AURELIA'S POV:
I move cautiously down the stairs, trying to stay out of the way of the moads who are currently in a frenzy moving things and getting rid of the others. What's going on?
My feet takes me down the stairs and I fall short when I see Alessandro's mother, Sara Santino sitting at the head of the table with Gia by her side.
I ignore both of them as I head towards the far end of the table.
"How disrespectful! Are you so local that you don't know you are expected to greet your mother in law when you see her?" Sara asks with a heavy frown on her face.
"Don't bother about her, mother. At least I'm here." Mia says as she glares condescendingly at me.
"I wish you were the one married to Alessandro, Mia. You are so elegant and respectful." Sara says while staring me down.
I ignore both of them as I try to eat peacefully.
"You can't say things like that mother. Alessandro picked his wire and it's not me." Mia says in a strong tone but with an expression that's shows that she's actually hurt that she wasn't the one that was choosen.
"Get out of this table. You can't swoop in and steal things that belong to other women and then expect to share the same table with me." Sars orders harshly.
My eyes fly around the room as I keep waiting for Alessandro to show up. While Alessandro hates me, his mother is too scared of his wrath to speak this harshly to me in his presence.
"Alessandro is not coming to save you this time. He's too busy with preparations for the ball to bother about a low life like you." Sara says in a condescending tone.
Alessandro is hosting a ball?
"Aurelia, mother is talking to you." Mia calls out quietly, reminding me of their presence.
"If you don't leave, I will get the guards to throw you out." Sara says with a daring expression on her face.
"I'm Alessandro's wife. No guard is throwing me out." I say in a hiss.
"Do you want to bet? Who do you think they will listen to? Alessandro's mother or his wife whom he hates?" Sara asks with a perfectly arched brow.
I grind my jaw in anger as I pack my things. I ignore the triumphant look on Mia's face. Whatever. It's not like I'm looking to become Alessandro's beloved wife anyway.
I ignore their laughter as I head up the stairs. I sigh in relief when Gia knocks on my door a few minutes later with a package in her hands.
"What is thisnim hearing about a ball, Gia? Am I not invited?" I ask in a confused tone.
"Of course you are. Alessandro sent this for you." Gia says as she hands over what seems to be a dress.
I pull the package open and hold up the dress. We both gasp in shock and surprise at the radiant beauty of the dress. The dress had so many shiny stones I could barely stare directly at it.
"What is the significance of the ball?" I ask with a frown of confusion. Alessandro is not one to just random throw parties. He's too cold and ruthless for that.
"La Festa Delle Maschere. It's a masquerade ball that happens once every year on a date of the Don's choosing. It's the only holiday the Don has." The Festival of Masks. Gia says with a heavy sigh.
"Let me guess, that's why his mother is here?" I ask with a perfect tilt of my brows.
"Yes, you guessed right." Gia responds as she makes her way out of the room.
"What time does the ball start?" I ask in a nervous tone.
"By 6 pm on the dot." Gia responds.
"Alright thank you." I say as she leaves.
I have a ball to prepare for and a crowd of people to silence by my beauty. What a crazy day it is in my life.
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MIA'S POV:
I look cautiously around me, ensuring that noone is watching before I step into the room. The room seems to be in perfect condition except the cloud of dust showing that the room has been deserted for a long time.
My hands squeeze into a fist as I remember all the times Giulia had taunted me. She had known about my love for Alessandro and she hadbused it to constantly taunt and ridiculed me, causing me to stay away.
I pull open her drawer and I gasp at the beauty of her jewelries. They are so bright an beautiful that I have a hard time keeping my hands off them.
I take out the most beautiful jewellery from the set and I put it into a box I had brought into the room with me. I wrap everything carefully and I step out of the room.
I calm my side piece, the maid who is working with me.
"Take this to Aurelia's room. Tell her Alessandro sent you to give it to her." I say with a sneer on my lips.
I would like to see the look on her face when everything unfolds.
"And if anyone asks you, you know what to say." I remind her in a warning tone.
"I will tell them that I saw her going into the room and that she stole it." The maid repeats in a naive tone that has me rolling my eyes.
"Good. Get out of my sight." I say as I turn my back on her heading to my room to get prepared.
My feet falter to a stop when I remember the perfunctory dance that the Don is supposed to participate in with his wife.
"I can't allow Alessandro dance with that low life in the presence of everyone."
A wide smile breaks out on my lips as a plan forms in my head. Aurelia will be done for by the time I'm finished with her.
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AURELIA'S POV:
A chaste knock sounds on the door pulling my attention away from the mirror. I pull open the door and my face morphs onto a frown when I find a maid staring at me with a wide eyed expression on her face.
"Mr Santino sent me to give you this." The lady stutters as she looks everywhere but directly at my eyes.
"Why didn't he just send everything together with the dress?" I wonder curiously.
The maid shakes her head, saying nothing else in response. I take the box from her, closing the door behind me.
My mouth is left hanging open at the beauty of the diamonds in the box. Why would he gift me something this beautiful? He hates me!
I finish dressing in a hurry, trying my best not to be late. I carry the necklace in my hands, opting to put it on on my way down to the ballroom.
However, I realise my next problem tteb moment I try to open the door. The door is locked! Who the hell locked me inside?!