Page 11

Bia

It has been a month since I last saw Cillian on the day, he dropped me off at the mansion. I try not to let it offend me that he hasn’t been around, but it hasn’t been easy when I see him in pictures with other beautiful women.

I keep my fake smile in place no matter how many times Grace ask if he visited me when he was here to see Peter or someone else from the O’Sullivan family. Regardless of Cillian not being around, his family has made me feel like I’m part of the family. We eat together every night. Kayleigh has taken me to tour some of the local castles, and we have also enjoyed going shopping together.

She was very helpful in getting me to buy a fashionable wardrobe appropriate for the weather here. The weather in Greece is very hot, while in Ireland, they actually get snow. I’m extremely excited about that. Having a white Christmas seems so magical.

Today is the day of my engagement ball. To say I am nervous is an understatement. I will finally see Cillian again and that alone has my nerves on edge, but my Grandfather will also be attending. That makes my nerves feel like they could go through the roof.

I’m afraid of what he will do to me if I embarrass him in the slightest bit. He had someone shoot at me while I was on my way to brunch with Mother for embarrassing him in front of the O’Sullivans during our previous. I don’t want to imagine what he’ll do if I embarrass him in front of all the people that will be here today.

Thankfully, my family wasn’t able to get here until a few hours ago because of a bad storm back home. Which means less time with them since they will be leaving early tomorrow morning.

I stay silent as I watch my mother in the mirror talking to Grace as I get my hair done.

“You truly have beautiful hair,”

the hairdresser gushes at me.

“Thank you.”

I say quietly and give her a small smile.

“All the men will be jealous of Mr. O’Sullivan for having such a beautiful fiancée.”

She continues to gush but I’m not sure if she keeps complimenting me because she means it or she can tell how much I need it or if she is trying to suck up to me because of who I’m marrying.

I will be wearing a sleeveless, velvet, dark green ball gown. Grace told me it was tradition in their family for the couple to wear green to represent Ireland and their heritage.

After my hair and makeup are done, Mother helps me into my dress as Grace, Kayleigh, Riley, and Ellie head to their rooms to finish getting ready.

“You make this dress hideous. Why they would waste money on such a beautiful dress for you is beyond me,”

Mother says. I don’t say anything as she keeps tightening the bodice of my dress.

“Suck it in. Did you eat everything in Ireland?”

She grunts as she pulls it tighter.

“You need to go on a diet before you get married. At this rate, any chance of Cillian actually wanting to fuck you will be gone. You better make sure he wants you. You need to give birth to his heir. You know what is at stake.”

“Yes, Mother.”

“Such a disappointment,”

she says as she stands behind me. I keep my face blank even though it does hurt to have her again say that I’m a disappointment. For once I would like someone, anyone, in my family to care about me but I know better.

I’m only good for one thing, that is marrying Cillian and giving birth to his heir.

“Put a damn smile on your face. Let’s go,”

she snaps at me. I put my fake smile back in place and follow Mother out to the room that Grace told me Cillian would come get me from so that we could walk inside the ballroom together.

Inside the room are all the O'Sullivan's besides Cillian. Peter is the first to see me, and he walks up to me and gives me one of his usual bear hugs.

“You look absolutely stunning, Bia.”

“Thank you, Peter. You look very handsome as well.”

“Are you sure you want to marry Cillian?”

Keenan says wiggling his eyebrows.

“I wouldn’t punish Bia by being married to you,”

Peter snickers.

“Are you trying to say something?”

Keenan asks with a hand on his chest.

“Yes, I feel bad for the poor soul who ends up marrying you,”

Oscar says.

“They will be lucky to be married to a sexy beast like me. They get to see my face every day and have their world rocked,”

he says wiggling his hips.

“You would have thought I raised him in a damn barn,”

Peter mutters to himself.

“Anyway, ignore the overgrown man child in the room. We will head out there now, Kayleigh and Kennan, you both stay back here with Bia until Cillian arrives, which should be in the next five minutes. Bia, once Cillian arrives you will enter the ballroom together. Before we serve dinner, we will make the announcement. Any questions?”

“No.”

“Alright.”

He grabs Grace’s hand and slides it into the crease of his elbow. He monitions to the other O’Sullivan children to follow them.

After the door closes behind them, Keenan turns to me. “Every been people watching before?”

“No.”

“Come on. There is a first time for everything,”

he says. I walk over next to the big window that overlooks the driveway.

“So, we wait until people show up and we tell the most ridiculous stories about their lives.”

“Really?”

I ask him.

“Yep, like, see this couple? She saved herself for marriage only to realize he has a small dick. And now she has a blow-up doll in her closet that she rides until it pops when he is out of town for business.”

“Is sex the only thing that goes on inside your brain?”

Kayleigh asks with her face pinched in disgust. Can’t say I blame her; I never want to know about Leonidas’s sex life either. I know he has one and that’s all I need to know.

“Of course. Sex is wonderful. Who doesn’t like to fuck.”

“Eww. Something a sister never wants to know anything about is her brother’s sex life.”

“I have to practice for my future wife. Can’t let her go without pleasure.”

“Again, Keenan, way too much information.”

She cringes and I can’t help but chuckle at them. They always tease each other back and forth.

“Okay, Bia’s turn.”

I start to talk about how the couple walking in are childhood lovers until I hear Cillian’s voice.

“Keenan, Kayleigh. Go into the ballroom. I want to talk to Bia for a moment.”

Keenan finger waves at me and Kayleigh gives me a smile, which I have learned by now is her sympathy smile as they leave the room.

I turn around and watch as they walk through the door before turning my eyes to Cillian.

“So, while I’ve been gone, you have been flirting with my baby brother?”

he seethes. I shake my head; I wouldn’t do that.

“No? Then what do you call what I just walked into?”

“I was laughing at Kayleigh and Keenan teasing each other.”

“Oh, and do tell me what is so funny then? Hmm.”

“I-I uh. I was laughing at Kayleigh being disgusted about Keenan discussing his sex life.”

“Sex life? Why the fuck was he discussing his sex life? Or was he reminiscing about your time together?”

“Cillian, I promise I haven’t done anything with anyone. I’m your fiancée and I will always be loyal to you.”

“Sure. Tristian has already been telling me how friendly you are. What kind of friendly are we talking about Bia? The polite kind? Friendly as you want him to fuck you? Are you still a virgin? Did you give away what is mine?”

I shiver at the thought of Tristan. He has been coming around in the past month and has made me extremely uncomfortable. He has made his intentions clear about what he wants from me after I get married to Cillian. I tried to be brave and tell him I would tell Cillian but he just laughed at me saying he wouldn’t believe me.

Who would Cillian trust? The man he has known for years or the bitch he was forced to marry and can’t stand the sight of.

I knew he was right, and I had no choice but to keep quiet about his threats.

“No! I promise you I wouldn’t do that.”

“You better hope not. Otherwise, I can’t promise your family will continue to live.”

He reaches for my left hand and slides a beautiful diamond engagement ring on my finger.

“You will never take this off,”

he says before he grabs my hand and leads us to the ballroom. I gasp when I look around.

“Wow, it’s beautiful,”

I say and look up at Cillian. All I get is a nod from him. Okay then. I decide to stay quiet unless it is to say hello to someone.

We greet our families as they all gush over how we look so great together and how excited they are about our upcoming wedding. More like upcoming doom to me.

“KAYLEIGH BUG!”

I hear someone holler, and I look over and see a beautiful brunette woman who oozes confidence walk up to Kayleigh and give her a fierce hug. After a moment, she pulls away from the hug and stares at Kayleigh.

“How are you doing?”

“I’m good.”

“Good, any nightmares?”

“Only a few.”

“Good. Now, where is your soon to be sister-in-law? Please tell me she isn’t a walking cunt like Meredith was.”

“Emilia! Hush, people can hear you, but no. Bia is a sweetheart,”

Kayleigh says as she walks closer to us.

“Emilia, this is Bia, my soon to be sister-in-law,”

Kayleigh introduces us to each other. I watch as Emilia stares down at me before giving me a hug.

“Uh hi,”

I say as she squeezes the air from my lungs.

“Regina. Let go of the poor girl. Cillian can’t marry her if you squeeze the poor girl to death,”

a man says from behind her, he watches her in amusement.

“Whoops! Sorry, Bia,”

she says to me but then turns to the man behind her. “And, you, fuck off.”

“One,”

he says with a smirk, and she just hardens her glare on him before turning back to me.

“Sorry, I got excited. Cillian finally has a good woman. Meredith was too evil, and I know evil,”

she says with a smirk.

“Anyway, my name is Emilia De Luca, this asshole behind me is my husband, Mateo.”

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you,”

I say shyly. Kayleigh chuckles.

“Emilia has no filter. She will say anything she wants,”

Kayleigh tells me.

“I’m brutally honest,”

she says, shrugging her shoulders.

“Now, Cillian,”

she says, pulling Cillian away from his conversation. He looks at her, and she continues to talk.

“I know you will treat sweet Bia here exactly the way she deserves, or what I did to Vincenzo after he treated Gabriella like shit will seem like child’s play.”

“Yikes,”

Kayleigh says.

“Exactly. He got a bullet hole and a few stab wounds,”

she says, smirking. “I’m the protector of sweet women who are married to Mafia men. My story is what nightmares are made of, but I have overcome my demons. Maybe not in the healthiest way. You know, enjoying torturing sick fuckers who prey on woman and children.”

“I-uh.”

I have no idea what to say to her.

“Okay, that’s enough of you scaring people. We don’t need Bia running away,”

Mateo says, steering her away from us but not before giving us his congratulations. She whines and calls him a party pooper. We continue to talk to other Mafia families as we move through the room. About an hour later, Peter comes over to us.

“Meet me up on stage in about five minutes,”

he tells us.

We excuse ourselves from the LA Mafia, and Cillian tells them they will finish their conversation later in the evening. I stand beside my Grandfather while we wait for Peter to make his announcement. Peter grabs the microphone and taps it a few times with his finger.

“Everyone hear me?”

Everyone in the crowd responds with some form of yes.

“Great. Thank you everyone who attended this year and for keeping the wars outside of our gates. But this year we have an announcement to make.”

He pauses while Cillian walks forward.

“We will be forming an alliance with the Greek’s.”

Many people cheer in the crowd, but Peter continues.

“We are so lucky to have Bia joining our family. I know she will be a wonderful addition to our family. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her and Cillian.”

People start looking between us and murmuring. I can only imagine the rumors flowing around the crowd.

Peter doesn’t seem to be worried about the crowd as he holds up his glass. “To Cillian and Bia. May the roads rise to meet them and the sun always be at their back.”

I glance over at Cillian; I can see he would rather be marrying anyone else besides me.

Everyone’s glasses rise up as Cillian walks up to me and wraps his arm around my waist. He leans down and whispers in my ear to smile before leaving a kiss on my cheek.

I force a smile on my face knowing the rest of my life will be a lonely one. One where my husband will never want me and loathes being in my presence.

Cillian guides me onto the dance floor. And I follow his lead as we dance together. I don’t bother looking at him; I keep my eyes scanning the room at the different people. I watch the range of expressions on their faces. Some seem happy, others seem annoyed or, pissed, and then I see Tristan, who is staring at me with lust in his eyes.

He sees me looking at him and smirks. I step a bit closer to Cillian hoping he can shield from Tristan’s predatory stare.

“What the fuck are you doing?”

Cillian harshly whispers in my ear.

“Sorry,”

I mumble and take a step away from him.

We finish the dance in silence and I’m tense waiting for Tristan to do something. Once the dance is finished, other couples start making their way onto the dance floor. We continue to dance to another song before Cillian leads me off the floor.

“I’m going to go discuss business,”

he tells me before walking away. I grab a drink and slowly sip it as I watch the other people dance. I watch Emilia and Mateo dance together, laughing and smiling. You can see the love they have for each other. I long for that but know I will never have it.

“Hello, Bia,”

I hear a husky voice whisper in my ear. I look to see Tristan is standing next to me. I try to step away from him, but he doesn’t get the hint, or he refuses to give me space as he moves closer to me.

“Hi, Tristan.”

“Did you purposely wear this dress trying to get Cillian’s attention? Pity it didn’t work.”

“No, Grace helped me pick it out based on their traditions.”

“The same traditions that Meredith never had to follow. Guess you really are just a pawn in his game.”

“I guess so.”

“Can I have this dance, Bia?”

I look away from Tristan and see Aiden with his hand out for me. I smile as I grab his hand.

“I would love to.”

I hold onto Aiden’s hand as he guides me to the dance floor, where he intertwines one of my hands with his. His other hand rests on my lower back and my hand rests on his shoulder. Aiden leads us through the dance as I follow.

“What’s the deal between you and Tristan?”

“He has told me he wants me.”

“Why don’t you tell Cillian?”

“I don’t want to cause any problems,”

I tell him with a small smile.

“You are his fiancée.”

“We both know that is only on paper and that he wants nothing to do with me. He told me not to bother him unless I’m in danger. His friend wanting me isn’t a reason to bother him.”

Aiden shakes his head. “He is fucking stupid! Sorry, Bia, but he should treat you better. You are such a sweet girl with one of the biggest hearts I know.”

“Thank you, Aiden,”

I say with a sad smile.

After my dance with Aiden, Keenan comes over and dances with me. Then Oscar, and finally Peter, before I needed a break. I make sure I keep myself with the O’Sullivans the rest of the night to avoid being left alone with Tristan.

Finally, when the ball ends, Aiden escorts me back to my room. He checks it thoroughly, making sure it is safe before he wishes me a good night.

After I am ready for bed, I climb under the covers and stare at the ceiling. I let the emotions I held inside of me during the ball out.

The tears slowly trinkle down my cheeks. I will never be happy; I will never be loved.

I wish I was enough. For someone. For anyone to love me enough to want me around. I wish I wasn’t a burden to everyone around me. No one has ever wanted me besides Leonidas, but he wasn’t allowed to show it because if Grandfather ever found out, he would use me as a weakness against Leonidas.

Why did I have to be born into my family? I wish I wasn’t the granddaughter of Xander Vasileious. Maybe, just maybe, I would have been born into a family who would love me for me and not use me because of my last name.