Chapter 18: The Disturbance of the Shadow of Marriage
London's social season is like a grand and gorgeous masked ball, with undercurrents surging among the elegant ladies. At a luxurious dinner, the light from the crystal chandeliers illuminated the guests' glamorous appearance, but jealousy and malice were like poisonous snakes hiding in the dark, quietly spitting out their tongues. Antonio and Sofia walked into the venue hand in hand, and their happiness was like the bright starlight, stinging the eyes of some people with ulterior motives.
Rumors, like a sudden storm, swept the entire social circle. "Have you heard? Antonio and Sofia's marriage was not based on love, but a naked business transaction. Antonio's family tried to use Sofia's art to expand their own art collection and seek more commercial benefits." A woman dressed gorgeously but with a sour face whispered with her companions in the corner. Although the voice was low, it spread quickly like a sting.
Sofia accidentally heard these malicious rumors, her face turned pale in an instant, and her bright eyes dimmed. "Antonio, why do they want to slander us like this?" Her voice was trembling, and her heart was full of grievance and uneasiness. She knew that reputation was like a priceless treasure in this seemingly glamorous social world, and these rumors were undoubtedly a serious defamation of her and Antonio's reputation.
In the Antonio family manor, the atmosphere that should have been full of joy in the preparation of the wedding was also shrouded in a haze. At the family meeting, several family members frowned and raised objections to many details of the wedding. "Sophia wants to show her overly avant-garde works of art at the wedding, which is incompatible with the traditional and solemn wedding style of our family." An older family member said seriously. Another echoed: "And the catering arrangements for the wedding, some of the exotic dishes she proposed are really not in line with the family's consistent dietary traditions."
Sophia sat aside, feeling like sitting on pins and needles, and the huge pressure was like a heavy mountain, pressing her breathless. Every idea of hers seemed to be questioned within the framework of family tradition. She began to doubt whether she could really fit into the family and whether she could bring happiness rather than trouble to Antonio.
Antonio looked at Sofia in distress, and his heart was full of pity. He held Sofia's hand tightly and looked at her with a firm gaze, as if conveying endless strength. "Dear, don't pay attention to those boring rumors. Our love is real and pure, and time will prove everything. As for the family's objections, let's communicate together, and I will let them understand your intentions and talents."
In the days that followed, Antonio took Sofia to visit those family members who had objections to the details of the wedding one by one. They patiently explained the meaning of the wedding theme and the display of artworks, hoping that family members could understand that this was a unique celebration that combined love and art. In the face of disputes over catering arrangements, Sofia also proposed a compromise plan, retaining some traditional family dishes, while appropriately adding some exotic cuisines that are distinctive and acceptable to the public.
However, just when they thought they were gradually resolving these troubles, Antonio received an anonymous letter. The letter only contained a short sentence: "If you insist on holding the wedding, you will pay a heavy price." The appearance of this letter made the already complicated situation even more confusing. Were those who spread the rumors unwilling to give up and further escalated the threat? Or was there another mysterious force behind the scenes trying to stop the wedding? This sudden threat was like an ominous omen, hanging over their heads, adding new fear and suspense to their upcoming wedding. I wonder if under these heavy shadows, can their love and wedding successfully break through the obstacles and usher in the light.