Chapter-8🌜 It is what it is.
William's POV
Five Days.
Alessandro Belladonna's apathetic words pounded in my skull.
He said it like, he doesn't care about this marriage-when he is the one who's doing the business meeting.
Now, I am sure the killer is his son, but still-this deal is for the whole Belladonna group, so...
Oh yeah, his lack of interest wouldn't be in the profit but in the grooms.
Yeah...not groom, but grooms.
Of course a gay marriage would be irrelevant for him.
But now is not the time to be an ally...
I WOULD BE WEDDED IN JUST FIVE DAYS WITH A MAN!
Without my will.
I would have to move in, change my entire life-as if there's much left-in just five days.
I want to keep a neutral face, but I can't help it-My eyes are twitching because of the news, and I can't feel my lower half...it's like my legs have turned to jelly.
Because all of the blood is rushing to my head, to my brain. I can feel my face heating up, because it's turning red.
And a million thoughts are running through my head. About the signs I just witnessed today.
About Zane's words, which I just want to forget...
About what will happen after these five days.
I don't even realise the Belladonnas are leaving until I feel eyes on me. I look that way, and it's-
It's Vance. He has turned around and is now passing me a dirty look.
A look that makes me feel goosebumps arise on my skin, with alertness.
What The Actual Fuck? Why would he look at me like that?
Vance's presence has never been a good sign in my life.
But, I thought-as now he is out of college-he would leave me the fuck alone.
He even introduced himself, as if this is the first time he's meeting me.
"...It's good to finally meet you." He had said. Finally??
And I was like-'Oh so we are gonna play the pretend game, huh?'
Because I would have preferred it that way too.
I never liked him.
Never will.
The things he has done-unforgettable.
He just smirks and turns around to leave with his family.
The memory of the look he passed me after punching me in the nose was so similar to this...
Just the thought of it, made my nose wrinkle and twitch, as if it's still aching.
"See where you are going nerd!" He had said and left with his girlfriend.
But now I feel another pair of eyes-and I don't wanna comment on how I already knew whose it would be-it's those same olive green eyes that I was fixated on... to see the deception in them.
When he had promised, "...I will make sure of your comfort."
I didn't see it, but I am sure, it's because he hid it well.
But right now, those eyes are passing me a look of concern, that I don't want to acknowledge.
So I look away, because I don't want to let him see me like that.
I don't want to be vulnerable in front of him.
I don't want another man to call me, "Weak."
Moreover, I can't let my enemy see me unshielded.
So after a moment, when I turn back-he's gone.
??
I am just in my room thinking about what happened tonight.
Why Vance passed me that look.
What does it mean?
And will he bother me-when I will be at their house-like he did in college?
Is my past bully, another thorn in my way?
And why would my actual nemesis pass me a look of concern?
JUST FUCKING WHY?!
Why is he playing these mind games with me, first those false promises, and now those concerning looks?
Ughhhh-he wants me to go mad. Yeah, he wants me to be an easy target. It's the only reasoning that I have.
Because anything else wouldn't make sense.
He can't actually be nice, it's just an act.
He's a pretentious man, who can act so well. But his actions show his real personality.
Expose his true self.
God just the thought of him makes my jaw tighten.
Just then, there's a knock on my door. And that makes me pause.
Who could it be?
What time is it-I flip my upside down phone lying on my bedside table to check time, and it shows-
2:00 A.M.
At this time-wait!
Has he come back to finally end me.
No-No! OH FUCK!
It would make sense, he killed Romie and now he would want to kill me.
Ugh! I shouldn't have been rude to him. Of course, my hatred gave me away... told him, I know! So he's here to kill me!
Oh my god, Romie...I am coming, darling.
Okay-okay no need to be dramatic, why would he kill me? He wants me for this marriage. For this deal. Moreover, why would he knock so gently?
Killers don't knock. Or, at least they don't in those murder mystery movies...
And definitely not these soft knocks, right?
But just to be safe-I pull out the white canvas lying under the bed-yuh it would work.
But oh god, it's heavy! But at least that would make sure to bust his head, or give him a concussion...maybe even a skull fracture, who knows?
There's another knock, this one is lighter, and I move towards the door, the canvas in my hand, slowing down my movement.
I make sure I make no sounds of movement when I put the canvas down to unlock the door, but don't open it, before picking it back up.
My grip around it tightens, all the worst case scenarios making my pulse rise.
It's ride or die.
Grow a pair William! You can do it!
The person opens the door and I am ready to strike-
"Woahhhhh! WAIT-WAIT!" My mom says, raising her hands up-her eyes closed.
I stop mid strike, the heavy canvas just above her slick bun.
"Mom?" I say.
"What the hell, Will!" My mom says, her breathing heavy and her hand on her chest, as if her heart is beating so fast. "You scared me!"
"Urm, you scared me!" I say, in my defence.
"You don't need to kill me son, I am still so young." And yup, it's none other than Shimona Oberoi. The lady who kept me in her womb for nine months and ten days.
"I thought it was a killer! It's 2:00 A.M. Mom!" I say, and then continue, "And I thought, you were at a business conference..."
"I was..." My mom says, her lightly teasing tone of earlier gone and now another expression is on her face. "But then I found out you are getting married..." She trailed and-what? Does she sound sad?
Now? After, she was basically absent most of the time. Just busy in her business meetings and I was alone with...dad.
She chose business over everything. Over me.
And now she's finally...sad?!
I resist the urge to shut the door on her face. Because how dare she?! Now is not the time for her...whatever this is.
She wasn't there when I needed her, so...not now either.
"Yeah I am." I say in a curt tone.
"Oh son..." Her eyes are teary. "Can I come inside?" she asks hesitantly.
I nod without a word. And she sits on the couch near my bed.
And says, "I didn't know...you liked men..." her guilt dripping from her voice.
What the-
"I don't!"
She blinked, once-twice and then...
"Then what about this marriage?"
So she's not aware of this either?! Ughhhh!
"It's all dad. It's for business...for dad." I don't explain more than that.
She looks shocked, her eyebrows frowning, "Jacob is forcing you? For business?" She looks angry but mostly sad.
And now I notice the tiredness on her face. Her work attire. Seeing the time, she has definitely come straight from the office.
"He is and yes." I answer word to word, because what will she even do, If I say more than that?
My mom stands up, "No! I will talk to him. I won't let him destroy your life-"
She's about to leave, but I stop her.
Because I know how it will end, she won't be able to change his decision.
As she couldn't a million times before.
This will end with a red mark on my mom's already tired and aging face, maybe more...
"Don't. Please don't." I say, my voice is pleading to her. Almost begging.
And she freezes mid way, "W-Why son? Do you want to marry him?"
"I don't. B-but we both know how it will end mom..." I don't complete it.
He would hurt her.
Apologise.
And she would accept it...like always.
And he would get what he wants...like always.
A tear drops from my mother's eyes. And I can't help but move forward to wipe it.
I'll be honest, I don't hate my mom, she has always been kind to me.
Just not available...
I won't say I don't have any grudges...but I understand her.
Dad would hurt her, and she would be gone for days...for weeks-on her business meetings.
She won't let me see her hurt. To see the scars on her body. To hear her screams.
But I have seen-stuff, and I know. So it's better to let it happen-if you can't change it.
"I will marry Zane Belladonna in five days, mom. I have accepted it." I say monotonously. "It's better if you do too."
She doesn't say anything but just more tears drop from her eyes. And god, if I don't hate this sight.
But it is what it is.
This marriage is going to happen.
Whether we like it or not.