Chapter 4 What A Jerk!

Selene erupted into laughter, struggling to process the absurdity of his words. "Don't flatter yourself, buddy; I'm not interested in this marriage either. And by the way, I'm not a dog. 'Obedient' wife? Really?" her laugh faded as she studied his serious demeanour. "Wait, you're serious?" she asked, arching an eyebrow in disbelief.

"Considering your family's impending financial ruin and the fact that you're their last hope for a luxurious life, I think you should take this seriously," Adrian said, arms crossed and expression grave.

She was nothing more than a business arrangement or, worse, a pawn. In exchange for a luxurious life, they decided to give her away; she had never thought of it that way, and that broke her. "So you better start getting used to me, you have no choice," he added, turning to walk away, leaving her alone with her swirling thoughts.

In disbelief, Serena sat in silence, struggling to process how her father valued money to her. It was a long moment before she heard Sofia's cheerful voice calling out and snapping her out, "Oh, there you are! Everyone's waiting for you. Let's go!"

Sofia gently tugged Serena, who felt like a ghost, drifting mindlessly into the lavish mansion. As they entered the living room, everyone held wine glasses, brimming with excitement. "There she is!" Mr. DeLuca exclaimed as Sofia poured Serena a glass, chirping, "To family bonding!" The room erupted in cheers, glasses clinking together, and Mr. DeLuca grinned at her. "Welcome to the family," Sofia whispered, joyfully. Serena returned it with a nervous smile.

The guests closed in on the couple, eager to celebrate what felt more like a transaction than a union. "We have so much to plan for the wedding!" Mrs. Deluca laughed, her voice bright with anticipation. "When is the big day?" Mr. DeLuca asked, causing laughter to ripple through the crowd as their attention turned to the couple, standing awkwardly apart.

"Come on, you two!" Sofia chimed, stepping in to bridge the gap between them and linking both arms. "They need to get to know each other first."

"They can do that in their new home, right, Serena?" Mr. DeLuca smiled, his words reaching her like a distant echo. She had drifted so far from the conversation that it took a gentle nudge from Sofia to bring her back. "Yeah, sure," she replied, her voice distant and automatic.

"Ah ha!" The collective excitement of the gathered family grew. "So we have a wedding next Saturday!" Mr. DeLuca announced, raising his arms to embrace her father.

Serena's parents, burdened with guilt, remained silent. Her father's heart was heavy as he grappled with the choice he'd made. He offered a nervous smile to Mr. DeLuca, glancing over at Serena, who could no longer hold back her tears. At that moment, the room buzzed with laughter and celebration, but inside her, a storm of despair raged on.

As the last echoes of laughter faded, the Morettis and the Delucas exchanged warm farewells, marking the end of an evening that would change everything. In her room, Serena lay sprawled on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. The weight of her new life hung heavily upon her. Just then, she heard a soft knock at the door.

"Sweetie, can we talk?" Her father's voice broke the silence as he gently pushed the door open. Standing there with his hand behind his head, he looked vulnerable. Serena sat up, wiping away a tear. "About?" she replied, her voice flat.

"About the marriage... I had no choice," he began, inching toward her with regret etched on his features. "It was either our assets or you, Serena." His voice trembled, barely holding back the emotion bubbling beneath the surface. " I just had to and it pains me so much that I put you in this. I know you hate me but please forgive me." He said with a crack In his voice and a hand on his head.

"I'm spending the night over at Ashley's," Serena declared, cutting through the tension like a knife. Without another glance at her father, she began stuffing a bag with essentials from her closet, refusing to let the anguish engulf her. His apology didn't move her but irritated her more and she didn't want to be in the same house with him.

"I can leave the house freely now?" She asked coldly and she came out of her closet with her bag on her shoulder. "There's nothing to talk about; it's already done," Serena said before walking out the door, slamming the door as she stormed out.

Just 15 minutes later, she arrived at Ashley's house, a place of refuge. Her friend rushed out, eyes wide with concern. "Ser, what's going on? Are you okay?" Ashley bombarded her with questions, not giving Serena a moment to catch her breath. "Can I spend some time with you before I get married?" Serena asked, forcing a shaky smile through her tears.

Inside, Ashley's five-bedroom flat offered a sense of solace as Serena sank into a hot bath, letting the warmth wash away her pain. Later, in the living room, Ashley greeted her with a bucket of strawberry and chocolate ice cream. "Ready to talk?" she asked, handing Serena a spoon. The two settled on the floor, and Serena leaned against Ashley, who was a pillar of support.

"I should have just run away with Ian when I had the chance," Serena jokes, her laughter ringing like music in the air. "And my soon-to-be husband? What a total jerk! You wouldn't believe what he said at dinner!" As she vented her frustrations, Ashley listened intently, nodding along as Serena unloaded the chaos of her life.

Eventually, exhaustion took over, and they both fell asleep, dreams drifting far from reality. The peace was shattered by Serena's phone ringing incessantly, pulling her from slumber. Groggy, she reached for the device, squinting at the unknown number flashing on the screen. "Someone better be dead," she muttered before answering the call.

"Good morning, Serena," a smooth voice greeted her. "I arranged a date under my father's request for today; be ready by 7 p.m."

"Wait, hold up! Who is this?" she asked, still half-asleep.

"It's Adrian Deluca."

The name sent a jolt through her, and Ashley perked up, her eyes locked on Serena's reaction. "Oh... Adrian. Sorry, I can't make it; I'm out of town," she said quickly.

"When will you be back?" he asked, his tone eager.

"Friday," she replied, feeling a mixture of relief and regret.

"Okay," he said, before abruptly ending the call.

"Rude!" both girls chimed in unison, bursting into laughter.

"What's on the agenda for today?" Ashley asked, eager to escape the weight of the previous night.

"Anything that involves me not leaving this house until Friday," Serena replied, a sense of determination creeping back as they headed to the kitchen, ready to take on the day, together.

After a long day spent indoors-scrolling through Instagram and binge-watching movies-Serena and Ashley were finally ready to enjoy a quiet evening by the pool. The sun dipped low in the sky, painting the horizon in warm hues, when suddenly a shrill ring broke their peaceful moment. A call from the gate announced an unexpected delivery.

"I didn't order anything, did you?" Ashley asked, brow furrowed and curiosity piqued. Serena shook her head, confusion mirroring Ashley's expression. "It's addressed to Mrs. Serena DeLuca," the delivery man's voice crackled through the intercom.

The girls exchanged wide-eyed glances. "Nobody knows this address-not even my parents," Serena murmured, a mix of intrigue and anxiety bubbling in her chest. Deciding to investigate, they headed toward the gate, barely containing their anticipation.

Carrying the large box into Ashley's living room, they exchanged excited whispers. As they ripped open the packaging, a folded note slipped out, its contents sending ripples of surprise through them: "I'm coming to pick you up by 7."

"What in the world?" they exclaimed in unison, eyes darting between the note and each other, the tension thickening in the air. Serena sifted through the box, her surprising find making her breath catch. There it was-a stunning, backless silk dress, elegantly flowing with a daring slit that rose five inches above her knee.

"Wow," Ashley breathed, her eyes wide with astonishment. She reached deeper into the box, pulling out limited edition Chanel shoes. "Girl!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with disbelief, "There are only two pairs of these in the world!"

As they marvelled at the exquisite jewellery shimmering in the box, Serena's phone buzzed. A message lit up the screen: "Don't keep me waiting."

"Should I respond?" Serena asked, glancing at Ashley for advice.

"There's no need to," Ashley replied, a knowing smile crossing her face. They both laughed, "I thought this was his dad's idea. Why is he taking it so seriously?"

"Maybe he's not that bad," Serena mused, a smile creeping onto her face as she absorbed the beautiful gifts surrounding her.

"Yes, 'obedient wife,'" Ashley teased, their laughter mingling with the warm evening air, excitement building for whatever the night might bring.