Chapter 10

It has been a few hours since the wedding ended in the cathedral. They were in the Costello hall, celebrating in merriment. The party is full of swing. The hall was filled with wonderful chandelier light which shone its brightness in the hall. The interior design of the hall was golden and expensive. Everything about the hall speaks of money and wealth. The Costello hall was brimming with a lot of influential and famous guests of different positions. The guests in the hall were rich and popular from different places. Different influential people in the hall were from different countries. It was obvious that Costello is a popular and influential person, who knows a lot of people around the world. His Mafia business had made him know a lot of different people. And he is respected for that. His Mafia partner was present in the hall.

The orchestra plays beautiful wedding music. The music was nice and pleasant. Althea on the other hand stood beside her Aunt, finding it hard to cope with the rowdiness. She couldn't help but feel surprised by the people who crowded the hall. She wasn't expecting such an amount of people in the hall. She felt weird about it because she wasn't used to the rowdiness. She had been brought up in the hands of her Aunt to be alone, she was just a perfect definition of a nerd. Her Aunt never let her make friends and now she has to associate with people, she doesn't feel good about it. Her Aunt, who had noticed her moody look, drew her closer to her.
"Althea, what's wrong with you?" she said and caressed her cheeks. Althea shook her head negatively, even though it was visible in her eyes that something was wrong.

"I'm fine Aunt," she said, forcing out a smile from her face even though it was obvious it was a fake smile.

"No you are not fine and I know why you aren't fine but you have to get used to all this. I know you aren't used to all this but you have to get used to this life because you'll be married to Xavier for a lifetime," her Aunt said and she nodded her head affirmatively. Her Aunt is right, she would be married to a stranger and her lifestyle would have to change to suit the lifestyle of Xavier, her husband and the entire family of Costello.

"Athleta you don't have to worry about anything, you would be fine, "her Aunt said, and she nodded her head slowly.

"Thank you, Aunt," she said, with a forced smile and her Aunt nodded her head affirmatively with a cute smile on her face.

Xavier on the other hand is busy with a glass cup of wine in his hand. He sips it gently as he talks casually with his friends on the other side of the room. He makes his new wife feel left out with no one to mingle with. Althea was just lonely with her Aunt beside her, cheering her up even though her mood wasn't good. Xavier smiled and hugged Cassandra, his female partner in the Mafia job. She was perfectly dressed in a black skimpy skirt and top, which made her upper breast visible and her thighs exposed. Her dress was breathtaking. Xavier's causal friend couldn't help but feel amazed by her beauty. But Xavier's expression was cold and stoic as always. His expression couldn't be read by anyone. He doesn't look happy or sad.

"Xavier, where is your wife?''Cassandra said as she sip from the black devil vodka drink in her hand. Xavier didn't reply but stared at her blankly. That was when he realized that he should act the part of a happy husband so as not to create suspicious thoughts from the guests. He made an excuse and walked up to Althea, who stared at him with a confused look.

"Come with me," he said in a nice, but hoarse voice. He takes her hand into his hand and leads her to where his friends are talking over drinks. They were talking about the high alcoholic drink Cassandra was drinking, black devil vodka. He smiles at her as his friends stare at her. Althea stared at him with a silent scoff, which no one was able to notice. Even though her mind was gladdened, she knew his smile wasn't genuine. Though she finds his smile cute and sweet, she knew it wouldn't last for long. It's just something to get people to believe that they're really in love.

Xavier smiles at her and it's rare so she used to savour the moment of undivided attention.

"Guys this is my wife, Althea" he introduced her to his friends while touching her passionately. He sounds so lovely like a good husband. He makes it great and perfect so that no one would believe it was all a lie. He makes sure that nobody would believe they aren't in love with each other.

"Althea, this is my friend, Damon, Peter and Damien," he said, adjusting the bus collar properly. The smile couldn't leave his lips.

"Nice to meet you, guys," Althea said, stretching her hand for a handshake with his friends.

"Wow! Xavier she is really beautiful and cute," Damon, who seems to be flirty among them, said.

"You don't have to say. She is the most beautiful woman on earth," Xavier complimented, and she felt her cheeks burn. She blushed and looked away. She bit her lower lips. She just hoped it was all real but it isn't.

For a while, she couldn't help but imagine that they are in love and slowly begins to get used to it.

Xavier's friends are quite cool and they seem rich owing to the expensiveness of their outfits and accessories.

All along, she feels among them. She felt like she was part of Costello. She feels like she was Xavier's wife. She loves the way he acts toward her while introducing her to his friends but it was all a lie. She would love it if it was real but it had to be fake. She couldn't help but feel sad about it. She doesn't love something like this. She looked at her hand which Xavier held with care. She couldn't help but hope if it was real. His hand was warm and passionately on her hand that she wishes today never ends to be with him. She wishes he could continue to act like this toward her.

"Good day Sir, congratulations" she looked up as she heard the voice of Damon and his friends. They were greeting Mr Costello and a foreign man behind him. He wasn't a young man nor old but he had grey hair. They were partners in the Mafia business. He flashed a smile at her as he stared at her linked hand with Xavier.

"Good day, sir "she greeted and bowed her head a little. He smiled at her.

"How are you? You look more stunning my daughter," Mr Costello said and pulled Althea into a hug. He pulled away from the hug and stared at his partner.

"Althea meets Oscar as my partner," he introduced her to his foreign friend.

"Oscar met my son's wife," he said, and Oscar smiled at her.

"Your daughter-in-law looks beautiful and pretty," Oscar said, and she smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Althea, "he said and stretched his hand at her. She gladly accepted his handshake.

"Nice to meet you too, Mr Oscar," she said with a smile. Mr Costello cleared his throat as his eyes landed on his son, Xavier.

"Althea please lend Xavier a little of your time. I want to discuss it with him, he will meet up with you very soon," he said, and she nodded her hand slowly. Xavier pulled his hand from her grip and adjusted his collar properly.

"Althea I would be back very soon," Xavier said and planted a short kiss on her lips that she wasn't able to reciprocate. Somehow she felt sad about it. He walked away with his father and Mr Oscar.

She had a few chats with Xavier and sat down on a chair in front of the barman. He gives her a drink with a cube of ice in it, he stares at her with lust on his face. He couldn't resist the sight of her beauty. She stared at the drink though it was alcoholic wine, she drank it. It tastes good in her mouth, she hasn't gotten an opportunity to drink it. Having done with the glass cup of wine, Damon walked up to her. He sat down beside her.

"You seem depressed," he said, but she shook her head negatively.

"I don't understand what you mean," she said, staring at him with a confused look. She couldn't believe it was obvious that she was depressed even though she tried to hide it. He smiles at her.

"Don't bother about it. I just came to ask you for a dance. Do you mind?" he asked, and she placed her hand on her chin.

"Please don't say no," he said and she nodded her head reluctantly.

Althea and Xavier were in the dancing ground, dancing and somehow she wished it was Xavier not his friend. She looked around, maybe she could find him but he was nowhere to be found in the hall.

"Is anything wrong?"Damon asked, and she nodded her head negatively.

"No, I'm fine," she said, and they continued the dance.

A few hours later, the party had ended and the guests began to leave for their various destinations. Althea wouldn't help but stare around, looking for Xavier but she couldn't find him anywhere in the hall. A maid walked up to her.

"My lady, I'm here to take you to your room," the maid said, greeting her warmly. She nodded slowly even though she was worried about Xavier. She doesn't know why she is worried about him. She strode up the stairs with the maid. She was taken to a master bedroom which was elegantly big and wide. She walked into the room amazed by the beautiful structures and interior room. It had a big king-sized bed and a lot of beautiful things on it. Xavier wasn't in the room. Where could he be? She couldn't help the question.

"Do you like it, my Lady?" the maid asked with a smile.

"Yes, I love it. Thanks, you can take your leave," she said, and the maid walked out of the room and slammed the door shut.

She heaved out a sigh and pulled off my clothes. She walked into the bathroom, she had a night shower. She walked up to the golden wardrobe and brought out red wine pyjamas. She put it on and slept off even though her thoughts were about Xavier.