Mafia Obsession (OBSESSION SERIES #1)

CHAPTER 7

Mafia Obsession - Chapter 7: A Wedding of Lies

The news of Celeste and Don Angelo’s impending marriage spread through the Palazzo like wildfire. The maids, initially skeptical, now buzzed with gossip, their eyes wide with a mixture of envy and disbelief.  The Don, usually a man of few words, seemed to radiate a newfound confidence, his smile more frequent, his eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint.

Celeste, however, felt a growing sense of dread. The wedding was a week away, and she was still reeling from the Don’s sudden announcement. She had fallen for him, for the man behind the mask, but she wasn't ready for marriage, not like this.  It was a forced union, a business arrangement, a façade of love that felt more like a gilded cage.

The days leading up to the wedding were a blur of activity. The Palazzo was transformed into a whirlwind of preparations, the air thick with the scent of lilies and the sound of hammering and sawing.  The Don, with a mixture of impatience and determination, oversaw every detail, his gaze lingering on Celeste with a possessive intensity that sent shivers down her spine.

Celeste, however, found herself retreating into a shell of silence. She moved through the Palazzo like a ghost, her face pale, her eyes haunted.  She tried to find solace in her work, but the looming wedding cast a long shadow over her days, a constant reminder of the life she was about to lose.

One evening, as Celeste was cleaning the Don’s study, she found herself drawn to a small, ornate box hidden beneath a stack of papers. It was a velvet box, its surface adorned with intricate silver filigree.  Curiosity gnawed at her, and with trembling hands, she lifted the lid.

Inside, nestled on a bed of crimson velvet, lay a diamond necklace, its brilliance blinding. It was a breathtaking piece of jewelry, a symbol of wealth and power, a testament to the Don’s influence.

Celeste’s heart pounded in her chest. She knew this necklace was meant for her, a gift from the Don, a token of his affection. But she couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness, a sense of foreboding.

She was about to marry a man she barely knew, a man she loved but also feared.  She was about to become a part of a world she didn’t understand, a world of secrets and shadows, of violence and betrayal.

The wedding day arrived, a bright, sunny day that felt eerily out of place in the world of shadows and secrets that Celeste had become a part of.  The Palazzo was adorned with lilies and roses, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the murmur of hushed conversations.

Celeste stood in her room, her reflection staring back at her from the mirror. She was dressed in a white gown, a simple but elegant design that highlighted her natural beauty.  But she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was a prisoner in her own skin, a puppet dancing to the tune of the Don’s desires.

The Don arrived, his presence a whirlwind of power and charisma. He looked handsome in a tailored suit, his eyes sparkling with a mixture of anticipation and determination.  He took her hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her body, a reminder of the love that simmered beneath the surface of their fake relationship.

The ceremony was a blur of vows and blessings, the words echoing in the grand hall, a testament to the union that was about to take place.  Celeste stood beside the Don, her hand trembling slightly, her heart pounding in her chest. She looked into his eyes, searching for a sign of love, a glimmer of hope.

But all she saw was a man who was determined to win, a man who was willing to do anything to protect his family, his legacy.

She saw a man who was falling for her, too.

And she knew that she couldn’t leave him.

She had to say yes.

The priest’s voice boomed, “Do you, Celeste, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

Celeste’s throat tightened. She looked at the Don, his face a mixture of hope and desperation. She saw the love in his eyes, the vulnerability beneath the mask of power.

She closed her eyes, a single tear rolling down her cheek. She had to do this, for him, for herself, for the fragile peace that had settled over the Palazzo.

“I do,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The Don’s face broke into a smile, a smile that reached his eyes for the first time. He took her hand, his touch sending a jolt of electricity through her body.

“I love you, Celeste,” he whispered, his voice husky with emotion.

Celeste looked into his eyes, searching for a sign of truth, a glimmer of hope.

But all she saw was a man who was determined to win, a man who was willing to do anything to protect his family, his legacy.

She saw a man who was falling for her, too.

And she knew that she couldn’t leave him.

She had to say yes.

The wedding ceremony ended, and the guests erupted in applause. Celeste and Don Angelo stood side by side, their hands clasped, their faces beaming. They were now husband and wife, bound by a contract of love and power, a union that was both a blessing and a curse.

Celeste knew that this was just the beginning of their journey, a journey that would be filled with challenges and dangers, with love and betrayal.  She had no idea what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure: she was in love with a man who was both her savior and her captor.

And she was ready to face whatever came next.