Chapter 7: I Do
1517 Words
[Sloane's POV]
I stood in front of the full-length mirror, staring at my reflection, but I barely recognized the woman staring back at me.
The midnight black gown flowed around me like darkness, clinging to my waist before spilling to the ground in elegant waves. Tiny black crystals caught the light from the chandelier overhead, glittering like scattered stars across the fabric.
Mrs. Rosa had really outdone herself with the dress. It was undeniably beautiful in every way possible.
But I couldn't care less about the dress. My mind drifted to the conversation I had with Enzo in Antonio's study.
††† 10 Hours Earlier †††
“That’s my mother's name.” My voice cracked midway through the sentence. “Why does Antonio have a letter with my mother's name on it?”
For a moment, he didn't respond. He simply stared at me, his expression was unreadable. The silence stretched tight and uncomfortable between us.
“You don't know what you're talking about.” His voice was calm. “You should leave now.”
“Of course I do know what the hell I'm talking about.” I tried to steady my voice, but I could hear the tremor beneath it.
He sighed, the sound heavy with impatience. “You're just making assumptions, Ms. Ashford.”
“Am I?” I narrowed my eyes.
“Yes.” He folded his hands across his chest. “You know Victoria isn't exactly a rare name.” His voice was too calm. “There are thousands of women out there named Victoria. Or maybe more. And you can't prove this was from your mother.”
“No,” I admitted. I hated how my voice was shaking. “I can't. Not yet. But I will.”
“Stay out of this.” His voice hardened. “It doesn't concern you.”
“Fine.” I lifted my chin trying to meet his cold stare. “Maybe I'll just go ask Antonio myself then.”
Something flickered in his eyes…not fear, but annoyance like I was a child interrupting grown-up business.
“Leave it alone.” His voice dropped, it was low, yet dangerous. “Whatever you think you found…it's not what you think it is.”
“Then what is it?”
“That’s not your concern.”
“Not my concern?” A bitter laugh escaped my throat. “My mother died when I was seven. I barely even remember her face. And now I find out the one person who dragged me into his nightmare has a letter with her name on it…and you're telling me it's not my concern?”
“Yes.” His voice turned ice. “That's exactly what I'm telling you.”
“You're lying.”
“I have no reason to.” He stepped closer, close enough that I could see his jaw hardening and the cold flatness in his eyes. “I’m telling you to let this go for your own good.”
"Or what?" I lifted my chin. "What will you do to me, Enzo?”
"I won't do anything." His voice was quiet. "But Antonio will. If you keep pushing into things that don't concern you…he will make you regret it.”
"Then let him." I held his gaze. "I've already lost everything. My freedom. The only family I have left is being held hostage somewhere by Antonio. What more can he take from me?"
"Everything." His voice was flat. "He can take everything you have left and he will, if you push him."
The words hung between us, cold and final.
I stared at him. He stared back.
He didn't blink. Didn't flinch. Just stood there, immovable, waiting for me to back down.
"You're not going to tell me anything, are you?"
"No."
"Then get out of my way." I moved to step past him, but his hand shot out and closed around my wrist. Firm. Unyielding.
“Where are you going?”
“To find Antonio.”
He held my gaze for a long moment. Something shifted in his expression…not quite softening, but shifting.
"You want answers, don't you?"
"Yes."
He released my wrist. His jaw tightened, and I watched him weigh something behind those cold eyes.
“Fine.” The words came out flat, as if he was already bored with the conversation.
I blinked in surprise by how quickly he'd given in.
Enzo took a step closer.
“But you should know something first.” His voice was quieter now, but somehow more intimidating.
He held my gaze for a moment.
“The world doesn't work the way you think it does, Ms. Ashford. You've spent most of your life hidden behind those Ashford gates. Out here, things are different.”
He paused for a second, something shifting in his eyes. “People don't just get what they want because they ask nicely.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but he kept talking anyway.
“You're digging your own grave.” His voice was quieter now, but somehow, it made the words hit harder.
“And by the time you realize that, it'll be too late for anyone to save you.”
The certainty in his voice unsettled me. For a second, neither of us spoke. Then he stepped back and shoved his hands in his pockets, as if the conversation was already over.
"Now get out."
I flinched a little but didn't move.
"Did you hear me?" His voice cracked like a whip. "Leave."
I turned and walked out of the study. My bare feet were silent against the marble. My hands were shaking.
I didn't look back.
Something cold settled in my stomach.
††† End of Flashback †††
"Ms. Ashford." Mrs. Rosa's voice sliced through the silence. "Everyone is waiting. I'm here to escort you.”
I was so lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice when she came in.
I didn't answer. I just turned from the mirror and walked toward the door.
**********
The cathedral door opened. Cold silence settled in. Rows upon rows of men dressed in black lined the pews, their faces wore the same cold expression. Their eyes tracked my every step as I walked down the aisle.
For a brief second, I thought I had arrived at a funeral instead of my wedding. The thought made my chest ache.
Maybe I had arrived at a funeral.
Mine.
Then I saw him.
Antonio Delvecchio.
He was waiting at the altar. The sight of him made my step falter.
I hated myself for noticing it, but he was undeniably handsome.
The black suit fit him perfectly, emphasizing his broad shoulders and powerful frame. His dark hair was neatly styled, and the sharp angles of his face looked as though they'd been carved from stone. Everything about him demanded attention without him having to say a single word.
Yet it wasn't his appearance that held my gaze.
It was his expression.
Or rather, the lack of one.
His face was completely unreadable.
Just that same calm, controlled mask he always seemed to wear.
Something about it unsettled me.
Especially because this was the first time I was seeing him since he'd left for Calabria.
The memory surfaced immediately.
Calabria.
The same place the mysterious caller had mentioned.
The same place Antonio had rushed off to in the middle of the night.
My stomach tightened.
What happened in Calabria?
The question lodged itself firmly in my mind as I continued down the aisle.
Antonio's gaze never left me, yet somehow it revealed absolutely nothing.
And that bothered me more.
I finally reached the altar, standing in front of Antonio.
The priest smiled nervously.
As if he understood exactly who was standing beside him.
He opened the ceremony book.
"We are gathered here today…"
"I do."
The priest blinked. The entire cathedral blinked.
I slowly turned toward Antonio. His face remained perfectly serious.
The priest looked confused. "Mr. Delvecchio, I haven't…"
"I know." Antonio's voice was calm and unbothered.
"I do."
A few muffled coughs echoed through the cathedral. Someone somewhere was trying very hard not to laugh.
The priest cleared his throat several times. Then awkwardly continued.
My eyes remained fixed on Antonio.
He looked completely unaffected.
As though interrupting his own wedding vows was perfectly normal behavior.
Of course he did.
The priest eventually turned toward me. "And do you, Sloane Ashford, take Antonio Delvecchio to be your lawfully wedded husband?"
The words hung in the air. Heavy and suffocating. My fingers curled tightly around the bouquet. Every instinct screamed at me to run. To refuse. To fight.
But then I remembered Mrs. Hathaway. The contract.
The cage that had been built around me piece by piece.
I closed my eyes briefly. Then opened them again.
"I do."
The words tasted like ash. The priest looked relieved, like he'd just survived a hostage situation.
He quickly finished the ceremony.
The priest smiled. "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
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