Chapter 8

　　Jean's P. O. V

　　I woke up and found myself lying on the floor. The back of my neck is aching a bit. I peeked into the bed and noticed that Matteo is not there.

　　I fixed his bed and returned the pillow I used back on it.

　　I went outside the room and went into the kitchen. I toasted some bread and spread jam over it as my breakfast.

　　I ate silently staring at the blank walls. I have no phone to entertain myself with because Matteo took it before we get off the plane.

　　I decided to look around the manor to pass the time, a couple of maids passing by, ignoring me. I come across a room with a huge screen at the front and comfortable seats which I am assuming is the theater room.

　　I guess I'll try to pass the time with Netflix. I played a random episode of Friends.

　　I have rewatched this show too many times that there are times that I have memorized what they are going to say.

　　This is the show I watch whenever I feel like crap and I do feel especially that these days.

　　A few episodes after, someone came into the room. I look behind me to check who it is, turns out it is Keith. "What's up?"

　　"I've been looking everywhere for you.

　　I thought Matteo would actually kill me." He sat beside me with a bowl of popcorn in his hands. "You still watch that?"

　　"What? It's great!" I grabbed a handful of popcorn from his bowl and focused my eyes on the show.

　　"Matteo sent me to help you buy your gown for tomorrow and the wedding." He said looking at his phone, "We can go out after this episode okay?"

　　I nodded and sighed. I used to look forward to this day and now I am dreading it. What used to be a dream now became a nightmare. I stopped the episode halfway and looked at Keith. "Let's go."

　　"Wash up first, you smell like yesterday."

　　I rolled my eyes and walked back to our bedroom and gave myself a quick shower.

　　I rummaged through the clothes and pulled out a simple sundress and some brown boots because I really am too lazy to pick out something nice. Plus, I am most likely to wear and change into different articles of clothing since I'm going to try out gowns for tomorrow and the wedding.

　　I am so lazy today that I didn't even bother to wear makeup, but bothered enough to apply a nude lipstick for my pale lips.

　　As I opened the door out to our room, Keith was there about to knock. "About time, Missy. What took you so long?"

　　"What are you talking about? I didn't even bother to get ready." I rolled my eyes and walked out of the manor with him. I hopped in his car and he drove all the way to the mall here in Milan. Keith led me to the designer dress shop.

　　As we entered all the sales ladies bowed their heads unto us which made me a little uncomfortable, but given their status here, maybe it's understandable.

　　"Good afternoon, Madame. How may we help you?"

　　"We're just looking for some gowns for her engagement party. Please help her out," Keith instructed and proceeded to the couch and went back into his phone. The sales lady smiled at me and led me into their hangers of incredible gowns.

　　I have always loved dressing up so this might take some time for me. I scanned through the hangers and picked out a few gowns to try on. Clothes and makeup really does make me happy. I guess I enjoy all the little things I can enjoy while I can.

　　The first one was a simple baby pink, off-shoulder, chiffon gown that cascades down unto the floor. It makes me look innocent with its color. But it wasn't the one I want. I tried out the next gown which is a navy blue one, its fabric made out of satin.

　　She is pretty but is too formal for my taste. It looks like I'm about to attend a political meeting. Lastly, and might be the favorite one I pulled out, is the gold gown with spaghetti straps and a v-line cut. I tried it on and it really accentuates my slightly tan skin.

　　I love showing off my skin especially my back. My small breasts make that even more helpful to go braless at the time. This gown is perfect for that.

　　I smiled to myself. If only I was genuinely happy and loved by the man I am about to marry then all of this will be much better. I love him but he doesn't.

　　What am I to do with that? Maybe he was just lying for some reason but what reason would that be? I sighed, here I am with my false hopes again.

　　I walked out of the dressing room and walked towards Keith. He looked at me and observed me from head to toe. "You look nice," he said approvingly. "Is that what you're going to wear tomorrow?"

　　"I guess so.

　　How am I going to pay for it though?" Keith pulled out a black credit card. I pulled it from his hand and went back into the dressing room to change back into my previous clothes.

　　I looked at the credit card. I miss mine. I could literally run away now with this card. But that also means he could track me down as I spend it and also my parents' last breath.

　　I am caged here and there's nothing I can do but accept it. Matteo knows how much I am willing to do anything for my family and he is using that as a card to keep me down.

　　I handed the gown to the saleslady and paid for the gown. Keith and I walked out to the store. "So where am I going to get my wedding gown?"

　　Keith let me to a bridal store and everything looks even much more expensive as if I could exceed the limit of the credit card despite the fact that it doesn't have one. "Matteo already have something designed for you months ago,"

　　"Matteo designs?" As we entered the store, a woman walked over to us with a formal smile on her face. I smiled back at her.

　　"Welcome, soon-to-be Mrs. Moretti. We already have your wedding gown prepared for you. Follow me."

　　I followed her up into the second floor to the store and led me to a vault. She pressed in the code and inside shows a beautiful wedding gown beautifully designed with diamonds.

　　Looking at it reminded me of something from the past.

　　FLASHBACK

　　"Matt! Matt! Look!" I called out to him as he was busy looking for the game he wants to play.

　　"What is it, babe?" He walked over to me and sat beside me on the floor.

　　I showed him a photo from my phone of a beautiful wedding gown I found on Instagram. It is an off-shoulder wedding gown, skirt formed beautifully with layers of tulle, the ends are designed nicely with silver patterns, the tube covered with diamonds.

　　"That's what I'll wear for a wedding." I smiled at him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

　　"That's like years from now and for sure, someone already bought that by the time we'll get married."

　　"So what? We can have it designed." I rolled my eyes, "Do you think I'll look pretty in it?"

　　"Anything looks pretty on you."

　　FLASHBACK ENDS

　　It was just like the gown I showed him back then but better. My eyes are watering again. He's giving me mixed signals. I don't know what to feel about it.

　　Maybe he does love me but he was just too reluctant to show it. Is it okay to try and believe that? I know it might be stupid. I'm a smart person but so stupid in romance.

　　"Aww, it looks so beautiful that it makes you teary-eyed. Mr. Moretti had us design it. If you only knew how many drafts it took for it to look as beautiful as that.

　　He really loves you that much to make sure you have the perfect dress." the woman told me. I wish she was right. I'll have the slightest hope she was right.