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Chapter Five

The meal was well underway when Alless, who had not forgotten the purpose of the dinner, decided to bring up the subject. "So, Mom and Dad, what is this important matter that you wanted to discuss with me?" Antonio and Clarla looked at each other and nodded. "Here we go!" They said a silent prayer.

"Allessandro, you will soon be twenty-eight, and this is the right time to tell you all you need to know". "Father, what is it? I can take anything you tell me". "You are engaged, and this engagement cannot be revoked". There was absolute silence at the dining table. "I know I said I could take anything but this." Alless said it with a shocked expression. "There is more, my son; brace yourself," Leonardo Rossi said, looking his son in the eye. "What do you mean more, Dad? I am getting scared," Alless said. “Don't be, my boy. It's not something to be afraid of. We are more than what people think. But for you to realize your true self, you have to accept the engagement. No questions asked, but know this: we love you more than anything in the world, but this engagement is something you must accept for us, most especially for you, my son". Alless, looking at his parents, did not fail to notice their solemn expressions. What was going on here? What engagement, and why do I feel as if something is fishy somewhere?

Back at Montgomery's mansion, Scarlet moved with determination towards the balcony, where her father, Diego, sat. She ignored all the whispering servants in the hallway. "Papa, something is happening to me. Come take a look. Why do I feel like I am a different person? "Scarlet, calm down. Come and sit down". Leonardo, seeing his daughter looking all disheveled in her natural form, felt a squeeze in his heart. Holding his beloved daughter, he led her to a chair. "Papa, tell me, how do I look? I feel phony, as if I am a different person. Please tell me". She began to cry, and her eyes turned more amber by the minute. Diego, guessing there would be a crisis, soon stepped in and said, "My dear, there is a natural explanation for the way you feel and look. Just calm down and listen to us, okay?" Scarlet looked at her beloved uncle Diego with her unnatural amber eyes, and his heart turned over. He was looking at Estelle in the flesh. Oh my God, he thought. Could it get any worse? "Scarlet, you are not who you think we are," Leonardo told his daughter. "And the most important thing is that you are engaged to be married, and there is nothing anybody can do about it." He concluded. "Wait, Papa, I am not understanding this. Do you mean what I think you do?" "Yes, my daughter, it means exactly that. You are engaged, and you must accept that in writing before any other discussion. It is as serious as that". "Marriage? With who? Do I know the person? In fact, forget that. Why do I look like this? And what was inside that trunk? What is this "agreement"? Scarlet threw her father a barrage of questions.

"Calm down, sweetheart; don't cry, baby; you are getting agitated, and it's not good for you right now." Leonardo tried to placate his daughter. "Ok, I am calm now; tell me." First, you have to agree to the engagement, and it is irrevocable. "What?" Scarlet asked in dismay. Looking at her father, there is this stubborn glint she has come to recognize as no brockering of argument. "So I have no rights over whom I choose to marry? Why Papa?  Is it fair? How do I marry a man I don't know? How? This is the twenty-first century, and these kinds of things are still happening! Papa, let me tell you right now, I won't marry without love, and that's final! "

"My dear, my hands are tied; I can give you the whole world, but not the choice of a husband; please understand with me." Leonardo pleaded with his daughter. You know how much I love you and always want the best for you. Diego, please speak to her; she will listen to you." Diego, looking at his friend, felt tears gathering. This is the moment they have been dreading. They never thought it could be this bad. A look at Scarlet showed her tear-stained face, and her once beautiful green eyes were completely amber now. She still looked beautiful, he thought.

"Scarlet, listen to me; you know I can never lie to you. Your father is speaking the truth. Only by your agreeing to the marriage can we tell you who you truly are." Scarlet looked at her Uncle Diego and felt a sense of despondency she had never known before. If Uncle Diego sided with her father, that was it; there was no other way around the matter.

Scarlet thoughts were in riot; what can I do? She thought. I have found the man of my dreams. Oh, Allessandro, what are we going to do? Is this the end before it even begins? Where are you? Do you also think about me? Scarlet looked up, and the only thing she could see was determination and resignation on Leonardo's face. Scarlet stood up and left. Her father and Diego called after her, but she left without a word.

Scarlet ran down and went straight to Nana, who was in the kitchen giving orders to the maids on duty. "Nana, Nana, hug me; I need one badly now!"

Nana turned around and saw her baby girl all messed up. Luckily, while running down, Scarlet had regained some semblance of calm", so her eyes returned to the dreamy green color, though she was still looking sad. Nana turned and engulfed Scarlet in a bear hug. "There, baby, what's the matter? Why are you in this state? Tell me, did those two do anything to you? Let me get my knives ready; I will chop them up!" "No, Nana, don't do that; nothing will change. Just hold me." Scarlet inhaled the familiar jasmine fragrance she loved so much. She was transported back to her childhood temporarily. Her mind flew to Allesandro, and she imagined what he would be doing now. All right, what do I do now? She wondered while still engulfed in Nana's motherly hug.

At Rossi's Mansion, Alless could not digest the dinner he had just had. What did he just hear? Engaged to be married to whom? "So who is this person I am engaged to, and why am I just learning about it now?" He asked carefully, without any expression. "You have to agree to the alliance first before any other revelations". "Dad, I am a grown man, and you cannot just reveal this kind of thing and expect me to not ask questions. Are you not asking for too much?" "We know, but our hands are tied here. The agreement is set in stone, and your accepting it willingly is the key to knowing who you truly are". Leonardo answered his son quietly.

"Can I think about it, Dad, Mom? At least, I deserve that much. Leonardo and Carla looked at each other in understanding and nodded their heads.

"You can think about it for twenty-four hours, Alless, no more. We are running out of time". Out of time for what? Alless wondered. "Wait a minute, is Lorenzo aware of everything?" Alless looked at his cousin, who had been sitting quietly throughout the conversation, with a pained look. Lorenzo quickly turned his face guiltily to the side. "He was sworn to secrecy by the elders, Alless; it's not his fault". Antonio defended Lorenzo. Alless continued looking at Lorenzo with pain. His brother and his confidant could keep such a secret from him; they shared everything! How could he? He felt so betrayed! Leaving the table abruptly, he moved towards his apartment without a backward glance. The three people at the table looked at each other with guilt in their eyes. Should we have told him sooner? What is going to happen? God help us! They were all engrossed in their thoughts, thinking of how to placate their beloved Alless.

Alless reached his apartment and flopped down on his favorite settee. What is happening? Scarlet, where are you? I need you now, or was this the end of his dreams? He was so sure that he had found the woman he had been searching for. Scarlet, will we ever see each other again? God, Oh God, please, let this be a bad dream!

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