Chapter 4 Vowless Bride

Aria stood in front of the mirror. The dress was red, long-sleeved and it fitted very well. She hadn't chosen it, It had just arrived that morning with a short note: Wear this.

The material was heavy and precise, a woman she didn't know had styled her hair into a simple bun and handed her a pair of plain earrings. There was no joy in the room, no laughter, no friends, and no damn family.

She was led down a long hallway by Anna. No conversation passed between them. Every step she took was expected and was already accounted for. The corridor ended in a formal room with stone flooring and long windows. Rain hit the glass in steady lines. Outside, the sky was cloudy, and the trees behind the estate swayed under the pressure of wind.

A short man stood near the center of the room, dressed in a simple black robe. He held a folder in his hand and nodded once as Aria approached. Leon was already there. He wore a black suit with still no tie, no flower and there wasn't even any visible reaction on his face.

She stood beside him, he didn't even look at her.

The officiant opened the folder. "Today marks the legal union between Leon Angelo De Luca and Aria Elizabeth Vale. This marriage is recognized by the court and observed by legal counsel. There will be no exchange of vows. The contract has been reviewed and approved."

Aria kept her eyes forward as her hands were still.

Leon extended his hand, and the officiant placed a ring in his palm. He slid it onto Aria's finger without a word.

She did the same when the second ring was given to her.

"You are now legally bound in marriage," the officiant said. "This will be recorded under Section 18 of the De Luca family register. The contract will remain sealed until either party files for a revision or dissolution under agreed terms."

He closed the folder. "This proceeding is complete."

Aria didn't move as Leon turned and walked out of the room.

Anna appeared at her side. "Come with me."

She followed her through another wing of the mansion. A new room had been arranged. It was larger than the first, with a bed big enough for two, a sitting area, and a wardrobe filled with clothing she hadn't seen before. The lighting was soft, but the space remained formal and cold. There were no personal items and nothing here belonged to her.

Anna stopped at the door. "You'll stay here now. Meals will be sent unless instructed otherwise. You're expected to appear at tomorrow's evening briefing. And that's all."

The door closed behind her.

Aria sat down at the edge of the bed. The ring on her finger didn't fit properly, It was slightly loose, as if no one had taken the time to size it. She removed it and placed it on the nightstand. It wasn't jewelry to her either.

She stayed seated for an hour before finally standing to change. The dress came off and was folded carefully. She had no intention of wearing it again.

There was no knock at the door or any greeting from Leon. There was no indication that the man she had legally married had any plans to speak with her.

That night, she lay awake on the bed, staring at the ceiling. The air was quiet as the rain outside had slowed. The only sound left was the faint ticking of a wall clock.

By morning, nothing had changed.

She got dressed early, choosing simple black pants and a fitted blouse. When breakfast arrived, it came on a tray placed outside her door. But she has no plans of touching the food.

At noon, a message arrived, it was typed and printed on a sheet of plain white paper.

Evening briefing at 7 p.m. Main hall, be present.

There was no signature.

She returned to pacing the room. She tried to keep her mind clear, but it was difficult. Her thoughts circled the same facts, her father hadn't sent any messages or called, the marriage was official, and she was locked in a house with a man who refused to acknowledge her unless necessary.

She considered leaving, but there were no clear exits. Security was tight and surveillance cameras covered every hallway and entrance. She had already seen at least four guards stationed around the estate perimeter during her short walk the day before.

At 6:30, she left her room and walked toward the main hall. She passed no one on her way up until she arrived five minutes early.

The room was wide, with long windows on both sides and a heavy wooden table in the center. Several men were seated already. She recognized Luca Moretti from earlier news articles; he was Leon's second-in-command. Two other older men sat near him, both dressed in suits and were watching her with unreadable expressions.

Leon stood at the end of the table with crossed arms.

She took the seat farthest from him, though he didn't acknowledge her presence directly.

Luca began speaking. "We received confirmation that Silvio Romano's shipment was intercepted yesterday morning. Three of his men were taken into custody. Our sources inside his network say he suspects interference."

Leon remained still. "Let him suspect."

Another man leaned forward. "This alliance..." he nodded toward Aria "...is it official now right?"

"Yes," Leon replied.

There was no further explanation.

Aria said nothing.

The meeting continued as they discussed territory arrangements, shipment delays, two unresolved threats from a rival family in New Jersey, and a brief conflict that had occurred at one of their warehouses in Brooklyn.

Not once during the discussion did anyone speak to her directly. Her presence was acknowledged only once, as a legal formality.

When the meeting ended, the men stood and exited without comment. Leon remained at the head of the room.

Aria stood to leave but Leon's voice stopped her half way.

"You can speak," he said.

She turned. "About what?"

"Whatever's on your mind."

"I wasn't aware I was allowed to."

"You are."

She faced him fully now. "Do you expect me to live here in silence forever?"

"No," he said. "I expect you to adapt."

"Adapt to what?"

"To this life."

"This isn't a life., this is confinement."

Leon's tone didn't change. "You agreed to it."

"I signed a contract to protect my father. That doesn't mean I belong to you."

"No one said you do," he replied calmly. "But you belong to this family now and that's what matters."

She paused, then turned away. "You don't treat people cool at all, you only control them."

Leon didn't argue. "That's how this world works."

Then Aria walked out. Back in her room, she sat down again on the bed as she placed the ring back on her finger and stared at it, then took it off once more.

She didn't know what the next day would bring but she knew that the silence in this place wasn't just absence, it was intentional.

And surviving it would require more than endurance.