chapter 36

Chapter 36.The Wedding.I looked at Enzo and turned back to look at the person on that chair. I was confused why they had Kim, my co-worker. When I worked back at F’s restaurant, he was one of my good friends and a very protective one, “wh... why?....How?” I stammered not knowing what to ask.“Well...I found out that he was stalking you for a long time. He has your photos all over his apartment. He was fantasizing you as his girlfriend and that you had sex... numerous times and you didn’t even notice that you were being stalked by a guy who had worked with you, How ignorant!....[He moved to me, turned me around so that I could face the mirror and watch Kim, He wrapped his arms around my neck From behind and whispered in my ear]...and Now you’re going to watch him as a representation for what happens with your friends and Grandma if you don’t listen to me” He said and Pressed a button down on the panel, Then a bulb in the room where Kim was tied up, turned green as a signal to the men in the room, they took the cue and placed electrical handcuff and a metal ring on Kim’s head, his mouth was Duck tapped as he was screaming with wide eyes. One of them walked to that machine and pressed a button, then the machine-generated an electrical wave and hit Kim’s head. For a moment everything we did together, our chats, our laughs, our movements when he helped me numerous times flashed right in front of my eyes, “Stop!!.... Stop..No..Don’t...please” I screamed, “please...Enzo...Stop...He’ll DIE!!...Enzo...please” I begged,He wasn’t saying anything. He was just watching Kim. “What the Fuck is wrong with you...let him go. He’ll die...Enzo!” I was screaming and begging Enzo to leave him. He didn’t listen or move an inch. I was moving his arms around my neck. He continued to give shocks to Kim. I took a deep breath, I know what he wanted to listen So, I shut my eyes, gulping down the lump of tears in my throat.“I’ll do whatever you want me to do, please...please let him go...Enzo” I said tears rolling down my cheeks. Enzo pressed a button and the light turned red. The men inside stopped giving shocks to him. Enzo turned me around roughly," You are mine, Mine to touch, Mine to hold. All mine Do you get that," he said, gripping my chin with pressure, Making me look into his eyes.“Please... You’re hurting me, ” I said, trying to free myself from his iron-like grip.“Say it “he shouted on my face, gripping my chin more tightly.“Yes...yes...I’m yours,” I said, sobbing and struggling to be freed from his grip. He pushed me back. I stumbled back. He walked out of the room, I wiped my tears and followed him quietly. He walked ahead and sat in the car, I sat in the passenger seat. Enzo started to drive the car. I shifted my gaze up to meet his face and his expressions rested peacefully without any protest Or any furrow in his eyebrows or his face.I turned and gazed outside of the window, silent tears were flowing through my eyes. I quickly wiped it, without him noticing them.After a short while, we reached the mansion and He parked the car. I opened my door to step out of the car, but Enzo grabbed my arm tightly and squeezed it. I whimpered with pain, struggling hard but my strength was nothing compared to his. “Listen to me very carefully... I should never ever find this finger without the engagement ring...you have seen what happens if you don’t listen to me...Get that into your thick skull” He said and let go of my arm, I wiped my tears and said," I get it, you don’t love me, but I never thought that you’re a monster who will not stop at any cost from getting what you want," Even though I was scared to death by his actions and words, I still managed to speak against him.I got out of the car and walked towards my room, I ignored Judy’s worried expressions. I feel Enzo coming inside and I moved faster. I stepped inside my room and closed the door. I took a shower and dressed up to go to work. I noticed the ring on the table, I walked to the table, took that ring in my hands, I put that Fucking ring on my finger and walked out of the room.Days went on... Enzo was controlling me, I couldn’t do anything other than to do things he wanted me to do. In college, Everything was good except, I didn’t see Aron after that day when he tried to tell me something. I called him multiple times but he never responded, I thought maybe he was busy. I was missing him terribly, I even called his house number, they said he left for New York, he’s parents live there.One day, Enzo strolled into my room and gave me a phone."Call your grandma and tell her about our marriage" he said, I nodded and dialed her number. After a few rings, she answered, “Hello”“Hello, grandma It’s me Nessie”“Nessie, How are you dear?. Why is your phone off”“I’m fine grandma, My phone wasn’t working. How are you? How is your health?”“I’m good don’t worry about me, dear”“Grandma... I want to tell you something” I said nervously,“What is it, dear Are you okay, Is everything okay?” She asked with concern,“I..I..I’m engaged,” I said, looking at Enzo,“W..what?”“I’m engaged, Grandma”“How..w..when..who?”Enzo snatched the phone from my hand putting it on speaker and gesturing me to speak,“I’m engaged to...to...Lorenzo Francisco, He is a businessman”“Lorenzo?... Isn’t he the guy who you told me about, The one who was the reason you went into depression and weren’t yourself for past 6 months”“Um...y...yes he is the one,” I said Embarrassed that He heard it,“You guys got back together?”“Yes...our marriage is on Monday, grandma”“Dear, don’t you think it’s too early for marriage. You’re just 19”“I..I know...I...I...Lo..love him...grandma..I can’t lea..live without him”“I want to meet him first,”“Okay...When are you coming then”“Tomorrow”“T..to..tomorrow!”“Yeah, Is there any problem?”“No..No grandma... Okay then see you grandma take care of yourself”“I will, dear, you take care of yourself too”“I will, bye grandma I love you”“I love you too dear”I pressed the End button, I shut my eyes preventing the tears from flowing down, I turned and gave the phone to Enzo. He glanced at me for a second and left me alone.The next day, my grandmother came here. Enzo used his skills and gained her trust, she agreed to the wedding.I couldn’t do anything but wait for someone to stop the wedding, but no one did. I was defeated by Enzo, I never in a million years thought that Enzo would do this to me. I guess this is my fate.****Monday, Night.I’m going to get married to Lorenzo Francisco in just a few minutes. The man who stole my heart and crushed it with his bare hands. The man who I trusted blindly and The man who I cherished.In just a few minutes, I would officially be Mrs. Lorenzo Francisco. Any bride on her wedding day was supposed to be happy but as per me, I wasn’t feeling anything; I was shattered. They dressed me as a perfect bride, The dress was so beautiful and it fitted my curves perfectly. Professionals did my hair and makeup.Our wedding was not a big one, we invited only our families and friends to the wedding.I was sitting alone in my room in his parent’s mansion on his Island, where we would get married. It was decorated beautifully. We traveled to the island the next day when grandma came to me, everything was done perfectly.I heard someone opening the door; I turned to see Antia walking dressed beautifully; she was looking gorgeous. She is my bridesmaid. Antia, Beth, Morgan, and Rachel were my bridesmaids. Seth was Enzo’s groomsmen.Unlike me, Antia’s face radiates happiness.“You look amazing, Vanessa,” she said, “Did you see Enzo, Ven he is looking so hot oh my God!” Said Morgan walking inside my room, she immediately shut her mouth seeing Antia with me. Antia chuckled and said, “I’ll see you outside Nessie,” she said walking outside, I glared at Morgan. “What! he was so hot and sexy, How should I stop myself from telling you that, you know me” she said, hugging me, “you are looking like an angel in this dress ness, I’m jealous of you”I slapped her shoulder, and we both laughed. It was my first laugh these days. It eased the tension in me lightly, Beth walked inside along with Rachel both looking stunning. “Oh my god, Ven you look stunning,” said Rachel,“Thank you,”“I’m so happy for you V,” said Beth hugging me, I smiled at her.My grandmother came to me and we walked out. She walked me down the aisle, she looked happy and I just pretended to be happy. Everyone was happy and looking beautiful in their dresses. When I look at Enzo, my breath hitched. He was looking so hot in his tux, He took my hand and I climbed the stairs and stood in front of him, I was nervously staring at his beautiful face like I never saw him before. I tried to steady my nerves by reminding myself that he forced me to do things and all the bad things he did to me.I stared at Enzo, who has spoken his vows without any nervousness, He stared straight at me with a smile on his face, that fucking smile. I craved it, It made me feel like I was the luckiest one in the whole world. It gave me some kind of feeling which I can’t explain.“I, Vanessa Foster,” I said looking at Enzo, “Take thee, Lorenzo Francisco, to be my lawful wedded husband,”He squeezed my hands in comfort, as I continued“Today I become your wife and you my husband. I will strive to give you the best of myself while accepting you the way you are. I promise to respect you as a whole person with your own interests, desires, and needs, and to realize that those are sometimes different, but no less important than my own. I promise to keep myself open to you, to let you into my innermost fears and feelings, secrets and dreams. I promise to grow along with you, to be willing to face change as we both change, keeping our relationship alive and exciting. And finally, I promise to love you in good times and in bad, with all I have to give and all that I am, in the only way I know how, completely and forever.” I said looking into his eyes, I meant every single word I said. I love him, I love him so much that I can’t hate him for what he did, I can’t do anything about it.He held my hand and put the ring on my finger. “ With this, I pronounce you husband and wife, You may kiss the bride,” the priest said,I tensed and looked up at him, he placed his hand under my chin, bending over, I lifted myself up on my toes, and his face came down at the same time. His lips met me, Nostalgia hit me hard. His lips felt the same, warm and soft. but there is hard desperation behind them, a need. The kiss speaks. It begs. Let me forget, forget, forget. All my distress and pain vanished, I craved his touch for 6 months and I realized how much I loved this man. I feel like on cloud nine, I moved closer to him and placed my hands around his neck, He was kissing me passionately. I poured all my emotions into that kiss, I heard the priest clearing his throat, and we broke our kiss. He leaned his head against mine, both breathing heavily.“I..I love you” he whispered,I looked up at him, “I love you too” I said staring into his eyes, His eyes darkened, he bends down and lifted me off my feet and scooped me in his arms, I instantly wrapped my arms around his neck. Everyone was looking at us with love and affection in their eyes.I’m married, now I’m Vanessa Francisco.