Beginning of the end. (Completed)

1.

"Everyone is waiting for you at the dinner table, Don."

"Everyone is waiting for you at the dinner table, Don."

"Everyone is waiting for you at the dinner table, Don."

"Everyone is waiting for you at the dinner table, Don."

"Everyone is waiting for you at the dinner table, Don."

I revised the sentence a million times in my mind and meekly entered the dimly lit room. The scene in front of me turned me pale.

How can I forget to knock before entering??
Maybe cause I am nervous.

A manly figure tied from his legs, hanging upside down, covered in his own blood greeted my eyes. All I could hear was his weak groans that he was letting out from his busted lips, while getting beaten with a rod by a 6 feet tall muscular man.

And in one corner stood the devil himself.

Adriano Romano.

Don.

As soon as our eyes met I lowered my eyes, out of respect.

Out of fear.

The room went pin drop silent.
Everyone stared at my direction, curious to know who came in. On seeing me they also lowered their deadly gazes.

Who would even dare to look at Don's future wife?

"Everyone... Din-Dinner." I failed to find words.

He nodded, then murmured something to the 6 feet guy.

The tied up guy is going to die, I can feel it.

Reaching at the door Adriano pushed it open for me to leave first, then he followed.

Everyone was waiting at the dinner table, no one had dared to take even a single bite.

Nobody eats before the Don. It's considered disrespectful.

Adriano took his seat and nodded for 'everyone' to start eating.

This 'everyone' included all men, not women.

While men of the house eat, all the females must stand near them, ready to serve anything they might want.

Women in my world are not allowed to sit at the same level as men, unless told otherwise and eating before their husbands/ future-husbands is considered equal to any crime.

"Bring us water, Mili." Marcus, my pain in the ass of an elder brother ordered me and I had to comply instantly.

I lose it when men order women to do these kind of basic stuff, that their grown up asses are fully capable of doing by themselves.

But who am I to say? Neither do I have such courage nor do I have a death wish.

Since the day my brother betrothed me to the Don it has become a tradition, to visit Don's mansion every Sunday for dinner.

It's compulsory.

I remember once I was suffering from high fever and was barely able to stand, even then elder brother dragged me to the dinner, threatening me that if I don't go with them I would be severely punished and he will complain Don that I was making up excuses.

We all are just the Don's puppets.

10 years ago when my brother committed a murder and was on run, Don saved him from police as well as he cleared all of my brother's debt too.

I lost my father the same year.

But nothing comes for free in this selfish world. Don demanded for my hand in marriage, in return for all his favours and my brother and mother happily agreed. I was just 15 then.

When Don, his uncles, his cousins and my brother finished their food, left the table, we ladies had to eat in the same dishes and bowls that our respective husbands have eaten in, without cleaning or wiping them.

This shows the affection and dedication of a wife towards her husband.

It has been 10 years since I was forced into this bond with the devil himself, nobody asked for my will, like it mattered.

I too, didn't utter a single word, knowing better than going against Adriano.

Soon we are to marry and Adriano still scares the daylight out of my 25 years old self.

I have barely talked to Don in these 10 years. I don't even know a thing about him except for his name and his 'work'.

But he knows everything about you Emilia, I reminded myself.

How can I be with someone who is the devil himself ? How can I ever love him?