Giorgia ~
The next morning, I woke up to find myself alone in bed. Martina must have left early, slipping out quietly so no one would know she had stayed in my room. Father always believed it was too childish for us to share a room at our age.
I lay there for a while, letting the events of yesterday settle in my mind. My life had changed in ways I couldn't fully grasp yet. The one thing I knew I had to do today was text Daniel and end things with him.
I met Daniel when we were both studying at the University of Nevada. I had always dreamed of going to Oxford University, and my grades would have likely gotten me there. But Father didn't see it as important. More than that, he didn't want me leaving Las Vegas. The thought of me being out of his sight was unbearable to him; he couldn't stand losing control over our lives.
It wasn't like Daniel and I had a perfect relationship. None of my friends really liked him; they thought I deserved better. But I liked him. He was sweet, and honestly, I started dating him because I wanted to experience a normal life for once. We had been together for nine months, but after the first four months, Daniel's behavior started to change. He never introduced me to his friends, as if he were ashamed of me. He prioritized them over me, and that wouldn't have been a problem if he didn't ignore me in the process.
Daniel wanted a more physical relationship, but I refused. In our world, we were only allowed to lose our virginity to our respective husbands. One time, he got really angry because of my constant refusal to sleep with him. I knew I could never marry him, but I stayed in the relationship because, at times, he managed to make me forget about the suffocating world I lived in. I knew I was being unfair to him, leading him on like that. It made me feel like a bitch.
I dragged myself out of bed and walked to the bathroom, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I undressed slowly, staring at my reflection in the mirror before stepping into the shower. The warm water cascaded over my skin, soothing the tension in my muscles, but it didn't ease the knot in my chest. I let the water flow over me, my thoughts swirling as I tried to find the strength to face the inevitable. After an hour of standing under the comforting stream, I finally turned off the tap, the silence of the bathroom louder than ever.
I grabbed my phone with trembling hands, feeling the weight of the decision pressing on me. With a deep breath, I typed the message, each word a painful reminder of the life I had no choice but to live now.
Me: We need to break up. My father arranged my marriage to someone else. I'm sorry, Daniel. This is the only way.
I stared at the message for a moment, my heart pounding in my chest, before pressing send.
Daniel knew about my family's wealth, but I had never told him the full truth. No one really knew what my family was into—what they really did. I kept that part of my life hidden, afraid that if anyone knew, they would turn their back on me. It was easier that way, even if it meant carrying the weight of that secret alone.
My phone buzzed, breaking my thoughts. I glanced at the screen. It was Daniel.
Daniel: What?? You can't break up with me like that. I won't let you do that.
I took a deep breath, my fingers trembling as I typed my response. There was no turning back now.
Me: You can't change anything. Everything's decided. This is my life now, and I have no say in it.
The finality of my words felt heavy, like a door slamming shut that I couldn't open again.
Even if, by some miracle, this marriage was called off—which I knew wasn't going to happen—I wouldn't go back to him. That chapter of my life was closed. My thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on the door. Before I could respond, Mother entered, holding a beautiful light beige off-shoulder dress in her hands. Her eyes were filled with a sorrowful kind of guilt, but she didn't speak of it.
"You are supposed to wear this for tonight," she said quietly, almost as if the words were hard for her to say.
I looked at the dress, its delicate fabric a stark contrast to the heavy feeling in my chest.
Tonight. Shit. I had completely forgotten about it, lost in the mess with Daniel. Javier and his family were coming over for dinner. The anxiety that had been simmering in my stomach now bubbled up, tightening with every passing second. I took the dress from my mother's hands, the fabric cold against my fingertips. She said nothing else, just turned and left, her footsteps quiet and distant. No words of reassurance or comfort—just silence.
At this point, I should've been used to it. But it still stung, the realization that she was more a prisoner to my father than the mother I needed her to be. Mothers were supposed to be the ones who comforted, who understood, but with her, it felt like we were strangers. The only conversations we ever had revolved around family duties, expectations, and appearances. I knew she was stuck too, living under my father's iron grip, but she never tried to break free, never even attempted to be the mother I longed for. It was just the way things were.
And honestly, I didn't expect it to change.
....
I stood in front of the mirror, my gaze flicking back to my reflection for the seventh time. The beige dress fit perfectly, hugging my curves in all the right places. I had kept my makeup minimal—just enough to enhance what I had—and tied my hair in a loose, messy bun that somehow still looked elegant. The off-shoulder design revealed just the right amount of cleavage, striking a delicate balance between alluring and classy.
It wasn't like I was excited to meet them—far from it—but I still wanted to look my best. I couldn't deny that much. Despite everything, despite the heavy weight in my chest, I wanted to appear composed, collected, like I had control. But no matter how much I tried to calm myself, my body remained tense, coiled tightly with anxiety.
"You look so beautiful," Martina's voice startled me, and I realized she had slipped into my bedroom without me noticing.
"Thanks. You look pretty too." Her elegant red dress fell just below her knees, and her freckles stood out as always, a reminder of the uniqueness that made her who she was.
She came over and hugged me tightly, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the comfort of her embrace. I hadn't realized how much I needed it until that moment. As she pulled back, her eyes were filled with compassion, but there was a hint of anger simmering beneath.
"It's okay, Tina. I'll be okay," I murmured, though I knew I was far from it. I was anything but okay, but I didn't want her to see that.
"We should head down. They'll be here any minute," Martina said, her voice quiet, not wanting to dwell on the earlier conversation.
"Let's go," I replied, forcing myself to focus on the present. We made our way downstairs into the living room, where the low murmur of voices from the men in the adjacent room drifted through. Since it was the marriage deal of the Capo's daughter, many important members of the Famiglia had been invited.
I plastered a fake smile on my face, trying to mask the anxiety coiling in my stomach.
Father entered the room, phone pressed to his ear, his voice sharp as always. Behind him, I spotted Antonio, dressed in a dark gray tuxedo, his hair immaculately styled, looking as polished as ever. But his expression was as cold as stone, devoid of any sign of regret or concern.
I couldn't bring myself to look at him for long. I turned my gaze away, not wanting to face the indifference that radiated from him, the man who was supposed to be my brother but felt like nothing more than a stranger.
Here, standing in my own house, surrounded by my own 'family', I had never felt this alone. Their voices were a distant hum, their smiles nothing more than rehearsed masks. I looked around, seeing faces I should have felt comfortable with, but instead, they felt like strangers, their expectations weighing on me more than their presence ever could. In this space meant for love and warmth, all I could feel was the cold, creeping isolation that seemed to grow every time they glanced at me with those silent eyes. It was as if I was invisible.
The Rodriguez could show up at any moment now. This was it. Today Javier would officially mark me as his. Will he ever treat me right? Will he treat me like a lady or will I end up like my mother and the many other women in our world did? And before I could think anything more, Wilma entered the living room "They are here", she told everybody. And I felt like my heart stopped beating.