I knew I would wake up in the morning and Dario wouldn't be here, I imagine he doesn't want to see me or think I will beg him to stay but I won't do that. Despite everything I still have pride and shame on my face, I would never beg to live like this so I decided to run away, I just hope this plan works. My life depends on this, I think that this chance that fate is giving me is precisely to change and fulfill all my dreams.
Before leaving I go through all the rooms of the house observing every corner of this place that was my home but at the same time my prison, I would miss it here. Different from the Ferraz mansion, in this place I met the great love of my life but also my worst tormentor, it would be difficult to get used to life outside of here since I have always been a prisoner, but it would not be impossible. To get to know the world has always been my dream, but now that this dream is about to come true, I feel fear, dread, and even panic.
- I need to get a job and I have to study. Oh my goddess, I am so anxious!
- No need, Cecilia, everything will be fine!
Until that moment I thought I was alone, but Thomas was in the room, I had never seen the man in front of me like I did now. He really looked like a soldier as Dario referred to when talking about the men who served the Mafia, but he's different as if he's not a bad man but of course he's not because he's going to help me escape, only a good person would do that for someone they don't even know even at the risk of being caught.
- Thomas, I wanted to thank you for your help, I will be eternally grateful for that, I can never repay you for what you are doing for me!
- Keep being my sister's friend find out what ails her heart, I know something horrible happens to Luana but if you are such a friend of hers, you will find out and tell me!
I knew very well what happened to Luana but I would never tell him, this is not my story to share. Besides, it would be very unfaithful of me to tell something that Luana shared with me in a moment of distress and sadness.
- I can't do that, precisely because I am a friend of her sister, it wouldn't be right with her. I'll do anything but that, when Luana is ready she will tell me herself.
Tomas smiled and approached me, looking deep into my eyes as if he was hypnotizing me. I closed my eyes as if I could prevent him from discovering something just by reading my gaze. Men like him are dangerous for sure they know when someone is lying or hiding something, from me he won't get anything.
Tomas could torture me but he would never give me the truth about my friend, I know that he is still close to me because now his hands are on both sides of my face holding me firmly.
- Marry me!
I was surprised by what he had said, he had to be crazy. How could I marry him if I didn't even know him?
- No! If I'm ever going to marry someone it has to be for love, I don't love you, to be honest, I don't know you, I don't know anything about you, how can you want to marry me?
He laughed loudly, as if the whole thing were a joke, but certainly one in very bad taste.
- For the plan to work, it has to be like this! I will explain to you, I have been transferred to operations in Brazil, a country that is in South America, I do not intend to leave my family here as I know Luana will want to have her best friend by her side, I will take her with us but as you know Dario Albertini is the Don not only here but also in Brazil, so when I get there for all intents and purposes you are my wife for this reason I have asked you to marry me so you will be protected because you will belong only to me. There is no love involved in anything I am doing just gratitude for being friends with my sister, rest assured I will not lay a finger on you only if you allow me of course. I am a man, I have desires, I can't deny that you are an attractive woman, but I am not a scrotum asshole, I would never run the sign with you!
I've always been used to men wanting my body but none of them ever wanted anything serious with me. Although I was a little confused by everything, I had to see the good side of it all, I could start my life over again, away from everything. Build a new history, maybe even fall in love again, even though I find this very difficult, but I need to at least try to move on, it is the least I should do, the marriage will be a façade just for my protection, there is no reason not to accept.
- With these conditions, I accept to marry you, Thomas!
- Great! Are you ready to go, Mrs. Vitorino?
I had only a few clothes and my favorite books inside the suitcase, I would not take anything more than that for a reason that I do not understand Dario still kept me wearing this damn collar maybe he did this to somehow not forget him but as soon as possible I will get rid of this crap, I know I had no choice but since he was going to get married it would cost him nothing to give me my freedom after all it was I who suffered at his hands while he beat me even yesterday when he tried to hang me but Dario Albertini could not lose his reputation as a monster so I have an obligation to forget him even though I know it would be very complicated to tear him from my heart.
Thomas extends his hand to me smiling just waiting for my initiative, without fear I hold his hand firmly, I finally feel that my life is starting now.
Dario
- How are you feeling, brother, knowing that soon you will be a married man and a father with a family?
Saul had this terrible habit of making jokes and teasing me but he really couldn't imagine how bad a mood I'm in today. It's my wedding day, and I can't stop thinking for a single moment about my beautiful toy, I left the mansion not to see her leaving my life but before I gave clear orders to Tomas to take her to the brothel in the city center, I know that there is a place where Cecilia can find a man of means to maybe take her over but I couldn't stand the idea of another man touching her body having everything that was once mine, to be honest I don't know if I can bear to be away from her.
- What I feel or don't feel is none of your business!
- I see you are in your best mood today, brother! Now I can't stop thinking about that nymphet you bought at the Ferraz auction. What did you do with her? Did you send her to the downtown brothel? Tell me yes, I've always wanted to know what made you stay so long with that little whore.
It was clear that Saul was teasing me to see my reaction, and I wanted to punch him in the face for talking so much shit when he's teasing me, but I'll do something better.
- Brother, you shouldn't worry about me, you should worry about the beautiful young Lydia! She is our sister's age, isn't she? Your future wife, so sweet and gentle, I took the liberty of investigating her life, you knew she was raised by her aunt who hates the thug life we lead, and what's more, this same aunt blames our family for all the losses and misfortunes in her little star's life! Isn't that what you called her as a child?
At that very moment Saul lunged at me like a beast, he had this ability to irritate people just by focusing on their weak point.
- Don't go near her, Dario!
- I would never go near her, my brother! She is yours, but do you know what I found the strangest thing about this story? You made the blood pact with her, but Lydia probably doesn't even know what it means, and the worst thing is that I'm sure she hates us more than any other family in this world since her father died to defend our father, just imagine, she knowing that the blood pact is irrevocable and that she will have to marry the son of the main responsible for the death of her beloved father!
It was not difficult to find out who the girl was, Saul was very attached to Mariana and Lydia before the initiation, but it was clear the affection and excessive attention he gave to little Lydia. After the initiation, Saul changed completely, distancing himself from Mariana and the girl, I kept pulling some things from my memory, like the times he mistreated the girl for no reason until the day she didn't come to play with Mariana anymore, I always thought about the reason that made her stay away from my younger sister but now I knew perfectly well the reason, it was because of Saul and what he probably did with her.
- You know, Saul, I thought I'd be generous with you, but now that I see that you're so full of jokes and mockery towards me, I realize that you deserve a proper punishment.
He turned away from me, upset about everything I had told him, after all, I knew his dirty little secret.
- Punishment?
- Saul, how about you only take on the position of counselor when you get married? Our father wanted it to be sooner, but I think you need to resolve this situation with your bride-to-be. You see, if this marriage doesn't take place within three years, which is when your beloved will have reached the age of majority, I will have to look for another counselor. What do you think about the idea?
Saul came out of my room like a madman, it wasn't enough to just keep quiet but no, he had to make fun of me because he knows I don't want to marry the useless Nina. But there was no turning back, today I would say yes at the altar for all to see but my desire was not that, all I wanted was to be with my toy seeing her smile, hearing her pleasant voice and having her beautiful body all to myself but now that is the past.
I will pledge allegiance to Nina even if it's foolish, it's tradition and I must honor my promise but I will never love Nina as I don't love Cecilia either, I am a heartless being and no one can change that.