Chapter 11

After dinner , l went up to the guest room where Ferracco was temporarily staying. He didn't show up at dinner and l knew he was still mad at me. Because of my senselessness , he ended up being insulted in front of everyone.

I hesitated for a moment standing outside his closed door. After l gathered enough courage , l grabbed the door knob and pulled open the door.

His room was dark and empty. My heart began to beat faster in fear.

What if he decided to leave me at last?

God knows l couldn't take it anymore to lose one more person in my miserable life.

Then l noticed that the glass patio doors leading to the balcony were opened and the moon casted a pale glow on a gloomy silhouette standing on the balcony. I heaved out a sigh of relief.

I took a moment to observe him silently before announcing myself. Ferracco seemed oblivious of my presence. He was standing by the railing and looking at my mother's garden absently.

His sleeves were rolled up, revealing strong arms dusted with dark hair. His hands were thrust in his Jean's pockets. His dark hair was being blown aside by the wind. I felt the sudden urge to run my fingers through the dark locks of his hair.

Ferracco had showed up at the most vulnerable moment of my life and he had offered me comfort . To me , he was my only link to sanity. Without him here , l would have gone insane with grief. I didn't know what l had done in my previous life to deserve him.

My heart swelled with love for me as l stared at him.

How did l get so lucky to have you in my life?

I ran to him and hugged him from behind. I felt him stiffen for a moment before relaxing. He slowly turned around to face me. His face was pale and his eyes troubled. I looked into his dimly lit face searchingly.

" Are you still mad at me," l asked worriedly.

He removed my hands from his waist and ran his hand impatiently through his dark hair. A gesture of his when he felt helpless.

He gazed down at me intensely with his furious , blue eyes. I momentarily flinched . l have never seen him so furious. He was mostly sweet , polite and kind. I began to feel worried.

Did he decide the whole idea of "us" was insane?

" Ferracco.....," my words ended in a gasp when he suddenly gripped my wrists tightly in his hands.

" What the hell were you thinking back there!,"he blurted out angrily.

His hands were clutching both my wrists like some hot iron bands searing through my skin. I looked into his burning eyes and l saw my worst nightmare unfolding before my eyes in a slow motion.

Ferracco was leaving me! There was no doubt of that.

I looked into his eyes silently begging him as tears overflowed my face.

You can't leave me too!

Seeing my tears , his angry look immediately disappeared . His eyes turned soft and were filled with concern. With a deep intake of breath, he released my wrists. His hand clawed back his hair.

"Cara , forgive my reaction," he said in a low voice .

" l was just angry that you didn't consider me when you suddenly announced our relationship in front of everyone," he added in no doubt a pained voice.

I was aware of how selfish l was at the breakfast table but Claudius's rude behaviour left me no choice.

" l am sorry for being inconsiderate. I only wanted to.... "

" We clearly agreed that now was not the right time, Jane. How does that make me look in front of your family. We just buried your parents. We were supposed to wait until the mourning period was over and do things the right way by asking your Aunt for your hand in marriage. "

His voice sounded angry. I felt tears pooling in my eyes again at the mention of my parents. I realised how stupid and absurd l was this morning.

" l couldn't let Claudius treat you that way," l chocked out , gulping back tears.

Ferracco held my face between his strong hands and kissed away my tears. He looked down at me and the edges of his lips turned up.

" It was bound to happen. They were only being protective of you. I mean it's not even a week since we meet and we are already discussing marriage. To other people it may seem stupid and irrational. "

I smiled at him through my tears.

"I know," l said.

"Besides you can't go around fighting everyone who disapproves of me," he said with a grin.

"I think l can," l said as l laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes feeling relaxed by the steady beating of his heart.

Ferracco dropped a light kiss on the top of my head before wrapping his strong arms around me.

"Do you know that you can be a little stubborn at times," he said in an amused voice.

"So l have been told," l murmured against his chest smiling.

God had taken away my parents but he had not left me alone. He had gifted me with this handsome man holding me in his arms smiling.

For the first time after my parent's death , l did not feel alone. He held me in his arms and kissed me tenderly.

****

Eight weeks later , l was sitting in my wedding gown in front of my mirror smiling.

"You look beautiful, child," Aunt Amira said proudly besides me , sniffing back tears.

I turned around and squeezed her hand smiling.

"Aunt , stop crying . It's my wedding day not my funeral," l said.

Amira took out her handkerchief and blew her nose twice before looking up at me with a trembling smile on her lips.

"I just wish that Alice and Mr Augusto were here to give you away ."

A sad feeling settled over me as l remembered my parents. My parents would have been so happy to see me get married especially to a wonderful and considerate man like Ferracco. It was one of my mother's dreams to see me happily married.

"You can still do that , Aunt. After all you are now my mother,right?," l said blinking back tears.

"Oh , Jane," Amira whispered before hugging me for the umpteenth time since morning.

It was really an emotional day. I blinked back tears as l felt the familiar warmth always accompanied by Amira's hugs. Lola was still doing my makeup and l didn't want to spoil it considering l had few minutes left to walk down the aisle towards the man of my dreams.

Amira left shortly afterwards saying she was going to see if everything was ready for the wedding. She looked beautiful and radiant in a light blue suit and black heels.

Ferracco had bought them as a gift for her. Amira had nearly wept after she received them. Afterwards, when we were alone she had whispered to me,

" What a fine gentleman you got for yourself."

She was totally smitten by Ferracco now. She considered him a son she never had.

After Ferracco and l had resolved our little argument two months ago , he had gone back to Brasilia a week later. We called each other and texted a lot frequent. He visited every weekend. The family slowly began to accept him even the tough-to-please Claudius.

He became best of buddies with Lola only l didn't know that they were secretly planning for my proposal. He had surprised me one Saturday dinner a month ago when he officially proposed to me using his mother's ring.

I learned afterwards that he had asked Amira for my hand in marriage. Amira was delighted to know that Ferracco still respected the old ways.

We settled for a small private wedding at a local chapel , St Mary. The reception was to be held back at the mansion in my mother's beautiful garden.

That past month passed by in a blur as l prepared for my wedding in bliss. Ferracco would come on weekends to help organise the wedding. We would argue over silly things like the flavour of the cake , the number of guests etc but in the end he always gave in. He always did. I always had my way with him and it delighted me to no end.

Everything was going smoothly and perfect that at times when l was alone , l often wondered if something bad was looming in the corner. Claudius had even asked Ferracco for forgiveness.

Weird right!

"Perfecto!"

Lola's voice broke into my thoughts. She drew back from me admiring the makeup she just finished applying on my face. I stared at my reflection and nearly gasped. A much younger , beautiful version of me stared right back at me.

Lola's smile spread into a carelessly wicked grin as she stared at me.

"Ferracco will want to take you straight to your honeymoon suite when he sees you ," she teased me.

I nudged her in the ribs grinning whilst blushing to a fifty shades of red. Claudius peeked his head into the room grinning.

" It's time ,Jane," he said.

He was giving me away.

****

"Here comes the bride" tune started to play and l knew it was my cue to enter. Butterflies began to erupt in my stomach.

I was finally getting married to Ferracco!

Claudius squeezed my hand and flashed me a assuring smile. I felt glad that l had him to support me.

The double doors of the chapel opened and l walked in , down the aisle on Claudius's arm. He looked handsome in a navy blue suit. Lola was trailing behind us as my bridesmaid in a brown mermaid dress .

The aisle looked beautiful. It was strewn all over with red roses. It all seemed magical.

I noticed Amira on the benches smiling through tears. I smiled back at her suddenly feeling nervous and excited. At the end of the aisle stood the most handsome man in the room smiling.

My heart leaped to see him. We stared at each other from across the room and time seemed to stop. My brain tunned out everything , the piano playing , the guests .

He looked very dashing in a black suit and white bowtie. His dark, glossy hair was gelled back.

He came forward and shook hands with Claudius before taking my hand and led me to the altar.

We took our vows to love and cherish in pain and in joy. The priest announced us husband and wife. Ferracco removed my veil and looked down at me with blue smiling eyes before sealing our promise forever with a kiss.

A/N: Buckle up your seat beats , lovely readers because we are in for a long dramatic ride.

Plizz don't forget to vote and comment. It motivates me.