He fists his hand in air. I place my hands on either side of my waist and stare at him angrily.

"Daddy this is not the time for jokes." He raises both his hands in a surrender. "I am sorry. Can we move out of the room now? Otherwise your mom will come and join us in our little kitty party."

I lour and walk out hearing my dad's soft sniggers behind me. Angelica gets up from her seat anxiously no sooner we come out and asks us if everything was alright and daddy tells her to relax. After sometime the dinner was served and once again the hall was filled with laughter and smiles.

****

Everything was perfectly done, the wedding decoration, the flowers, the seating and the arrangements of lunch except for the curiosity in my mind on who is the groom for my marriage. I am the first and would be the last unlucky  bride on earth who doesn't know the groom she is going to marry.

The music started both my brothers came to either side of me and kissed my forehead. For some reason I was feeling anxious though I knew whoever the groom was, if he ill treats me all his limbs would be separated and thrown in the four corners of the world by my mafia family. My dad and brothers appear to be mild and caring but those emotions are only for me to see. In actuality they are completely opposites to the world outside - cruel evil and vicious beasts.

My dad hands me the bouquet and walks me to the aisle holding my hand. He appears to be strong and smiling but I knew he was breaking inside his heart. Since the last two days he didn't leave my presence except for the times I slept. He would come and feed me all the three meals of the day on my bed itself. During sleep time he would read me stories from my fairy tale that he used to read when I was little.

When it comes to situations like this my mother is stronger than my father. Though she loves me she is not weak and rarely expresses her emotions. I walk in slow steps careful not to step on the superfine lacy material of the expensive gown which would have cost the Martins a fortune. I still wonder why. But my complete curiosity went to a stand still when I raise my head and look at the groom. My father speaks to him in a choking voice - take care of my daughter. Then and there I wanted to run away showing a finger to him but I cared for my father more.

The earth shattered under my feet and my world came to an end when my eyes meet the same icy-blues that stole my every dream but now my nightmare. The last person I wanted to see on my wedding day - Allesandro Martin, my groom, my would be husband and my better half that he is surely not.

Taking my soft little hand in his callused one he winks at me and lightly squeezes it. "I hope you came out of the stupor." The priest initiates the wedding vows and both us say to each other our promises. The ring ceremony was completed and it was the time for him to kiss me. Just as he was about to...I lock my eyes with his, sparking vitriol and spat my words with malevolence. "How dare you marry me without even giving me a hint of it Allesandro Jacob Martin? I swear on mother earth I am going to turn your life to a living hell and give you a reply to each slap you awarded me."

"Welcome to the living of every day ephialtes raised with inferno.

He gives me a crooked smile unfazed and kisses my cheek which gives an impression of kiss on the lips. "Let's see who wins this game Edith Penelope Rodriguez. Oh sorry now Edith Penelope Martin."

Chapter 27

Allesandro

The subsequent part of wedding went in a blur with me trying to initiate a conversation with Edith and she avoiding me like some kind of forbidden fruit.  "He is my adopted younger brother Adrian. My father rescued him in a road accident and I treated him back to life." I introduced Adrian to Edith with pride at the same time try to institute a talk to clear the fog of fight between us." Edith ignores me fully and extends her hand towards my younger brother. "Glad to meet you Adrian."

Edith's hostility was killing me. I could endure her anger, cherish her love, suffer her pain but I cannot stand her repugnance for me. I was in a dilemma regarding my opinion to stay tuned to her dad's decision. He did not wish me to share the truth with Edith and now I understood  how big a blunder it was that I have committed. I should have told Edith that I was the man who is to marry her.

Allen was frightened Edith would once again run away from home. Over the time she had gone masters in achieving the deed but I seldom doubt she would sneak off again if she knew I was the groom. Edith loves me so much and since the fruition of our relationship she desired me as her husband. The rejection was always from my side but never from hers. Yet today when I saw her expression for me at the aisle I felt a part of me lost my existence.

During my one and half decades of association with Edith, I found love, sometimes pain and at times intense passion for me. But I never saw aversion. Today was the first day that I saw revulsion for me in her eyes and it was my biggest failure. I unsucceeded with the love of my life. I shouldn't have listened to Allen.

Did Alessandro really make a blunder?