Chapter 74: Chapter 74
Edith
The next day I called my father and within two hours I boarded the flight. After the fight I didn't see Sandro in the house or receive a call from him but the next day when I boarded the flight I had around ten bodyguards to accompany me to the airport. The chief security was having an ear piece tucked the complete time giving Sandro the information on every step I make towards getting to the flight.
My marriage preparation was going on at a full swing in the house. In a way I was happy for earning the slap from Sandro. All my stupid fantasies about him washed away like dirt. My mind is now clear like a clean sheet of paper. In a way I need to thank him. Had I lost my virginity to a man other than my husband after all these years of staying celibate I could have never excused myself.
Sandro is a dominating personified beast who cannot treat woman with respect. I wish he doesn't come to my marriage at all.
Two days before marriage Augustus and Angelica came to our house. Angelica is very loving and a caring mother. Augustus is a gentleman very polite and affectionate, completely opposite of Allesandro. I wonder from where Allesandro had got all those egotistical dominating genes. I saw fatherly affection reflect in Augustus's eyes for me. Angelica presented me a gold necklace studded with diamonds along with matching pair of ear rings and a set of bangles for wedding.
I was shocked how could someone give a friend's daughter such a costly gift. She bought me my wedding gown too and asked me to pair the necklace with my wedding dress. All these things seem very weird to me. Why would Angelica get me the wedding dress? Why are my parents approving to it? And the weirdest of all how did she know my measurements?
My parents, Augustus and Angelica were talking to each other like a family and discussing things about marriage like their son and daughter are getting married. Thank heavens Allesandro is not my groom. Otherwise for my complete life I need to sit and cry marrying an egotistical creature. I was planning on doing my dress shopping since last ten days but my parents always had some reason to postpone the purchase. Probably they knew Angelica was getting me my wedding dress.
Though I like my dress and jewellery I am getting more irritated by all these developments. Couldn't my dad afford to buy me a wedding dress, why would someone else but it for me? Well I had no patience to wait furthermore. I clonk on my feet and sit on my daddy's lap with my hands folded facing him with a scowl on my face. The enormous guest room went to sudden silence and my mom stared at me in angry looks but I cared nuts for her heated gapes. My dad turns to her and calmed her with his looks.
"Daddy I need to speak to you in privacy." I tell him firm and he raises both his eyebrows in surprise. He apologizes to the guests and walks inside to one of the guest bedrooms situated downstairs with me. "Princess, is this the way to behave in front of the guests? What would people think? Do you want your daddy to cut a sorrow figure in the looks of his friends?" He softly scolds me soon after locking the door. "And do you think Angelica should buy me my wedding dress when my father very well can buy it? Doesn't that hurt me?"
To my surprise dad wasn't going anywhere serious but on the contrary controlling his smiles. "I'm sorry princess Augustus wanted to buy the wedding dress for you. It is their family tradition and I couldn't deny him of that." He shrugs as if it is a matter of no seriousness. "What? Is it a tradition in their family to keep buying wedding dresses for their friends daughter's wedding?" My dad bursts to laughter holding his belly that tears came out of his eyes with the impact of chortles. "Do you like the dress princess? Otherwise I can tell Augustus to buy you another one."
I grit my teeth. "Yes I like the dress but dad I would be the first bride on earth who doesn't know who is her groom. Tell me is this justifying?" He tilts his lips. "Sorry princess, we all love you so much but it is just that we do not trust you anymore. I have already become the talk of the town with your crazy stunts. This old man's heart cannot stand if you pull another before your wedding. That's why the groom's identity is kept a secret from you."
I stomp my foot to the ground in irritation. "One mistake and I'm bearing it's brunt for life." I mutter to myself and see my dad in silent laughs from the corner of my eyes. "So you are not going to buy me my wedding dress. Isn't it? Please daddy.... Daddy look at me." Holding his face in my hands I turn it towards me.
"It is their family tradition princess and I shouldn't disagree to it. It is unethical. He tells me in arresting chuckles. "Daddies are not supposed to laugh at their daughters like that. Say sorry to Edith." I tell him in a reported speech, the same I used to talk to him when I was small. Directing him to the bed behind I sit on his lap like usual with my hands folded. "You look cuter when you go angry princess, do you know that?" I hit the bed with my hand in fist. "Allesandro also smiles like this whenever I'm angry."
"Is it? So he also finds you cute?" I tune my index finger to him. "Daddy, that's not the point here. Nobody is going to speak about Allesandro in this house. I'm in a fight with him and so all my family members are enemies with him." He nods. "Okay, as you say princess." He folds his hands to his chest mimicking my action. "Daddy you are acting innocent that you are actually not."
"Is it Princess?" He pulls me to his chest and draws his hand from my head to my back. "Daddy says sorry. Sandro told me about the fight and he should be taught a lesson. Let's do it together." He fists his hand in air. I place my hands on either side of my waist and stare at him angry. "Daddy this is not the time for jokes." He raises both his hands in surrender. "I am sorry. Can we move out of the room now? Otherwise your mom will come and join us in our little kitty party."
I lour and walk out hearing my dad's soft sniggers behind me. Angelica gets up from her seat anxiously no sooner we come out and asks us if everything was alright and daddy tells her to relax. After sometime the dinner was served and once again the hall was filled with laughter and smiles.
****
Everything was perfectly done, the wedding decoration, the flowers, the seating and the arrangements of lunch except for the curiosity in my mind on who is the groom for my marriage. I am the first and would be the last unlucky bride on earth who doesn't know the groom she is going to marry.
The music started both my brothers came to either side of me and kissed my forehead. For some reason I was feeling anxious though I knew whoever the groom was, if he ill treats me all his limbs would be separated and thrown in the four corners of the world by my mafia family. My dad and brothers appear to be mild and caring but those emotions are only for me to see. In actuality they are completely opposites of the world outside - cruel evil and vicious beasts.
My dad hands me the bouquet and walks me to the aisle holding my hand. He appears to be strong and smiling but I knew he was breaking inside his heart. Since the last two days he didn't leave my presence except for the times I slept. He would come and feed me all the three meals of the day on my bed itself. During sleep time he would read me stories from my fairy tale that he used to read when I was little.
When it comes to situations like this my mother is stronger than my father. Though she loves me she is not weak and rarely expresses her emotions. I walk in slow steps careful not to step on the superfine lacy material of the expensive gown which would have cost the Martins a fortune. I still wonder why. But my complete curiosity went to a standstill when I raise my head and look at the groom. My father speaks to him in a choking voice - take care of my daughter. Then and there I wanted to run away showing a finger to him but I cared for my father more.
The earth shattered under my feet and my world came to an end when my eyes meet the same icy-blues that stole my every dream but now my nightmare. The last person I wanted to see on my wedding day - Allesandro Martin, my groom, my would-be husband and my better half that he is surely not.
Taking my soft little hand in his callused one he winks at me and lightly squeezes it. "I hope you came out of the stupor." The priest initiates the wedding vows and both us say to each other our promises. The ring ceremony was completed and it was the time for him to kiss me. Just as he was about to...I lock my eyes with his, sparking vitriol and spat my words with malevolence. "How do you dare to marry me, without even giving me a hint of it, Allesandro Jacob Martin? I swear on mother earth I am going to turn your life to a living hell and give you a reply to each slap you awarded me."
"Welcome to the living of every day epilates raised with inferno.
He gives me a crooked smile unfazed and kisses my cheek which gives an impression of kiss on the lips. "Let's see who wins this game Edith Penelope Rodriguez. Oh sorry, you are now Edith Penelope Martin. Isn’t it?"