THE BRIDE - By Shaxee
Chapter 29
The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance. -Brian Tracy
Claudia Orsini’s POV
“What are you doing here?” I asked my husband—the birthday celebrant as soon as I saw him enter the library where I waited for Marco. He told me that he had a very important announcement to make today. I am eager for his news.
“Marco told me to wait for him in the library.” Alfonso who is dashing in his tuxedo suit informed me. “He wants to have a word with me.”
That sounded suspicious. He had not visited us last week as he always did during the weekends now he was suddenly announcing something in the middle of his grandfather’s birthday celebration.
“What do you think he will say to us, Alfonso.” I inquired of my husband as I studied the ring that belongs to the collection he bought when he lost the bet.
“Damn, if I know.” He answered while pouring himself a glass of whiskey in the decanter.
“Alfonso…” I warned.
“What?” He asked innocently, sipping the liquor. “It’s my birthday.”
I sighed and voiced my concern. “I have a bad feeling about this?”
“What—” Alfonso got interrupted when the door of the library abruptly opened.
I got to my feet and stared at the new comer.
Madre di Dio!
What is happening here?
Who is the beautiful woman on my grandson’s arms?
It was supposed to be Francesca! Francesca!
What the hell is happening here? I need an answer! Now!
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“Claudia,” Alfonso moved to my side and placed his hand on my waist to give me a squeeze. He whispered for my ears only while eyeing the new arrivals. “Compose yourself, storms appear to be raging in your eyes. I could see it.”
I didn’t trust myself to speak right this moment. My nerves were shaking, what is this nightmare I am experiencing. What about the wedding I have planned almost every night?
“Nonno. Nonna.” My evil grandson filled the silence. “May I introduce Signorina Laila Fiorenza, my fiancée. Sweetheart, these lovely people are my grandparents.”
Fiancée…fiancé…fiancé…fiancée… The word echoed in my brain like a broken recorder.
Have I somehow stepped into a different dimension here? This is not happening to me. This is unjust vexation. I need justice!
“How do you do?” The raving beauty in black demure gown greeted us with elegance. She’s beautiful, well-mannered, accomplished with fine elegance but she’s so wrong for Marco.
They are so mismatched! Oh, Dio, I need a whole bottle of aspirin to dull the severe headache I have now. “I hope you are glad that I finally presented my bride to be to you.” My idiotic grandson announced arrogantly, his eyes gleamed like gemstones. “Now you can stop your schemes in finding me a bride. Let’s go, Laila. I will introduce you to the guests outside.”
Once the couple left us gaping openly at the closing door, “What had just happened?” I asked of no one.
“I believe that Marco finally presented his bride to us.” Alfonso calmly replied, pouring himself another glass of whiskey.
“But that woman was supposed to be Francesca!”
He shrugged. “Apparently, she wasn’t your grandson’s choice.”
“Pour me a glass.” I said to Alfonso to calm my nerves. I can’t believe that Marco blindsided me on this one. My husband laughed as he gave me the glass of whiskey I asked for. “Maybe you failed in your matchmaking scheme this time, my dear.”
“Oh, shut up!” I glared at him darkly, drinking the fiery liquid in one gulp. “I will have Marco and Francesca married.”
“Easy…” Alfonso said with shock on his face. “That’s not water you are drinking. Its whiskey, wifey.”
“I will not back down easily.” I ignored him and walked towards the window, eyeing the progressing party below.
A calculated smile fitted my face when I saw the Duke and Duchess of Caprielle finally arrive. “Oh, there’s the duke and duchess.” I said moving away from the window walking straight to the door, my gown swished on the carpeted floor. “I better greet them.”
Tatiana Cavelli’s POV
“Tatiana, we have a situation.” Claudia Orsini said as soon as she caught sight of me. Lucca and I attended the birthday celebration of Marco’s grandfather, the formidable Alfonso Orsini.
“Situation?” Lucca asked with a frown looking at me and then to Signora Claudia. “What kind of situation?” I laughed at the Signora and nodded discreetly in Lucca’s direction. Silently telling her that Lucca doesn’t have any idea of our secret partnership. It seemed that she got it immediately.
“Oh, it’s nothing, really. It’s just for another gown I will wear later.” She lied smoothly. “Can I borrow the duchess for awhile, Your Excellency?”
“Sure.” Lucca said but I could see in his eyes that he’s still unconvinced by the alibi Marco’s grandmother had provided.
“Excuse me, Your Excellency. Come, duchess.” The Signora practically dragged across me the picturesque garden. “We have a situation.”
“What kind of situation?” I asked the elderly woman, trying not to trip on the gown I wore. Besides, it is so difficult to walk with this heeled shoe.
“Look at that.” She gestured towards the striking couple near the fountain talking to a group of people. “My worst nightmare has just come to life.”
Oh my goodness… “Who is that girl on Marco’s arms?” I whispered to the Orsini matriarch, looking discreetly at the couple.
“My evil grandson introduced that girl to us awhile ago as his fiancée, she’s Laila Fiorenza.”
“Fiancée?” I asked in bewilderment. “But I thought—”
The woman beside me snickered. “He blindsided me. How could he do that to me? What about my plans? The wedding invitations are almost done.”
“They are done?” I gaped openly at Signora Claudia Orsini. She’s really a fast worker. So Marco and Francesca’s wedding arrangement is already completed.
“What shall we do?”
I shrugged, eyeing the striking couple in the center of the group. “Maybe Marco loves that girl, Signora.”
Claudia snorted waving her hand as if that’s the most absurd thing she had ever heard. “Look at the boy, Tatiana. His eyes are lifeless and when you look at them together they are so bland. No sparks, no chemistry. Nothing. He is so different when he is with Francesca, his eyes sparkle with fire in their depth, he is so alive. Francesca is his soulmate. I know it.”
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“Where’s Francesca, by the way?”
The elderly woman nodded to the far end of the garden holding court with a few handsome men. Clearly they were flirting with her.
“She hasn’t gone near Marco and his fiancée since she arrived. What shall we do, Tatiana?” She asked in desperate tone. “Shall I fake a heart attack and have my dying wish be to see them married before my demise?”
My eyebrows shot upward. “That’s quite a drama, ma’am. And after the wedding ceremony, will you regain your health miraculously?”
“You've got some point there.” Marco’s grandmother admitted and thought for a moment. “Hmm…what about locking them in a tower and refusing to let them out until Francesca gives birth to their first child?”
I stared at her in horror. “That’s so medieval.”
Claudia groaned, starring helplessly at the couple near the fountain and the woman at the far end of the garden. “What shall we do? I can see my great-grandchildren are slipping away from me. I am expecting the first one to be born before the end of this year.”
“Signora…”
The elderly woman’s eyes flashed with deviousness in their profound again. “I know what we will do, Tatiana.”
“You do?” She merely smirked in my direction. I have a feeling that we are going to trouble ourselves here. “All we need to do is acquire few James Bond skills, dear. We will spy on that lady on Marco’s arms.”
“No, we are not…” I stared at her in disbelief.
“Yes, we are, duchess.” Claudia announced with such conviction in her voice. Her outlook turned one hundred eighty degrees in an instant. She became so cheerful. “Come, duchess. It’s time to introduce you to his fiancée.”
Francesca Marcolini’s POV
I walked through the silent corridor of the manor of the Orsini family praying that I would collide with a housekeeper to ask for Signora Claudia’s bedroom. I got a text message from Marco stating that his Nonna was not feeling well and she’s alone in her bedroom, mind if I checked her condition.
As much as I hated to admit it, I'm practically lost in this huge fortress. What shall I do? I look around desperately. I am now on the second floor frantically looking for the right room when suddenly in the silent hallway, a door unexpectedly open at my side and a pair of large hands wrapped around my waist and dragged me inside the dark room.
I squealed but a strong hand clamped my mouth tightly and pushed my back to the hard wooden door. My eyes widened when I saw blazing fury in those pitch black eyes.
“Who the devil gave you permission to flirt with another man?” I stared at him in horror as he slowly removed his hand from my mouth. I took a deep measured breath to calm my heart rate.
“I don’t know what are talking about, Marco.”
“You don’t know?” He asked, we were only inches apart. I could see the glittering dark fire in his eyes, his strong legs practically crowding my thighs. “Are you trying to make me jealous, darling?”
“What if I am?” I smiled mischievously in his direction. I meant it as a joke but he took it seriously. For now his eyes burned with desire.
“Fine, you win.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“I win, how?”
“You really love it when I am mad with jealousy, isn’t that right, darling?” He asked like a predator conquering his prey. “Fine. I will show you how jealous I am of those bastards who flirted with you awhile ago.”
“What about your grandmother, Marco?” I said breathlessly. “She’s—”
“So slow.” Marco said in dire amusement. “It was a set-up, love. I concocted that tale so you would come up here.”
I glared at him. “That’s horrible.”
“Whatever.” He retorted, looking deep in my eyes. “I will teach you not to play with my jealousy, Francesca. Or there will be hell to pay for it.”
“What are you trying to do?”
“You are mine, Francesca. Mine.” He announced arrogantly like a king he thought he was, before stripping my gown off my body.
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