Chapter 102 - Dream Wedding

Days slowly passed but the odd feeling that had taken birth in Persephone's gut didn't pass with the passing days. It could be said that she was missing something but what exactly it was, she still couldn't put a finger on it. 

Sitting on the bed, she heaved out a sigh. She had realized that these days she had been sighing a lot. And yet she didn't know the reason behind such an act. 

It was as if even she couldn't understand the reason behind many of her acts. 

Throwing the duvet off her body, she placed her warm feet on the cold floor and sighed once again when she didn't find her slippers. 

Lord knows why but she had been in a cranky mood for the past few days. She didn't know why but these days she doesn't like talking to anyone. Mostly, she would be cooped up in her room except for the time when Doctor Maya would come to check her up. 

She learned that her father had grown overprotective of her. Every time she would have a migraine or fever, her father would wreak havoc and so she didn't find it weird that a doctor would come to see her every three days. 

Sighing, she entered the washroom to freshen up. Once she was freshening up, she thought of taking a shower and being done with it. Has she always been too lazy to bathe and comb hair? 

Once she had showered, she came out of the bathroom, she stood in front of the vast mirror and started sizing her up. An oversized towel was wrapped around her body. She pouted when she saw that her damp hair needed to be blown dry. 

Taking out the dryer, she started drying her hair. 

"How nice it would be if I had someone to dry my hair," Persephone murmured to herself.

Suddenly, she realized where her thoughts were going, and then she flicked her forehead to remind herself that she was indeed her father's daughter and she had to do everything to protect the honor of her family. 

"And how nice would it be if my unruly hair decided to get tamed for once in my life," Persephone grumbled under her breath. Her hair was transformed into wavy (almost curly) natural red. The green of her eyes was popping out because of her flame-colored hair. 

Letting the towel fall on the floor, she picked her undergarments but was stopped when she caught the sight of an ocean blue sapphire necklace against her neck in the mirror.

Unconsciously, she clutched the necklace in her hand. 

"Why don't I remember buying this necklace?"

Persephone said out loud. "Perhaps, it was random shopping just like this odd random tattoo on my heart. I wonder what I was thinking at that moment!" 

Once she was all dressed, she left the room to join the breakfast table.

...

When Persephone reached the breakfast table, she was not very surprised to find Emma Costas, Salvotre's fiance sitting next to him. She was also occupying the seat next to her. 

What surprised her wasn't the number of people attending the breakfast table but the man who was occupying the seat next to her on the other side. 

Nicolas damn Scuderi who else!!

Oh, yeah the person sitting next to Nicolas was no one else but her dear half-sister, Sophia. 

"Sit, Percy. We were about to call for you," Carina said with a soft smile. Feeling a burning gaze on her, she finds her husband staring, well, more like glaring at her. 

Alessandro had told numerous times not to talk with Persephone unless she talked to them first. They didn't know how she would respond to what they would say. 

However, Percy didn't say anything as she was too bothered by Nico's presence. She didn't know how long she would be able to ignore this man. For days, she had been ignoring his presence as she was taking advantage of her weird diseases and ignoring everyone. She would rather stay alone in the room than go out. 

Then again, when had they ever allowed her to go out?!

"So, Emma darling, are you ready for your big day?" It was Ginevra's sarcastic voice that drew Persephone's attention. Why did she feel like Nico's sister had some kind of unresolved grudge against her to be sister-in-law? 

"Ginevra," Emma said softly while meeting her eyes. One could see her eyes glistening as he heard the latter's accusing voice. 

"Eat," Salvatore said as he pushed the plate before her. It wasn't that he couldn't see Ginevra's prejudice against his fiancee, it was just that he chose to ignore it like ever as if he insisted on reprimanding her, she would definitely try to scratch the hidden skeletons, which he didn't wish to. 

Emma just stared at Salvatore. Like always, he said nothing. Perhaps, she should get used to it. 

Then again, wasn't she worth him standing up for him?!

"Emma dear, you should eat more," Carina said out of concern when she saw just how little her soon-to-be daughter-in-law had on her plate. Changing her tone, she joked, "We don't want the bride to faint on the aisle, do we?"

Emily, Emma's mother chuckled. "Carina, you know how girls these days are? They neglect their body and insist on dieting. Look at how thin Sophia is." Pausing, her gaze rested on Persephone whose plate had more food than two girls of age could eat. "Well, there would always be some exceptions…"

Her last words were spoken with obvious contempt.

What right did this impure girl have to eat on the same table as them? Not only was she sitting at the same table as them but she was too behaving as if nothing had happened in the last month. 

Did Don Marino really think that by prohibiting everyone from talking about those bloody sheets, they wouldn't know that his daughter had lost her innocence? 

Even if everyone was saying that those crooked people forced themselves on her, she didn't care because, at the end of the day, Persephone Marino had lost something that defined the value of a woman.

She was now just as good as the broken furniture in the house. 

Persephone looked up when she felt a burning gaze on her, when she found Emily Costas glaring her way with such intense and odd expressions, she raised her eyes in question but the older lady just sneered in return. 

She didn't remember Emily Costas being hostile to her before or was it just her illusion? 

"Richard had been seeing the security of the church this time himself although Micheal (Richard's brother) offered but we refused," Emily said despite the fact she saw her husband glaring at her to shut up. Marino's had always looked down on Costas and now that she got an opportunity to look down upon Marino's, how could she just give it up? Continuing she said, "After all, we don't want the previous incident to happen once again."

"Emily!" This time Richard spoke a little louder. Why couldn't his wife see how Don Marino's expression was turning darker with each said sentence. 

Persephone would have asked them what they were talking about but since the women of their community didn't speak when their men talk, she was silent although she was curious of what episode Emily was talking about.

If not for the fact that she was a daughter of Don Marino and was supposed to be meek before others, she would have certainly asked. 

Emily naturally kept her mouth shut after she heard her husband's raised voice. She was just contented with the little ridicule she had the chance to do with Marinos. 

"Have you made all the arrangements for the wedding?" Alessandro asked Richard who was unusually silent since the time he had entered their household. The happenings of a week ago had traumatized him to the core. 

When Richard realized that Alessandro was talking to him, he jerked out of the stupor and gave him a stiff nod." We chose not to invite many guests due to security reasons. Would you mind if only the family members attended the wedding ceremony, Don Marino?"

Understanding what Richard was trying to say, Alessandro just nodded his head. The fewer people, the better. 

Even though both the patriarchs of their families were pleased with their decision, the bride didn't appear too happy. 

Throwing a glance in Persephone's direction, Emma sighed. Why must she compromise on her dream wedding? She had been waiting for this day for almost eight years and when the day finally came, she was asked to compromise. Just how fair it was? However, she didn't hold the power to say anything or refuse the decision made by her father and father-in-law. 

.....

Author Note: 

The chapter marked unedited are raw chapters. Due to my extremely busy schedule, I am not able to edit them. But since I couldn't afford one missing day update, I am forced to update raws. 

Thank you for understanding