Chapter 22

NO ONE'S POV

Silvia caught her mother's reflection in the mirror. She was standing behind her nervously wringing her hands. A gloomy expression was plastered on her pale face. Silvia could immediately tell that she had been crying before coming to her.

Silvia let out a weary sigh before waving off her makeup artist. Her eyes met with her mother's in the mirror and they held for a brief moment. After the door closed , Silvia turned around to face her mother with a glare.

" Silvia! Listen to me. I am your mother and l have your best interests at heart. You don't have to go through with this charade of a wedding, " Vanessa Paula pleaded with tears glistening in her dark eyes.

" We had this conversation again last night . Why do you insist on hating Lucas to the very end. Do you hate to see me happy , mother ," Silvia said sarcastically.

Vanessa's mouth flew open in disbelief.

"How can you say such a thing! I wish you nothing but happiness," she said tearfully.

" Then give us your blessing," Silvia responded in a firm voice.

" l don't trust him. He is going to hurt you," she choked out, gulping back tears.

Silvia's face hardened as she stared at her mother's damp face with pure distaste. Her mother always knew how to manipulate others into doing what she wants with her crocodile tears. Especially her father!

But Silvia wasn't about to bend to any of that.

" Are you that set on ruining my wedding! Just because you have been stuck in a loveless marriage for centuries, you hate the fact that l might be happier than you. You hate the fact that l am leaving home and you will be alone the whole day while your husband is out there entertaining his various mistresses. You hate to see anyone happy because you are not happy," Silvia blurted out angrily.

Vannessa's mouth hanged open in disbelief. She shook her head as more tears spilled down her flushed cheeks.

" Is that what you think of me? I know that marrying your father was my biggest mistake and he has emotionally hurt me for years but l would never wish anything ill to someone especially my own daughter. I couldn't leave him back then because l discovered l was pregnant with you....," her voice trailed off as she sniffed back some tears.

"I tolerated your father's tyrant ways for years because l couldn't bear to leave you with him. I was scared that he was going to turn you evil just like him," she continued.

A look of furry crossed Silvia's face.

" My father is not evil. You just hate him because he couldn't fall in love with you after all these years. It was an arranged marriage mother for crying out loud. What did you expect!"

" Yours is going to be one. Are you confident Lucas is not going to cheat on you even after being married. You still have a chance to back out before you enter this nightmare of a marriage. "

" Mother stop! Enough. I want you to leave right this instant," Silvia seethed at her.

The door suddenly burst open and Martin Paula strode in . He was wearing a dark blue suit . His huge face was creased into a smile. Vanessa quickly wiped away her tears.

Silvia masked her earlier emotions and put on a fake smile.

" You are the most beautiful bride ever," Martin said proudly as he stoop low to drop a kiss on his daughter's forehead.

" Thank you father."

"Are you ready now?"

Silvia swallowed nervously and nodded her head.

" What's wrong? You look sad," he noted.

Silvia cast him a small nervous smile.

" It's nothing . I am just feeling a bit nervous. "

Martin Paula threw his wife an accusing look.

" Don't tell me you have been feeding my daughter with nonsense again. If you ruin this for me, l won't be able to forgive you ,Vanessa, " he blurted out angrily.

Vanessa threw her husband a poisonous glare before storming out of the room , slamming hard the door as she went. Martin turned to his daughter with a smirk.

" You didn't forget what l told you , right?"

" Yes , father."

" Good. You have to make this work. Soon Moretti chain of hotels will be ours. Our company will be more powerful in the industry and we will crash our enemies and competitors once and for all. No one will ever dare oppose us," he mused with a wicked grin on his face.

Silvia nodded her head , the same expression mirrored on her face. A knock sounded on the door.

" Come in!," Silvia called out.

Lucas strode in , looking dashing in a black suit. His dark hair was gelled back in a stylish manner. He shook hands with Martin exchanging pleasantries.

" You do know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding right," Martin said with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Lucas smiled back at him,then,

" Those are all superstitions . l don't believe in that. I wanted to give my lovely bride a present before our vows."

Martin's smile widened.

" In that case, l need to be on my way out."

He winked at Silvia before walking out of the room.

" What present are you giving me?," Silvia asked with an expectant smile dancing in her eyes.

It was rare for Lucas to buy her gifts. The one time he did was on their engagement day , when he bought her an expensive diamond necklace. He sucked at being romantic.

Lucas gave a careless shrug before walking further into the room. He stopped before her and his smile spread into a lazy grin. Her heart gave a lurch and she inwardly cursed herself. Their relationship was supposed to be strictly business. Nothing good would ever come out of falling for Lucas. The man was a heartless jerk and she knew it.

" l lied to your father. I am actually here for something else."

Her smile collapsed at his words.

" Couldn't it wait? ," she asked coldly.

Lucas smirked at her.

" It has to be done before we take our vows. I have been postponing this for far too long. I think it's time," he said in a calm voice.

Silvia stared at him in confusion. Lucas took out a folded paper from his pocket . He unfolded the paper and laid it on the dressing table in front of her with a pen on the top. Silvia's smoked eyes widened as she read the paper before her.

" You want me to sign a prenup? ," she stated in disbelief.

She raised her smouldering eyes to him.

" Lucas! Is this the gift you had in mind for me?,"she asked with distaste.

His smile spread into a carelessly wicked grin.

" You think l don't know what your father is planning behind my back. He is planning on using you to kick me out of my very own company afterwards. I am never giving him that satisfaction. So l think it's better we set our limits now. You will have zero claim on my property after our divorce , if you are planning for one."

Their burning eyes held for a brief moment. Silvia backed down first . She gave him an evil smirk before grabbing the pen and scrabbled her signature on every page.

" You will never be able to get rid of me ,Moretti. We are stuck for life," she told him with a smug smile.

Lucas went to stand behind her. He began to gently massage her stiff shoulders. Their eyes met in the mirror and he flashed her one of seductive smiles that always worked wonders on her.

" Relax. You need to get rid of that furious face or else you will get wrinkles. Just put on your usual mask. We don't want to make a bad impression on our investors and clients . Do we?," he drawled.

" And you think l care about that!," Silvia fired back.

Lucas pushed her honey brown hair aside and sucked on her neck. Silvia groaned and threw back her head to give him more access to her neck.

" Enough love birds! Lucas , it's time to make your entrance, " Daniel interrupted them , his head peeking through the doorway.

Lucas groaned in disappointment.

" Don't you know how to knock! Wait for me outside. I will be right there," he barked out.

Daniel smirked at him knowingly before disappearing. Silvia turned back to Lucas , her eyes widened in surprise.

"Daniel is your best man!," she said in disbelief.

" Yes," Lucas calmly replied.

" Last week, you were at each other's throats! "

His face broke into a huge grin.

" He realised that l was not to blame for his breakup with Milady. He discovered that she was nothing but a slut. She was also having affairs with some of his investors. And he also couldn't bear to lose a gem of a business partner like me."

He said the last part with a wink.

****

Lucas and Silvia stood facing each other on the altar. The wedding was taking place in St Peter's Cathedral.

"Is there anyone among you today who objects to the holy union of Lucas Moretti and Silvia Paula. Let him speak now or forever hold his peace," the priest announced.

Everyone remained silent. The large double doors of the cathedral suddenly creaked open and a young lady with blond hair strode in.

" l do! , " she yelled and horrified gasps filled the air.

A/N: plizz guys show your support. Anyone who is excited for the next chapter?