corset she chose seemed to constrict not only my waist but also my sense of self and air.
The dress she insisted on was a symphony of lace and silk, an embodiment of her vision for my future. Layers upon layers covered me, each piece carefully chosen to showcase an image that wasn't entirely mine. The makeup, though expertly applied, felt like a mask, hiding more than it revealed.
As I looked at my reflection, I couldn't help but feel like a pawn in someone else's game. Silvia, my relentless mother, had turned me into a living canvas, and I couldn't shake the sense that I was losing pieces of myself in the process.
Arriving at the mansion, my excitement mixed with nerves. The grandeur of the place surprised me – even bigger than Dante's mansion. Perhaps this marriage idea wasn't so terrible after all. Welcomed warmly, we entered, and the sheer opulence left me in awe.
Led to a dining hall, a lavish feast awaited. The array of dishes showcased the extravagance of the occasion. As I took my seat, thoughts of what this meeting could mean for my future occupied my mind.
The De Luca family Martin and Maria De Luca entered , and we rose to greet them and we exchanged pleasantries and took our seats, anticipation filled the air.
Shortly afterward, a striking young man entered, dressed in a black T-shirt that showcased his broad chest and muscles. His brown hair flowed down as he let it loose from a bun.
My eyes couldn't help but linger on him. He surpassed my expectations in terms of handsomeness, and I found myself imagining what he might look like without his shirt. My thoughts had me salivating, though not for the food in front of me.
"Ah, just on time. Meet our son, Marcello."
Maria De Luca introduced him with pride.
Marcello? I thought his name was Marco like mum had explained, maybe they called him Marco for a shortcut.
My heart raced as he entered, and sat opposite me. I couldn't help stealing glances at him throughout the conversation.
" Pleasure to meet you, Marcello," father greeted him with a smile.
Mother nodded and turned to me ,"Yes, indeed. Antonia, dear, why don't you say hello properly?"
Nervously in a fake accent I greeted him " Hello, Marcello, Nice to meet you."
He smiled at me , he's smile turning into a smirk , " The pleasure is all mine, Antonia."
His deep voice sent a shiver down my spine , everything about him from head to toe was perfect , my prince charming had finally arrived.
The parents delved into the topic of marriage.
"So, Julio, Silvia, we believe our families would make a great match.," Martin implied as he sipped his wine.
"Yes, of course. Our daughter Antonia deserves the best."
Mother agreed with father's statement, "Indeed, we want what's best for our daughter.
I could feel Marcello's gaze scanning me , and I tried my best to avoid eye contact, " I must say, Antonia, you look stunning ... You make a fine bride."
I felt my cheeks turn tomato red , letting out a composed smile trying to focus on the conversation.
" Marco has taken over our family business, and I believe , Antonia, his match will be a great support system."
Before I could even talk, my mother chimed in like it was her getting married
" That's wonderful to hear. Antonia is quite talented herself."
Marcello winked at me, "I've heard great things about your talents, Antonia.
Feeling flustered, I could only manage a shy smile. He was already being naughty, I could already imagine what it would be like once we tied the knot.
Father turned to him and sparked a conversation. "Marcello tell us more about yourself."
" Well, I enjoy sports, particularly boxing. What about you, Antonia? Any hobbies?"
He's question caught me off guard, I never really invested in hobbies. I had to think quickly and replied, " I, uh, enjoy painting."
" A painter, huh? That's intriguing."
A painter? intriguing indeed even for my own character ,in future if he had to ask me to paint I would just head to a store and buy a painting.
The conversation continued, with me finding it challenging to focus on anything other than the magnetic presence of Marcello.
I couldn't contain my joy when he asked about me ,but nodded with a smile, my heart fluttering with excitement.
Martin and Maria faced us all , their expression turned to something more serious than before,
"Marco has had a bit of a terrible past, and I need you to promise me that you will take care of him with all your heart."
" I promise, Mr and Mrs De Luca. I'll do my best to make Marco happy."
" Very well, Marcello go and bring him out," Martin instructed and Marcello followed. I didn't understand what he meant by bring him out.
My eyes widened in surprise as Marcello wheeled in a man in a wheelchair. The atmosphere shifted, and Maria continued with an explanation.
"You don't have to worry much about him, he has a caregiver. The caregiver will help you understand everything until you are able to do it on your own. He's not difficult to handle."
Confusion surfaced my face, "Who is he?"
" Oh, that's our son Marco, your husband-to-be."
I tried to hide myr shock, processing this unexpected turn in the situation.
Unable to contain my shock and frustration, I rose from my seat,my emotions taking over.
I exclaimed, "What do you mean, husband-to-be?"
Mother intervened, urging me to calm down, but Martin continued, explaining that Marco was the one I was supposed to marry.
I couldn't accept it and began questioning Martin about Marcello. Martin clarified that Marcello was already married and off the topic. Which lead to my outburst.
" No, no, no! There's no way I'm going to get married to a man who can't even walk on his own. What the hell were you thinking?" I turned to my parents , they were the ones who created the mess.
Despite my father's attempts to calm me down, I continued my protest, stating my refusal to marry someone in a wheelchair.
" Antonia Martinez, Show some respect!" my mother announced.
I looked at Marco one last time, and my fury was at it's very peak.
" I think I have had enough of the two of you ruining my life, It's not my fault you didn't tell me my future husband was unable to even... " I paused, trying to not let my frustration consume me.
" I mean, what's the point of getting married if he can't even..." the thought of him not even being able to satisfy my sexual desires even made everything worse.
"Antonia, please, let's talk about this."
" Father there's nothing to talk about..."
Before I could continue , Marco finally spoke "Enough , I think I have heard enough of your mockery and insults. Get out! Guards, get them out of here right now." he pointed at the door.
The De Luca's had had enough of my disrespect and ordered us to leave immediately. Guards were summoned to escort us out. The situation escalated, leaving me enraged and rejected.
We returned home, and chaos erupted as I threw things around, ripped my dress, and scrubbed off a thick layer of makeup.
Mother approached me calmly, "Calm down my daughter."
"Calm down? Are you seriously asking me to calm down? You wanted me to get married to a man who couldn't even walk, and ahhh." I grabbed a vase and threw it and watched it shutter in contact with the walls.
Mother continued, "My child, it was all part of my plan. You would get married to him, and we would get rid of him and blame it on the caregiver... Nobody would suspect a thing , which means you would have an immense amount of wealth."
"Fuck you and your plans," Antonia exclaimed. "My life was good, everything was okay until..." I paused as a knock echoed through the door.
Mother went to open the door and froze for a moment upon seeing who it was.
"Elena? " She looked confused. Elena stood at the doorstep .
"Come in, come in," she gestured to them. As they entered, they noticed the floor covered in broken glasses and scattered items.
Elena glanced up, seeing me in a mess. "Oh my goodness, Antonia, are you okay?"
Speaking of the devil and she arrived , as if her existence didn't ruin my life. I looked at her with twitching eyes, "I'm fine," I managed through gritted teeth.
Mother looked at her and asked, "What brings you here?"
"Well, it will be my birthday soon, and I wanted you guys to be a part of it."
Elena extended the invitation cards, and mother took them. Mother responded more politely than she would usually do to her. Elena continued, " I brought you some gifts too."
The guards came in, holding fancy dresses, jewelry, and suits for father . " I will be heading out now," Elena said as they walked out.
As soon as she left, I screamed with rage. "It's all because of her, it's all because of Elena. She stole my husband and my perfect life. I need revenge, I need my revenge!"
"Count me in," I heard a man's voice as he stepped in.