His Beautiful Chaos

The Strange Villa

***Chapter 3.***

~Arianna~

The car ride felt like it lasted forever. I stared out the window, my eyes barely registering the blur of trees, hills, and empty stretches of road.

It seemed like Don Nicholas lived at the end of the world, far away from the bustling city, hidden in the dark corners of the earth.

When the car finally slowed down, I caught my first glimpse of Don Nicholas’s estate. It was magnificent, just like the rumors had said. The villa sprawled out before me, vast and imposing.

The size of it took my breath away—so much wealth, so much power. The rumors had whispered that the money spent on this place could have fed the entire city for months, maybe even years.

It was a paradise, but I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that crept over me. The beauty of the villa was overshadowed by something darker, something that lurked just beneath the surface.

The car skipped to a halt, and the door swung open. I stepped out, my legs shaky, my mind racing. A long line of servants stood waiting, their eyes on me as if they’d been expecting my arrival for days.

I didn’t know what to think…maybe it was just their way of receiving guests. But was I a guest? No, I was their prisoner, slave and maid.

Before I could process any of it, two women appeared at the entrance. They smiled warmly, which confused me. I hadn’t expected this.

"Welcome dear," said the older woman, stepping forward with opened arms. "I am Mrs. Alvarez, Don Nicholas’s mother."

My mouth went dry. His mother? Why did they seem happy to see me?

Beside Mrs. Alvarez stood another woman, younger, with an elegant posture. “And I am Valentina, his sister,” she said with a soft smile.

They were delighted by my presence, which made me feel even more uneasy. Was this how they welcomed everyone into the family, or was this part of some twisted game?

“Come inside, dear,” Mrs. Alvarez said, ushering me into the grand villa. “We must get you cleaned up. You’ve had quite a journey.”

I nodded wordlessly, following them inside. The moment I stepped through the door, I was struck by the beauty of the place. The floors were marble, the ceilings high and vaulted with chandeliers hanging from above. Every inch of the villa was decorated with luxury—paintings, statues, and expensive furnishings I'd only ever seen in magazines.

My mind wondered. How could someone like Don Nicholas, with his reputation as a ruthless mafia boss, live in such beauty?

“You must be tired,” Mrs. Alvarez said, eyeing my tattered clothes. She certainly did not want to tell me that I looked dirty. “Anna, please show her to her room so she can freshen up.”

A girl named Anna appeared, smiling gently as she gestured for me to follow. I nodded, still too overwhelmed to speak. Anna led me up a grand staircase and down a long hallway that seemed to go on forever, the walls lined with more artwork and statues. It was all too much.

When they reached my room, I gasped. The bedroom was massive, with a four-poster bed draped in silk sheets and an attached bathroom that looked like something out of a palace. It didn’t feel real.

“This will be your room,” Anna said softly, helping me settle in. “If you need anything, don’t hesitate to ask.”

I muttered a quiet thank you as Anna began laying out fresh clothes for me. The hot water in the bathroom was ready, and soon I was soaking in the bath, trying to piece everything together.

Why were they treating me so well? I was nothing more than a prisoner here, a payment for my father’s debts. I should be locked in a dungeon, not pampered in a luxurious room. Something was wrong, and the uneasy feeling in my gut only grew stronger.

Once I was cleaned up and dressed in fresh clothes, Anna knocked on the door again, this time with a message.

“Mrs. Alvarez would like you to join her for dinner,” Anna said. “Please follow me.”

I hesitated but nodded, following Anna downstairs to what could only be described as a banquet hall. The dining room was fit for royalty. A long, ornate table stretched across the room, filled with food that smelled too good to resist.

“Sit, dear,” Mrs. Alvarez called, gesturing to a seat next to an empty chair.

I sat down slowly, eyeing the empty seat. “Who… who is supposed to sit here?”

“That is where Don Nicholas usually sits,” Mrs. Alvarez said, smiling gently. “But he’s not with us tonight. He had some business to attend to.”

My stomach tightened. I hadn’t even realized that Don Nicholas hadn’t returned with us. After we parted ways on the high road, I assumed he had been following behind, but clearly, he had other plans.

What kind of business could he have at this time of night?

I sat there quietly, barely able to eat, as the others chatted away. Valentina and her mother kept the conversation light, talking about the villa, the family, and life in general. It was all so surreal. How could they be so normal when my life had been completely upended?

As dinner went on, my unease grew. There was something about the way they treated me, the warmth in their voices, that didn’t make sense. Something smells fishy. This wasn’t how you treated someone who owed you a life debt. There was no anger, no coldness—just smiles and hospitality.

But why? What was the catch?

“Have you chosen the gown for tomorrow?” Mrs. Alvarez interrupted my thoughts. Her eyes were fixed on me.

I shrugged, not sure of what she was asking. “I came without my box.”

I was tempted to say that her son did not give me a chance. Don Nicholas brought me here against my will and his mother was asking if I brought my clothes along. Funny!

“Oh, was he so eager?” Valentina's lips curled into a smile. “My brother can’t wait for the nuptial night.”

Wait, did she just say nuptial night, or I hear her wrong?

“I don’t understand,” I took the glass of water next to my plate and gulped it immediately.

“Don’t mind my daughter. She is fond of teasing her brother,” Mrs. Alvarez said, changing the topic. “We weren't present at your wedding with Nicholas. It is a family tradition that a night reception is held to celebrate the new couple. I thought about it…now that both of you are home, we shall celebrate it tomorrow evening.”

I was speechless. Did she just say my wedding? How did I move from being a debtor to Nicholas’s wife? I came to pay my Papa’s debt. It would have been my sister sitting at the table with them, but I decided to come so that she could have a better life away from all these troubles.

I did not wed at the altar neither did I sign a contract to be his wife. How do I end up as Mrs. Nicholas?