Bound by secret

Chapter 8

Gianni's POV

I stood at the front of the dressing mirror in one of the biggest, most luxurious, and most expensive wedding dress boutiques in LA.

I looked at the wedding contract in my hands as the madam of the boutique used pins to hold the white veil to my hair.

Today I was going to be married to a man I do not love and a man I have never seen. What if he is crippled? What if he is an abuser? What If he is a monster? Tears slid down my eyes as my mind wandered back to the day that brought me to today.

*********

"Gianni, are you okay?" Luna asked as I was about to rush to the hospital.

"It's Zion, the hospital called," I couldn't explain and rushed out, Luna followed behind till we got to the hospital.

When we both arrived at the hospital, I ran to the doctor's office, "What's wrong with Zion?" I cried out.

"Miss Gianni, I would appreciate it if you could calm down, Zion's condition worsened overnight and he needs a neurosurgeon right now," the doctor explained.

"How much will it cost?" I asked the most important question.

"He will have to run some tests but we are talking millions," my heart broke, how could I even afford that?

"Can the surgery and everything wait a bit?" I asked as tears rolled down my eyes freely.

"I'm sorry we," before I could finish his statement a nurse rushed into the room and called the doctor and I ran after him the moment she called Zion's full name.

On entering Zion's room, I could see a doctor performing CPR, I looked at the heart monitor, it was a straight line, "Cardiac arrest," I whispered under my breath.

"Take him to the OR and run a bypass on him," the doctor instructed other doctors, "Miss Gianni, that's a minor surgery and he can only last at least 86 hours with this, make a decision and we will go ahead with the major surgery."

My eyes became blurry, my throat began to burn, and my chest felt tight as I let out a terrifying scream and sat on the floor. I used my nails to dig into my skin, I wanted to feel physical pains so I could be distracted from the emotional pains in my heart, I wanted everything to be a dream so I could wake up.

"It will be ok," Luna brushed my hair with her hand.

"it can't be okay Luna, my brother is dying and there is nothing I can do," I cried out.

My hands found my phone inside my bag and I dialed Louis' number continuously, it kept directing me to voicemail, the only person I could rely on wasn't responding now and I didn't have time to waste.

I was about to drop my phone in my bag when I remembered Professor Lisa, I dialed her number and on the fourth ring, she picked up.

"I will marry him, I will marry your son," I cried and Luna looked at me with surprise.

"Okay, what do you need right now?" Professor Lisa asked, I guess from my voice she knew I was desperate.

"Millions for my brother's treatment," I shut my eyes waiting for her answer.

"Tell me who is in charge of your brother, I will make sure treatment begins before I arrive at the hospital and I will send you the contract, I believe you know what to do," I nodded my head and thanked her.

********

"You look beautiful," Professor Lisa kissed my forehead and I forced a smile, "Mrs fit you so well, we will meet at the venue then."

"We are done!" The makeup artist announced and left the room.

I stood up and looked at myself in the mirror, the dress was beautiful, it had real diamonds on it and was designed to taste, the makeup was beautiful and made me look elegant but my eyes were dull and empty. The makeup and dress only covered my empty soul.

"Gianni, your phone keeps ringing non-stop in your purse," Arabella informed me. I took the phone and turned it off.

Louis hasn't been around for three months now and he has been calling since he found out I was getting married today, I couldn't bear to pick up his call else I would be a mess before my wedding.

"You can run away or we can switch the bride, you know that right," Luna dropped a joke but she was dead serious.

"Don't you want to marry him?" Arabella asked with concern on her face.

We didn't tell Arabella about the real reason I was marrying him, she just assumed I loved him and was marrying him.

"Baby, I do, Luna is just joking around," I hugged Arabella and glared at Luna who mouthed 'what'.

"Ma'am it's time to go to the venue," Two bodyguards came in to escort me to the wedding venue.

I entered the limo which took me to the church, I walked down the aisle alone to the altar. I stood at the altar awaiting my would-be-husband's arrival but he hadn't shown up.

Minutes turned into hours had he still hadn't arrived, whispers began to fly around the hall, I didn't care, I didn't want this wedding to take place.

The main gate opened, I thought it was him but it was just a bodyguard who entered the hall and handed me an envelope, I opened the envelope and it was another contract. The bodyguard handed me a pen to sign.

My eyes scan through the contract and the only thing which has changed is the duration of the marriage. A smile appeared on my face when I saw the marriage would come to an end on his last child, Francis's 20th birthday, without thinking twice I signed the document.

the first contract said it would be 20 years of marriage while this one is practically 11 years, at least I get to tolerate for only 11 years and nothing more.

"Boss will be here soon, he has some business to take care of," the bodyguard took the signed documents, handed me my copy, and left, while I handed the copy to one of the bodyguards standing next to me.

I avoided eye contact with anybody especially Luna till I heard the swing door open, and a young handsome man entered, he was putting on black pants and white sleeves, and his sleeves had blood on them, I felt disgusted as to who he was but my eyes widened in surprise when I noticed he was the man I had save that night but what was he doing at the wedding?