Niccoló's wife |✔|

9. Waited

Scarlett felt her hands getting clammy during the whole ride, she felt angry at herself to even think that her father was gonna marry her off to some good man, she was happy to marry a man without any riches, happy to live a new life with a person, a life filled with love, smiles and happiness. But life has never been bed of roses for her, the roses in her life were dried and dead, now they did not emitted the sweet, refreshing smell they always give, it's just a stench of dead flowers and thorns. It always have been like that for her.

How could she think that her father would change? Would apologize to her, would do a single thing good for her?

And just like always, it was her own illusion, illusion of a better life, a worthy life.

Scarlett felt her vision blur as the car drove more towards the address she didn't wanted to go to. Her head throbbed as she sniffed quietly to stop the tears from coming, with the attires of her family, Scarlett could only think how happy they all were, their clothes looked like they were going to some picnic, Mia had worn her leather vibrant pink mini-est skirt, her butt was on display as she sat on the taxi seat with her legs crosses, matching with her expensive new strappy pink high heels, and a very cropped tube top, which could barely hold her breasts, same was with Tia, but unlike Mia she wore every clothing in henna green color, which looked like vomit.

Scarlett stuffed her mouth with her fist as she felt a hiccup of sob climb its way up to her throat, the taxi came to a halt as her father begrudgingly paid the fare of the taxi and the girls pushed Scarlett to get out, stumbling into the pavement of a ratty looking old house, the neighborhood was good with good looking houses, this one stood like an odd in evens.

Mia pushed Scarlett by her shoulders as Scarlett felt herself about to fall, but took the support of the fence, Mia and Tia went towards the backyard, as Jon grunted and clutched Scarlett' arm in a death grip and dragged her into the house, the house was not decorated, and looked so untidy, there were pizza boxes littering in the living with a TV and a couch, which looked worn out, the kitchen was not so big, but the sink was filled with dirty dishes which emitted a foul smell, might be due to rotten food, there was a door to the back yard from the kitchen, to pass the time, Jon sat at one of the stool on the kitchen and fiddled with his phone.

Scarlett moved towards the door, and peeked through the glass which was covered with the curtains, she looked at the men littering in the backyard, everyman looked like a gangster, with scars marring their face and with leather clothing, she looked at the man who stood on the stage, his face was covered with shaggy beard, as his brown eyes looked dull and high.

The thought alone scared Scarlett that she was going to marry a person, who could use innocent kids for such a disgusting work. She was scared, the man looked ruthless, all the thoughts of living a happy life went into drain, with just one look of his face, his face looked wicked and evil, and for once Scarlett felt a wave of dread down her spine, she felt her heat beat speeding up as she looked at the man, his smirk was wicked, he looked even worse than Scarlett' family. And all the guests he had invited for the wedding, they didn't help to sooth any nerve of Scarlett'.

Scarlett' sisters where on the other hand were busy socializing with the possible gangsters, Scarlett collected the one of the many things she lacked, and courage was what she lacked the most.

She turned towards Jon who fiddled with the phone in his hands, Scarlett cleared her throat, which he ignored with a grunt, and Scarlett tried to again approach him as she knocked on the dirty slab twice, the edges were rough and chipped.

Jon grunted as he snarled and looked up at Scarlett with annoyance and anger glistening in them. Scarlett stumbled back as she saw the furious look in his eyes, she felt dread grip her as she clutched her hands tightly in front of her. But this was now or never situation, either she could write her life to a criminal or she could back out from it.

"I don't want to marry him." Scarlett spoke softly, hearing those words, Jon's neck snapped up as he glared at Scarlett, he stood up slowly as he rounded the corner to reach her.

"What? What did you just say?" he hissed as his hands tightened into fists, Scarlett stumbled as she backed away from Jon But he moved only closer.

"I don't want to-," Scarlett stuttered softly as she felt the rough uneven edge of the slab dug into her back. Jon clutched her forearms he pulled her closer, his angry face was just in front of Scarlett as he roared in her face.

"Oh? But you will marry him!" he pushed Scarlett harshly and with absolute force as Scarlett felt her knees buckle and felt the slab dug into her elbows as she reached for the slab for support, but in vain, Scarlett felt her knees harshly collide with the ground as she fell on the hard floor.

"Papa, he is not a good man, I know!" Scarlett cried as she softly muttered. She rubbed her knee as she could feel the wound was opened. Jon stooped to her eye level as he gripped her chin and squeezed it tightly, he squeezed her chin painfully as Scarlett felt the tears soak her neck.

"So what? Does it look like I give a s**t? I will not pay for your mistakes. You are a mistake! You either marry him or I will personally kill your useless, dead mother tonight." Jon smirked evilly as Scarlett froze on the spot, he knew he had hit a sensitive nerve. For a moment Scarlett could feel the dread settle into her stomach, as she felt the silent tears stream down her face.

"No. You wouldn't." she hiccupped as Jon smirked evilly.

"Watch me! Oh wait, you won't be there." After throwing her back, Jon resumed his seat back at the stool and sat down.

Now there was no doubt how evil her father was, she was now sure, if he could marry her off to a criminal, he could be a criminal too. Scarlett felt the hopelessness settle inside her as she slowly stood up and straightened up for a moment and wiped her tears, she patted her hair down as suddenly the sound of Jon' ringtone rang into the room, he stood up grunting, as he mumbled profanities.

He took Scarlett' hand and suddenly noticed her bandages, giving them a sour eye, he ripped the bandages, Scarlett gasped as she felt the cool air prick the wound, the area of her wound felt warm, and no doubt would be bleeding. Jon dragged her to the door as he opened the door and pushed Scarlett through the door in front of many eyes.

Everyone looked at her and not so in a good way, the man standing on the stage, looked like shaking, from here his eyes were looking more red, and dull, like he was drunk, or maybe on drugs. Scarlett felt a shove from the back as Jon pushed her, she stumbled as she looked up at the man grinning madly and crazily to her, but in a wicked way.

She looked around.

Everyone there looked like no one was bothered with a wedding, like it was a joke, the supposedly groom himself looked like he would be anywhere but here, it was like, this was a joke to everyone, signing one' life to someone is a joke, and like no one was bothered to give a damn, if Scarlett' husband killed her after their wedding. That no one would be affected by her ill-being. No one cared if she was happy or sad, everyone cared for their own interest.

Yet another reminder to Scarlett that she was worthless.

Scarlett felt the tears prick her eyes, she lowered her face as she walked up the stage, and no one helped her climb the ratty stage which creaked when she climbed on it. She stood in front of the man, by this time she could feel the warmth of the blood travelling form her elbows, and alongside, there was a man looking absolute bored moved his hands as he started mumbling prayers.

When the time came of ring exchange, Scarlett looked panicked as the man held her hand and abruptly threw it down as his hand came in contact with the blood which had travelled to her palms.

He looked at his hands in absolute disgust as he wiped them on his ratty old jeans.

He snarled as he looked at Scarlett, and raised his hand, Scarlett flinched as she felt the inevitable come to her, but too soon, she had not expected, she cowered away as silent tears travelled down her cheeks, she clutched her hands in front of her and waited.

"You b***h!" he snarled.

And all of a sudden a gun shot rang.

And the slap which Scarlett feared and waited for never came...