Arranged Marriage To My Enemy

Chapter 1

My engagement party was planned down to the last exquisite detail, but not by me. Just like my engagement itself, the family elders took care of all the arrangements.

The guests started whispering as I passed by. A Bianchi wedding is a big deal for everyone, but it's even more so because I'm marrying Ethan Harris Montello.

Everyone here is probably betting on whether Ethan and I will actually get married. That's how unbelievable this all seems.

My father is in the middle of the room, standing with Lucan Montello and another man whose back is turned to me. I walked closer to them.

"Ah. And here is my daughter," Daddy said as I approached. "Finally, principessa. You've come to join us. What took you so long?" he asked.

I forced a smile. "Well, I was trying to make my escape. But it turns out the window in my room is too high, so I thought I'd take my chances with this party instead," I said, and Mr. Montello, Ethan's father, nearly choked on his wine at my words. The others fell silent, while my father burst into loud laughter, which made me roll my eyes inwardly.

"Well, we're honored that you decided to join us. This is your party, after all. Now, without further ado, it's time to introduce you to your betrothed. Chiara, this is Ethan, your fiancé," Daddy said.

"Hello, Chiara." My first glimpse of him sent a jolt through me. He's even more attractive than I was led to believe.

Broad shoulders, a strong jaw, sculpted cheeks. In that crisp designer suit, his presence is undeniable, and it's undeniable that he has an effect on me. But he's a Montello, so I need to keep my composure.

"Hello," I greeted him with minimal enthusiasm.

"Come on. Surely you can muster a little more excitement. You're meeting your fiancé for the first time, after all," he said, but I remained silent.

"Maybe she's saving her enthusiasm for the wedding night," Ethan's father joked, making me want to gag. I frowned and quickly looked away at the other guests.

"Or maybe she's just being true to how she feels. I doubt she's thrilled to be marrying me," Ethan remarked, making me turn to him in surprise. I didn't expect him to speak up for me.

But he shows no sign of solidarity with me. He just stares blankly back.

Is he this emotionless all the time? We're about to get married, but when he looks at me, it's as if I'm just a piece of paper to him.

"I'm sure any woman would be thrilled to marry someone like you, my son. Your prowess is unmatched," his father said, laughing softly, though I couldn't tell if it was sarcastic towards me or his father.

"Though I suppose not every woman appreciates a powerful, alpha man. Not every woman can handle it," Mr. Montello continued, making me cross my arms and glare at him.

"And not every man can handle an independent, capable woman. I suppose we'll see, won't we?" I boldly retorted before turning to look at Ethan.

Something flickered across Ethan's face, but I couldn't quite tell what it was. Amusement? Irritation? Well, it's hard to read the man I'm about to marry. I rolled my eyes internally.

"She's a brave one, Carlo. I suppose she gets that from her mother too, not just her looks," Mr. Montello said with a smile.

"Bianchi women are always spirited, but once you earn their loyalty, they'll stand by your side through thick and thin," Dad said proudly.

"Good to hear," Mr. Montello replied.

"If Ethan wants to earn my loyalty, he has his work cut out for him," I said, which made Ethan suddenly laugh.

"I find most people bend to my will easily enough. I'm sure it won't be any different with you," he said, and I gasped at his words, but eventually, I smirked back at him.

"Then I wish you luck, Montello. You'll need it with me."

"We'll see, Bianchi," I said sarcastically, though the truth was, I really wanted to grab the gun from Daddy's pocket and shoot the man in front of me.

He met my challenging gaze with a confident smirk. He didn't look intimidated at all. In fact, it seemed like he was enjoying seeing me irritated with him. Marrying this man is definitely not a good idea.

"Well, look at this! Sparks are already flying. Perhaps you and I should play matchmaker more often, Lucan," Dad said to Ethan's father, which immediately made me frown.

"But is it a match made in heaven or hell? Only time will tell," Mr. Montello said with a laugh.

Ethan's lips curled, but he maintained that cool exterior. His intense eyes were fixed on me, as if studying my every move.

Pushing Ethan's buttons could turn out to be surprisingly fun, but I know Dad wants me to keep the peace.

But because he annoyed me, I have no intention of keeping the peace between us.

"What do you think, Montello? Will being married to me feel more like heaven or hell?" I teased, and he suddenly grinned before slowly approaching me. We were just an inch apart.

"There's a third option, you know. Purgatory." His face remained as flat as his tone. Needling him isn't as easy as I'd hoped.

I rolled my eyes and quickly looked away. My chest was rising and falling with irritation. I swear, I'd bury him alive!

"Perhaps we should speak alone, Chiara," he said, making me look at him again. What is he up to? I glared at him from head to toe. "Well, you know, we can talk without our interfering fathers looking over our shoulders," he added, making me pause and consider his suggestion. Well, he has a point.

"Fine, I guess I could show you the gardens," I said.

"Let's go then," he replied with a small smile, which I inwardly rolled my eyes at.

Ethan didn't even bother to feign interest in the gardens. He looked unimpressed by everything Bianchi, including me.

Right, the only thing that matters to Ethan Harris Montello is his business. He's all about making money and spending it. What a man.

I crossed my arms as I faced him, looking at him with disinterest. "So, why did you want us to speak alone?" I asked.

"Why do you think? It wouldn't hurt for us to get to know each other better before our big day," he said, making me grimace.

"It might hurt," I said, and he suddenly chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"Maybe, but just the right amount of pain can feel a lot like pleasure," he said, and my eyes widened at his words. Wait, am I thinking the right thing? Or is my mind just going dirty? But then he flashed a mischievous grin, confirming my suspicion. Damn him!

"Don't believe me? I'd be happy to prove it to you any time you like. How about right now?"

My cheeks instantly flushed as he gently stroked them. We've only been alone for five minutes, and he's already making innuendos. We haven't even properly greeted each other yet.

I quickly pushed him away from me. "Thanks for your generous offer, but I'm going to have to decline. I've been saving myself for my wedding night," I said as I hugged myself, and he chuckled softly again.

"Yes, your father mentioned that..."

"What? That I'm a virgin? I'm not ashamed that I decided to wait. I thought I'd marry for love, not politics."

Though that decision seems like a waste now. I'm not marrying for love; I'm marrying someone I hate. Have I really missed out on my chance to know true passion? Ethan's ice-cold. I thought my marriage would have more heat.

He sighed.

"For the record, this isn't how I imagined my future either. In fact, I planned to never get married at all."

"Really? Why?" I asked, puzzled.

"Do I strike you as the sentimental type, Chiara? I prefer to be on my own," he said without emotion.

"What about love?" I asked, and he smirked.

"Love? I don't know that word, Bianchi. For me... love is a weakness, and I have no weaknesses." I took a deep breath before smiling bitterly. I hear the truth. Now, I know where our future is heading.

"Strange, isn't it? We only just met tonight, and next week we'll be married," he sighed too.

"Yeah. It's a short engagement. I guess they just didn't want to give us time to back out," he said, hands in his pockets.

"Everything's happening so fast. A few weeks ago, you were my enemy. Now I'm meeting you tonight as my fiancé," I said, taking a deep breath to calm myself.

"We've barely spoken to each other-"

"-and we haven't even kissed yet."

"Yeah-Huh? Wh-What?!" I was stunned and felt like I had misheard him. I quickly wiped away the tears forming in my eyes, becoming emotional while he...

To Be Continued..

Chapter 2

He slowly approached me, and I kept backing away... until I felt the wide trunk of a tree behind me, making my heart pound even faster.

I felt his soft palm on my cheek, gently caressing it with just his fingers, sending a strange electricity through me.

"What―what do you think you're doing, Montello?!"

"Would you rather our first kiss happen the moment we're declared husband and wife? The time and place should be decided by us. We have to put on this show for everyone, but our first kiss should be private. Don't you think?" I met his gaze, trying to read his thoughts, but I failed. His face was too blank, or maybe it just didn't matter to him at all.

I quickly looked away and gently pushed him away from me before clearing my throat.

"N―No need. I'm happy to wait until the wedding. It's not like any of this relationship is real. Why bother pretending it is?" I said with a fake smile on my face.

"Fine. If that's what you want." Frustration was evident on his face, but it only lasted a few seconds before he returned to his usual serious and cold expression.

"We should head back inside. This is our engagement party, after all. We're the special guests," he said before walking back to the party.

Ethan and I re-entered the ballroom, and I saw my father clink his champagne glass to signal the start of a toast.

"Attention, please. As the father of the beautiful bride, I have a few words to say at my daughter's engagement party."

The room fell silent. My dad, Carlo Bianchi, could hold a room full of powerful people's attention with just a few words.

"It's no secret that the Montello and Bianchi family histories are bloody. But today, that has all changed. Ethan and Chiara are forging the future together. We'll all follow their example. To new beginnings!" my dad shouted joyfully, raising his glass.

"I agree. To new beginnings!" echoed Ethan's father.

I didn't raise my glass, wanting to show my disapproval. I glanced at Ethan and gave a fake laugh because even he didn't raise his glass.

At least I'm not the only one who can't take this truce seriously.

My father finished his speech. Once again, the room buzzed with conversation.

I looked at Ethan uncertainly. "Well, I suppose this is it for now. The next time I see you, we'll be at the altar." He nodded.

"Right. I'll be the dashing groom. You'll be my blushing bride," he said with no emotion.

"And then we'll be married to each other. For the rest of our lives, until we die," I said, forcing a smile at him. He took a deep breath and looked at me.

"Believe it or not, Chiara, a lot of women actually want to be married to me. They'd take your place in a heartbeat." I scoffed at his words and shot him a deadly glare.

"Oh, really? Well, those women aren't Bianchis." He chuckled sarcastically.

"Exactly. You heard what your father said. This marriage is the keystone of the peace treaty. Whether you like it or not, there's nothing you can do about it. You're stuck with me forever," he taunted.

"If I'm stuck with you, then you're stuck with me. Even if I was forced into this to be a good daughter, I won't let―" I stopped as he laughed again.

"Is that what you're doing, playing the role of the dutiful daughter?" he said, walking closer to me, so close I was almost cross-eyed. His expression suddenly turned serious. "I think you'd better look up the meaning of that word in the dictionary. Actually, don't. I think I'll enjoy teaching you the meaning myself. I have a few ideas in my mind..." His smirk was dark and dirty, full of promise. For some inexplicable reason, I suddenly felt butterflies in my stomach, wondering what kind of ideas he had in mind.

I swallowed hard.

"Goodbye for now, Chiara. See you on our wedding day. And if I have it my way, I'll see even more of you on our wedding night," he said, giving me a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving. I could only stare in shock as Ethan left our house.

As I headed toward the stairs to return to my room, my two older sisters grabbed my arms.

"I still can't believe you're getting married. To Ethan Harris of all people! You're so lucky," said Sister Charlotte, making me grimace.

"He's amazing. We've all heard the stories, but seeing him here in the flesh... He's fucking gorgeous, Chiara. He's going to be your husband," chimed in Sister Chelsea, who's older than both Sister Charlotte and me.

"Thanks for the reminder. As if I could forget?" I said with a grimace.

"Oh, come on, Chiara. Don't tell us you're having second thoughts, huh? Like, that's Ethan Harris, sis," said Sister Charlotte again.

"His looks don't matter to me. He's still a Montello. That means he can't be trusted. I'll never feel safe being with him for the rest of my life." Sister Chelsea stepped closer and grabbed my arm again.

"Relax, girl. Father says they aren't our enemies anymore. The fact that you two are getting married proves it."

"And who knows? Maybe you'll end up finding happiness with Ethan. Never say never."

"Sister Charlotte is right, Chiara. You may learn to love each other one day," agreed Sister Chelsea, making me sigh deeply.

"Do you really think so? It seems impossible."

"Come on, Chiara. With a face like that, I'm sure falling in love with him will be easier than you think. There's a powerful magnetism around him," she added, and I just shook my head. No matter how handsome my future husband might be, I still can't shake the feeling that this marriage is doomed.

How could I ever learn to love a Montello? And how could a Montello ever learn to love me? This marriage is such a huge mistake.

The weeks went by in a blur. Soon enough, it was my wedding day.

Daddy came to the dressing room to escort me to my groom.

"I know this isn't what you wanted. I can see you haven't even put much thought into your wedding dress. But I hope you'll find happiness. That's all I've ever wanted for you and our family," he said, making me give him a bitter smile.

"I know, Dad. I―I'll try my best."

"Hija, Ethan is a lucky man. I'm sure he'll feel the same when he sees you walking down the aisle."

"Thanks, Dad, but I'm sure he won't. He made it quite clear that this marriage wasn't his idea. In fact, he told me he never wanted to get married at all," I said.

"Is that so?" There was a glint in his eyes, as though he knew something I didn't. But before I could question him, his expression grew serious.

"You do understand the importance of what you're doing here, don't you? This marriage is going to complete the peace deal. The success of both your families is being forged here through you and your groom. You can make or break the future," he reminded me, and I nodded.

"Yes, Dad, I'll try to make the most of it. Marrying Ethan might not be such a bad idea after all. Maybe it'll work out in the end." My dad placed his hands on both my shoulders.

"The two of you are better matched than you may think."

"I'm just worried about his intentions toward me. Can I trust him? Will he ever trust me?" These were the questions that had been playing in my mind since I found out I was marrying Ethan.

"You're smart enough to know when people aren't being honest with you. That said, I believe you should give Ethan a chance. He's not just his father's son. He has his own principles, and I'm sure he makes his own decisions," he reminded me again, and I just smiled.

"Except for the decision to marry me. He couldn't stop that," I said, and he sighed deeply.

"Chiara, listen to me. Ethan allowed this marriage to happen. If he had been against it, he would have stopped his father from the start, and there wouldn't have been anything his father could do about it. God knows Ethan has a strong will. No one forces him to do anything. For one reason or another, he wanted to marry you." I was momentarily speechless. My heart suddenly pounded at the thought that Ethan Montello wanted to marry me, but why?

He clearly told me that marriage wasn't his idea. Does he really want to marry me, or is he just doing it for some unknown reason? I'm more confused than ever.

My father took one last adoring look at me. He may have three daughters, but as the youngest, he's always doted on me.

"It's time to go, my princess, Chiara. Your groom is waiting for you. Are you ready?"

"I'm ready, Dad," I replied, and he nodded.

To Be Continued...

Chapter 3

The orchestra begins to play their strings. I grasp Dad's arm the moment I step onto the aisle, walking toward the new life I'm about to embrace.

And my new groom. Ethan stands at the altar, his impenetrable gaze fixed on me. He's the most inscrutable man I've ever met.

And the most gorgeous too. God, he looks like a dream in that suit. If only his surname wasn't Montello. And if only he loved me.

I reach the front, where my father is about to give me away to Ethan.

"Take care of her for me, Ethan."

"I will. You have my word," he says, and then Dad looks at me once more and gives me a tight hug before taking his place.

I keep stealing glances at Ethan throughout the ceremony, but not once does he look at me. He just stares straight ahead, his expression so unreadable that it's hard to decipher.

"Do you, Ethan, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

"Do you, Chiara, take this man to be your lawfully wedded husband, from this day forward, as long as you both shall live?" the priest asks me.

"I do."

"Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace."

The church is so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. It's surprising, considering how many people I know would love to stop this wedding.

"Then by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now kiss the bride."

I swallow hard as he lifts my veil. He looks at me for a moment before leaning in to give me a light kiss on the lips. It's hardly passionate, but we are in church after all. As he pulls back, I whisper to him.

"We did it."

"Yeah," he replies, his cold demeanor returning.

After the ceremony, Ethan and I are rushed through a blur of flower petals and confetti. Our wedding planner gives us a moment alone.

She probably expected us to be all over each other in newlywed bliss. Instead, I stand by the door next to Ethan as the awkwardness around us grows.

"So... You said 'I do.' Color me shocked," I break the silence.

"Of course I did. I wasn't about to abandon you at the altar and embarrass you," he says, making me roll my eyes.

"No, I just meant... I was just trying to lighten the mood, Ethan. Forget it," I say, annoyed as I watch him.

Ethan's expression is so dark, I don't think anything could lighten his mood. I feel a pit in my stomach. I never thought my groom would look so miserable after we just got married. Am I really that terrible to marry?

I take a deep breath, letting the silence fill the room. If he doesn't want to talk, then so be it.

I start playing with the hem of my gown, staring into space. When will this night end? I wish it were morning already so I wouldn't have to struggle anymore.

I hear a sigh from beside me, but I resist the urge to look at him. Seconds pass, and he still doesn't speak, so I finally glance at him and give a fake laugh.

"Well, at least we made it through the ceremony without any objections, right? I was half expecting someone to object," I joke, but it seems to have no effect.

"I was expecting you to," he replies, making me sigh. Silent or not, it's still awkward between us. I thought things would get easier once we were officially married.

"Let's just go back to the reception. There's no point in staying here if you're not going to say anything," I say, and just as I turn to leave, he grabs my hand and pushes me gently against the door, still holding my hand.

Wait? What's happening?!

"Chiara, wait. I do have something to say to you."

"You're making me nervous, Montello," I say as he closes his eyes and takes a deep breath before looking into my eyes, as if he's studying my face or my movements.

"I know I'm your enemy. I know you've been taught to hate me. I just... I just don't want you to be afraid of me, Chiara. Whatever stories you've heard about me or the Montello family... Our reputation may be brutal, but I'll never hurt you. I promise you," Ethan says, and I avert my gaze.

"I want to believe you, but... all my life, I've been warned never to trust any Montello. Those feelings won't change overnight."

"I know, but we need to put the past behind us now. Your father is right. Our families are stronger together, and we could be stronger together too if we give this marriage a chance. It's up to us what we do with our union," he says, and I'm taken aback because the Ethan standing before me is so different from the Ethan I met last week and the Ethan who stood with me at the altar.

I can't help but smile. "Looks like I don't know you that well yet. You can be sentimental too," I joke, and he lets out a soft laugh before meeting my gaze.

"It's my wedding day. I think I'm allowed to be sentimental," he says, taking a deep breath as he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. "Speak your mind, wife. Tell me your truth. How do you see our future?" I'm stunned by his use of the word 'wife.'

I pull my hand away from his and take a step back to put some distance between us. He looks puzzled.

"Thank you for saying all that. I'll try to keep it in mind as we start our future together," I say, and he nods.

"That's all I ask." We both turn toward the door when we hear a knock. When Ethan opens it, his father is standing there, smiling as he watches us.

"Well, that's it then. There's no backing out now. Unless we get the marriage annulled," he jokes.

"There will be no annulments and no backing out. You wanted this, Father," Ethan says, and Mr. Montello sighs deeply.

"Yes, I suppose I did. Still, it was stranger than I thought it would be, watching my son marry a Bianchi," he comments, exhaling deeply. Then he forces a smile at us. He's so different from the Mr. Montello I met at our engagement party, where he seemed genuinely happy about the situation.

"It looks like our guests are waiting," I say, trying to diffuse the tension between the three of us.

"Oh! Yeah, that's what I came to tell you. Are you ready to be announced as Mr. and Mrs. Montello?" he asks, making me pause. It still hasn't sunk in. It's hard to accept that I'm now part of their family and will be a Montello.

This is impossible!

Ethan seems to read my thoughts, so he gently squeezes my trembling hand before placing it on his arm and whispering to me.

"One step at a time, Chiara. Come on, I want to show off my beautiful wife to everyone I know. Even if she is a Bianchi," he says, and I see his beautiful smile once more.

I averted my gaze because of the strange feeling that overcame me again. It started earlier, and it seems my heart won't calm down easily if this continues.

It looks like I can no longer hide the attraction I feel for him now, but that doesn't mean our marriage will ever be real.

I barely got a chance to breathe for the rest of the day, let alone spend any more time with Ethan.

Everyone wanted their moment with me, and I spent my wedding reception meeting and greeting friends and relatives.

"Chiara!" I was surprised when a woman called out to me. I didn't know her, but she had a huge smile on her face. "It's so good to finally meet you. I'm Solenn, Ethan's twin sister. I've heard so much about you," she said as she approached me and extended her hand, which I quickly accepted.

"Oh, really? From who?" I asked curiously.

"From everyone, of course! People can't stop talking about you." I scratched my neck, feeling a bit awkward, and she laughed softly at my reaction. "I always knew my brother would end up with the most beautiful bride anyone's ever seen. You look stunning today, Chiara," she complimented me, making me blush even more.

"Thank you," I said while scrutinizing Solenn as she smiled at me, looking for any sign that she was being anything less than genuine.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but you seem a lot happier that I married Ethan than most of your relatives." She smiled at my comment.

"What can I say? I've always wanted a sister," she said, and I just nodded. "So, what do you think of Ethan so far? Has he swept you off your feet yet?" she teased, and I suddenly felt my cheeks warm.

"That doesn't seem like his style. I can't imagine Ethan sweeping anyone off their feet, least of all the daughter of the enemy," I said to her.

"I've always had a hunch that my twin brother is a secret romantic. I'm sure you'll see that side of him soon if you haven't already!" I sighed.

"Actually, not yet."

"You and Ethan still don't know each other very well, so it's my job to tell you what an amazing husband he's going to be," she said proudly about her twin.

"You think so?" I asked with hesitation, and she quickly nodded.

"I know so. There's no one more loyal than Ethan. No one more honorable. He'll take such good care of you, Chiara. Believe me, you'll see it very soon," she said confidently.

"Well, I hope so." I felt myself flush at Solenn's words. The idea of Ethan taking care of me filled me with the strangest sort of pride.

"Solenn, I see you're mingling with the enemy. Some of us prefer to keep our distance," said a sharp-tongued woman who approached us. Solenn crossed her arms and turned to her.

"We're all on the same side now, Katrina. Besides, if you wanted to keep your distance, you wouldn't have walked over here," Solenn replied, silencing the woman.

She quickly turned her gaze back to me. "Chiara, this is Katrina. She and I grew up together. She's a close friend of my family's-"

"And a very special close friend of Ethan's too," added Katrina, giving me a sharp look.

"Nice to meet you, Katrina." My words sounded half-hearted, even to me, but Katrina didn't seem to care. She stared at me like I was a stain she had just noticed on her shoe.

To Be Continued..