Authors: Melita Joy
“From here on everything about your life is relevant to me. Don’t ever think otherwise. We are about to be husband and wife,” he insisted when she only gave him a half smile. “Give me a chance to prove to you that I can be there for you, that I will protect you and bring happiness to your life,” he asked. Renato knew Leilani needed more, but he didn’t want to let her down by making empty promises.
“Thank you, I appreciate your support more than you know,” she whispered.
Helping her to move forward with the conversation he asked, “So how did you find Anselmo. I assume since your parents were of no assistance, you in went in search of an investigator?” he prompted.
“It was a couple of days later and I was sitting at my computer when an advertisement popped up for Anselmo’s services. I didn’t hesitate; I emailed a response through explaining that I wanted to find my biological father and within the hour Anselmo called me. I felt comfortable with him; he seemed like he was genuinely interested in assisting me. His fees were, unfortunately, astronomical. Due to the cost I declined. However, he was so lovely and told me that he would do the work pro bono. I couldn’t thank him enough and promised him that I would still pay him a modest fee that we ended up agreeing on,” she smiled.
Renato’s brain ticked over figuring out the puzzle, a few calls, and he would have his suspicions confirmed.
“Do you think we’ll get to the bottom of it all,” she asked hopefully.
“I know we will. Now eat up, it’s the day before our wedding, and you know what that means. It’s going to be manic,” he smiled at her and leant in for a kiss to brighten her up. He breathed in possessively, she would be his wife, and if any of these people thought they would hurt her again, they would have him to reckon with first.
Leilani couldn’t believe how much she had opened up to Renato earlier in the day and just how supportive he could be. She imagined what it would be like to be loved by him, not one to do things in half measures his love would strong and sure and she knew he would be protective of her. She would be desired and treated as a partner. He would never ridicule or put her down, and there would be a lighter side that she’d seen glimpses of over the past few days. With growing familiarity, he would be sure to tease her playfully. Intimately he would possess her completely making her forever his killing even off even the remotest thought of any other.
Oh god, she was falling. No, it couldn’t be possible, it was too soon. She’d dumped out her emotions on the man, and the last thing he needed was her throwing herself at his feet with proclamations of undying love. She needed to get a grip. This marriage was still the same proposition he’d presented her with mere weeks ago, and she had better remember that if she didn’t want was left of her bruised and tattered heart destroyed.
CHAPTER fourteen
Leilani’s nerves felt scattered, in her room at Pontelandolfo, standing in her wedding dress with an assortment of staff finalising last minute touches to her dress, hair and make-up. There was a knock on the door, “Can I come in,” Renato asked.
That was a first, Renato asking for permission. A dressmaker who was inspecting the dress for runaway threads nodded her head. Leilani was cloaked royally in a swath of white satin. The dressmaker was obviously accustomed to impatient grooms. “Yes, come on in,” she agreed.
Renato walked in taking in her hair and make-up, “You are beautiful,” he stated simply.
Colouring lightly Leilani accepted the compliment as graciously as she could, “Did you need something,” she pressed.
Dismissing the staff he stood in front of her, “I know it's late notice, but Vittorio would like to give you away in the absence of your step-father,” he stated.
Taking a minute to digest this Leilani asked the logical question. “He wants to acknowledge me publicly as his daughter?”
“Ah, not entirely, he intends to show that he is welcoming you into the family and offering you his support. He probably realises that walking down the aisle on your own would cause unwarranted speculation,” he admitted.
“Well in fairness to my parents they might have been more likely to attend had they been invited,” there she had said it. At no point had Renato asked her about guests for her side. Their wedding was supposed to be one of the biggest moments in her life. Her lack of supporters would be noticeable, no matter how they tried to cover it. In some ways, it was for the best. Anyone that truly knew her would see immediately that this was no ordinary marriage; people expected to see love and happiness radiating from the newly-weds. Her nerves heightened with this line of thought, to be honest; she hadn’t even thought of how many people would be attending, and now that she contemplated it she started to fret.
“I didn’t want to mention this to you because I knew it would upset you; they were both invited Leilani,” he said softly.
“They chose not to attend,” she stated, her tone flat.
“Don’t let it bother you. We will make the day happy our way,” he took her mouth and kissed it lightly. “I’ll probably get in trouble for ruining your make-up.” He smiled to ease the tension, and she couldn’t help but smile back at him. Renato was trying so hard, and she had to acknowledge that.
“In a way I just wish we’d had a bit more time and weren’t rushed into this so quickly. I feel like everything is still up in the air. I mistrust Vittorio, and there is a definite rift with my parents. Everything is so displaced,” she stated.
“Look, I was going to wait until after the ceremony but I may as well let you know now. Vittorio did mastermind getting you to Italy. He paid your cousin Giulia to slip the information to you and from what Giulia has since said she felt that she was doing the right thing by you. Apparently even though she has only gotten to know you fairly recently, she felt that you had a right to know. I’d personally say the reward she was given prompted her conviction,” he searched her eyes for the impact of his message.
“It’s too much to think about right now. She may have had honest intentions. However, to take the money and tell me in the way that she did, I don’t know. I just feel, I don’t even know how I feel about it,” she finished.
“She was nothing but a pawn and the reality is whether it was Giulia or someone else who told you, in the end you would have eventually found out. Secrets of this magnitude always surface,” he stipulated.
“I guess so,” she would think about it later.
“Leilani, Vittorio wanted you to come to him and he made it happen. He organised Giulia, had Anselmo on his payroll and timed and delivered the Facebook ads to your IP address.” At her sharp intake of breath, he rushed on. “To be honest there was no malice in it, unsure of whether you would indeed come he even demanded that I collect you from Australia. He is a man used to getting his way and at his age he won’t change. At least his reasoning is honourable, he wants you to inherit his fortune, nothing has changed in that respect,” he finished.
“A lot has changed though because now I know that the man is nothing more than a manipulator,” she had two fathers who combined weren’t worth one decent man.
“Leilani it’s time to accept this situation for what it is. Let’s honour our commitment today and move on with our life,” he stood tall urging her acquiescence. “Will you come downstairs shortly and do me the honour of being my bride,” he asked solemnly.
“You sound like you are proposing to me. Renato when you know full well that I have zero choice and that I’m standing under this cloak dressed in my wedding finery.” What was he trying to accomplish now?
“I know how I delivered my original proposal to you and I know the requirements necessitate that we get married. Leilani I’m asking you, not insisting. Will you choose today to become Mrs Leilani Favalli so that we may stand together united and support one another throughout the rest of our years?” he asked earnestly.
She imagined this scenario peppered with declarations of love and knew that deep down that was the only marriage proposal she wanted to accept, “Are you offering me a choice,” she asked with doubt.
“I’m offering you all that I can,” he evaded and she knew that it was the truth. He felt no love, maybe a growing fondness and sympathy but love had not developed and possibly never would.
“Yes, I accept your proposal Renato,” he looked unconvinced, so she smiled and leant forward to kiss him. It didn’t matter if she smeared her lipstick; she could repair it quickly enough. She just wished she could fix her heart as effortlessly. Today she would become Mrs Favalli, Renato’s wife; she shivered a little in anticipation. The basis of their relationship was a thin, shaky foundation, but her attraction to him was undeniable as was his to her. A rapport was starting to develop, and marriages had begun on a lot less, maybe it would develop, she would take the chance.
Renato had done his best to ease Leilani’s mind. This week had been an eye-opener for him; she was no longer a nobody walking in the shadows of his life and home. She had unexpectedly come to life, a woman hurt deeply by family betrayal yet still willing to give of herself. When they kissed their attraction was hot, undeniable, and she demonstrated that she had no spite or malice for him even though he had forced her into a marriage to suit his needs. She was a good conversationalist able to hold her own on a vast arrangement of topics. She was intelligent his initial conclusions were baseless, and he knew he should feel shamed by his shallowness.
He just hoped that what he’d organised for today would show her that he’d taken her feelings into consideration. Renato knew that for a new groom he lacked the traditional romance and love requirements but he was not insensitive to her, and he wanted her to know that.
The gazebo was idyllic, would she think it all too simple he didn’t think so. He knew he hadn’t convinced her the other night with his debate on the extravagance of an occasion and its relation to the overall wealth of the giver. She’d made some point about intent and meaning that had almost gone over his head at the time. He’d gone to great lengths in the last couple of days to change all the wedding plans so drastically. He’d almost terminated the wedding planner on Thursday. She’d obviously built her clientele on word of mouth or more importantly globalised news events. It was no wonder that she’d been reluctant to change course, worrying no doubt about the reduced level of exposure she would receive.
Leilani stood in her room and took in her reflection, finally given a few minutes to herself, the team declared that she was perfected. They had done an amazing job, and she was happy that they’d not overdone her hair or make-up. She still recognized herself which was more important than ever. She needed to walk out there today with as much of a sense of herself as possible. Whether she was a Davide or a Favalli she needed to remember that more importantly she was Leilani. It was time to come out of her mouse like state and stand up straight in the world. Today was as good a day as any and looking this immaculate she had no reason to not feel confident.
There was a tap on the door and in true Favalli style the door opened, and he entered without waiting for permission. He stood at the door and without saying a word simply looked at her, taking in what he was seeing.
Gruffly, “You look like a princess,” and then quieter, “like your mother.”
Speechless, Leilani had not expected the reference and didn’t quite know what to say, “Thank you, Vittorio,” she murmured though she wasn’t sure she looked all that much like her mother.
“I’m turning into an old fool,” she doubted very much that the moment of sentimentality was anything more than a calculated move as much as she’d like to believe otherwise. “My days are numbered, and I’m happy that you have agreed to marry Renato,” he hooked her arm traditionally.
She didn’t disagree or argue that she’d been left without a choice, “mmm,” she acknowledged.
Vittorio struggled with his ghosts from the past, not one to regret he allowed the vision of what could have been to enter his mind. Rosa, his precious goddess, so loving and giving he’d never known another like her. Certainly not his wife, theirs was a business union; he sought her extensive social network to build his company, and she saw the undeniable drive and potential he had and took a gamble by marrying him. Had he not succeeded she would have divorced him and moved on to a richer prospect. Once his future was apparent, she refused to leave him only her death releasing him.
His affairs had been discreet, and she tolerated them particularly after the loss of their children when she no longer took an interest in the intimacies of marriage. She’d even known of Rosa, one night when he’d tried to be amorous with his wife, she had coldly told him to go to Rosa and let her suffer his ministrations. He’d demanded a divorce, but she refused, threatening to unravel his business in a whirl of scandal if need be. Once he had built the business enough to withstand her threats he would leave her and he would have done so had Rosa still been available to him.
He remembered his Rosa, so passionate, demanding that he leave his wife as he’d been promising. He would distract her with lovemaking and tell her it would happen soon. When the timing was right, he would insist while declaring his love for her. Frustrated she finally came to him with news of her pregnancy; it was time for him to make a choice. He convinced Lucia and built accommodation at the back of the property for Rosa to stay in; he should have known that it all fell into place too easily. He’d learnt the hard way, that women could not be trusted.
“Are you alright,” Leilani felt Vittorio slump slightly; he was off far away in his thoughts, motionless.
“Let’s get going,” he asserted and led her down to the garden.
“Thank you for giving me away today,” she said what was expected.
“You are welcome, daughter,” and for the first time he acknowledged her.
Leilani wasn’t sure how she felt, it wasn’t warm or gushing, and it was simply a statement true to the man guiding her towards her groom. That is when Leilani saw the gazebo, draped with an arrangement of greenery, white roses, lilies and carnations. In the middle standing tall and proud was Renato, utter perfection in his superbly tailored suit, black tie and crisp, slim white pocket square that peaked out horizontally.
His eyes were on her visibly soaking her in as she returned his admiration and stepped towards him. Vittorio passed her to Renato, and she barely noticed him step away. If Leilani was oblivious to the crowd, it was because there literally wasn’t one present. One solitary row of guests sat before them as they held each other’s hands ready to take their vows.
“You are stunning,” Renato whispered, and he looked as though he meant it. His eyes glowed in appreciation as he focused solely on her.
The wedding officiant asked who would give her away. Vittorio stepped forward and articulated clearly. “I will be giving away, my daughter, Leilani Davide to marry Renato Favalli,” he proclaimed, standing tall and proud. He kissed her hand and stepped away to take his seat.
Shocked Leilani was thankful that she wasn’t expected to respond. Her father had just publicly acknowledged her, albeit to a small, discreet group of people, but it was still an admission of their relationship. The rest of the ceremony and nuptials were a bit of a blur. She felt the cold band slip onto her finger symbolising the commitment they’d just made to one another. The celebrant pronounced that they were man and wife and that Renato may kiss his bride.
She had expected a kiss, accepted the tradition. However, she was mesmerised, by the way, his eyes hungered for her, the intensity of his hold and the dip submitting her entirely to his will. He explored her mouth unashamedly, claiming her as his wife and he took his time in doing so. Leilani held on to him and returned his kiss with equal fervour. When he returned her to her feet, she felt dazed, swept off her feet and she knew at that moment that she was helpless to the love that had blossomed inside of her. She was, in love.
They signed papers with a couple of Vittorio’s relations officially bearing witness, scrawling their names on the documents presented. Renato introduced her to the handful of guests and soon after they slipped quietly away, “Did you mind that we had so few guests in attendance?” he asked.