IMMURE

Chapter Seven: Half Sister

"Melanie! There you are. I was looking all over for you. Lorenzo asked me to help you select a dress."
Fiona was extra chipper as always.
First it was the invitations, then the cake, the venue, which of course was the mansion, the decorations, and now the dress.

Melanie had been swamped with wedding preparation. It had been a week since the whole declaration of the wedding fiasco, and Lorenzo had avoided Melanie since, working late, and leaving before she woke up.
But he was punishing her by making her do all the planning work.
Melanie didn't mind though. Not only could she avoid him, she could keep busy. It was helpful, as it distracted her from actually having to face the fact that she'll be marrying her diabolical lover.

"I'll be down in five. Where are we going though?" Melanie asked.
"Oh we aren't going anywhere. Lorenzo had the dresses flown in. I'll be waiting in the ballroom."
Melanie nodded.
"It's flooded with dresses, trust me, you'll love em." She squealed, more excited than the actual bride.

Melanie sighed, as she glared at the ring on her finger. After being fucked senseless, she woke up to a big, fancy Harry Winston, sparkling on her finger. Guess that was Lorenzo's version of 'will you marry me?'

Melanie tied her hair up in a bun and headed to the ballroom.
Fiona wasn't kidding when she said it was flooded.
"Ah..Mrs Zurzolo, it's lovely to meet you. I'm here to help you pick out your dress for the big day. I'm Jewels by the way." She extended her hand and Melanie shook it.
"Let's get to work then!" Fiona charged.

After four long hours, twenty three gowns, and two bottles of champagne, Melanie finally selected the final two dresses.
"This is gonna be a hard on. I love them both. Aghhh! I can't decide!" Fiona fretted. Thank god she wasn't the one getting married. She was way too indecisive.

"I think I like the Vera Wang better. It hugs her perfectly." Jewels replied, with greater clarity.
"Yeah, me too." Melanie seconded.
"Then it's settled. Vera Wang it is. I'll keep the Vivienne Westwood on standby, just in case." Jewels winked.
"That would be great. Thank you so much Jewels, you've been really helpful." Melanie expressed her gratitude.

Dinner was livelier today, since Lorenzo decided to join the girls.
"So...how was work?" Fiona asked, trying to break the ice, chilling by the second.
"Good." Lorenzo replied, not bothering to raise his gaze.
"Melanie and I picked out her wedding dress today. You should have been there Lorenzo, the dresses you had flown in were beautiful."
Lorenzo glanced at Melanie, who didn't even acknowledge his presence, as she continued to poke her folk through the lamb.

"Guess which dress she picked." Fiona challenged playfully.
"It doesn't matter." Lorenzo said bluntly, catching Melanie's attention.
"As long as we're getting married, she could be naked for all I care." Fiona laughed, perceiving it as her cousin's sense of humour, but the darkness in his eyes as he said it, didn't go unnoticed by Melanie.

"I'm done. I'll see you guys later." Melanie said abruptly, getting up.
"Aren't you going to stay for dessert?" Fiona asked confused.
"No." Was all she said, as she walked out, heading straight for a warm shower to calm her nerves.

Melanie came out, wrapping her body in a robe.
She gasped as she entered the bedroom, startled by Fiona, sitting on the bed.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. I got you a piece of cherry pie." She said kindly.

"Thanks." Melanie took the plate from her.
"Melanie...can I ask you something?"
Seeing Fiona's hesitation, Melanie got alarmed.
"Of course. Is everything ok?"
"Yeah....it's just.....I know it's really none of my business, but, are things between you and Lorenzo okay? Like I sense this weird tension, which is quite unusual for two lovers about to tie the knot."

"Lovers, my ass." Melanie scoffed.
"What do you mean?" Fiona furrowed her eyebrows.
Melanie was slightly pissed by her playing dumb.
"Don't pretend you don't know."
"Dont know what?"
"The fact that your brother is a monster and murderer!" Melanie hissed.

Fiona looked down, a tint of guilt coating her.
"I know the mafia world can be overwhelming, but Lorenzo is a good man, he's a lot kinder than the other men in this field, I can promise you."
"Oh really!" Melanie raged.
"Then why the fuck would he kidnap me and force me to marry him!" She threw the plate of cherry pie on the ground, making Fiona flinch.

"H-he's forcing you?" Fiona said meekly, unable to believe her brother was capable of something so deranged.
"You didn't know....did you?" Melanie mumbled, penitent for channelling uncalled for anger on Fiona.
Fiona shook her head, breaking into tears.
"I-I though h-he'd be better t-than father..." she sobbed.
"Father?" Melanie asked puzzled.

"Melanie....there's something you should know...." Fiona took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.
"Lorenzo isn't my cousin. He's my half brother."
"W-what!" Melanie was taken aback by the revelation.
"My father was a despicable man. He was married to my mother, and they had me. But he wanted a son to carry on the filthy empire he built, but my mom couldn't give him that. She had problems in conceiving a child after me. So he cheated on her. The woman he fucked was Lorenzo's mother. Of course, he didn't realise at the time that she was pregnant, so he'd cut her off. But my mom found out about the affair and confronted him, and out of rage, he killed her, right then and there," she paused, taking in a shakey breath.
"Right in front of me." 

Melanie instantly wrapped her arms around Fiona.
"I'm so sorry...I had no idea Fiona...I'm really sorry..."
"It's ok. He's a bastard. He's gonna die soon anyways. Karma will make him suffer for being such a cruel asshole."
"What happened to Lorenzo's mom?" Melanie couldn't help but ask, the curiosity was killing her. Lorenzo had never shared anything about his family with her.

"She was killed by someone. I don't really know who. But I wouldn't be surprised if my father hired a hit man. Lorenzo was only seven. The police contacted my father, to come collect Lorenzo from the station. And that's when he found out that he had a son. Lorenzo grew up with me. He was a shy kid. Never really spoke much. But he was kind, at least to me. Father always loathed me, since I reminded him of mom, but Lorenzo was nice to me, he protected me.
I-I can't believe he'd do something like this.....he's n-not a monster....Melanie, I'm s-so sorry...I really had no idea...."

"Hey....shh....it's ok. You're not to blame for his actions." Melanie tried to calm her as she was a sobbing wreck.
"M-Melanie....I'm going t-to help you e-escape."