I woke up feeling uneasy. But I couldn''t tell Antonio what it was about. As soon as he left, I went straight to my laptop and tried hacking the number that messaged me.


    "The user uses a VPN," I said to myself. There is no way to track a person if they are using that. I bit my nail, thinking of a plan B.


    *VPN = Virtual Private Network.


    "Who are you?" I typed as I replied to the message.


    "Your joy destroyer," the person replied after a few seconds.


    "What do you want from me?" I asked.


    "Leave Antonio."


    I stopped. If he wanted to kill Antonio so badly, why would he want me to leave? Would it be so that he could finish the job easily without obstacles?


    "Why?" I asked, although obvious.


    "None of your business," the person replied.


    "It is, if-"


    I then received a message from Antonio. This was a first. Was he in hospital already?


    Quickly opening his message, it read:


    "Let''s get married."


    Telepathy or what, but not me thinking the same way as I was about to reply to the unknown number.


    "Sure," I replied, without thinking twice, "Let''s get married."


    Antonio


    Asking her to get married was to keep her safe from the people who were plotting to kill her. Well knowing that her family gave her - or rather sold her to me... she would get to that later.


    But her immediately accepting the proposal felt too good to be true. I knew she was hiding something from me, but she would tell me at her own time.


    I sent her the details of where we would be getting married and how everything has been arranged.


    "Our Villa in the outskirts at 12 noon. Make sure no one follows you. Use one of the cars in the garage."


    She quickly replied, "I will make sure."


    "Not asking for a wedding dress, Ms. Rea?" I asked myself, "That''s almost every girl''s dream."


    Our conversation then ended. Rea was unique from the others that I have met (not that I have been in a relationship before), but there are a lot of secrets she keeps beneath that shy exterior.


    And I will make sure to find out.


    Rea


    One thing about Antonio was that he wouldn''t plan a wedding if he didn''t have everything in place. So why bother asking for a dress knowing that it''s already there?


    Antonio is a secretive person, but since we are getting married, that means that most of his secrets would be out in the open (to me).


    But that also includes me.


    Whatever his motive is in marrying me... no.His motive can''t be the same as mine. I am trying to protect him. But I don''t need protection. My family abandoned me when my dad died. No one needs me.


    I am my own person.


    It was 10 in the morning, and knowing how much of a punctual man Antonio is, I decided to get ready. He didn''t tell me how to look like when I arrived.


    "An interesting man you are Antonio," I said to myself as I looked through my clothes in my wardrobe.


    Picking a simple black turtle neck dress, along with white, flower-shaped stud earrings. It was almost an hour''s drive from here so I took a shower and went to eat breakfast.


    Making myself a cup of coffee, Jackie came to join me.


    "I heard you are getting married today."


    I looked at her after reading the text on her phone. Antonio told her already.


    I nodded. Taking out my phone, I continued.


    "It came as a surprise, but I accepted."


    She smiled and gave me a hug. It felt so warm... when last did I feel this warmth? From my mom before she died.


    I nearly was moved to tears, but I had to keep it in for the wedding. I thanked her and after having our cup of coffee together, I went to get dressed. I looked at myself in the mirror one more time and took my phone as I walked out of my room.


    I went downstairs and Jackie gave me a thumps up. I waved her goodbye and I headed to the basement. Antonio told me to choose any car...


    I chose the black, tinted Mini Cooper. The smaller, the less suspicious, right?


    Getting in, I was about to put into my GPS the location Antonio sent me until I remembered that my phone could be hacked.


    Thus, I decided to use my other untouched phone. I transferred Antonio''s conversations with me and sent him a quick message.


    "Morning. This is my new number. Please use this number when reaching out to me. Thank you."The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Sent."


    "And read?!" I exclaimed mentally as I stared at my phone, shocked by how he read my message so quickly. I guess there were many things that changed between us today.


    "Got it," he replied, "Are you out of the house yet?"


    "Yes, I am about to leave the parking lot," I replied, starting the engine.


    "Read."


    "See you there," his last message came through, before he went offline.


    Seeing him immediately read my messages... if I was a hopeless romantic, I would have melted a while ago.


    ***Luckily, the direction to Antonio''s second Villa was easy - use the high way all the way until you turn left to a gravel road. This was for security reasons and so that no one knew where Antonio''s Villas were located.


    Surprisingly today, there had to be traffic. In fact, a roadblock. As I removed my license, another message from Antonio got in.


    "If there''s a roadblock, give themI arrived at the Villa earlier than him. That was a great start. I remained in the car, waiting for his message until someone knocked on the car window.


    Rolling down the window, Jackie was standing outside. How she got here earlier than me, I had no idea.


    "Let me guess, Antonio is here?"


    Jackie nodded.


    I could never beat Antonio in being time punctual.


    "I am coming," I signed before closing the window and locking the car as I walked out.


    The venue was set up already, and it was as extravagant as the normal interior setup of the Villa we lived in. Jackie led me to the changing room where there were many dresses and jewelry.


    "Antonio said you can pick whatever you want," Jackie said.


    I looked through the dresses and saw a white, ballgown dress without straps, with a sweetheart neckline. I chose A Heritage In Bloom necklace along with white Stuart Weitzman high heels.


    "You look stunning," Jackie signed.


    With a smile, I thanked her, and letting out a breath, I opened the door and headed out, walking to the door of the wedding venue. I didn''t take any flowers, and I was proud of it - this wedding was unique and simple, yet expensive.


    The doors opened and I walked inside. I caught sight of Antonio with a surprised look before turning into a smirk. I looked at him, walking confidently as I approached him.


    Antonio''s men, uncle and a little girl - I assumed that was Antonio''s daughter, then the staff were the only ones at the wedding.


    The wedding took place in minutes. We signed and got our marriage certificate, but then when the officiator announced that we were married, my thoughts went to Antonio. Was he going to...?


    As everyone clapped hands, Antonio gave me a kiss on the forehead. Unexpected, but grateful that he didn''t force his way to me.


    We took a couple of photos, some just the two of us, and the others with the family, then staff. I asked Jackie to join in and after I went to change back into my clothes, I joined Antonio, who was talking to his uncle.


    "I''m not sure if Rea will be open to that-"


    "Rea!" He exclaimed, giving me a hug, "Congratulations."


    Guessing he knew my situation, he waited patiently for me to reply (since I was typing on my phone).


    "Thank you sir. I am pleased to meet Antonio''s side of the family," I replied.


    "You are my niece, same as my daughter. You don''t need to be formal with me."


    I smiled at his words and after a bit of some talking, Antonio then spoke.


    "Rea, meet my daughter, Arya."


    "Arya, meet my wife, Rea."


    We both looked at each other. She was so cute and adorable in her white dress, her hair styled in two buns, and her eye color exactly the same as Antonio''s and his uncle.


    "Arya will be staying with us from now on."


    Before I could greet, Arya gave me a hug. The three of us were shocked.


    "See?" Uncle said, "I told you she will be happy with Rea."


    As much as I refuse to show emotion, Arya broke my walls in a few seconds.


    Kneeling down, I returned the hug and she wrote a little text on her board.


    "So, you can''t speak?"


    She handed me her board, wanting me to reply.


    "Something like that."


    Arya nodded in understanding.


    "So we are just the same then!"


    I smiled as I wrote, "Yes - yes, we are!"


    She then gave Antonio her board and I couldn''t help it but laugh at the scene. Antonio was blank, Alejandro (uncle) was impressed and I was enjoying her company.


    Jackie called for Arya and she signed that she was coming back before she ran to Jackie.


    "She adores you, Rea," Antonio said, looking at me.


    "She took after you a lot," I replied, "Her eyes look like yours."


    I then received a message on my watch. It was from the very unknown number. Luckily my old phone number was connected to my watch.


    "See you tied the knot with De Luca - well, your fate has been tied with his..."


    I stared intently at my watch, waiting for his next messages, or rather threat.


    "Watch Antonio take his last breath in your arms tonight."


    "Rea?" Antonio called out, "Are you okay?"


    I nodded, and after thanking the officiator again, we all walked out and went our separate ways. I went with Arya back home.


    She must have woken up early in the morning, so she was already asleep. By the next stop, I quickly checked the boot to see if there was a blanket Antonio left inside.


    To which there was.


    "Prepared Antonio," I said, locking the boot.


    Getting inside, I placed the blanket on Arya. Then my phone vibrated.


    It was the number.


    "Antonio is currently in a business meeting and it''s only 1pm... 4 hours before he kicks the bucket!"


    "That can''t happen," I thought to myself.


    "You think it won''t happen?" Another message got in, "Wait for it at 7pm."


    ***I was pacing up and down the house. It was 7 and Antonio was not back home. Should I bring some first aid? Will it really happen? Luckily, Arya was asleep so I wouldn''t worry her too much.


    Jackie noticed my worry and reassured me that Antonio is fine.


    But I couldn''t. Not with the message that I got.


    "Antonio please tell me you''re fine..."


    7 hours later


    I didn''t realize that I fell asleep on the couch when I heard the door open.


    Antonio - wounded, and full of blood, was helped by his men. As Jackie ran to Antonio, I heard myself call our Antonio''s name.


    "Antonio."


    Jackie and Antonio looked at me before breaking the gaze. So it was true.


    Antonio was going to get hurt.


    "Die in your arms."


    But no way was he going to die in my arms tonight.


    I ran to get the first aid kit. My doctor skills were coming in handy.


    "Rea-"


    "Shhh," I said, applying some surgical spirit to his wounds.


    I felt eyes on me as I performed first aid on Antonio. It felt good doing this after a while, since I was ''banned'' from my job. After bandaging his wounds, I checked if they were any gun wounds.


    "Did they shoot you?" I asked, showing him my text on my phone.


    "Luckily, no," he replied.


    I let out a sigh of relief. Packing it away, Antonio looked at me.


    "You look surprised," I said.


    "You shock me every time Rea," he said.


    "How so?" I asked.


    "How did you know I would be injured?"


    "It was just a hunch," I answered.


    I knew he was going to know sooner or later, but I too needed to find out who the person harming Antonio was.


    With a smile, I wrote, "I am glad you''re okay."


    Putting his hands on mine, he replied, "I''m glad too. All thanks to you."


    His men then helped carry him to his room but he grabbed hold of my hand.


    "Huh?" I heard myself ask.


    "We are married, are we not?"