No One’s Pov

Lily stood up, but before she could even draw a breath, a shadow fell over her. A thin cold wire looped around her throat, snapping with a violent jerk.

She gasped, her hands gripping around the metal digging into her skin.

Behind her, was Elias with smirk. His clothes were soaked in fresh and dried blood, his face pale as a ghost, yet his grip was harsh. Even with a hole in his chest, the fury in his eyes kept him standing. He leaned into her ear, his cold breath fell over her.

Lily didn’t panic instead her training kicked in, she shifted her weight and swung her leg back with a force, catching him in his fresh wound.

Elias grunted, his knees buckling, and Lily seized the moment to spin around. She grabbed the ends of the wire, her knuckles white as she tried to pin him to the bloody floor. A dark ugly bruise was already beginning to bloom around her neck.

Elias looked up at her, his lips stained red. He spat a mouthful of blood onto her and let out a dry chuckle. "You think... you and your lady... can actually kill me?"

Lily tightened her grip, her expression stony, but before she could finish the job, a heavy iron rod swung through the air.

It connected with the side of her head with a loud bang.

The world tilted. Lily slumped to the floor, her vision started to blur.

She tried to push herself up, her fingers clawing at the rug, but a boot stepped on her back.

Elias took the rod from his man, leaning on it heavily as he loomed over her.

"I could finish you right here," he rasped, his voice dropping to a terrifying whisper. "I could snap your neck and leave you for her to find. But I won’t. Do you want to know why?"

Lily only glared at him through the blood dripping into her eye, her jaw set in silent defiance.

Elias’s smile widened as his eyes shone with dark desire. "Because I want you to warn her. I want you to look into those pretty eyes of hers and tell her... her death is coming."

He turned away, coughing harshly into his hand. "Throw her out. Somewhere she’ll be found."

Flashback Ends

The bedroom fell into silence. Vivien stepped closer, her heart aching with a mixture of guilt and shock as she finally noticed the dark bruise hidden beneath a layer of makeup.

"The only person that can keep you safe right now is Lord Dante, my lady," Lily said softly, lowering her head. "That is why I told him to keep you. I knew even if you managed to run far away, Elias was going to find you and eventually harm you"

"I know what you did was only for my good, but Lily... I can’t be with a crazy psychopath," Vivien whispered, her voice trembling as she looked toward the window. "Dante’s obsession is terrifying. It’s the kind of thing that’s only ’great’ when you’re reading it in a book. In real life? It’s a nightmare."

Lily looked at her lady, her expression softening for the first time.

"I know, my lady. But please, trust me for now," Lily said, her voice low and steady. "I promise you, once the path is clear and the threat is gone, I will make sure to take you away from him. Even if it costs me my life."

Vivien stayed silent. She wanted to believe her, but the reality was pressing down on her chest.

In the end, there was no way around it. She was going to walk down that aisle. She was going to have to marry Dante.

The rest of the night passed in a chaotic state of Vivien’s mind.

While the mansion was quiet, Vivien couldn’t catch a single minute of sleep.

Thankfully, Dante didn’t visit her. But even his absence was terrifying in its own way. He’s giving me rest, she thought, her stomach doing a flip. He’s being ’merciful’ because he knows exactly what comes after the ceremony.

The thought of the "wedding night" sent a sudden heat to her face. Despite the danger and the fear, her mind betrayed her, replaying the way he had looked at her, the way he devoured her and the possessive heat of his touch.

She tossed and turned, her face flushed red against the spillows, her brain stuck in a loop of anxiety and a strange, unwanted anticipation.

By the time the first pale rays of the sun began to enter through the curtains, Vivien was a mess. The wedding day had arrived.

______________

"Good morning, my darling!" Nonna’s voice boomed as she walked into the room, followed by a small army of maids carrying steaming trays, garment bags, and enough beauty products to stock a department store.

The moment she laid eyes on Vivien, she gasped, her hands flying to her cheeks. "Omo! Why do you look like that? Didn’t you get any sleep, darling?" She didn’t wait for an answer before her face broke into a mischievous grin.

"Oh, probably you were too happy to even sleep, isn’t it?"

Vivien sat slumped against the headboard, dark circles under her eyes and her hair a tangled nest. She was far too exhausted to play the part of the blushing bride.

She just gave Nonna a flat stare that screamed- Are you actually serious right now?

But Nonna was vibrating with too much joy to notice the sarcasm. "I can’t believe it! Today you finally, officially become a part of our family! A Moretti at last!"

She clapped her hands, turning to the staff.

"Hurry up now! Maids, help her freshen up and feed her a proper breakfast before the makeup artists and designers arrive. We have a long day ahead!"

Vivien looked at the closed door, then back at Nonna. "Wait... am I still not allowed to leave this room?"

Nonna tilted her head, her smile remaining perfectly sweet even as her eyes stayed sharp.

"No, darling. You are not allowed to leave. Who knows if your mind might change and you’d decide to run away?" She let out a tinkling laugh, as if she were joking.

Vivien’s lips twitched into a crooked forced smile. "You are... very funny. Ha... ha...of course I would never do that" unless I have to the chance to....but she didn’t said the last part.

As the maids began to swarm her, drawing a bath and laying out silk robes, Vivien slumped her shoulders and stared at her reflection in the vanity mirror.

"Yeah, I am doomed," she muttered under her breath.

Afterwards..

She was scrubbed, polished, dressed, and then pinned into the chair as the makeup artists kept working.

Brushes flicked, sponges dabbed, and hairspray filled the air. Vivien’s head was spinning from the fumes and the lack of sleep.

If I ever manage to get back to my own world, she thought grimly as a stylist tugged at a curl, I am staying single forever. This isn’t a wedding; it’s a marathon in high heels.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the artists stepped back and cleared the way for the mirror.

Vivien froze. The girl looking back at her was breathtaking. Her skin glowed and her eyes, highlighted by subtle smoky shadows, looked deep enough to drown in. She looked like the top class model she once used to dream of becoming in her real world. Her mouth hung open in genuine shock.

The door creaked open, breaking the shock on her face.

"Hey, have you seen my sister? The one who’s supposed to be the bride?" Lucian’s voice drifted in as he walked into the room, adjusting his cufflinks.

Bang!

"Ouch! Why did you hit me!" Lucian yelped, rubbing the back of his head and glaring behind him.

Marcella stepped into the room, looking elegant in a deep jewel toned dress.

She rolled her eyes "Who else would be sitting here in a wedding dress, you idiot? It’s obviously your sister."

Lucian turned his gaze back to Vivien, and for a moment, his usual smug expression completely vanished. His jaw actually dropped. He blinked, staring at her for several seconds before his brain finally rebooted.

"Holy shit," he breathed out, leaning in closer. "That’s a ton of makeup."

Bang!

"Ouch! Now what was that for!" Lucian turned to Marcella again, looking betrayed.

"Just say I look beautiful! It won’t cost you any money!" Vivien huffed, grabbing a pillow from the chair and looking ready to throw it at him.

Despite the banter, a small part of her felt a pang of warmth. It was the first moment all day that felt... normal. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"You look... okay, fine," Lucian muttered, straightening his jacket and clearing his throat.

"You look like a Moretti queen. Dante’s going to lose his mind." He said with a smirk.

Vivien felt a sudden heat creep up her neck.

The heck am I blushing for? Snap out of it! she scolded herself internally, trying to reclaim her dignity.

This was a forced marriage to a literal mafia boss, not some fluffy romance novel!

_______________

The car eventually pulled up to the venue. It was breathtaking, private estate beside ocean.

The air was filled with the scent of white roses and sea.

As Vivien stepped out, she saw a small group gathered. Her parents were there, standing stiffly.

Her father, usually a man of cold silence, looked away the moment his eyes met hers. For the first time in his life, a flicker of genuine regret crossed his face, seeing his daughter look so elegant and grown-up made the weight of his years of neglect finally feel heavy.

Her mother, too, felt a sharp pang in her chest. She adjusted her handkerchief, her eyes glassy with a regret that came far too late.

The decorations were beautiful. Every detail from the aesthetic lighting to the specific arrangements of her favorite flowers- was perfect.

It was the wedding of her dreams, but the groom was her living nightmare.

And speaking of the nightmare...

Dante was waiting at the altar. He wore a custom tailored black tuxedo that made his broad shoulders look even more imposing. He was always handsome, but today he looked more handsome.

When their eyes met, Vivien felt her entire body go hot. Her hear thumping fast and for a split second, she forgot to breathe.

Dante, for his part, didn’t even try to hide his reaction. He didn’t blink, his gaze locked onto her with a intensity that made the air between them intense.

He only saw her. He wanted to skip the pleasantries, grab her, and claim her right there. Every second she wasn’t officially Mrs. Moretti was a second he was losing his patience.

Vivien finally reached the altar, her vail rustling behind her, and stood in front of him.

The priest began to speak in a slow hum..

Dante’s jaw tightened. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes flashing with a dangerous impatience as he glared at the poor man.

"Hurry it up," Dante hissed, his voice low that didn’t reach the guests but definitely reached the priest.

The priest’s eyes widened in terror. He gulped, his hands shaking as he gripped his book, and suddenly began reciting the vows at double speed....

Everything seemed to be too perfect to be true. But wrong

It was a peaceful silence before the storm.

Unknown to them, a pair of deadly eyes were watching them intensely.

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TO BE CONTINUED