Chapter 105 - Lucian Marino

"Emma, you made an enemy out of me the day you betrayed him," Ginevra whispered as her gaze rested on one particular door down the hall. 

If she could, she would have killed this traitor a long time ago. People like her didn't deserve to live. Then again, death was too little of a punishment for them. 

Emma's face trembled as her gaze followed Ginevra's. In a trembling voice, she said, "I-i I didn't betray Lu…"

It was as if her conscience didn't allow her to call out his name. Probably, she was too guilty to even call out his name.

"I didn't, Ginevra," Emma said, tears making their way down her cheeks. 

Ginevra just sneered at her. "You know why I didn't kill you with my own hands?"

Emma just looked at her with painful expressions. She now knew why she deserved all the misfortunes that had befallen her. 

Continuing Ginevra said, "Because death is too easy a punishment for you. Seeing you dying every moment wallowing in guilt is giving just another kind of solace to me. You know the kind of solace that you can't describe in words." 

"I'm more sorry than you can ever imagine, "Emma whispered, clutching her dress in her fist. "Even though my regret and remorse can't bring him back yet I can't do anything but beg for his forgiveness." 

"Are you even worthy of his forgiveness?" Ginevra sneered. "You are the villain who destroyed not just him but a happy family of four too. The Palmero's. Never forget them, Emma. Lucien may not be back to collect what you owed him but the Palmero girl, Lucien lost his life for, would one day come back to claim what you owe her. Maybe that day, your life wouldn't be enough to repay the debt." 

"I'm not the villain," Emma sobbed while falling to the ground. "I'm not the villain of anyone's story. I did nothing wrong."

"And one more thing Emma," Ginevra said while turning back before leaving. "Happy marriage with the man who you no longer love and who would also never stand up for his woman like a real man. You both deserve each other. May you have a hellish life with the fucker." 

… 

On the other hand, Persephone was aware when Carina had opened the door to her room. She was awake when she had tenderly caressed her face before leaving. 

This stepmother of hers was giving her damn creepy vibes these days. And what's with her showing her love all the time?!

[Oh please, don't say she has changed for the better. I, Persephone, would never believe that a stepmother could ever love her stepchildren like her own.] 

[Probably, she is showing off her loving mama act to my papa.]

[Why must my papa be stuck with such a woman?]

[Suddenly, I miss my mama.] 

After a few minutes when Carina had left her room, Persephone quietly left her room too. 

Wearing the cardigan over her thin top, she left her room. Unconsciously, she was walking to no particular destination. She didn't know why but she was feeling too empty. This emptiness inside of her had no name. This restlessness and the void inside her heart were inexpressible. 

What she was feeling right now was more like she had lost herself. She found herself alone even in her big family. She had friends and family who would give life for her yet she had no one to call her own. 

[Why do I feel like I have lost the most precious thing to me?]

Her clutch on her sapphire necklace tightened as she asked herself this question. 

Again, when she touched her cheek, she found herself quietly whimpering. 

Even though she was crying while walking to no destination, she had no idea why and for what she was shedding these tears? 

[What's wrong with me?]

...

It was Emma and Salvatore's wedding day. Just like every bride, Emma was nervous about her special day. She had waited eight years for this day and now that it had finally come then why couldn't she be as happy as she had initially thought? 

Looking at the beautiful bride in the mirror, all she felt was troubling emptiness. 

Shouldn't she be shouting with excitement and dancing with enthusiasm now that she is getting married to the person she always wanted to? 

What crimes had she not committed to getting him? 

And what price she not paid to get him? 

Now, that she was getting him, shouldn't she be overwhelmed with happiness? 

Shouldn't she weave tales as to how she would be leading her blissful married life?

She should do all these things, right?! 

But why all she felt right now was just emptiness and a dire urge to cry? 

"My daughter looks so pretty!" Emily said, wiping her tears. As the mother of the bride, she couldn't express her happiness in words. Her daughter was marrying the only worthy man in this world and so how could she not be happy beyond words today? 

Moreover, her daughter would have the highest status among her peers and their parents in their community! She would be the wife of the heir to one of the biggest mafia of New York. 

Seeing her mother wiping her tears, even Emma teared up. Emily leaned down and kissed her forehead tenderly. "My daughter is the world's most beautiful bride." 

Why couldn't she feel the beauty of this beautiful attire? 

"Thank you, mama," Emma whispered as her gaze rested on her reflection in the mirror. Her delicate face was Barbie beautiful, her long blond hair was tied in a bun and a tiara was placed on her head to complete the hairstyle.

By all means, she was looking like a Barbie princess, the kind of Princess any girl could trade their most treasured fortune to attain it. But she was tired of this face. She was tired of hearing how she had wasted a pretty face. However, as long as she married Salvatore, everything would be alright. Her mama told her this. 

"Emma darling, you must become a good wife to Salvatore," Emily then reminded her. "He is a man of immense power and if you want to keep your position as his wife stable, you must do things according to his liking." 

Man of immense power? Wasn't it Don Marino? Wasn't Salvatore dubbed as someone whose glory came with his father's name? He had nothing of his own, not even his achievements. In all terms, he was a true pretty prince. 

It wasn't Lucien who was a pretty prince but Salvatore in reality. 

"Mama?" Emma looked surprised. "What did you mean by stable? 

Emily sighed as if she couldn't believe it was her daughter. " Although he is marrying you, it doesn't mean he will stop taking mistresses. Our men do a lot of work that is out of our understanding. Even if we don't want to, they would always go for goomahs. Salvatore would be the same, honey. You have to learn how to be a perfect wife from Carina if you want to be Salvatore's wife till your last breath." 

Emma could just look at her at this moment as she didn't know what to say in reply. 

This woman in front of her was her mother. The same mother who brought her to this world with great pain only to be thrown into another. 

This work was asking her to live peacefully with her husband's mistresses. She, as the legal wife, must not stoop to the level of lowly mistresses, to gain the affection of her husband, was this what her mom was saying? 

"I will be right back," Emily said as she saw her husband's message on her phone."Your dad and I will come to take you to the aisle in a few minutes. Until then, make yourself ready." 

Emma just nodded her head. Her mind was in shambles right now. 

Closing her eyes, she didn't know when and how she fell asleep. Last night, due to distress, she could just toss and turn on the bed. Sleep was the last thought on her mind. Maybe that's why her tired body couldn't take it anymore and collapse on the chair she was sitting on. 

"Emmaline?" Emma heard a familiar voice calling her name. 

'Emmeline.'

No one had ever called her Emmaline except for one person. 

And that person was no longer in this world. 

But how could she hear him right now? 

Looking ahead, she found him leaning against the doorframe. 

His thin and lanky body was just as tall as the door frame. Even though he is just a teenage boy, he has grown taller than his papa. And did she mention how beautiful he is? 

No wonder, everyone calls him a pretty prince. Despite knowing what this boy is capable of doing, they refuse to acknowledge his talents and powers. 

His emerald green eyes were as nonchalant as ever. The silly smile hanging on his lips was nothing but a facade to hide the savagery that this boy was capable of inflicting and she knew it better than anyone.. Despite the air of barbarity surrounding him, the bright halo on his head wasn't ignored.