Love Conquers All

Episode4:Marriage

Aria POV

I sat on the kitchen stool, my palm on my cheek as I stared at nothing in particular.

Ugh! Why do I feel this way?

I couldn’t get Mr Stranger out of my head. The way he touched my skin gave me tingles.

My cheeks became hot. I’m sure they are red now.

“Huh, what’s got you all dreamy?.” Becca teased me.

Becca is the niece of Ma’am Serena. She went away for a little while, but now she’s back.

She’s my best friend and, well, my only friend.

I blushed harder, trying to hide it with my hair.

“nothing.”

“Don’t tell me anything girl, your cheeks are all red and your eyes are so dreamy.” She pointed out with a knowing look.

“Come on, spill.” She urged, poking me playfully.

I chuckled and released a short sigh.

She won’t let this go until I tell her.

“Uhm, I met a man.” I informed, playing with my fingers.

“Really? When, how?” She squealed excitedly.

“Shh, they might hear you.” I panicked.

She threw her hands up in surrender and then scooted closer to me.

“Alright, fine, but tell me everything.”

I smiled at her enthusiasm.

“I met him one day when I went to the swing.”

“I realized I was late, and I was rushing back to the mansion, when suddenly I lost control and fell off. He helped me and dropped me at home.” I explained further.

“What?, he came into the Mansion?” She exclaimed in shock.

“No, of course not, I pleaded with him to drop me before the mansion gate.” I clarified.

“Awn, that was so nice of him. So tell me, is he hot?” She gushed.

I bit my lips as a blush crept up my cheeks again.

“Yea, he is definitely hot.” She swooned, and winked at me.

“Stop it Becca.” I whined.

“But he came here last night.” I added, which made her lips tilt up in confusion.

“Really?” She asked.

I nodded.

“Yea. He is Dad’s business partner.”

“Wow, hot and rich.” She gushed, fanning herself dramatically.

I simply chuckled at her silliness, then furrowed my brows as I remembered what Mr Stranger said to me last night.

“What?.” She nudged me as soon as she noticed my worried expression.

“He also said he would see me soon when he gave me back my necklace last night. I don’t know what he meant by that.” I was puzzled.

“Oh Aria!, it means he likes you and wants to see you again.” She squealed excitedly.

“No Becca, that doesn’t prove anything.” I shrugged.

“He is Dad’s business partner, he will probably be here for another meeting sometime, that’s why he said that.” I reasoned.

“Yea, sure.” She replied in a duh tone and wriggled her eyebrows at me playfully.

I just shook my head and rolled my eyes at her reaction.

Then Martina walked in to grab a bottle of water, but a smirk appeared on her face as she turned to face me.

“Now you look like the real servant you are. You thought putting on nice dresses would make that change.” She sneered with a short laugh.

“Your plan to woe Theodore didn’t even work, you slut. He chose me, of course.” She gloated as she flipped her hair.

I raised a brow in confusion as I wondered what she was talking about.

Becca simply scoffed at her.

“I am going to be his wife, so stay away from him.” She flashed me a wicked glare before she walked out.

“Wife?” I muttered in confusion.

“Don’t listen to her, Aria. She’s probably just making things up. I would ask my aunt,” Becca suggested, and on Cue, Ma’am Serena walked in.

“Aunt Serena, is it true? Is Martina really getting married?” Becca asked curiously.

Ma’am Serena paused to look at me with some pity, before she tore her eyes away and nodded slowly.

“Yes, to the man who came yesterday. His name is Mr De’leon. He is coming with his family tomorrow.” She informed him.

“I’m sure that snake seduced him, such a slut.” Becca hissed in annoyance.

“Becca!.” Ma’am Serena scolded.

“Tomorrow is going to be a busy day, so make sure to rest early,” She advised, and walked out of the kitchen.

I sighed sadly, my heart suddenly felt heavy, which made me confused.

I shouldn’t be bothered if he was getting married. I don’t even know him. I was merely having a stupid crush.

“I will just head to the stables.” I told Becca and left. I needed to clear my head a bit.

My thoughts still ran wide as I brushed Silvia’s hair gently.

“Oh Silvia, I can’t help but feel sad, and I shouldn’t feel this way, he is getting married to Martina. I guess he really likes her.” I rambled on sadly.

She sighed in response as though she could hear me, which made me chuckle.

I placed my head on her belly,

“You are right, I should probably forget about him.”

Theodore POV.

I stared at nothing in particular as I remembered every detail of her face, the feel of her skin.

I wanted to see her again, to touch her.

I groaned and stood up.

“Get your head right Theodore, she’s the daughter of your enemy, a pawn in your revenge.” I clenched my fist.

Then Noni walked in.

“Nipote.” She called and walked up to me.

“I heard The Romanos’ have agreed to the marriage ... it's time.” She said with her hands behind her back.

“Don’t have any space for pity in your heart, let your heart be in accordance with your mind, one goal, one thought, Revenge.

Avenging the death of your innocent father and mother.

Restoring the honor of your mother, and avenging your little sister who didn’t have the chance to even know the world.” She said as a tear dropped from her eyes.

I clenched my fist harder, the voices in my head started speaking to me again.

“Every drop of their every day, every tear they shed, I promise to avenge it till my dying breath.” I said through gritted teeth.

“That’s good. Reneè and her mother will be accompanying you.” She said.

“What?... no, it’s impossible, Noni.”

“I don’t trust any other people on this, who else to accompany you than them.”

“Mother Elsa and Pancho can.”

“They are both workers. Reneè and her mother are family.”

“Reneè wouldn’t agree to this, Noni.”

“She has, I already talked to her. Get ready, Theodore.”

With that, she left the room.

I sighed and rubbed my temples.

I got ready, I took out the bracelet I bought for her, Aria.

I smiled and kept it in my pocket, then I walked out.

The cars were ready, Reneè and aunt Salma stood at the front door.

“Let’s get this over with already.” Aunt Salam said and got into the car.

“Reneè, you don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” I said.

She looked up at me, her eyes teary, she let out a small smile.

“It’s fine, I mean it takes a lot of courage for a wife to accompany her husband to ask for the hand of another woman, but if this is what I have to do, then so be it. Maybe then you can finally acknowledge me as your wife and look at me with love. Come, let’s go.”

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair.

We got into the car and headed to the Romanos’ mansion.