Chapter 23


    Chapter Twenty-three


    Melody


    A monthter, Melody was walking straight to the limousine, driven by rk, who, seeing her in the


    wedding dress, smiled happily.


    “May I tell you something?” he said as he opened the door.


    Devina and her sister, Chloe, followed behind picking up the tulle of the dress and veil. She felt like she


    was in a fairy tale, even though the reality of her heart was another, totally different.


    She was madly in love with Timothy.


    And the worst part was that he didn’t realize it, and if he did realize it, well, he was a magnificent actor.


    “Of course, rk,” she smiled openly at him. The man had been so kind to her all this time, she felt


    them as close as family.


    “I don’t want to sound rude,” he said and had the delicacy to blush, which caused Melody an interesting


    thrill.


    “Don’t make me cry. It’s no big deal.”


    “You look beautiful. I think you’re the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen. I know Mr. Giannato must


    have told you this quite a few times, but I’m d I went to Doyle’s coffee shop that day and met you.”


    Melody felt her eyes water and listened as Devina approached.


    “Don’t you dare start crying!” she shrieked swinging her hands around.


    “I’m not going to cry,” she whined pouting.


    “You’ve got a sea in those eyes, Melody! The make-up artist will kill you if we have toe back


    because you ruined your make-up!”


    “I’m not going to cry.”


    “You will. And you know it. You’ll cry because you’re going to marry the man you love.”


    Melody watched her for a few seconds. She was right. She was going to marry Timothy, their marriage


    was a sham, an arrangement, something only a handful of people knew about.


    He told her a few weeks ago, her life would change drastically, her way of looking at situations would


    be different. She was going to be his wife on paper, in front of the world and the press, his family and


    his friends. But he promised not to touch her again, respecting her heart and her fear of feeling


    anything else for him.


    But what he didn’t realize was that she was already in love with him. With his gestures, his sweet way


    of treating her and taking care of her, how he forced her to eat, hiring a chef to make everything she


    asked for and even more.


    He spent a fortune on bridal gowns, make-up, clothes, and shoes. Devina was her advisor on


    everything, as Melody was clueless on how to dress properly, how a Giannatto should be.


    A perfect wife for him, at least for the time of their engagement.


    She did not want him in her life by the time her child was born.


    They came to an agreement that was simple for him and ttering for her. A house away from the city,


    a plot ofnd where she could grow vegetables and where she could have enough space for her


    veterinary clinic.


    He promised to deliver on that.


    Then she would have peace of mind, making sure she has a roof over her son’s head and a way of life.


    She returned to college, virtually, a week after moving back in with Timothy. It was his idea, and she


    would be eternally grateful for the push and support, because in a year she would be able to graduate


    and get her degree to practice.


    “I want to make you happy. I told you that before,” he said, hugging her when he shows her the houses


    he looked for her. “I don’t care if this is a sham, you are and always will be to me, a very beautiful


    casualty.”


    “Don’t talk like I’m leaving tomorrow,” she has told him as she slipped out of his arms, somewhat


    annoyed at how her breasts reacted to his proximity.


    “But you will leave. And I won’t get tired of telling you that you can count on me for whatever you need,”


    the response hade back to her with no doubt in his gaze.


    Now she was on her way to her wedding, the only one she would ever have in her life, she was sure of


    that. With no one else would she feel as she did with the Italian.


    Being with him, inside the apartment, seeing him every day, arriving with flowers, inviting her out to


    dinner, courting and letting herself be photographed with. She knew it was all part of the story, but all


    the same, she couldn’t help but make her heart beat with excitement.


    She couldn’t help but think that maybe, maybe, he might have feelings for her, too. Though she couldn’t


    sit around waiting for him to start inquiring about his feelings.


    “Honey, we’re going to bete. A bride is notte for her own wedding,” Devina’s sister Chloe, who was


    also pregnant but already full term, smiled at her and held her hand. “Don’t let your nerves betray you,


    sweetheart.”


    “I’m fine,” she wanted to believe it like hell itself, but she wasn’t sure she was fine.


    “Mel?” Devina gave her a worried look, shooting a nce at her sister, her sister took rk with her, to


    give her privacy.


    “Don’t lecture me Devina,” in that month, she had apologized several times to the redhead, for the


    punch she hit her in the face.


    “I just want to tell you something. After that, we’re going to your wedding, if you so choose.”


    “I’m going to get married. It’s not a matter of if I choose to or not,” she didn’t understand where she was


    going with that.


    “Look at me,” she asked without touching her, “look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t love that


    stubborn, arrogant blond. Tell me you don’t love him, and I’ll leave you alone, I’ll never bring up the


    subject again.”


    Melody closed her eyes trying not to let her emotions betray her. She hated being so transparent and


    that anyone could notice it in her eyes.


    Everyone could tell she was in love.


    With the wrong man.


    “I love him as I know I will never love another man,” she stated without hesitation, “I love him, and I can


    never have him.”


    “You can get anything you set your mind to,” she said hugging her. “But always think of that baby you


    carry there, he will alwayse first, and I know you have alreadye to an agreement that will


    benefit you, but, still, think carefully about what you are going to do.”


    “Timothy’s expecting me,” she told her shaking her shoulders at her. “I can’t bete,” she ended the


    conversation and Devina stepped aside for her to enter the limo. “I’m getting married.”


    She stepped into the limo in agony, the dress was enough fabric to make ten more dresses. It was an


    exaggeration, but it was what she wanted. While it was a fake wedding, her dress didn’t have to be.


    She was getting married and wanted to choose the dress she dreamed of as a girl: one with a princess


    cut, fitted at the abdomen, and ring out at the hips, with lots of tulle and silk.


    The dress was formed with an off-white silk bodice, adorned withce that went up to her neck and


    covered part of her long sleeves. It had beautiful floral embroidery on the sleeves and on the back. It


    fitted her not-so-narrow waist perfectly, as in thest month, she started to gain a couple of extra


    pounds, and she was already four months pregnant. Although it wasn’t noticeable unless you stared at


    her or she sat down, her hips had started to widen anyway. The skirt of the dress came down to her


    feet, skimming the ground wherever she walked. Timothy had given her a pearl ne that belonged


    to his grandmother and that his mother had kept for many years after his grandmother passed away.


    In the time they had spent walking down from the penthouse, Melody touched herself more than twenty


    times, afraid of losing the family jewels.


    She had no intention of keeping them, after all, she knew that Timothy would marry again, to a woman


    he loved, to one who would keep his family name, and surely, he would want to give her those pearls.


    Carlota Giannato had seemed a lovely woman in her eyes, sweet but upright. Timothy was a lot like


    her. She invited them to a dinner party the day after the argument and the disaster at her parents’


    house. At first, she didn’t want to go, but Timothy insisted that it would onlyst a few hours and she


    just wanted to meet the woman her son was going to marry. Melody hated lying, it was a trait she


    couldn’t and wouldn’t change in her personality. More rity, more friendship. That’s what people


    always said, and she took it at face value.


    “It’s nice to finally meet you, Melody,” thedy said upon seeing her.


    “The pleasure is mine, thank you for inviting me to your home,” thergest mansion she ever been to.


    The bad thing was that she hadn’t been to one.


    From movies, she didn’t make it through. She tried not to look shocked, but it was impossible.


    “Would you like to see the whole house?” offered Timothy as they went inside and left the coats with


    the young housekeeper. “I wouldn’t mind showing you where I grew up.”


    “No,” interjected Carlota, as she took Melody by the hand and led her into the living room. “We’ll have


    tea, then dinner with your father,” she spoke without thinking about the opinions of her guests. “After


    dinner you may give her the tour even through China as you like.”


    “As you wish, mother,” he had replied.


    She was surprised to see him smile and not contradict her.


    It was new to her. The perfect child facet she didn’t understand, it was like a perfect dream, in a perfect


    family.


    Carlota had tinum blonde hair, her eyes were the same color as her son’s, and she dressed


    impably and sophisticated. She noticed all the differences, in matters of home, luxurious properties,


    and elegance, the Giannato’s were the very crème de crème of the upper ss.


    “Tell me how you met,” said Carlota, as Melody felt her cheeks flush.


    She still didn’t feelfortable with the situation between Timothy and her. Making love had been like


    going up to paradise, touching the clouds, anding down all at once, realizing how in sync she had


    felt.


    “We met at Doyle’s coffee shop,” Timothy interjected, taking the floor, and looking at her for


    reassurance. Which she subtly thanked him for with her eyes.


    “Doyle? Doyle, your friend’s dad?” said Carlota, narrowing her eyes.


    “The very same.”


    “What is a beautiful young woman doing working in such small coffee shop?”


    “I needed the job,” although she didn’t want to go into details, the woman had the same power as her


    son, and managed to get the semiplete information out of her, just by staring at her. “My friend


    rmended me for the position, and Doyle was kind enough to let me work with him that week.”


    “You were there for only a week?” surprised, Carlota leaned forward and folded her hands on her


    knees. “What happened what did you leave?”


    “We met,” Timothy interjected again and this time, she felt a little ufortable, because of his


    mother’s questions. “Why don’t we have tea? Look, here shees.”


    The woman in an apron came in with a tray and ced it on the little ss-topped table in front of


    them.


    Timothy was sitting next to her, though their bodies didn’t brush, she noticed every movement, every


    blink. She knew with closed eyes that he was apanying her.


    “Thank you, you may go. Tell my husband that his son and his fiancée have arrived. And please go set


    the table, we’ll have dinner as soon as we’re done.”


    Definitely, that woman was a professional bossy, Melody said to herself, as she blushed.


    The maid stepped back, and Melody almost waited for her to curtsy or some kind of sign that she was


    in a pce or something like that.


    She was not of that social ss. She never would be. No matter how fake her rtionship with Timothy


    was, she would never belong to such a lifestyle. That’s something you were born with, and she, of


    course, wasn’t.


    “Tell me about your family Melody, are theying to the wedding? Timothy has told me you want a


    small wedding, nothing so extravagant,” she took a sip of the tea that was poured into a small clear


    cup. “I like weddings that are simple but ssy. We’re not just any family, you noticed that.”


    “I’m clear on that, yes,” Melody replied, squirming in her seat.


    “So, are your parentsing?” repeated Carlota to the question.


    She hadn’t even called her father that day. She didn’t know how to initiate a conversation with him, not


    after everything that happened the day before.


    “My father wille,” sinct but simple, she answered after a few seconds of hesitation. “Excuse


    me, but I don’t feelfortable talking about my family.”


    “You don’t? Sorry Melody, I didn’t mean to touch a sensitive button.”


    “You did,” she replied.


    “Mom, is dinner ready yet?” Timothy got up and put his hands in his pockets. “I think we’d better eat


    now. Melody must rest and go to bed early.”


    “Are you sick?” asked Carlota.


    “No. I’m pregnant,” she replied quizzically, she thought Timothy already told her.


    But Timothy’s face and the choked sound Carlota Giannatto made when he heard her, proved that he


    didn’t tell them.


    Now she was riding in the limo, not knowing if Timothy’s mother would be at the wedding.


    Her impulsive response had caused Timothy’s parents to remain in silence all night. She couldn’t


    imagine.


    “You stay calm,” Devina told her as she got into the limo and listened to what was torturing her. “Carlota


    is not as difficult as she looks.”


    “How many times have you seen her?” she asked as rk got into the limo, once Chloe had gotten in.


    She was grateful not to be alone, though, on such an important day. It pained her to have two virtual


    strangers by her side, and not her sister or her mother.


    “Twice. Once at my wedding and the other a few weekster.”


    “And with that you imagine she’ s a good person? If you’d seen how she looked at me when I said it,


    the poor woman nearly knocked over the hot kettle of tea with him in it. If I’ d known Timothy didn’t tell


    her, I’d keep my mouth shut.”


    “Sweetheart, even if you wanted to, you couldn’t control yourself,” Devinaughed, “you’ve got a


    slingshot in your mouth, you speak the truth. Whoever it hurts, it hurts.”


    “Don’t feel bad, I’m sure she won’t leave her son alone on her wedding day. At least for the sake of


    keeping up appearances, she’ll be there at the chapel,” Chloe interjected consolingly. “It’s the thing


    about marrying someone recognized in front of the press. To maintain the image, those people are


    capable of anything.”


    “Your phrase: those people, offends me,” Devina said pretending to be offended. “My husband is part of


    those people, as you call them.”


    “Yeah, but he’s not like that.”


    “No. You’re right about that.”


    It was good for her to hear the D’angelo sisters talk about Hamlet, as her heart began to calm down


    and her mind stopped riddling her with questions and doubts.


    Was she really going to marry?


    She didn’t believe it yet.


    Twenty minutester, they arrived at the chapel.


    She looked everywhere, until she brought it into focus.


    Her father was there.


    He kept his word.


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    She let the air out slowly.


    “It will be all right,” Devina told her, squeezing her hand, and arranging her veil. “You’re one of the most


    beautiful brides I’ve ever seen,” she wiped away a tear running down her cheek and continued


    speaking, “doesn’t matter that your family isn’t here, look how happy your dad is. The smile can’t fit on


    his face. That should be enough for you. And I’ll tell you what, no matter how fake this is, no matter


    how much you think you can’t get it, focus and walk with your head held high.”


    “Look at the amount of reporters,” she whispered. They were everywhere, they were starting to throw


    shing pictures. She, who hated being the center of attention, was terrified of falling while walking, of


    doing something that would embarrass the Giannato’s name, for that would be the height of her


    disgrace.


    She thought of her mother, at a time like this, she missed her and wanted to call her, but she won’t do


    it. Her invitation to the wedding was for her parents and her sister Allegra. Still, only Charles Redford


    was standing at the entrance to the chapel, waiting for her.


    She should be used to it by now, a month had passed, and her mother still wouldn’t speak to her,


    thinking she ruined Allegra’s marriage.


    Her brother-inw begged for her forgiveness, but Allegra decided to initiate divorce proceedings.


    Her father told her excitedly, happy to be able to get Equy out of their life, once and for all. But he


    would always be a part of Anton’s life. Not to consider the fact that Allegra loved him, as she never


    loved anyone before.


    And all that guilt was Melody’s, taking it on as her own.


    The failure of Allegra’s marriage and the absence of her mother. She simply couldn’t help but feel bad


    about how her life turned out.


    “Let’s get out Melody,” Devina told her.


    The limo door was open, and Chloe was already outside, looking at her worriedly.


    “I’m getting married,” she murmured uncertainly.


    “You’re getting married,” Devina agreed. “Come on. Stop thinking about what’s going to happen in six


    months. Think about what you have now. That’s how you live life. Don’t calcte the future because


    you can have too much happiness or too little. Either way, you won’t know how it’sing. In the


    meantime, take advantage of what you can have and enjoy now, that’s what counts.”


    And how right she was.


    “I’m going to get married,” she repeated, but this time,pletely sure. She would be happy as long as


    she was with him, she would take with her a wonderful memory and life experience for eternity. “Let’s


    go.”


    And she stepped out of the limousine, grabbing all the attention of the reporters. Her father approached


    them, and the girls stepped back to give him space. They went ahead as her father took her left arm.


    “My dear girl. I can’t believe you’re getting married already,” he murmured, as they walked slowly, the


    aisle adorned with lcs at both ends. It was simply a beautiful sight.


    “I’m getting married, dad. You don’t know how grateful I am that you came,” and her happiness showed


    in her eyes. Even if it was just to get Timothy’s inheritance, at her wedding she wanted her father to be


    there. That gave her a certain peace of mind. For him, for everyone, that was real, even a part of her


    felt that way.


    “I wouldn’t miss it for the world. I hope one day I can make it up to you for the ugly time I put you


    through. I want you to know that I will always be there for you, my girl,” he hugged her tight and she felt


    like a little girl again.


    “I love you. For me it’s enough that you’re here. That’s worth more than any words you can say. There


    is nothing to forgive anymore, I have no room in my heart to hate my father,” she was about to burst


    into tears, so she pulled away and looked into his eyes, eyes the same color as hers, “really dad, thank


    you.”


    “I love you. I hope you will be incredibly happy. That man loves you and I hope he makes you the


    happiest woman, you deserve to be.”


    Those words caused Melody to pause at the chapel entrance. At that moment, the song Perfect by Ed


    Sheeran began to y throughout the ce.


    “Ready?”


    She wasn’t, not at that moment, not in a million years.


    “Melody...”


    “I can’t do this,” she whispered before turning away, heading for the limo.