In the dimly lit hall of the ancient cathedral, the air was thick with tension. The pews were filled with grim-faced men and women, their gazes fixed on the two figures standing at the altar. Antonio Ricci, the formidable leader of the Ricci family, stood stiffly beside his bride,
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( You can imagine him the way you want but this is how I can imagine him)
Isabella Costa, the ruthless head of the Costa clan.
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(Same as Antonio)
Their marriage was not a union of love but a strategic move, orchestrated to unite two powerful crime families and end a feud that had lasted for decades.
Antonio, a tall and imposing figure with piercing blue eyes and a hardened expression, glanced sideways at Isabella. She was beautiful, with long dark hair and emerald eyes that held a defiant spark. Despite the elegance of her wedding gown, she wore an aura of danger, a reminder of the power she wielded. The priest's voice droned on, reciting the vows that neither bride nor groom had written or wanted to hear.
Antonio's jaw tightened as he recalled the heated discussions that led to this day. His father, on his deathbed, had extracted a promise from him to end the feud, and this marriage was the price. Antonio hated the idea of being tied to a Costa, especially one as headstrong as Isabella. But he had no choice; his family's future depended on this truce.
Isabella, on the other hand, was seething with resentment. Forced into this union by her council, she viewed Antonio as nothing more than a means to an end. Her heart was cold, hardened by years of betrayal and power struggles. She had vowed never to let a man control her, and now she found herself bound to one she despised.
As the ceremony drew to a close, the priest pronounced them husband and wife. Antonio leaned in to kiss Isabella, their lips barely brushing before she pulled away, her eyes flashing with anger. The assembled guests watched in silence, the tension palpable.
The reception was no better. Antonio and Isabella sat at the head table, barely speaking to each other. Their respective families mingled awkwardly, the rivalry still fresh in everyone's minds. Antonio’s right-hand man, Marco, leaned in to whisper, “This will take time. But it’s a start.”
Antonio nodded curtly, his eyes never leaving Isabella. She was speaking with her advisor, Lorenzo, her expression a mask of indifference. Antonio wondered what she was planning; he knew better than to trust a Costa, even one who was now his wife.
As the night wore on, Antonio and Isabella performed their duties, greeting guests and making toasts. But beneath the surface, the animosity simmered. When the last guest finally departed, they were left alone in the opulent suite that was to be their home.
Antonio broke the silence first. “Let’s get one thing straight. This marriage is a farce. We’re doing this for our families, nothing more.”
Isabella’s eyes narrowed. “Agreed. I have no interest in playing the dutiful wife. Stay out of my way, and I’ll stay out of yours.”
“Fine,” Antonio replied, his voice cold. “But remember, this truce depends on us. Betray me, and there will be consequences.”
“Likewise,” Isabella shot back, her tone icy.
They turned away from each other, the chasm between them as vast as ever. But as they lay in the darkness, their minds were already working, each planning how to maintain their power and independence while being bound together. It was a bitter beginning to a union that neither wanted, but both needed.
Little did they know, this forced marriage would set in motion a chain of events that would change their lives forever.
Chapter ended💗✨ I will upload all the chapters today because I wrote all of them before☺️🩷 Goodbye 👋🏻
