LUCIANO
The large living room was as silent as a graveyard. Even the sound of a pin drop could be heard. The only sound that echoed throughout the intricate designed walls of the living room were the ones made by my shoes as I walked into the expensively furnished sitting room of my uncle, Luca. There him, my mother and two of my other relatives were seated like a panel of judges, their eyes stationed at my approaching profile. "Buon pomeriggio, è bello vedervi tutti" I greeted in Italian.They all nodded their heads at me.Ofcourse I greeted with my tongue in cheek, I was not pleased to see any of them especially not after the reports I got back yesterday concerning my would be wife--Jade."So I am guessing you know why we called you?" My uncle Tommaso began. He was the oldest among them all, my late father's elder brother.And he was the mouthpiece of the group."I do. I am also wondering why plans for my marriage have not yet begun" I spoke underneath my breath."Luciano please do not make a fuss. You know the situation of things at hand. La sposa non sembra accettare." My mother retorted back."The bride should not even be given a choice to accept or not!" I frothed on the inside, the mere thought of all this getting me so livid."The Petersons are trying to play us. They had all the years to get their daughter ready for this and they chose not to. I want my bride and I do not care how you all plan to get her but just do not make me do it my way!" I threatened with such a menacing tone that shook the air around us."Your father was this hotheaded when he was alive. I can see where you got it from" my uncle Giovanni teased me, trying to create a lighthearted joke out of the situation."I promised father on his deathbed that I would do this and I have my mind made up on getting married to Jade. My patience is withering away mother""Luciano you will get your bride. The Petersons owe that to us. They are indebted to us remember. Nobody dares double cross the Greco family and walks away scot free" uncle Luca walked up to me and clamped his hands on my shoulder. I shrugged off his hands. Bloody liar. I know if he had the chance, he would have installed his own son Matteo, my power thirsty cousin as the capo dei capi."Luciano why would you shrug your uncle's hands away? I never trained you to be disrespectful. He is your uncle show him some respect" mother chided."And I am the capo dei capi of this mafia! I should be the one demanding respect from all of you and not the other way around!" I growled, my knuckles balling up."Respect is earned and not forced boy" Luca gritted his words with an impertinent scowl sitting on his face."Well mine is forced dear uncle. Bring me my bride, or else I will handle things my own way. And you know my way involves a lot more violence." I gave a wicked smirk before walking away from them. I need to go somewhere away from these people, somewhere I could think straight.* * * * * *JADE I threw stones into the little pond that shimmered under the glistening sun with my eyes having a faraway look in them. The breeze howled in my ears, carrying strands of my hair across my face and blocking my sight.I still can not believe all what happened in just a day. I stumbled upon the message that I was going to be married off to a fucking stranger.I do not even know who he is, what job he is doing, his background and lifestyle. The only people I know closest to my stranger husband is his mother and murderous looking uncle.Like what the actual fuck!I atleast expected father to brief me concerning the entire ruckus that was created yesterday and offer words of apology but he instead stood his ground and maintained that I would get married to Mrs Gabriela's son whether I approved of it or not.I am still in shock. What had come over my parents? My parents were always advocates of 'follow your heart and marry out of love' but this turn of events totally goes against all their principles.The more I thought about it, the more enraged I grew."Oh fuck!" I threw multiple stones in the pond, watching them hit the waters and splash."Why me goddamit!? I do not want to get married!" I was forced to cry out, throwing more stones into the pond."Stop throwing stones like a lunatic before you hurt the fishes" I heard a peculiar deep gravel male tone speak from behind.Quickly pivoting, my gaze landed on a tall young man who ambled towards my direction with such an air of authority like he owned even the air I breathed.I accessed his features. He wore a black joggers and a hoodie to top it off. His face was symmetrically pleasing to observe though. He had a well defined nose, strong jawline, his clear blue eyes felt so hypnotising to stare into, his eyebrows were beautifully groomed and its lashes were long and thick, his cheekbones were high and his long black hairs were groomed to match his look.Still his utterances were already pissing me off."I am sorry do I know you?" I hissed before facing my attention back at the pond."No and you do not need to. You might end up hurting the fishes with the way you were throwing the stones like a mad woman" he came to sit some metres away from me."Wow two insults from a total stranger. You know it is rude to call someone you do not even know and just met for the first time a lunatic and also a mad woman" I shot back at him.I heard a deep chuckle escape his lips."Well you were behaving like one. If you were behaving calm then I would not call you a lunatic"He was really getting on my nerves."What is your deal man!?" I bolted up, marching towards him."If I were you, I would not speak to me in that tone" he slowly stood up, his height towering above mine. Still I was not intimated by his tall physique."Oh because you are who? The president's son? A monarch?" I scoffed, crossing my arms across my chest."I am way more powerful" he gave me a malicious grin before sitting back on the bare grassy floor."I do not have time for this" I muttered underneath my breath going over to sit back at my spot."Why are you so angry anyways. What is bugging you?" He asked."And why should I tell you about my problems? You are a stranger. Stranger danger" I responded back."And yet I have not killed you yet. You are right though, I could be a murderer, a robber, a hardened criminal or even a serial killer looking for my next victim"His words gave me frightful chills but I masked it up. "Well I could also be a serial killer too. Who knows?""I like you already" he let out a guffaw, throwing his head back.What is so funny?"What a wonderful reassuring statement" I sarcastically uttered before rolling my eyes at him."Fine let me tell you my problems then maybe you will tell me yours" he said after his boisterous laughter had drowned down."I want to get married but my bride does not want to get married to me. What is your issue?"My jaws dropped and my eyes widened. We had similar issues. "Are you serious? We are like two sides of a coin. I do not want to get married but my parents are forcing me to" I divulged."Why doesn't your bride want to marry you?" I added."I do not know. She is just proving to be very difficult. Like you" he smirked."I will take that as a compliment. Maybe you should be more romantic towards her and loving""Hmm. I never really thought of that. That might work and soften her heart towards me. Maybe. I presume. What about you. Why are your parents forcing you to get married?" He asked."Like you I also have no clue. I guess we are more similar than we know" I sighed."I guess so too. What is your name?" He enquired."Why should I tell you my name? You might use it to track me down and kill me" I raised him a brow."I promise not to kill you" he sniggered."You do not need to know my name handsome stranger" I laughed before standing up and dusting off the dirt from my trousers."You think I am handsome?" he seemed flattered."Do not flatter yourself too much" I replied before retreating my steps towards my car.We share such similar problems.Probably he could be the strange man my parents wanted me to marry.I laughed at the thought. Never in a million years.JADE I stood with my toes pointed, arching my back and twirling momentarily as I faced my reflection in the vertical standing mirror that was placed in my room.I practiced ballet and I was quite the dancer. It helped in relieving me of stress. As I danced away to the soft classical musical that flowed from my phone, I could not help but fill my thoughts with the handsome but mysterious stranger I met yesterday.I bet I will not see him again till maybe after seventy years and we stumbled upon each other in some sort of old people's retirement home. I tittered at my silly thoughts and kept on dancing but suddenly the door to my room flew open bringing my dance to a halt.Melinda scurried inside like someone that had seen a phantom. "Why would you interrupt me like that? Couldn't you knock Linda?" I chided her with a hiss. "Quit dancing goody two shoes. Your parents need you downstairs" Melinda informed me, catching her breath and laying on my bed."Why?" I asked pulling off my
JADEONE WEEK LATEREverything all happened like a dream before my eyes. I did not even know what got over me but I just had to accept the marraige proposal.Hearing the terrified tone of my mother speak about how ruthless my said groom was got me so trepadised with fear. I would not even dare go against his words if he is as bloodthirsty as they paint him to be.God. What is going on in my life? The more I thought about what took place in my life in just a space of less than three weeks, the more confused and worried I became.I mean one moment, I was single, planning to open up my very own cosmetic line and do something useful with my life and then the next moment, I was thrown into a marraige alliance and my life went upside down.As my thoughts dwelled on it the more, tears trickled down my cheeks."Stop crying baby so you will not ruin your makeup. We do not want your groom to notice your pale features" my mum whispered in my ears, using a white handkerchief to brush off little dr
JADE I propped myself in the black limousine that was expected to convey I and Luciano to my new home. We sat few metres away from each other and for some reason, my heart was palpitating so badly.Aurora's and Mariposa's taunt kept on replaying in my head like a song on repeat.Why were they calling me all sort of derogatory names like whore and a slave? And what did they mean by hopefully I can bear Luciano a son before he tosses me away?Was that the main reason I was to marry him? To become a baby making machine?! I literally had a life ahead of me before all these now these people are trying to subjugate me and turn me into a housewife!A thought roamed at the back of my mind as we both drove in silence. Would he force me to consummate the wedding though? My parents had made sure no man had carnal knowledge of me right from the time I was little but tonight he might.....No. If he does it then it would be rape because I will not consent to it.But these people seem like
JADEI did not stop the maids from ushering me out of Luciano's presence. I needed him out of sight to think properly.To think about my fate tonight. I can not do this with someone I do not love or know. I barely know him. This is not the fifteenth century where girls have no say in their affairs. This is my life and I will not not let anyone pressure me into having sex with him.The maids led me to a spacious bed chamber. I stared dewy eyed at the room I was in. Everything from the rug to the bed to the walls were oozing of wealth, bloody wealth.What do these people do that gives them so much money? Do they own a tech company? A fashion line? Nope. That is absurd.But still, it was not impossible.I sat on the bed as the maids helped me undress from my wedding gown."Is this I and Luciano's room?" I was tempted to ask as they took of my earrings."No ma'am. This is your private bedchamber. Your bedroom. When you desire peace and away from your husband you can come here. We got e
JADEI watched Luciano with bated breaths as he reclined back to his seat on the dinning. He avoided my anxious stares and focused on eating his meal. But I could tell that he was no longer interested in his food.He instead fiddled with it before taking little bites and his fist kept on balling and unballing. He was really struggling to control his rage.Why would his so called brothers come in here, make flirtatious comments towards me and one had the audacity to tuck out a gun?It felt like they had a sinister agenda in visiting him.Was he not in good terms with them?All these confusing questions and new discoveries were irking me to be honest.Nobody wants to tell me what really goes on in this family! It feels like everybody is hiding something from me! Luciano inclusive.Unable to concentrate on my food either, I dropped the cutleries in my hands and stared at Luciano. "What was all that?" I asked.He stopped eating and slowly ascended his gaze to hold mine, "What do you mean
JADE I was running, running so fast. My feets dug deep into the wet, black soil as I sprinted through what seemed like a very dark forest.I stumbled upon shrubs, branches and tall grasses on my way and I had so many cuts and bruises from them. But I just had to run as fast as I could. Someone was chasing me. Someone that wanted me to kill me. The unknown murderer was angry, blood thirsty and revengeful.My heart drummed in my ears and my body was going weak from exhaustion.I ran so fast but I accidentally stumbled over a branch and fell flat to the ground.I raised my eyes up and right before me was Raffaele, a murderous intent glaring in his eyes for me. His gun was pointed right at my head but before he could pull the trigger, Luciano came out from nowhere and tackled him to the ground. I watched them fight to death until the sound of a gunshot blasted through my earwalls. All the blood drained from my face that instant and pain overwhelmed me. Raffaele had shot Luciano rig
JADE The day went by in a blur and once again, the estate was thrown into darkness by night. After my talk with Luciano, he went off to work and I never did set my eyes on him up until now.I never knew he worked this late.I did a great deal of reading today. Luciano had a huge library up stairs and I delighted in exploring its books, the entire library oozing of vast knowledge and ideas.After that, I ate launch, watched a bit of television before dozing off in the living room and waking up again.I had expected to see Luciano back though. And for some reason, it saddened me when the maids and guards informed me that he was not back yet. I ate dinner, showered up and retired to my bed but yet still no sign of Luciano.Hours had passed as I laid on my bed, my eyes observing the skies. Lightning flashed across the dark horizon, signalling a storm approaching.Was that a bad sign?Quickly I picked up my phone from where it laid. It was close to midnight. Just few minutes away.I
JADEThree days had passed already. So fast. I still had not yet recovered from the tumultuous events of the last few days. I still find it hard to believe that I almost got raped in just my second night of being in this family and by Luciano's brother for that matter.And Luciano whom I expected to be my comfort and shield, treated me like I was a common object, a possession of his all because I ran to his brother for help. We rarely even spoke these days.I never imagined him to be so petty and keep such malice with me all because of that.What is a brother whom you can not meet in times of distress? He says there is nothing going on in this family yet he forbade me from going over to his brothers. Well if he had not then I would not even bother going any way.The aftermath of the rape still loomed over me like a dark cloud. I am really not safe in this place but who can I confide in?I do not feel comfortable with Luciano nor any other family members of his. Oh God please help