The papers my father was talking about signing, were just prenuptial agreement papers, this isn't something I'm against, on the contrary, I'm glad they had their lawyer prepare them.

We had agreed that any property purchased before or during the marriage by an individual, belonged to said individual even after a divorce. We also agreed that if we have shared properties, said properties will be divided in half. "Gifts" are not to be returned, given, or sold. And lastly, family inheritance belongs to the sole heir/s mentioned in the will.

I only care about my properties, I could care less about the family inheritance, I mean, surely my father will not leave it to me, if they had to go to this length of forcing me to marry Rosario, just so he can have the Potenza's last name, or considered by my father's logic a family member, I'm sure he will leave everything to him since he will be leading the organization after my father's death.

Gifts and shared properties. I had to roll my eyes at that one, I'm not planning on staying married long enough to get this lovey-dovey.

After the signing of papers was done, Westley approaches me, "Sir, I'll be your best man for today if you will allow me," Westley says.

I shrug my shoulders, "do whatever you want," the 'it's not like I have a say here' is left unsaid.

"... alright then, you'll be walking down the aisle soon, I'll be going before you, the ring will be with me," he says before taking his leave.

I nod my head and turn around to look outside the patio doors, the central courtyard has been transformed and decorated for the wedding ceremony, and dressed-up strangers were being seated in the set-up chairs.

My father stands beside me, "am ready to go when you're," he says, trying to be reassuring.

"Are you walking me down the Isle?" I asked raising my eyebrow at his nerve.

"Of course, I'm your father." He says it like it's a no-brainer.

I chuckle at that, his concept of fatherhood is questionable, "holding my hand as you drop me off at hell's gate is very fatherly of you," His eyes twitch at that, but before he can say anything I pat his shoulder as I walk past him, saying over my shoulder, "come on daddy, it's time to walk your princess down the Isle."

Honestly, I know it's bad, but the best thing that's coming out of this for me is the entertainment of taunting my father. I mean, if he thought that he can die peacefully then he's wrong, at least I gotta have some memories that I can look back fondly on.

The change that nine years can do to you, and it's not like I'm thirteen all over again, this is different.

Had they proposed this madness three years ago, I'd have utterly refused, but ever since that day three years ago, my weaknesses started piling up, one after another.

I don't regret it though, laying on that hospital bed and watching Teegan as she sneakily tries to look through the door window, going against what the doctors said, helplessly looking for what remained of her brother, I couldn't help pushing her away, and instead, I let her in.

She was sixteen at the time, like the little sister I never had, she had lost her only family suddenly, and I didn't mind taking her in, and being her guardian.

She was anxious, alone, and scared, I saw my younger self In her, the young self I was after I lost my mother.

I glance at my father standing beside me, I just wish you took me in, instead of pushing me away, shaking my head, I look ahead and watch as the bodyguards opened the doors to the courtyard, there's no point in thinking of what could have been, he made his choices, and I made mine.

Leaving this place was the best thing I've ever done for my life and probably for my father's, after all when one leaves another comes along.

Teegan may have lost Tobias, but she gained me, she may have lost him physically but his heart still beats inside my chest, I may still be physically here but my heart isn't.

My father may have lost my respect, love, and care, but he gained Rosario's.

Rosario. My eyes meet his as I walked down the aisle, I don't know what had happened in your life to make you idol a man like my father, but I pity you, It isn't easy to become this heartless, some would disagree, but I think it's against human nature to not have any compassion or empathy for anyone and to go against your humanity is never easy.

He takes my hand in his after exchanging a hug with my father.

"Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today in the presence of these witnesses, to join Rosario Barone and Elia Potenza in matrimony..." I tune out the officiant's speech, glancing to my right to see all of these strange faces, I know none of them, well except for my father's but he's as much of a stranger as the rest of his guests.

I look back at the man who's soon to be my husband, holding both my hands in his, his eyes dark as a bottomless abyss, his face unreadable.

How did I end up here? I put this kind of life behind me when I left nine years ago, I swore to myself that I wouldn't return to this place, that I wouldn't return to this life, no matter the reason.

I guess I got too comfortable.

I focus my attention back on the officiant who happens to be one of my father's men.

I bite the corner of my mouth, trying to stop myself from smiling at the stupidity of it all, this was a last-minute wedding, so I shouldn't be surprised if the officiant has used Google to figure out what to say, "please repeat after me," I clear my throat to stifle my laugh, my soon to be husband arches his eyebrow, but lets it go to repeat after the officiant, "I, Rosario Barone,"

"I, Rosario Barone" repeated Rosario in his deep voice.

"Take you Elia Potenza,"

"Take you Elia Potenza,"

"To be my husband,"

"To be my husband,"

"To have and to hold from this day forward,"

"To have and to hold from this day forward,"

"For better or for worse,"

"For better or for worse,"

"For richer, for poorer,"

"For richer, for poorer,"

"In sickness and in health,"

"In sickness and in health,"

"To love and to cherish;"

"To love and to cherish;"

"From this day forward until death does us part."

"From this day forward until death does us part."

Once done, the officiant turns his head to me, "please repeat after me, I, Elia Potenza," the officiant begins.

"I, Elia Potenza,"

"Take you, Rosario Barone,"

"Take you, Rosario Barone,"

"To be my husband,"

"To be my husband,"

"To have and to hold from this day forward,"

"To have and to hold from this day forward,"

"For better or for worse,"

"For better or for worse,"

"For richer, for poorer,"

"For richer, for poorer,"

"In sickness and in health,"

"In sickness and in health,"

"To love and to cherish;"

"To... to love and to cherish;"

"From this day forward until death does us part."

"From this day forward until death does us part." I make sure to look at my father when I said the last part.

"Time to exchange the rings," the officiant says and our best men came closer with their hands extended holding the rings out for us to take.

Rosario puts the ring on my finger first, then it was my turn to do the same thing for him, once we are done exchanging the rings, the officiant says, "By the power vested in me by the State of New York, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You may now kiss".

Rosario leans in and my body goes rigid, he continues to lean in but turns his head and angles it, so he's now blocking the guests' view, he puts his lips right around the corner of my lips and my cheek, and he lingers there for three seconds before pulling away.

It felt a lot longer.

Before I could overthink this kiss the officiant says, "I present to you, Mr. and Mr. Potenza."

Still holding my left hand in his, Rosario turns around to face the guests, and I do too.

The guests stand and upload as Rosario and I step down the Isle, on our way to begin this fucked up life again.

God, I wish I didn't go home that night.