Chapter 76- PLAN IN PLACE
Two days later
It felt as though this day was nothing other than a joke, carefully planned out but with a surprise looming. Aurora looked at herself in the mirror of the Old church down town, Leonardo had once again rented out an entire church just for them.
She smiled thinking how romantic her husband was, always making sure to make her happy. Her only fear was that, Ricardo was Leonardo's best man. Signora Meta had kept to her word, the poor woman had done nothing other than to find a way to keep Ricardo's mouth shut. Aurora had no idea what Signora had told Ricardo but all Aurora knew was that Ricardo refused to look at her ever since then.
Looking at herself in the mirror, she smiled. Finally she was a true bride and not a replacement. She had no idea where Avena was but she inwardly thanked her for running away that faithful day. If it were not for Avena running away, she would never have married the man of her dreams.
'Can I come in" Signora Meta knocked on the door and peaked her head in to see Aurora's dress just as she spun around. Signora Meta walked into the room and covered her mouth with her hands. Once again she was shocked, the last time she had seen Aurora in a wedding dress, it was a dress owned by someone else but now, Aurora wore a dress that was specially chosen for her.
'You look so beautiful my beautiful girl, your mother is smiling down at you" Signora Meta told Aurora, whose lips quivered as she remembered her mother. The mother who had always protected her and made sure that she was taken care of.
Finally her little girl was about to have her wedding and she could not be any more proud, she had done her job as a guardian and has fulfilled Aurora's mother's wish.
'Enough crying, it's time for us to put your veil on" She watched as Signora Meta walked towards the couch, grabbed the veil and walked back to the mirror where Aurora stood on the podium. She bent down to allow Signora Meta put the veil.
'Now finally, you look like a bride" She clasped her hands together as she told her. Even as excited as she was, Aurora could not help but want to know what Signora Meta had told Ricardo that he had him staying away from her.
Aurora looked at Signora Meta and she was about to open her mouth and Signora Meta stopped her.
'I know what it is that you want to ask of me, but I want you to know one thing, Ricardo has been handled" Aurora knew that she did not have to ask further questions as she trusted signora Meta.
'I trust you" Was all that Aurora could manage to tell her. She was finally filled happiness, because for the first time, she was marrying husband once more and this time it will be because she and Leonardo want it and not by mistake.
'Anyway, just wait for me. I'll be back, I just have to speak to someone" Signora Meta informed Aurora as she was about to leave the room.
'Please wait!" Signora Meta turned on her heel and looked at Aurora, still smiling as nothing today could kill her excitement.
'Yes my dear, is there anything that you would like me to get for you?"
'No nothing! But please make sure that you are back early, you are the one walking me down the aisle" Aurora smiled as she reminded Signora Meta, who nodded her head in agreement and quickly walked out of the room.
Now with the door shut, Aurora could focus on saying her 'I do' to the man she loved. Pulling out the piece of paper from her bag. Aurora smiled as she read her vows, for the first time, she would be reading out how she felt about her husband for the first time since they had gotten back.
In what seemed like a forever trip, finally her Signora Meta had returned back into the room. She shut the door behind herself, Aurora looked at signora Meta and she realized that the older woman's smile was gone and she could not quite put her finger on it.
**
Leonardo looked at himself in a full length mirror and he was proud of himself as he stood in his triple black suit. After making his tie, he realized that he was done but not quite complete. His smile grew wider as he thought of what his wife would think of him once she saw him.
Leonardo had done nothing for the past few days other than to plead his wife about wanting to see her wedding dress but she had refused, sticking to the custom of not allowing the groom to see the wedding dress before the wedding day.
'You look dashing" Ricardo complimented his best friend as he watched from a distance, seeing Leonardo once again excited and happier than Ricardo himself could have ever dreamed of sent envy raging through Ricardo. But as always, he concealed it with a smile.
'I know that I look dashing, but you know what will make it all ok?"
'And what would that be?" Ricardo asked, pretending to be excited.
'If my wife tells me that I look dashing" Leonardo responded smiling and Ricardo who smiled as well but inside, he wanted nothing but the wedding to end. If it were up to him, there would not have been a wedding in the first place but all thanks to Signora Meta who had found out his secret.
She had warned him to stay away from Aurora and looking at the older woman's eyes, Ricardo knew that she was serious. It turns out that Signora Meta remembered him from when Ricardo was younger, she had also remembered what a mischievous boy he was growing up and through that she had found out what he was up to.
'I am sure she's going to tell you how dashing you look, I mean what reason would she have to not tell you look amazing?" Ricardo asked best friend, knowing that deep in his heart harbored hatred.
'I hope so"
'Has the blackmailer contacted you recently?" Ricardo asked his best friend, hoping that his best friend was more scared than he was showing.
Leonardo let out heated breath and he turned his attention towards his friend, Ricardo.
'No, the blackmailer has not contacted me but I have no doubt that he or she will show up at the wedding and that is where you come in" Ricardo with raised eyebrows stared at Leonardo, filled with confusion as to what Leonardo was trying to ask from him.
Straightening himself in his seat, Ricardo he looked at his friend, waiting for Leonardo to tell him what he was up to. Sensing that Ricardo was confused by what he was trying to say, Leonardo walked towards his friend and sat down on the couch next to him.
'I need you to be my eyes and ears, there is not a lot of people coming to our wedding so if the blackmailer were to show up, you would definitely know and please try to stop them from causing any more harm" Leonardo pleaded with his friend.
'But is it not better that you tell your wife now what you did twenty one years ago. I mean, it's best that she hears it for you"
Leonardo knew that his best friend was right, he had contemplated telling his wife the truth right before their wedding day but he did not want to ruin things for her therefore he decided that he will do it after their wedding day. All Leonardo wanted was for everything to settle, the thought of his wife finding out that he was a murderer.
He was a murderer and his family had kept it under wraps and paid whomever needed to be paid to keep the lie going whilst the deceased was left shattered.
'I thought about it before, but I think it's best that I say nothing. My wife is pregnant and the last thing I want to do is cause any complications during the pregnancy" Leonardo explained himself, knowing that deep down he had more selfish reasons as to why he was not telling her the truth. He loved being happy and he did not want to lose a grip on that happiness.
'Okay, I understand you" Ricardo told his best friend and tapped Leonardo's shoulders as encouragement.
Keep your secrets Leonardo the longer you keep it the more she will hate you when she finds out the truth. Ricardo thought to himself and looked at his friend, making sure that he was smiling.
'I will be back soon, just wait for me. I quickly have to sort out something, some loose ends" Ricardo excused himself.
'It's ok but please make sure that you're back on time, I mean, you are the best man and the last thing we want is for you not to be at the wedding" Leonardo joked.
'Of course I will be back early, I wouldn't miss this for the world" Ricardo informed his friend as he turned on his heel and walked out the door. As he walked down the steps, Ricardo couldn't help but feel his eyes twitching as he thought of how jealous he was that his best friend was happy. Once again, Leonardo had everything and he had nothing.
'I promise you Leonardo, I will have the last laugh" He spoke under his breath. Ricardo walked out of the building, choosing to opt for some fresh air in the outside garden. He was at peace knowing that this wedding might go out with a blast and he was ready to view the drama that was about to unfold itself.
**
Shaking in his shoes, Leonardo stood at the altar with the priest awaiting for his wife. He looked at the crowd and there was not so many people. There was only Mr. Brown, who opted to sit in the last row in the corner of the church as though he did not want to be seen and Ricardo, his best man standing close by a waiting for his wife to arrive.
Leonardo was not very disappointed that his parents had not showed up yet, he had never expected much from them anyways and then not showing up was not a surprise to him. He looked at his watch on his wrist and realized that his wife was running late.
Even though Leonardo knew that his wife was on her way, he could not help but to feel nervous that the blackmailer might try to ruin his marriage. For now, Leonardo had made up his mind that he would be more excited that his wife was on her way for the second time. He would be marrying her, but this time, it will be for love and not an arranged marriage.