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1098 Words
ISADORA (TANIA)
The car jolted roughly, then a man in a suit opened the door for her.
A mansion came into view.
Dark, Powerful, Inevitable.
It was the Verenzi fortress and it loomed with richness.
Every angle was filled with security men, hands clutched to their guns.
They looked truly invincible.
"Please come with us" A man in a suit said.
Isadora followed quietly, quickening her pace to keep up with them.
They reached a room.
A dressing room.
"The cosmetologist will be here soon" One of the men said, then left.
Isadora moved nervously, her heart pounding.
The door opened. It must be the cosmetologist.
She turned and her eyes met Cassie's.
"Isa" Cassie gasped.
Shocked.
Her eyes filled with tears. She felt betrayed.
Isadora wasn't able to say anything. The guilt swallowed her whole.
She couldn't even look at Cassie, while Cassie stood there, wounded.
"So your wedding is the anonymously rich wedding" Cassie said.
Yes — No. It was just for three months.
She didn't want to lie to Cassie.
But she also couldn't involve her.
"It's part of how I paid for Bella's surgery. There was no loan app" Isadora said.
"But you dropped a letter saying three months vacation and you're getting married. How is that even three months?" Cassie asked.
She was hurt. That much was obvious.
"I'm sorry, Cassie. I'm actually replacing the bride for only three months and then I return. I couldn't tell you because you wouldn't have let me do it, but my sister's life was at stake" Isadora said.
"But you could have at least tried" Cassie muttered.
One thing Cassie hated was being lied to. Even when they were younger, it always took time for her to forgive a lie — even a harmless prank.
"I'm really sorry" Isadora pouted.
"I understand, but next time—"
The door swung open, cutting her off.
Brielle stormed in.
"Is the b***h bribing you to help her escape? You'd better know your place because it won't end well for you" Brielle threatened.
Then she turned to Isadora.
"Get her makeup done. The wedding starts soon" Brielle snapped, then left.
"Okay, who is that?" Cassie whispered.
"That's Tania's sister. Brielle Delgado" Isadora sighed.
"What!? The Delgados have another daughter?" Cassie said, excitement and shock mixing in her voice.
"Yes. That's Tania. Wiped from public existence after some incident" Isadora said.
"That's terrible. Anyway—"
"Can you two stop chitchatting and get the makeup done? And you — act happy at the wedding, even if you're not" Natasha stormed in, then left just as quickly.
"Yes, ma'am" Cassie said immediately.
Cassie got to work.
When she was done, Isadora stared at her reflection, genuinely taken aback.
"I'm jealous. How can someone be this pretty?" Cassie said, adjusting the wedding gown.
Isadora stood before a full-length mirror.
"I know" Isadora smiled.
"Arrogant" Cassie smirked and Isadora laughed softly.
"Well, I get to watch you get married" Cassie added.
For once, Isadora wanted this to be real.
---
Isadora stepped into the hall.
Guests filled every corner, smiling for the perfect marriage.
A smile sat on her lips, as ordered by Natasha.
She walked slowly toward the groom.
He didn't return the smile.
Theodore Verenzi.
Just as they said — menacing and magnetic all at once.
How could someone be this attractive?
"Do you, Tania Delgado, take Theodore Verenzi as your lawfully wedded husband?" The priest asked.
"I do" Isadora murmured, but loud enough.
Who was she to say no?
The priest turned to Theodore.
"Do you, Theodore Verenzi, take Tania Delgado as your lawfully wedded wife?"
Silence.
He said nothing.
"Do you—"
"I do" His hoarse voice came.
Almost immediately, he turned and began walking out.
Then he stopped.
A gun appeared in his hand.
He sent a bullet into the priest's skull.
Isadora couldn't process what had just happened.
What had he done?
She wanted to scream, run and hide somewhere they would never find her.
This was truly the devil they had all spoken about.
She searched the hall for Cassie but she was already gone, clearly shaken by what she had witnessed.
Some men moved to carry the body away. Her gown was already stained with blood.
Nobody seemed concerned with her presence. Guests were leaving, others tending to the body.
And her groom?
Already gone.
"Oh, hi" Someone said behind her and she turned.
"I'm Khelani. Your husband's sister" She introduced herself with a smile, as though nothing unusual had just happened.
"I know your name. I'm just here to take you to the clan" Khelani smiled.
Her husband had just killed the priest, left her at the altar after saying his vows.
Why hadn't he simply refused her?
"Clan?" Isadora asked.
"Yes, a mafia clan. VIPERE ROSSE" She smiled. "The most powerful clan in Chicago, or maybe—"
"Can you stop terrifying the bride? You never stop talking, Lani" Someone cut in.
Mafia.
She had heard a thousand tales about them.
Ruthless criminals who killed without a second thought.
Murderers.
And she was unfortunate enough to be married to one of them.
"Come on, Pascal. She needs to know what she's dealing with" Khelani said, turning to the guy beside her.
"We can take our leave now" She pulled Isadora along.
"You'll be living with your husband. Don't worry, he doesn't bite. That man was just a victim — he betrayed him. Theo can be moody sometimes, but you'll be fine" Khelani said, walking toward a car.
"Why can't I live with you or someone else?" Isadora asked.
Live with her husband?
Never.
"Like I said, you will be living with him. He only acts out when someone betrays him. Besides, you'll enjoy your honeymoon" Khelani winked.
Honeymoon.
Kisses. Caresses. s*x.
All with that man.
When she had signed that contract, she should have thought harder — not that she'd had much of a choice.
---
True to Khelani's word, she was in the mansion.
Her husband's mansion.
She hadn't seen him since the incident and it was already getting late.
He wasn't back yet.
That was good news.
She lay on the king-sized bed in her pink pyjamas.
Then he walked in.
Her breath seized.
"What are you doing here?" Theodore asked.
"I live here. Miss Khelani said I would be staying in this room" She said.
A smirk appeared on his lips.
He climbed onto the bed and positioned himself above her, his body hovering over hers.
"I know you live here. But get the f**k out of my room."
- Writer
