“Papa wants me to marry Fabio, but I can’t do it. He is horrible,” I whispered.
Nonna looked at me unsurprised.
“You’ve heard about the betrothal, haven’t you?” I asked, searching her face, feeling a tinge of betrayal that she did not tell me. Was I the only one not consulted about what was going to happen in my life?
“I have,” she replied, her kind eyes sad. “You don’t like him?”
“I loathe him,” I said with a shudder. “And I want absolutely nothing to do with him.”
“My goodness, such passion,” she said mildly.
My eyes filled with tears. “Please help me, Nonna. I absolutely cannot get married to him.”
“Sweetheart, don’t you think you are being too hasty? You both have only had one interaction with each other. At least give it some time. Don’t dismiss him so easily, based on your perception after one meeting. When you come to know him, you will realize that he is indeed a decent man. I’ve known and watched him for a long time and—”
“Nonna,” I cut her off and stood. I couldn’t believe what was happening. “Don’t tell me that you’re with them on this? You want to barter me off too?”
“Sienna!” her call was sharp. “Your father is very concerned about you, and up till now, I haven’t seen any other man that will be able to step up and handle all the—”
“I don’t understand why I have to be someone else’s responsibility in order for it to be acceptable for me to exist. What is going on? I don’t matter? At all? My desires and wishes don’t mean a damn thing to anyone? I’m not allowed to even chart the course of my own life?”
“Sienna,” she warned.
But I was too hurt to care. Of all the people in the world, I thought Nonna would understand. “What the hell is this? If this was the plan you all had in mind, then why did you tell me to return from England? I was safe and protected there wasn’t I? Why the hell am I back here?”
“Sienna, try to understand your father,” she said. “He is incredibly worried about—”
“Nonna, I wish he would keep his worry to himself because that unsolicited concern is the guise under which he’s going to ruin my life.”
With a sigh, she rose to her feet. “You need to rest. It has been a very long day for you. Get some sleep and when you wake up, you will be in a better frame of mind. Perhaps then, we can have a real conversation.” She took her leave.
I was left standing in the middle of the room in complete despair. I grabbed my phone and called Christine.
“Hey,” she answered on the second ring.
“I need to get away,” I told her. “Can I spend the night at your place?”
“Uh, sure,” she replied. “Is everything all right?”
“For now,” I answered. “I’ll tell you the rest when I see you.”
“Alright, I’ll send the address to you. When will you be here?”
“I’ll leave right now.”
“You’re okay, aren’t you?” she asked, in a worried voice.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
As my phone pinged with Christine’s address, I went towards my closet to grab the biggest purse I could find. I dumped the toiletries I would need inside it, included a change of clothes and underwear.
I jumped guiltily when I heard a knock on my door. Stuffing the bag away, I went to open the door.
Gemma stood there holding a tray filled with a pot of tea and a plate of pastries. “I brought these for you,” she said.
“I could have come down for these, Gemma,” I said, attempting to take the tray from her.
But she shook her head and went past me to put the tray down on the coffee table by the window. Then she straightened and looked at me. “Are you all right?”
I shrugged. “I’ve seen better days, but yeah, I’m fine.”
“Your father wants to see you in his dungeon,” she said.
I could see the anxiety in her eyes and this made me sad. I didn’t want Gemma to have to choose between loyalty to me and the man who paid her wages. I didn’t come back here to cause trouble amongst the people I loved most in this world. I walked up to Gemma and pulled her into my arms. “Don’t worry, Gemma. It’s going to be okay. Honestly, it’s all going to be fine.”
“Maybe, the boy has a good heart,” she whispered.
I forced a smile. “Maybe.”
She nodded. “He will protect you.”
If it had been anyone else I would have told them I didn’t need an arrogant swine like Fabio to take care of me, but I didn’t want to worry Gemma any more than I already had. I nodded. “Yeah, I’m sure it’s for the best.”
“All right. You better go see your father now. He is waiting.”