A month later,
It was finally the day of the wedding. Everyone was busy preparing to witness the ceremony. The Vancourt mansion was bustling with people as it was the location where the wedding would be taking place.
Rosalie was in her room where her hair and makeup were being done. She looked at herself in the mirror, a smirk on her lips.
"You look stunning, my dear," Zara, her mother complimented.
A bigger smile graced her lips because she knew she looked stunning.
For the past month, she'd been taking care of herself, going to a spa to ease her tense muscles, going on a strict diet, having a daily skincare routine, and doing yoga so she could go back to her former self before she'd acquainted herself with William, and so far, she loved her progress because she looked even better than she'd been three years ago.
Her skin was glowing, and everyone complimented her every time which she loved.
"That's the fifth time you've said that already. If you say it one more time, she might start feeling too confident," Sienna spat, an edge to her tone that everyone in the room didn't fail to notice.
Rosalie didn't respond. She just smiled and looked away. Confidence didn't need defending.
Sienna was feeling bitter about the whole wedding although it was something she'd wanted to happen because she wanted Rosalie to suffer in Matteo's hands, but nothing had happened so far. And worst, Rosalie didn't feel bitter about the wedding any longer. It was as if she was ready to accept Matteo as her new husband.
"But there's nothing wrong with that, is there?" Bethany, Matteo's mother replied. "Today is her day, so if she wants to feel too confident, let it be." She gave Sienna a quick smile but it seemed forced before she turned back to Rosalie.
Sienna's face hardened. She didn't want to lose control of herself.
'Just wait until they get married, and you'll see if she'll feel confident again,' she thought to herself, a smirk on her lips.
Rosalie picked up her phone and saw that William's and Stephanie's wedding was being broadcast live. It was something she hadn't expected. Either way, she couldn't wait for her wedding pictures to be uploaded and have the media fire questions and wait to see William's reply.
When Rosalie's makeup and hair were done, there was suddenly a knock on the door.
Sienna went to open it and found Matteo standing before her, his expression grim as she forced saliva down her throat.
Sienna was terrified when it came to Matteo, that was why she'd rejected the offer to wed him. He looked like someone who would murder her if she made the slightest mistake. Being the unfavored daughter, she doubted her father would get him punished especially since Matteo always walked free from his crimes.
"Step aside," he ordered, his tone making a shiver run down her spine.
Without needing to be told twice, Sienna stepped aside as he walked inside.
"I'd like to speak to my bride in private," Matteo demanded. His mother and future mother-in-law gaped at him, both wondering what he was doing.
"Son, you know the groom isn't allowed to see the wife before the wedding. It can lead to bad luck," Bethany said with worry in her tone.
"Mother, this is not even a love marriage. What kind of bad luck can it cause?" Matteo's tone while talking with his mother was soft; it caused Rosalie's perfectly trimmed eyebrows to rise in shock.
Bethany's lips thinned before she tapped Zara, then signaled the rest of the people to give the couple some privacy.
When the door was shut, Matteo's entire demeanor changed as if he were some chameleon that could change his color.
"What are you doing here?" She questioned, facing the mirror, and applying her blush the way she wanted, as if he wasn't there.
"You didn't reply to my text," he stated.
The last time they'd spoken was a month ago when they'd met in the garden. Matteo had been away for a business trip, barely sending a text, not like she expected him to. Then all of a sudden, he sent a text, informing her of the rules she'd have to obey while they were married.
It had been a long list, and surprisingly, he'd taken her into consideration and written things that made sense like they didn't have to kiss unless it was important, for when they attended public events.
But she'd not replied, unsure if it would irritate him but it seemed it did.
"Is that really why you're here?" Rosalie asked calmly. "We're getting married today Matteo, I know you don't have common respect but can you at least pretend to have it?"
Matteo was immediately offended.
He grabbed her wrist, yanking her off her seat and forcing her to look at him.
"You're hurting me," she cried, trying to free her wrist from his grip but it was so tight it felt as if he was crushing her bone. "Matteo!" She warned, her eyes red from anger, shooting daggers at him.
"You think this is funny, isn't it?" He asked. "Neither of us wants this, so the least you can do is act like you want it to make things easier for the both of us."
"Why don't you practice what you preach?" She shot back, her gaze darting towards her wrist which was still gripped tightly by him.
After a few seconds, Matteo let go of her wrist, and she instantly brought it to her chest, rubbing it to ease the pain.
The skin had already turned red and she glared at him as if she was looking at a monster, and that made something shift in him.
"I'm only going to ask you this and I'm only going to ask you once." He started. "Do you agree with the rules?" His tone was gentle but she knew the amount of rage was boiling underneath.
She nodded stiffly.
"Well, then, I'll be waiting in the aisle." And just like that, he turned to leave.
Rosalie turned to the plate of fruits that consisted of bananas and apples, her eyes lingered on the knife.