Chapter Eleven
Lily
Two weeks have passed and there has been not a single peep from him.
Guess he took my rejection well.
Is this a pang of disappointment I feel?I force the thought away, ruthlessly smothering it.He got the message loud and clear.He’s moved on, like I wanted.I can go on with my life and keep working toward my dream of freedom.
So why am I feeling untethered, like I am holding my breath, waiting for something to happen?
Maybe I am bored after the rollercoaster my life has been these past few weeks.
Dinner on Friday night is dragging on and I can’t wait to hear all the exciting outings Daria has planned for us this weekend.Not.
I pick and push my food around my plate as I listen half-heartedly to the conversation between Daria and Father.They’re discussing having a guest over for dinner on Saturday, and Daria is coaching Chiara on the menu and wine pairings.
Once again I’m blissfully ignored, a silent observer in a world I don’t feel a part of.It’s a relief, honestly.I can let my brain clock out and drift, not having to pretend I care about the mundane details of their lives.
Suddenly a name catches my awareness and before I can stop myself, I breathe out a choked, “Damiano?”
Three pairs of eyes turn toward me, curiosity flickering in them.I want to shrink into my chair, disappear into the shadows.Daria narrows her eyes, her expression sharp.
“That’s Mr.Santaluccia,” she says, a thinly veiled edge in her voice.Her gaze pins me like a knife, and a hot flush creeps up my neck.
“What have you two been up to?”she presses, her tone cold, expectant.
I panic.“N-nothing,” I stammer, my fingers twisting together under the table.“Mr.Santaluccia was kind enough to ask me for a dance…and then we parted ways.”
Chiara gives me a side look.She pestered me after the gala until I told her about the kiss that night and the fact that Damiano might have expressed an interest in me, leaving out our first encounter and the exact details of his interest.
Daria looks like she just bit into a lemon.“Well, I hope that the boy comes to his senses and sees the real treasure this house has to offer.”I lower my head to hide my eye roll, catching sight of Chiara’s fists clenched tightly on the fabric of her dress.She hates being the perfect doll her mother wants her to be.I guess I have it better with my relative freedom.Always being ignored and overlooked is almost liberating.There are no expectations, no demands.Nothing but the quiet of being invisible.
Father clears his throat and we all look at him expectantly.“In fact, Mr.Santaluccia will come to dinner tomorrow to officially ask for Lily’s hand in marriage.”A collective gasp resounds as he goes on, “Of course, I already gave him my blessing since—”
“How could you?”I shriek, not caring how crazy I sound.
“Young lady, you will behave while you are under my roof—” Daria starts.
“As I said,” Father’s voice booms and he uses his no-nonsense tone Chiara and I heard so often when we were younger, “I gave him my blessing, since there is nothing or no one who could possibly deny him and live to tell about it.Do I make myself clear, Lily?”His face is red, his eyes angry.“It is time that you quit being selfish and start contributing to the well-being of this family.Must I remind you that you have wanted for nothing since we took you in after your mother left you with only the clothes on your back?”
I don’t know if I want to scream at him or burst into tears.Chiara’s hand clasps mine under the table and it gradually grounds me.
Think fast.Buy time.
I look at Father and slowly shake my head, my throat tight.I try to put on a smile but it feels brittle, like the skin on my face is about to crumble to dust.
“I understand.I am sorry, Father.The news was…unexpected.I will try to look worthy of representing this family tomorrow when Mr.Santaluccia comes.”
That seems to appease them and I rise on shaky legs.“Please do not disturb me tomorrow.I will be needing my rest to look my best.”For the first time in my existence, Daria nods approvingly, although her eyes are flashing with suppressed anger.No doubt she will give Father an earful later about why I am the chosen sacrifice and not Chiara.
I go up to my room on unstable legs and start throwing things into a bag.Chiara knocks and comes in as is her habit.Her eyes fall on the bag and the clothes I have thrown on the bed.
“You are leaving.”She sounds sad.
I let out a shaky breath.“I have to.I can’t stay here to wait for the devil to claim me.”
“You are leaving me.”
