CHAPTER 28 (ALIYANA)

My father spared no expense for my sister’s wedding which spoke volumes in itself. But Papa’s silence and choice to cut me out of most of the celebration due to my altercation with Marco even after Deno insisted against it, is a hard pill to just swallow. He once told me to let bygones be bygones, so why can’t he do the same for me.

My Papa has no idea, his decision is the course of my silent despair. I am hurting something bad inside and I have no one to really talk to because the person who is hurting me is the only one, I have.

Marco didn’t even look at me since that evening and I have seen him 5 times, I counted. Deno is stuck between a hard and soft place. He betrayed my trust when he offered me help but went straight to the place, he wanted me to take Mero. It hurt, knowing that he couldn’t be trusted. Deno isn’t the friend I thought.

I make my way up the stairs, glad Papa decided to use Ilaria’s new house and not mine. The tiles are pearlescent all through the bottom of the house, the upstairs including the staircase is fitted with grey carpets that cost my Papa close to 40k to have it ready for today. Ilaria has really changed everything she could in the house and even though it isn’t my style, I have to say the place looks stunning.

“Guilia, Deno is here, come down,” My father’s voice sails from the bottom of the house and I hear the sound of the guests as they clap and talk.

Kids play outside and again if you were an outsider you would think that this is just another normal family.

There is nothing normal about us.

When I get upstairs, greeting the women hanging around the stairs, I go to my sister’s room. She is looking stunning in a Tibetan jasmine white and gold-trimmed dress that shows off her long legs and

slim figure. Her make-up is flawless and she outdid herself with her hair that is curled, falling down her back. Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The hairstylist is standing behind her, and I recognize the girl from my eco class. A ceremony this big is private, which means she is either a Made-Man's daughter or she is a soldier one. I’m going with the latter since she doesn’t look like an Italian. But neither do I.

“Hey, Serena. What are you doing there?”

“Looking at Guilia, Papa said Guilia is not going to stay with me anymore.” I put my phone on the stand next to Serena and touch her ringlets.

“Maybe not, but she will visit you often, and we can tell Papa to let you stay here on weekends.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes, of course.” I hold my small sister and an ache in my chest expand that one day she soon will be getting married and I will regret not having too many of these moments.

“You look very pretty Liya.” I am wearing a lilac three-quarter dress like my smaller sister Serena, only hers has flowers.