Hundreds of eyes, including those of Mr. and Mrs. Di-grassi, were on them. But the one who was frozen like a statue was Fernando.
He was at the altar beneath the floral arch, watching as the woman he was meant to marry approached with another man. Someone… he'd never seen before.
Cameras were everywhere, broadcasting. Pictures were being taken nonstop.
Gasps erupted in the air, and some of the guests quickly took their phones out to record.
"What is this?" one of them whispered, a stunned smile on her face.
Another one of the wealthy women slapped a palm over her mouth and chuckled. "Is this some kind of soap opera?" She nudged her husband. "Honey, do you know what's going on?"
"How would I know?" The husband glared at her. "We're guests."
Savannah Di-grassi peered, gaze leveled. She couldn't take her eyes off Viviana. Not only had she walked in here with another man, but she'd come in a tattered-up dress and… barefoot.
F**king barefoot!!
She felt her body dry up so much, she turned paper white.
Her daughter, Amadeo's stepdaughter, who was next to her, touched her hand. "Mom, what's going on? Who's that man?"
Savannah couldn't answer her. She was far too angry to utter a word.
Viviana stood before the altar with Nikolas.
She gave her flowers to him. And ignoring all eyes that were scrutinizing him, Nikolas watched as she stepped up to the altar to stand right in front of Fernando.
She coldly locked eyes directly with Fernando.
Nikolas tilted his head to the side and a smile subconsciously played at his lips. What was she about to do?
"What is the meaning of this?" Fernando questioned.
Viviana's lips stretched into a faint smile, and she quirked her head. "Get off."
"What?" he choked out.
"Are you deaf?" Her smile dropped. "I said… get off."
"You fucking bit—"
She grasped him all too suddenly and shoved him off the altar. And Fernando, who hadn't expected it, stumbled, stuttering over his feet, almost dropping on Nikolas.
Nikolas, ever so smoothly, stepped to the side, dodging his weight. But Fernando was still quick enough to catch himself on the red carpet by his hands and knees.
Gasps broke all over the place, gazes dancing around in shock.
Pictures were taken, the clicking sounds of the cameras resounding.
Fernando stared at the floor. What the heck… had just happened?
He was breathing heavily, taking a moment to digest the entire situation. Whether this was a dream or reality, or if he was perhaps hallucinating, he was unsure.
Did Viviana just push him?
His face clenched into nothing but pure anger and he spun around, rising to his feet. "Did you just push me?"
Viviana couldn't care less that people were watching this live. This was all part of her plan. Humiliation was one thing her family feared the most, and she'd always wanted to give it to them, especially her father, who believed he was at the top of the world, above all else.
She grabbed the rings from the ring bearer and tossed them. Then she walked over and grabbed one of the empty chairs, smashing it to the floor to break it on the ring.
Nikolas's smile grew.
This woman…
'And Francesca wondered why I couldn't get her off his mind. She's beautifully daring'
By the time Viviana was done destroying the rings, her bun had come undone, her veil slipping off to the floor.
Still, she didn't care. Instead, she turned to the crowd toward Sabrina. And as if Sabrina knew what she wanted, she stood up and made her way over to the altar.
She proceeded to replace the ring bearer.
When Viviana had told her last night of her plan, of why she'd suddenly agreed to a blind date, she was too stunned to even speak. Going against her father and her stepmother…
Ooo
It gave her chills.
Mr. and Mrs. Di-grassi were not the kind of people to be crossed without consequences.
"Nikolas." Viviana extended a hand out to Nikolas.
He gladly took her hand and stepped up, taking Fernando's place.
"Please continue," she said to the priest.
The priest was perplexed, eyes ping-ponging between her and her father.
What exactly was happening at this point?
CLAP!
CLAP!
CLAP!
The sound of abrupt clapping dragged everyone's attention toward none other than Savannah. She was seated next to her husband, Amadeo, whose face at that moment was nothing short of stone cold.
Getting up, she began toward the altar and made her way up to file in front of Viviana at the same height of 5'8.
Her lips curled into a grin.
She asked, "Is this you being a rebel?"
Not a tinge of expression made an appearance on Viviana's face. Her stare was cold and dead. A carbon copy of her father.
"We give you little freedom, and look at you now. Acting like a lowlife." Savannah balled her fists. "What did I tell you yesterday?" she questioned.
Viviana parted her lips, but before she could utter a word, a slap, one that was hot and heavy enough to smack her head to the side, landed on her face.
"I told you not to disgrace this family, didn't I?"
Viviana blinked at the floor, registering the stinging pain that pinched her cheek.
Savannah didn't let her breathe this one out, proceeding to slap her for the second time. This time though, someone grabbed her hand mid-air, tight enough that it bruised immediately.
"That's enough now," Nikolas said flatly.
And she twisted her head toward him. Her eyes scanned him from head to toe, and a kind of disgust she'd never felt before boiled through her body.
"You filthy lowlife!"
The look on Nikolas's face was of absolute boredom.
"I can't let you slap my bride twice." His voice was tinged with a kind of edge that shook Savannah. His tone was mocking… Or had she gone crazy?
"How dare you touch me?!" She was about to slap him with her free hand.
But…
Viviana grabbed her this time around, both hands now hanging in the air.
She slowly walked over to stand in front of her, her back facing toward Nikolas. "Don't you dare touch him," she warned. "Or I'll forget that you're married to my father, Savannah."
Savannah's eyes flickered.
"What?" She sounded out of breath.