3.Decisions
1971 Words
--Cassie
I sank into a chair, overwhelmed by the weight of his revelations. The sacrifice he had made for me was unimaginable. And yet, it felt like the death of my dreams—the dreams of freedom, education, and forging my own path.
"Dad, what about my dreams?" I asked, my voice breaking with despair.
"I know, Cassie. I know," Dad whispered, his eyes filled with sorrow. "But sometimes, life doesn't give us the choices we want. Sometimes, we have to make sacrifices for the ones we love."
"So what has this got to do with my marriage?" I asked him.
"The grandfather of Leonardo De Luca wants you to marry his son. He sees you as a good woman for him. I rejected it, but he said it was an arrangement made between your granddad and him involving the money we took. If we do not agree to this, he will take everything from us because he practically now owns everything. I also want what is best for you, Cassie. I cannot see you suffering, so the only thing I had to do was agree to it," Dad said.
"What will happen if I marry this guy?" I asked Dad.
"He will clear all the debts and also partner with the company. The De Lucas are now the richest in the world," Dad told me.
"I will think about it, Dad. It is a lot to take in at the moment," I said to him, and he nodded.
So, all this while, my dad was going through a tough time all by himself. I now understood why we did not fly back to America in the jet and why the paparazzi said what they were saying.
"Please be quick with your decision, Cassie," Dad said with worry itching all over his face .
"You know what? I will marry him for your sake," I said to Dad.
"Are you sure?" Dad asked me, shocked?
"Yes," I muttered.
This was the little thing I could do for my dad to keep him happy. He has done so much for me, and this was my time to do my part as a daughter.
"Thank you, Cassie, for doing this," Dad said to me, getting up to hug me.
"You're welcome, Dad," I said to him, embracing him in his arms.
"Enjoy your breakfast. I have somewhere to be," he said.
"Be safe, Dad," I muttered. He kissed me on my cheek and went out.
I was still going to pursue my dream of going to college even after marriage, and no one could stop me.
"I am so proud of you, Cassie," I heard Mrs. Sofia say.
"Really?" I said to her.
"Yes, really," she said, smiling.
"Sorry for the way I acted yesterday," I said to her feeling guilty.
"That is alright, you had too much to take in at that moment," she told me smiling brightly.
"Are you going to eat here or in the kitchen?" she asked me.
"I will eat in the kitchen," I muttered to her, smiling.
We went into the kitchen, and I started to eat my food. I greeted everyone and focused my attention on my food. I did not want to get married to someone I did not love, and he was a stranger to me, and he was Italian, for God's sake. I was so scared of those people. The De Lucas were the most powerful now in America and in the world.
I heard in school they were involved in the mafia, but I did not believe it. I am sure it was just a rumor.
"Are you done eating, Lu—Cassie?" Garcia said beside me.
"Yes," I muttered.
She moved to take my plate, but I insisted on doing it myself. The phone rang, and Gracia picked it up.
"Lu—Mrs. Cassie, the guards at the gate say that two girls are claiming to be your friends. Should they let them in?" she asked me with the phone to her ear.
"Yes, let them in," I said to her, and she relayed the message.
I left the kitchen and went into the living room, ready to greet Hailey and Michelle.
"What's happening with the security in your house, Cassie? It felt like we were prisoners," Hailey said to me.
"I have no idea, girls," I replied.
"Can I serve you something?" Gracia offered from beside me. I didn't even notice when she came into the room.
"Yes, please bring some drinks into my room," I said to her, smiling.
"Let's go to my room, girls," I said, leading the way.
"Is it me or Hailey? Cassie looks tired and sad," Michelle said, pointing towards my face.
I opened the door to my room, and we went in.
"Your bedroom is so beautiful, Cassie," Hailey said to me.
"Thank you," I muttered, smiling but was immediately replaced with a frown.
They went onto the balcony and looked around. "Wow, you have the view of Manhattan from up here," she said, screaming.
"Will you keep it down, girls?" I said to them.
"Sorry, I was just excited," she said.
Gracia rushed into the room panting.
"Is everything alright, Lu—ma’am Cassie?" she asked me. From the corner of my eye, I could see Hailey and Michelle both glaring at her, which made me wonder why they did that. It seemed like she always wanted to say something but changed her mind quickly.
"Yes, why?" I asked her.
It was strange. I wondered why she would rush into my room, considering she wasn't a bodyguard.
"I will be back with your drinks," she said and walked out.
"Wasn't that weird?" I said, and Hailey nodded in agreement.
Before I could dwell on it, Hailey and Michelle dropped a bombshell. The hottest bachelor in town, Alessandro Leonardo De Luca, was officially off the market, having just announced his marriage an hour ago. I wasn't particularly concerned, but they were squealing with excitement, and soon enough, they were showing me pictures of him on social media. His name sounded intimidating, and when I saw his picture, I couldn't help but agree with Hailey's assessment that he was incredibly handsome.
--Cassie--
"His wife-to-be is so lucky," Hailey exclaimed, holding up her phone with a picture of Alessandro Leonardo De Luca. Her excitement was palpable, and I couldn't help but wonder who this fortunate woman was. And then it struck me—I was about to be tied to Alessandro Leonardo De Luca for life.
I studied the picture intently. Alessandro had striking features—sharp jawline, piercing eyes, and a confident smile that could melt hearts. It was easy to see why he was considered a heartthrob. But despite his looks, I wasn't interested in him romantically. My decision to marry him was solely to help my dad out of his financial troubles.
"How old is he?" I asked Michelle, trying to gather more information about the man who would soon be my husband.
"Twenty-five," she replied enthusiastically.
"Thank God he's not much older," I muttered under my breath, relieved that we weren't too far apart in age.
"What did you say?" Michelle asked, leaning closer to hear me better.
"Nothing," I replied quickly, hoping to avoid further questions about my thoughts on Alessandro.
I glanced over and noticed Gracia still in the room, her expression unreadable. She seemed to be observing me with an odd intensity, and I couldn't discern what was going through her mind.
"You can call me anytime you need me," Gracia suddenly spoke up, breaking the silence and my train of thought. With that, she quietly left the room, leaving me with a sense of unease.
"He's having a press conference to confirm everything," Michelle informed me, drawing my attention back to the present situation.
"Why are you both so obsessed with him?" I asked, genuinely curious about their fascination with Alessandro.
"Are you kidding? He's literally the most handsome man alive and incredibly wealthy," Michelle said with a hint of awe in her voice.
"And he's always in the news for one reason or another," Hailey added excitedly. "How could you not know about him?"
"I have something important to tell you both," I interjected, deciding it was time to share my impending marriage with them.
"Go on, don't tell us you're getting married like him too," Hailey teased, attempting to lighten the serious mood.
I nodded solemnly, and their expressions turned from playful curiosity to stunned disbelief.
"Are you serious, Cassie?" they asked simultaneously.
"Yes, I am," I confirmed, preparing myself for their inevitable barrage of questions.
"Who exactly are you marrying?" Michelle asked eagerly, clearly unable to contain her curiosity.
"Alessandro Leonardo De Luca," I finally revealed, steeling myself for their reactions.
"Holy sh*t!" they exclaimed in unison, their voices carrying loud enough for the gardeners working outside to hear.
"Are you serious?" they asked again, their disbelief palpable, and their expressions clearly devoid of joy.
"Yes, I am," I replied, feeling a knot of unease tighten in my stomach at their reactions.
"Why so many surprises in one day?" Michelle muttered, trying to process the sudden revelation.
"And you never told us you were the lucky one," she added, her eyes holding a mix of pity and concern.
"I only found out yesterday," I explained, hoping to dispel some of their confusion.
"Do you know him?" Hailey asked, her voice tinged with curiosity and concern.
"No, I don't," I replied honestly, feeling a pang of apprehension at the prospect of marrying a complete stranger.
"Then how did this happen?" Hailey pressed further, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"I promise I'll explain later," I deflected, not ready to divulge the complicated circumstances just yet.
"What happened to finishing your education first?" they asked, their concern for my future evident in their voices.
"I'm still planning to continue my education. Getting married doesn't change that," I reassured them, though I knew the challenges ahead would be immense.
"I'm happy for you, Cassie," they both said, but their eyes betrayed a different sentiment.
"Deon asked for your number, and I gave it to him. I didn't know you were getting married," Michelle confessed, looking slightly embarrassed.
"It's okay," I said, trying to brush off the unintended complication.
"Are you happy?" they asked, their gazes fixed on me expectantly.
"Yes, I am," I replied with a forced smile, though deep down, I wrestled with uncertainty and fear about the future.
Their faces lit up with forced enthusiasm. "Congratulations then! And just so you know, we'll be your bridesmaids," they declared, their voices rising in excitement.
Despite their efforts to cheer me on, I couldn't shake the weight of the situation. I needed a moment alone to collect my thoughts, so I excused myself and retreated to the balcony. The view of Manhattan sprawled out before me, a stark contrast to the turmoil within.
Alessandro Leonardo De Luca. The name echoed in my mind, accompanied by the image from Michelle's phone. He looked every bit the charming and powerful man the world saw him as—a man who could have anyone he wanted. But I wasn't just anyone; I was about to become his wife.
Returning to the room, I found Hailey and Michelle scrolling through more pictures of Alessandro, discussing his public appearances and the allure that surrounded him. They chattered excitedly, oblivious to my inner turmoil.
"Have you thought about the wedding?" Hailey asked eagerly, breaking through their conversation about his charitable endeavors.
I nodded, though in truth, the idea of planning a wedding with a man I barely knew was overwhelming. "I haven't thought much about it yet," I admitted.
"You'll be fine, Cassie," Michelle reassured me, sensing my apprehension. "It's going to be an adventure."
- Writer
