Chapter 3. Substitute Bride

ISABELLA’S POV

Soon, all the guests are on the rooftop of my father’s mansion with food and wine basically everywhere. Apparently, Dante and Marco Giuseppe are responsible for running their entire business and rumor is they mostly do everything all by themselves. Talk about having trust issues.

It mut be why their family has lasted this long for so many generations. I’ve always thought the more friends you have, then the harder it is to know who really fucks with you and who doesn’t.

The two families, mine and Dante’s are all seated on a long table and everyone has faded away into small talk. My mother is laughing at something Antonio is telling her and my dad is in deep conversation with Marco Giuseppe, Dante’s brother. Probably talking about the next person they’re going to kill or the next illegal thing they have to do to fill their pockets.

This alliance is the worse thing that could ever happen to this city. The Giovannis and the Giuseppes forming an alliance will give the two families even more power than anyone is ready for.

Gianna is seated next to Dante, completely focused on the food in front of her and when I shift my gaze to Dante, I realize he was already staring at me and I inhale sharply from how hot my skin suddenly feels. Why in hell does he keep glaring at me?

I don’t give him the satisfaction of looking away because that would mean I’m letting him get to me. I don’t want him to think he has any power over me. The entire world might shiver at the sound of his name but not me. He doesn’t scare me.

No, his presence does something completely different to my body. Something that I’d rather not admit. As we keep staring at each other, I start unintentionally noticing things about his physical appearance.

He has midnight dark hair and light brown eyes that shimmer in the sun giving him a sort of out of this world look. His jawline was made in heaven and he’s so tall that even with my heels, my head couldn’t reach his chin. He has a muscular build which makes me wonder how many hours per week he spends in the gym.

I notice he has black ink showing from the corner of his neck which makes me wonder how big his tattoo is. He has the face of a Greek god. A very dangerous Greek god. I feel warmth erupt in my stomach when he suddenly smirks at me and I internally scream at myself because I don’t like the way my body is reacting under his gaze.

After what feels like centuries, my father claps his hand and everyone suddenly goes quiet.

“A week ago…” My father starts talking. “Dante insisted that he and Gianna carry out some tests to see if they were compatible and if Gianna was fit to produce his offspring.” My father says chuckling confidently and to say my mind is blown by this information would be an understatement.

I frown and avert my gaze to Gianna but all she does is smile apologetically at me. Why didn’t she tell me?

“And you didn’t think to do the test before agreeing and announcing to an entire marriage? What if the results are not positive? All this would have been for nothing.” I ask cutting my father off but all that earns me is a death stare from him and my mom before he shakes his head and continues.

I look towards Gianna and she shakes her head slowly at me urging me to shut the hell up.

I’m getting annoyed. How confident is he that the test results will be favorable for Gianna? What if this all blows up in her face? She’ll be devastated after how happy she got when she found out she was going to marry Dante.

It seems like everyone knew about this but me and I suddenly feel left out. I mean I’ve always been left out of everything but this is important. It’s Gianna’s future.

“The test results are ready now and I saw it fit to reveal the results to each and everyone here to prove that my daughter is competent.” My father continues and everyone has a smile on their face except for Dante and his brother Marco.

Gianna looks confident. As if nothing could go wrong.

My father claps his hand again and an old man I recognize to be our family doctor hands a white envelop to my father. Everyone is tense as they wait for my father to reveal the results.

He waves it around jokingly and confidently before he finally opens it up, but when he stares at it for a few seconds, he suddenly looks like all the blood has been drained from his body and I’m dying from curiosity already. Something’s wrong.

“No…” He whispers and falls to his chair in disappointment.

“What is it?” I ask impatiently. “What does it say?” I ask immediately as Dante takes the envelop from my father’s hand. He looks at the piece of paper with no emotion on his face. As if he couldn’t care less about what the results say.

“It says here that on top of Gianna and I not being a match, she’s also incapable of ever giving birth.” Dante says nonchalantly and drops the piece of paper carelessly on to the table and takes back his seat.

He has a scowl on his face and all of his disappointment is directed at my father. Dante is known for killing people just for upsetting him and I’m kind of nervous at what he might want to do to my father right now?

“What??” Gianna exclaims. “No. No. No. That can’t be right! Mom. Dad. There has to be a mistake.” Gianna says trembling as she grabs the piece of paper from the table but no one says anything.

“I guess the wedding is called off then.” Marco, Dante’s brother says and I glare at him for brushing the mater off so easily.

“I’m extremely sorry about this Dante.” My father starts apologizing and I can’t help but get angry. Gianna starts crying and all the guests start looking around awkwardly. It’s obvious that the marriage is canceled.

“You should be sorry!” I say standing angrily from my chair. “How could all of you have been so reckless?? You didn’t think to do a test before so confidently announcing that Gianna was going to get married. What is wrong with you?”

“Do not talk to your father like that Isa!” My mother scolds but all I do is roll my eyes in annoyance.

“Oh please mom. Now is not the time to play mother with me. Lok at what you all did to Gianna.” I say gesturing to a crying Gianna. Dante doesn’t even try to console her. I mean why should I expect him to.

He just looks like he’s annoyed by all this and he’d rather be anywhere else but here right now.

He has a massive business he’s running and he’ll obviously need and heir to take over one day. If Gianna is incompetent then he has no use for her anymore. All he does is stare at me amusedly as he watches the chaotic exchange between my parents and I.

“How the hell could we have known that the girl was incompetent?” My father suddenly says in a fit of rage, standing from his chair and pointing directly at Gianna, humiliating her even more in front of everyone.

I don’t even have words. How can he even say that about his own daughter?

“If one of them doesn’t work, then the other will do just fine.” Dante says in a deep and quiet voice, as if he was bored by all what was happening around him right now. The entire table goes quiet and everyone starts looking at me.

“Excuse me?” I ask, rage almost blinding my vision as I raise my brow at Dante. He smirks at me and averts his gaze to my father.

“Mr. Giovanni.” Dante says to my dad. “We both need this alliance. If Gianna doesn’t work, then Isabella will work just fine. All we have to do is do the same tests and hope for the best that she doesn’t have the same condition her sister has. I do not like wasting my time Mr. Giovanni and I am already irritated.”

Dante proposes and I can see resistance in my father’s eyes as he listens to Dante’s words, but still, I know my father will not miss an opportunity to partner up with Dante Giuseppe, even if that means I am the one he has to give away. Also, the look on Dante’s face is one that could kill so my father has no choice but to go along with whatever Dante wants right now.

“That might work yes...” My father says, a hopeful gleam suddenly illuminating his face.

Gianna stands and rushes back into the house and I try to go after her but my father’s voice stops me in my tracks.

“You get back here right now Isabella!” My father scolds. “Let her go.”

“I won’t do it.” I protest. “I won’t marry him dad. You’ll have to kill me first.” I shake my head aggressively as I speak. My father stands from his seat and walks to me. He brings his face close to my ears so only I can hear him.

“If you don’t agree to this, then Gianna will be the one to suffer. I will kill her and make you watch just like I did with that boyfriend of yours two years ago. You know I am capable of doing it Isa, so don’t tempt me. This deal with Dante is more important than you or Gianna’s lives so quit acting like a little bitch and get back in your seat.”

I tremble at his words that only I can hear, tears threatening to cloud my vision. I know he’s not bluffing. If I don’t do what he says, he’ll kill Gianna and it’ll all be my fault. I can’t have blood on my hands again.

Especially not my sister’s. So, I take my seat and keep my mouth shut. Antonio looks uncomfortable and my mother just clings to my father’s side.

“Great.” Dante says standing up and his entire family stands up with him. Meaning they’re leaving.

“I’ll be back tomorrow to take Isabella to the hospital so we can do the tests together.” He says and walks out with his family without uttering another word and I can only hope for one thing. That my test results are unfavorable.