Chapter 6 The Ceremony Of The New Bride

_LORENZO <3

I button up my dress shirt, leaving the first few buttons open before tucking it into my pants, then I get my jacket and put it on as well.

I know I am late to mother's pre-engagement gathering, but I had business to take care of.

My business will always come first.

I made sure I looked presentable before walking out of my room, then out of my floor, taking the elevator down.

I see Xavier also heading in the same direction, and when he sees me, he stops so we can walk in together.

Xavier is the second son of my parents, and he is also what people would call a right hand man. He is the reason why I was called the Mafia boss as soon as I turned twenty two.

He is also one of the few people I trust with my life. He understands me and my need to protect this family.

My other siblings, Matteo and Isadora, are great soldiers of the Mafia, but they do not share what Xavier and I have.

Xavier used to have a best friend from his school days. Eleanor-my fiancee-who got kidnapped a few days before our wedding. I killed everyone who had a hand in her disappearance, but I got to her too late.

I watched her bleed to death in front of me, not being able to do anything. Xavier lost a friend, and I lost my love.

We were both hardened by that moment in time. We understood each other's impulses and unwillingness for life's meaningless endeavors.

"I have not told you this yet, congratulations brother. I hope this union brings you peace." Xavier said, a smirk present on his face.

I roll my eyes at him before entering the door to the sitting room, my eyes immediately falling on the small figure by Mother's side.

The girl I will soon take as my wife.

I take her in, trailing my eyes over her body, which fits the dark blue dress, hugging her curves perfectly.

Her face was made to look more mature than the innocent one I saw yesterday. Her long hair straightened to perfection.

She is the definition of beauty; I will give her that. It is a shame she won't be getting what she is expecting out of this marriage.

"-So Daisy, how old are you, and how set are you on marrying my brother, because you know, I am open too?" I hear Matteo's voice.

Matteo's words register in my head, making me raise an eyebrow. A burning sensation arises in my gut.

Maybe I had too much wine.

"Careful, Matteo, you wouldn't want to lose your head now, would you?" I said, stepping further into the room while keeping my eyes on Daisy, but she does not even raise her head to acknowledge me.

Matteo smirks at me and shrugs.

"There you are! Come here and take this pocket square; it matches Daisy's dress. Put it in." Mother says, handing me a dark blue square piece of cloth.

"Is this not supposed to be folded to a smaller size?" I ask her, and she nods while sorting through boxes of what I think is jewelry's.

"Yes, you're supposed to. You know how to do it, right?" Mother asks, and I just stare at her.

"How?" I questioned, making her sigh as she looked at me with annoyance.

"How do you not know how to fold a pocket square, Lorenzo? It is truly surprising." she shakes her head.

"Daisy, darling, do you know how to fold one?" she asked, making her quickly look at Mother. Her eyebrows come together for a short second before she nods.

"Oh! Thank goodness. Could you please put that in for him then?" Mama asked, making Daisy look at me for a brief second before she stood up, walking over to me.

Her steps were slow and timid, making me look at her with more attention.

Why is she always so scared?

She walked over finally, slowly reaching a hand up to hold it out. I raise an eyebrow at her lack of eye contact but hand her the piece of cloth anyway.

She takes it, then walks over to the coffee table and does a few folds, and like magic, the cloth turns into a small fine piece, her face concentrated the entire time with her lips pursed.

She then turns around and tries to hand it to me, but as I take it, the cloth falls out of its fold. I heard a soft gasp come out of her mouth, making me immediately look at her face.

She's...cute.

"I um, I can put it in for you." She said in the softest voice I've heard, with a slight tremor to it.

"Alright." I nodded, and she stepped closer to me, tucking the square in my pocket quickly, before stepping back like I burnt her or something.

"That was very painful to watch." Isadora comments, making me finally take my eyes away from her.

"Xavier De Luca, Lorenzo's brother." Xavier introduces himself, reaching for a handshake, which she shakes quickly with a smile, looking at him.

"I'm Daisy, nice to meet you, Xavier." She doesn't look or smile at me, but my siblings are no problem?

I shake my head at my unusual thoughts, then clear my throat.

"Mother, what are we waiting for?" I ask her as she finally stops messing with the box and comes over.

"I want to give my daughter-in-law a present." she said, stepping between me and Daisy, opening a box to reveal a small bracelet and a matching necklace made entirely of diamonds.

I watch as Daisy's eyes widen a little before she looks at Mother.

"I think you are mistaken, ma'am. I cannot take this." she said, making Mother furrow her eyebrows.

"Why not, darling? Do you not like it?" She asked with a sad expression that made me angry.

"Just take it and put it on." I tell Daisy, to which she responds by cowering away from me and nodding quickly.

"-I am sorry," she said, quickly taking it.

"Don't talk to her like that, Lorenzo!" Mother scolded me, before turning to Daisy. "If you do not like this one, I can get you something-"

"No! I-I love it, it is beautiful. I am just not sure Father would allow me to wear this." she said softly, which confused me.

"No, of course he will, darling. If he says anything, I will speak with him, do not worry." Mother tells her, to which she nods.

Mother gives me a worried look, and I nod in understanding.

Something's really wrong with the Blackwoods' household.