CHAPTER 5 - Novalie & Adriano

NOVALIE

I wipe the tears in my eyes finally calming down after my third breakdown today.

I couldn't ignore it any longer, reality creeping in.

It's currently 6:34am and we're currently getting ready for the wedding at 9. They keep trying to put makeup on my face but I keep ruining it with my sobbing. My whole family just talked to me, hugging, comforting and reassuring me that everything will be okay. Mum begged me to stop crying so here I am now. Giving the artists another chance to do their thing.

"You ready for me to make you look more beautiful than the absolutely sexy damsel you already are baby girl?" Ricardo, my make up artist says trying to cheer me up. I've known Ricardo for a while now, he even chose my fit and did my makeup on my last birthday. He used to have a thing for Miguel though. Until he found out Miguel was straight.

"Sure" I say giving him a small smile as I take my seat.

Ricardo starts his work while his assistant passes him everything he needs as he says and two other of his workers do my manicure and pedicure. I just stay still as everything is being done.

Arianna and Mia arrive just as they finish and I get up to greet them. Ricardo and his team leaves the room and I start putting on my dress with the help of mum and my in-laws.

I look at the mirror and admire how good I look with everything on. I turn back and see everyone teary eyed and just then, I too was about to start crying but I couldn't cause Ricardo would get so mad so I just chuckle as they all give me hugs.

"You look so beautiful baby girl" my mum says.

"You really do caro and I'm incredibly proud of you for being so strong." Arianna hold my hands and looks into my eyes, her teary blue eyes looking back.

"So I really am gonna have a pretty big sister too huh" Mia says and I giggle.

Miguel walks in and gasped once he saw my look. "Oh my- sissy you looks so good! I might have to go warn Adriano real quick to up his game else he's gonna be upstaged" Miguel hypes me up making me feel better.

"There's nothing he can do to compete with this beauty" Mia says

"And who's this cutie?" Miguel says smiling at her.

"I'm Adriano's sister" she responds

"Ah and I'm just meeting her, I'm pained" he says dramatically.

"You've got ten minutes little sister got any advice for the single folks like me?"

"Continue being a whore and you won't be getting married soon" I whisper to Miguel and he chuckles

"Not happening. Love is outta the books for me." he says ignoring my advice. Ignorant bitch.

Dad comes in too and signals me to follow him into the room that leads to the wedding entrance.

I hug everyone again and they wish me luck as I follow pa's lead.

"Me conoces, niña, nunca haría nada para lastimarme y lo siento mucho por todo esto". Dad says in Spanish once we're out of the room.

[You know me baby girl, I would never do anything to hurt you and I'm so sorry about all these]

"Sometimes, somethings are greater than our capabilities and things like this tend to humble us. Adriano has promised to not hurt you and I don't trust him not to but whatever happens, be strong baby girl." He now says in English and before he gives me the chance to talk, he continues.

"Tengo que reunir mis tropas y ganar más poder en el negocio para salvarte. Pero como máximo, dos meses deberían ser suficientes. Sé que estás confundido y quizás no lo entiendas ahora, pero muy pronto lo harás. Ten mucho cuidado con él, está bien". Daddy says to me hugging me tightly as he reassures and gives me the explanation he can. He says it in Spanish I think cause he doesn't want the Italians to catch on if they happen to overhear.

[I have to gather my troops and gain more power in the business to save you. But at most, two months should be enough. I know you're confused and might not understand now but very soon you will. Be very careful with him okay.]

"Don't cry baby girl, you look so pretty don't ruin it okay. Remember all I've told you and keep safe. I'm really sorry and I love you more than anything in this world, don't ever doubt that" He says resting a small kiss on my forehead and I try to blink away the tears on the verge of pouring out of my eyes.

"I love you too papa. Don't take too long" I say to him with a small voice, drained from all these.

Just as Papa and I finished our conversation, the wedding music started playing and some guards walked up to us opening the grand door infront of us as we stepped out and started walking.

They were so many people here and a lot I didn't know. All of them affiliated in some way to both the Italian Mafia and the Mexican cartel.

I maintain a small smile on my face as I look straight ahead to at Adriano across the room. He was dressed handsomely in a dark green suit matching the sepals and stems in the little flowers on my dress. His blue eyes contrasting with the suit's color but still captivating all the same.

Adriano smiles widely back at me as we approach him.

Once we reach the altar and daddy is handing me over to him I notice the look they give each other. It's all but friendly and dad nods curtly at him as if they were conveying a secret message only them could read through.

Adriano stretches his hand, gesturing me to take it and I do as I climb the small steps leading to the altar and as soon as we're both standing in place, the priest starts.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are gathered here to celebrate the union of Adriano Milano from the Italian mafia and Novalie Escarra from the Mexican cartel, forming an alliance between the mafia's."

The priest starts and the audience claps pleased with the union

The priest makes a speech before going straight to the point;

"Do you, Adriano Brontolorone Milano, take Novalie Grace Escarra to be your lawfully wedded wife. Do you promise to love her, comfort her, honor and cherish her, in sickness and health, in trying times and smooth, in lean times and full, all the days of your lives? If so, say, I do."

Adriano wastes no time as he plainly says "I do" with no emotion in his eyes.

The priest then turns to me, "Do you Novalie Grace Escarra take Adriano Brontolorone Milano to be your lawfully wedded husband. Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and cherish him, in sickness and health, in trying times and smooth, in lean times and full, all the days of your lives? If so, say, I do."

I take a deep breath as I speak but nothing comes out. I clear my throat and finally it comes out in a scratchy voice, "I do"

I feel a tear cripple down my eyes as I quickly wipe it away. Tears I've been trying to blink away since I was walking down the aisle were threatening to escape my eyes and I will myself to stop it after that one tear.

Time passes and we are now to say our vows. Adriano just said his and it's now my turn.

I actually didn't prepare my vows, I planned to just say whatever I was feeling at that moment without care of how anyone will feel about it.

"I never really imagined being a bride anytime soon but Adriano came into my life and here I am. If you had asked me two months ago if I wanted to to get married, I would have curtly said no cause I really didn't. I still don't-" is what I say when my resistance breaks and another tear rushed down.

"I would rather be at home in my pajamas eating snacks and catching up on my favourite series. I really don't want to be here right now but was I given a choice? No. I can have a literal melt down here on stage and at the end I'll still have to be married off today. I don't understand why all these is being forced on me but I guess it doesn't really matter if I do, does it, Adriano?" I say tears consistently flowing down my cheek now. I had willed myself to not cry and ruin the make up since but I couldn't hold it any longer.

"Well thank you Adriano" I say moving close to him. Hitting his chest repetitively like a child having a temper tantrum but I felt I had too. I felt I had to inflict pain on him too in my own little way.

I look up at him now and force his neck down to my height and smash my lips into his. Kissing him and for a second he kisses back. Bitch.

He doesn't he realize this is not the time?

I let go and stare at the audience, tears still pouring down my cheeks as I speak again "That's what you guys all wanted huh? That's all right? I'm married to this man now. Can I go home now??" The last part comes out barely audible as I felt my air being restricted. I tried to take in breaths but my breaths had already gone from erratic to sparse.

I felt like a finally recovering patient starting to feel hope but was then stabbed deep by a total stranger. Adriano was setting back and suppressing my recuperation and becoming an impediment to my progress.

Just then, he pulled me in for a hug. Letting me stain his suit with my wet makeup from my teary eyes.

ADRIANO

I know infact I'm a horrible person.

I know I'm wrong to hurt her and cause her this type of pain but I really can't tell her why.

Maybe when or if she finds out she'll understand but for now, I'm truly sorry.

I hug her tightly, whispering little sorry's to her, begging her to breath while giving her little kisses on her head as well.

But that wasn't enough, I never expected it to be.

I totally understand when she pushes me away, escaping my grip after she finally calmed down and was now breathing steadily. She gathers her gown up lightly and runs away from me and everyone and back through the doors she came from and potentially into the room she prepared in.

My Mum, Mia, Miguel, her dad- Antonio and her mum- Elena chase after her.

I'm left standing alone on the altar with the priest. My Dad walks up to me from behind and places a hand on my shoulder.

I felt like shit

Probably cause you are shit.