*Evangeline's POV*
"So,have you considered honeymoon plans?"
"No."I replied curtly and turned my attention to the next guest.
"Have you met the rest of the Del Toros–the immediate family?"
"The original blood."the pervy aunt added brightly,taking another cocktail from the passing tray.
I didn't even know enough about the other members of Vincenzo's family to figure out what type of question this was supposed to be but judging by the look she got from her formally invested companion,it wasn't supposed to be asked.
"Not yet."I answered with a smile, "But I look forward to it."
"Really?"they asked in unison.
That can't be a good sign.
"Yes,"I nodded."Is there a reason I shouldn't be?"
I could sense Vincenzo approach me before his shadow came to view behind me. Don't ask how,please.
The previously chatty and curious women were beginning to retreat.
"Vincenzo,how are you?"the honeymoon fanatic asked,it seemed she was the brave one of the duo but her voice was noticeably quieter.
"Jovial."Vincenzo replied, coming to a stand beside me.
There was nothing jolly about his tone but the juxtaposition didn't seem to bother him. I looked over to his frame to see if there was anything jovial about his face instead.
There wasn't–quite frankly there never was.
His brows arched towards his cocky Italian nose in a frown that seemed eternal at this point,come to think of it,he never actually seemed jovial about anything. All he had were bits and pieces of amusement in his smirk and mockery in his eyes.
"The wedding date is fast approaching,so we were getting to know the bride."
A sound vibrated in his throat–I think it was supposed to be a "hmm"
"Only four days left,"the other chirped,jumping eyebrows."Are we excited?"
"Jovial."Vincenzo repeated again and I fought to hold in a laugh at their disappointed faces.
"Well,that's-" she licked her dry lips and searched in her drunk friend's face for words and finally resulted on.."Good."
They quickly noticed they weren't wanted and excused themselves before Vincenzo repeated the word 'jovial' again.
"Don't worry about them,"Vincenzo said while they were still in earshot. "They are always snooping."
"I deal with aunties on my side of the family as well,don't worry,I'm used to it."
He does a semblance of a smirk and turns to scan the room. The haziness in his eyes sharpens as though on duty.
"I invited some of your own nosy folks but it seems they sent their daughters instead."
"I wouldn't be surprised."I murmured to myself. "There aren't many that actually like me."
I imagine he is staring at me because of the growing heat on my cheeks and thought that if I look him directly in the eye,it will stop.
Remind me that method doesn't work next time.
"Why don't they like you?"he asked so plainly,it automatically made it less of a sensitive topic.
"Well,Marlene had a lot of influence with the family –they know I'm not her biological child and she was sort of the chosen wife for my father."
"Isn't your brother older than you?"
"Yes?"
"Oh,so your father cheated." Vincenzo concludes,not asks.
I gave myself time to process it but nodded eventually.
"So you are the physical representative of the rebellion."
"You are really interested in this–"
"I am."He leans on the wall and draws his gaze towards me with undivided precision. Like I was the only person he wanted to hear,see and know.
I let the attention thrill me enough to continue.
"Well,my father was very sketchy about it but from what I've managed to eaves drop others,it was a one night stand with this gold digger who was also a sex worker. ."
Vincenzo's eyebrows almost made it into his scalp.
"Yes,yes,apparently my mother was–that,"I somehow proceeded even though the laugh was sitting at the back of my throat at this point. "And even after Marlene arranged a huge payout to her,she abandoned me at an orphanage and was never heard from again."
"Amateur,"Vincenzo clicks his tongue before downing his wine."I would have kept the child and returned every two to three years."
"That's–"his gaze flicked to me in anticipation and all the sudden the syllables for the word horrible turned to "an interesting idea."
"What would you have done?"
"Had I been pregnant with a don't child"
"With the opportunity to black mail."he added,his eyes brightening.
"That wouldn't have happened to me."I began. "However–I would not abandon the child."
It got solemn for a moment between us,I cast my gaze down to collect myself. What is happening–
"You like kids?"His voice is gentle and comforting. The type to lure you to a tear,it almost did.
"I want kids."I say, returning my gaze to him and holds it,unwilling to let go.
"The love my father and I shared was so pure and easy,"I draw in a deep breath. "There's so much of it in me and it'll be such a delight to share it with my own children."
He blinks slowly and gets lost in thought. I take my eyes of him to observe the guest only to find most,if not all,we're already doing the same.
It soon dawned on me how close we were,in a nearly secluded corner,him leaning on the wall and I being so attentive to him…Christ.
I wondered how much they saw--what exactly did they see,I wanted to swap bodies to one of them and see from their point of view to see if their horrified faces were justified.
I heard him say something but the fog in my mind had swallowed my brain whole and rendered it useless to comprehension.
Then I saw a face that made everything come to a fall.
Marlene.
The look on her face was in between disapproval and disgust,she had seen us too. She shook her head softly before walking to us.
Her mink fur coat draping lazily on her shoulders as she approached us.
"Good evening."she greeted casually,with Robert following closely behind her.
"You two seem great."
Robert extended a hand to Vincenzo but Vincenzo sent his nearly empty glass to his mouth.
I stiffened under all the unpleasant energy in the air,everything seemed to crumble.
"The results came in,"Marlene announced,her voice not low. "It's a private matter,we will need a room."
Her eyes rests on Vincenzo and they glare at each other for a while.
"Will the upstairs library be suitable?"
"Yes,"she beams.
"I was asking Evangeline."he replies,turning to face me fully. "What do you think?"
"It's fine,"I say quickly.
Deena forms out of no where and begins to escort us.
"Would you like to invite him?"Marlene asks as we make our way out of the hall.
"Didn't you say it was private."I whispered
"He should know what he's marrying into,"she throws her hair behind her. "After all,You seem to be so familiar with him already so why not?"
"We were just talking."
"If you listen to the monster's story,you begin to understand him."
"That's not–"
"Keep your head in place Evangeline,had this been a normal family,he'd be number one suspect for his murder."
I glanced at Robert for help but got none.
"Deena is it?"Marlene yelled at Deena who was far ahead of us.
Deena glanced back,looking bored.
"Could you go call Mr.Del Toro?"
Deena glanced at me and I nodded with a forced smile.
She turned, unlocked the big wooden door before her and pointed us in.
"He'll be here in a minute,"Deena assured. "I'll advice you to not touch anything."
"We're not thieves."Marlene sneered at her. Deena glanced my way and my eyes pleaded she let it go.
"You seem to have gained a lot of respect here huh?"Robert asked when we were finally alone.
I sighed and found myself a seat to pray instead. I needed to be a Hidalgo–I needed those results to be in my favour.
Vincenzo came in what felt like an eternity later,I sat up immediately,barely able to breathe from the wait.
"I also made sure to have a copy of the results if you don't mind."
Marlene who was already toying with her manila folder stopped abruptly.
"Excuse me?"
"I made sure to have my own version of the results,just in case yours made a mistake."
The implications were clear,He thought Marlene had bribed for fake results.
"I never felt insulted in my life."she exclaims. "Are you trying to imply I would stoop so low just to harm my own child?"
"My mother is an honest woman."Robert announced but no one paid him any attention.
"How sure are we that your results aren't the ones that have been falsified?"Marlene asks.
"It benefits me nothing either way,"Vincenzo replies calmly.
"The DNA samples,how did you–"
"I have my ways."
A beat of silence washes over the room and Marlene looks lost in thought.
"If you are sure your results are legitimate,you wouldn't be worried,"Vincenzo adds.
"Vincenzo,"I finally stepped in. "I trust her, you don't have to–"
"It's fine!"Marlene exclaims and drops her folder. "Since mine are so fraudulent,we'll simply use yours."
I catch a wave of smug passing over Vincenzo and I can't help but wonder what he was thinking.
The lab courier didn't knock; he was escorted in by a tall rather cheerful blonde man.
In his hand was a black envelope that held the power to either ruin me or make me.
Marlene reached for it with unprecedented calm, her diamonds catching the light.
She walks back to the middle of the room and faces all of us.
"Well,"she shrugged,tearing the envelope. "Let the truth be revealed."