The Mafia’s Good Wife
Chapter 35

- Violet -

"Oh, sweetheart! Look at you!" Barbara gasped in awe as she stepped into Violet's room in the church. "You look so beautiful!"

Violet turned around in her long, white dress. It was a simple dress made of lace and satin, but it fitted her body perfectly. Her hair was neatly pulled up into a bun, decorated with small flowers and little pearls.

"I can't believe my little baby is getting married today. I feel like it was just yesterday I held you in my arms leaving the hospital," Barbara threw her arms around Violet and pulled her into a hug. "Mom, stop, you're gonna make me cry and mess up my make up," Violet stifled a laugh and hugged her mom back.

Today was her wedding day and Violet couldn't help but feel emotional. Ever since she was a little girl, she'd been dreaming about her wedding day and what it would look like. And of course, she couldn't forget her almost wedding to Damon. She remembered that day like it was yesterday.

She remembered the dress she was wearing then and how she did her make up. She remembered feeling uneasy after everything she was hearing about Damon. She remembered going to the church and seeing Isabella's ghost. And finally, she remembered that fight she had with him and how she shot him before she ran.

Sometimes Violet replayed that moment and wondered what would've happened if she never shot him. Maybe they'd be married by now and they'd be raising their children together in the estate. Her kids would be living under a dark shadow, but they would get to be with their father. Violet couldn't say the same about the baby inside her now.

Violet glanced down and her hand went to her stomach. The little baby was about 12 weeks along. Violet's stomach wasn't showing too much, so nobody knew that she was pregnant. As far as the townspeople were concerned, Violet and Luke were in love with each other for the past three years and now they were getting married because of that.

"Honey, are you feeling alright? You look pale," Barbara commented as she studied Violet's face.

"No, yeah, I'm fine," Violet forced out a smile and pulled back. "It's just being pregnant, you know?"

Violet went to the mirror and checked her reflection. Her mother was right, she looked pale and tired, even with all the make up. Violet sighed and pulled out a lipstick from her purse. She hadn't been sleeping well for the past few days leading up to the wedding. Especially since that dream she had of Damon. Even until now, thinking about him still made her heart twist and ache. It took everything in her not to break down and cry in front of her mother.

* KNOCK KNOCK *

The door to the room creaked open and Ivy peered her head inside. She was the maid of honor and Dylan was the best man. Dylan was already outside with the groom, standing at the altar. "Vi, are you ready?" Ivy asked. "Everyone's waiting outside"

Violet swallowed hard. She was as ready as she could be. Her dress was done, her hair and make up were done, everything was done. All she needed to do was walk down the aisle and say I do. But for some reason, that felt a lot harder said than done. "Can I just have three more minutes?" Violet said through her heavy breaths.

"Sure," Ivy nodded and closed the door as she left.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?" Barbara turned to Violet again. It looked like Violet was having a small panic attack.

"Yeah, I'm just gonna... get some air real quick," she said through her pants. Violet then walked to the back door that led her to the garden of the church.

"But, the guests-"

"Just one minute," she told her mother reassuringly. "I'll be right back,"

Barbara still looked concerned, but Violet was being persistent. Violet gave her one last smile before exiting the room. Barbara had no choice but to stand there and wait.

It's gonna be okay. Everything's gonna be fine. You're making the right choice.

Violet kept replaying the words over and over again like it was a mantra. She thought she already made peace with this choice, but something seemed to always be gnawing in her heart. Even though everything was already said and done, there will always be a part of her that hangs onto Damon ceaselessly.

Stop it, Violet. Stop thinking about him. He's moving on too. It's over.

Violet really didn't want to cry in her wedding dress, about to walk in front of a hundred people in the church, but she couldn't help it anymore. Tears trickled down her cheeks involuntarily. Violet wiped them away quickly and carefully so they wouldn't stain her make up. She was trying so hard to act strong and look put together, but it was just so hard. Especially right now.

Violet realized it was useless trying to fight this heartache. Maybe this was something she just had to live with. Every day for the rest of her life, she'd still be thinking about Damon and wondering what her life would've been like if she'd stayed with him. She didn't hold any grudges or wish him any ill, even though he was moving on with someone she absolutely despises, she still wanted him to be happy. And maybe he would be happier with Celina. They both came from the same world. They both thrived in it. And I have to be happy too. We all have to be happy.

Violet glanced up at the church building and drew in a deep breath. Everyone was waiting for her inside. It was time. Even though it hurts like hell, she'd have to make her way in there. She would never stop loving Damon and she accepted that. And this choice she made, even though it sucked right now, would hopefully open up new possibilities for her and her baby to be happy. With that thought in mind, Violet wiped the last tear that fell on her cheek and readied herself to walk back in. "Why, it's a beautiful wedding you have here,"

Suddenly, Violet heard a voice. She turned around quickly and her heart fell to the floor. Her eyes were still blurry, but she could make out the figure of a man. He was tall and he was wearing a sleek black suit. At first, she thought it was Damon, and she almost couldn't breathe. But after looking at him closer, Violet realized it was someone else.

"Adrian?" she gaped.

"Shouldn't you be in there?" Adrian gestured to the church.

"Shouldn't you be in New Jersey?" she replied. "What are you doing here? Is he here?"

"No, I'm here alone," Adrian shook his head.

Violet swallowed hard. It was pathetic, maybe, but a part of her wanted Damon to appear. "Why?" she asked. "Why are you here?"

"Because I need to talk to you about Damon,"

"I don't wanna talk about Damon," Violet shook her head and walked away.

"Violet, this is serious," Adrian grabbed Violet's arm before she went past him. "Damon's gone... rogue,"

"Adrian, I can't do this right now. I'm sorry, but I have to go inside. My fiance's waiting for me," she said as she glared at him.

What was Adrian thinking? Coming down here on my wedding day to talk about Damon? Did Damon send him? What kind of sick mind game is this?!

"He went to Italy to kill Hugo DeSantis for you," Adrian said as Violet walked away. Violet stopped her tracks immediately. "What?"

"It's a suicide mission. He knows he won't be coming back after this,"

"What are you talking about? Isn't he getting married to Celina?" Violet was walking back to Adrian now, standing right in front of him.

"How'd you know about that?" Adrian narrowed his eyes.

"I called him a few nights ago. I didn't get to talk to him, but I talked to Celina. She told me about it," Violet tried her best not to sound bitter, but each word that came out of her mouth was laced with bitterness.

"Well, the wedding is only a ploy. Hugo was catching onto us. Marrying Celina is the only cover he has to infiltrate Hugo's estate," Adrian explained.

"What?"

"I kept trying to get him to stop the mission, but he won't listen to me. The last time we spoke was on Wednesday. I couldn't contact him ever since,"

"Well, I was calling him on Thursday morning... the phone rang for a while and then Celina answered it-"

"Wait a second, did you say Celina answered his phone?" Adrian's eyes jolted open like he was shocked.

"Yeah," Violet nodded.

"Shit! F**k!" Adrian cursed angrily and threw his fist at the nearby tree. "F*****g hell!"

Violet looked at him in confusion as he started pacing anxiously.

"Adrian, what's going on?"

"That phone is a secret phone," he said. "There are only two people in the world who have that number. It's just you and me,"

"...So?"

"So, I was sending Damon private information about Hugo and his movement. We talked about our plans to kill him using that phone. Damon would never let anyone near it because it's got a lot of confidential information. So, if Celina answered the call, that

means..."

Violet's eyes jolted open and her heart sunk to the ground. Adrian didn't have to continue, but she knew what that meant.

Damon's in trouble!

Suddenly, Violet's knee felt weak. She almost fell to the ground, but luckily, Adrian caught her. She was panting breathlessly as she remembered that dream she had a few nights ago.

"I had a dream the other day... Damon was going to kill Hugo... I thought it was just a dream..." she said through her ragged breaths.

"You dreamt about it?" Adrian looked confused.

Violet nodded her head. It was such a vivid dream. Damon walked into Hugo's office with a gun. He was going to shoot Hugo, but Hugo also had a gun behind his back. They shot each other and Hugo died on the spot. Meanwhile, Damon was bleeding profusely. Then one of the bodyguards came in and shot Damon in the chest. Violet woke up screaming and confused. And ever since then, she never got another peaceful sleep.

"Listen, Violet, you're my last hope. I wouldn't come here if I had another option. And I know you're busy right now, you're moving on with your life and everything, but..." Adrian paused for a beat before continuing, "Damon needs us," "What do I have to do?" she asked.

"There's a private jet waiting for us at the nearest tarmac, it's only fifteen minutes away from here. I got Beau in the car, in the parking lot. Come with me, we'll fly to Italy, and we'll stop Damon from killing himself," "... Right now?"

"Yeah," Adrian nodded and glanced at the church, feeling somewhat guilty. "I know,"

Violet looked back at the church again. She could hear the faint sound of the organ playing. That was her cue. She should be walking down the aisle right now with her mom next to her.

"Do you really need me to go with you?" she asked him. "Can't you do it on your own?"

"You're the only one that he'll listen to," Adrian sighed. The irony wasn't lost on him that he was Damon's only advisor, and yet, Damon wouldn't take his advice. "You're the only reason he has for living,"

Violet swallowed hard. This couldn't be happening. Not right now. Not when she was about to walk in there and marry Luke. She couldn't possibly walk away and leave him hanging. She was about to make a new path for herself, and somehow, Damon always had to pull her back. But he's in trouble... he might die if I don't go...

Violet's head and heart were fighting a battle with each other. Her head knew it wasn't wise for her to leave. She would hurt a lot of people by doing that. Besides, what could she do for Damon? She couldn't do anything for him anymore. If he wasn't listening to his consigliere, why would he listen to her?

But her heart... her heart wanted what it wanted.

She wanted to see him. She wanted to make sure he was okay. Even though they couldn't be together, she couldn't stop loving him. Not now, not ever.

In the midst of the war going on inside her head, suddenly, Barbara appeared from the back door. She was shocked to see Violet and a strange man standing there. Violet and Adrian turned to Barbara and they were both shocked too. "Violet, honey? What's going on here?"