Hope

Aria POV

I was doing the dishes in the kitchen when suddenly Becca rushed in screaming .

"Girllll!!!!."

"Uff Becca Uff! , your screams would eventually damage my poor eardrums one day." Ma'am Serena glared at her .

"Sorry aunt Serena." She giggled.

"But you have to come to the Veranda now Aria , Mr De'Leon Relatives are here , his aunt Salma and cousin Reneè , came with a lot of gifts , they said it's all from Theodore." She squealed .

"Really?" I blushed.

"Of course girl , he's so into you." She fanned herself .

"Alright dear , you should go , don't keep them waiting , I will prepare some snacks and bring them along." Ma'am Serena smiled .

Becca squealed again and took my hands pulling me out of the kitchen.

I got to the Veranda and Becca was right , there was a lot of gifts bags , wow!.

"Hi Ma'am." I greeted politely.

"Call me aunt Salma dear." The older woman smiled at me , then she looked at her daughter .

"Reneè." She simply said.

I smiled .

Then aunt Salma gave me a bigger bag , "try that on." She smiled at me.

I nodded and took it to the nearest spare room to change , Becca followed me.

I opened the box and saw a very gorgeous wedding dress.

"Wow , this is so beautiful Aria , awwwn , I want my own Theodore too." Becca whined playfully.

I chuckled .

"Come on , try it on already."

I pulled off the gown I was wearing and tried on the wedding dress , then I stood in front of the mirror.

"I want to cry now , you look so beautiful Aria." She cooed.

I smiled .

"Let's show them." She said and we walked out back to the Veranda.

"It's really beautiful just like Reneè guessed." Aunt Salma said .

I turned to look at Reneè .

"Yes , I picked it." She smiled slightly .

"Thank you so much , I love it." I smiled widely , she just nodded , I guess she doesn't talk much .

"We are glad you do." Aunt Salma said .

Just then Ma'am Celine walked in, when she saw Aunt Salma and Reneè , she forced a smile and walked towards me .

"Daughter , why didn't you inform me we had guests?" She asked still smiling.

"You are so very much welcome." She smiled at them , aunt Salma smiled back.

"We didn't want to bother , we just had to deliver the gifts." Aunt Salma said .

Then Ma'am Celine turned to look at me , her eyes roamed over the wedding gown.

She forced a smile again, "it looks very beautiful on you sweetie."

Sweetie? , I mentally rolled my eyes , she should definitely win an Oscar as the best actress .

"Come on , let's have tea together before you go." She said to aunt Salma.

"Alright , Reneè?"

"It's fine mom , I can just stay here with Aria." She smiled.

Then they left , it was just me and her , there was silence.

"Thanks for the dress again." I smiled at her .

"Aria , can I ask you something?" She suddenly requested.

I nodded.

"Are you in love with my cousin brother?" She asked .

"Uhm , I... i really don't know , um, I mean We just met." I answered unsurely.

"Sorry I asked , I just wanted to know if you really want to get married to him and you aren't being pressured, if you ever feel pressured , you don't have to do it okay?." She said and smiled slightly , I simply nodded not knowing what to say to her .

"Reneè ." Aunt Salma called out to her .

"Think about it well." She said and then left with her mom .

I sighed , I guess she really cares about her cousin.

I didn't even know what to tell her , I'm not sure of my feelings yet.

Soon , it was evening , Preparation for my engagement party was going on , it was tomorrow.

I was restless , I couldn't sleep , I decided to go to the swing.

I told Becca to cover for me , not that anybody would really notice , they seem so busy , I haven't even seen dad around much these days .

I would just go and return quickly anyways.

I rode Silvia to our favorite place , but when I got there , the old rusty swing wasn't there anymore , it was replaced with a brand new one.

"Wow , amazing." I squealed like a little girl.

"I'm glad you like it." I heard Theodore's voice .

I turned around surprised , "let me guess , you followed me again." I smiled.

He chuckled , "kind of . I actually wanted to see you , I came to the mansion but I saw you leaving , so I decided to follow you." He said.

"Why did you want to see me?" I blushed .

He tucked the hair covering a little part of my face away , "I wanted to see your beautiful face."

I giggled , "but you could have seen it tomorrow."

"Well , I couldn't wait." He smiled , I blushed again and looked away from him towards the swing.

"Did you change it?" I asked him, he nodded.

I felt my heart swell again , the things he does for me .

Without thinking , I hugged him.

I felt him stiffen , he was probably surprised.

"Thank you for everything." I whispered and pecked him.

He looked at me as if he was studying every part of my face.

I smiled and walked to the swing , I sat on it.

"Push me, I want to go higher."

He chuckled and pushed me lightly , slowly , he increased his efforts.

The night got darker , it was getting late .

"It's getting late now , I will head home." I said trying to get on Silvia , he held my hands in his.

"I will walk you home." He said.

"But.."

"No buts Aria."

Our hands entwined as he held Silvia's Leash in one hands.

This was so sweet , but I was also very scared , now Dad is going to find out I sneaked out of the house again.

We got to the gate of the mansion and I collected Silvia's leash from him.

I smiled , "thanks , you should get going now."

He ignored me and opened the gate , my heart was beating very fast now , I gulped.

He still held my hands and then we walked inside .

Dad was sitting at the Veranda with Ma'am Celine and Martina .

"Mr Romano , I hope you don't get angry that I kept your princess out so late." Theodore said .

I practically cringed at the word 'princess' .

If only he knew , I was the completely opposite of that , but of course I can't tell him , Dad was his business partner , I wouldn't want anything to affect that , moreover we would soon be married , i would start a new life with him and I would finally forget about all the torments I received in this mansion, with that my heart swelled again.

"It's fine , she's your wife afterall." Dad said forcing a smile.

"Alright then , I would take my leave , have a nice night." He said curtly to Dad and then turned to me , he pecked me and smirked slightly before he left.

I watched him as he walked out of the gate , I gulped , my fantasy is over , I'm back to my reality.

I was about going to my room when I heard,

"Aria!" Dad called out angrily.

He walked up to me and pulled my hair .

"Is this how you carry yourself! , you are a disgrace to the Romano family , going out with a man at this time of the night!"

I cried out , his grip on my hair was very painful , "Dad please.."

"You should be thanking us for doing you a Favor by finding you a husband, otherwise no man would ever marry a slut like you." He yelled.

"Is that why you gave him Martina even when he chose me initially!" I yelled back.

Everywhere went silent , ma'am Celine had a shocked expression, while Martina looked at me viciously.

Then I received a hot slap on my face from Dad , he threw me to the ground roughly.

"It's a good thing , you are getting married , take your badluck with you , once you finally leave this mansion , there's no coming back." He said and walked away angrily.

I cried bitterly , ma'am Serena and Becca rushed to meet me.

They hugged me .

"Why , why me?" I cried .

"It's okay , it's okay my child , it's going to be over soon , you are getting married soon , you are leaving here to a better place , with a man who loves you , it's okay dear." She rubbed my back.

I sniffed , she's right , everything will be fine soon , I have only one hope and that's Theodore.

Reneè POV

"Reneè." I heard my mom called.

"Are you asleep?" She asked .

"No mom." I sat up.

"How are you?"

"Sad , bitter , depressed." I sighed.

"All those gifts mom , we have been married for a year but I haven't even received any from him , heck! He doesn't even acknowledge me as his wife , I can't sleep in his room , he doesn't allow me to." I complained.

"Figlia , I know , but we have to be patient."

"For how long Mom , how long? , in my eyes , my husband is getting married to another woman!" I slightly yelled.

"This is all for the revenge , you are his only wife , even if Theodore forgets that, Mrs Alexandra will never forget that .

This whole property , the wealth, everything would be ours someday , just a little patient." Mom said.

"I don't even care about the wealth , I just want Theodore to be mine only ." I said sadly.

"And he would , but not this way daughter , pull yourself together! ... goodnight." She pecked my forehead and then left.

I threw the pillow at the door angrily.

"Oh Theodore , you won't get rid of me easily , I will always remain the only woman in your life."