Mafia bride

Chapter 1: Introduction to Vivienne. The morning was still misty when Vivienne Ashford stepped onto the crumbling sidewalk that led to the house she used to live in. Her shoes, soft leather that had seen better days, scarcely made a sound as she approached the gate, her gaze naturally attracted to the fading white picket fence. Her father had painted the fence with devotion, with each brushstroke carefully placed and each corner rounded with care. Her parents had promised her a world of security, love, and dreams, but it suddenly seemed so far away.

Her fingers clutched the cold, rusted gate, feeling the rough edges against her skin. She could still see her mother standing in the same location, welcoming her inside for dinner, her smile warm and her voice gentle as a summer breeze. How long has it been? Three years? More? The house itself looked nothing like the one she recalled. The once vibrant and welcoming home had now been reduced to a mere shell of its former self. The entire structure appeared abandoned, with the paint peeling, the porch sagging, and the windows filthy. Nonetheless, this was her home, the only place where she could still feel her parents' warmth, and she had watched it dwindle away year after year. Vivienne's heart pounded in a cadence of silent grief as she looked up at the home, the giant trees in the yard no longer creating a protecting shadow. There were no more children's toys scattered across the yard or the scent of her mother's flowers in the air. It was vacant. Cold. The note was in her hand now, its edges tattered from the number of times she had folded and unfolded it in the previous week. The note was a notice of foreclosure. The remarks were a harsh reminder of how swiftly everything had unravelled following her parents' deaths. Her father's life insurance had barely covered her mother's long-term medical expenses, and with debt stacking up, she had never been able to make the mortgage payments. Now, she faced the inevitable conclusion. She had no choice. She'd battled so hard to keep the house and her parents' memories alive, but she was losing. She could not oppose this. The weight of it all pressed on her chest, causing her to breathe in small bursts. How could she let go of this place? Vivienne took a step forward, the familiar creak of the door beneath her fingers seeming like an echo from the past. The wood felt worn under her touch, and the once-pristine door had succumbed to age and neglect. She pushed it slowly open, the hinges groaning in protest, as if the house itself had grown tired of standing. Inside, the walls appeared to shut in on her. The living room, which had once been alive with laughter, was now hushed, the air thick with dust and the faint aroma of old furniture. The sun had already begun to rise in the sky, throwing a warm glow through the windows. The house had always been bright before. The light simply highlighted how hollow it had become. She took another step inside and froze. The silence was shattered, but not by recollections; rather, by an eviction notice pinned to the kitchen door. The harsh, black lettering on the paper made her stomach sink. She had been evading the inevitable for so long, but now it was confronting her. There's no more time. There are no more excuses available. What should she do now? She took another step forward, her feet heavy on the floor, as if the house itself was attempting to keep her in place. The room seemed to close in on her, with the walls pressing in harder with each breath. With shaky fingers, she reached for the letter and tore it open. The words blurred as she read, her mind reluctant to accept the seriousness of the situation. Eviction Notice: Your home is going up for auction in two weeks. Two weeks. That was it. Vivienne felt like the ground beneath her feet had been wrenched away. The house was slipping from her grasp, the walls that had once shielded her now tumbling around her. Her parents' memory, the life they had built, was slipping away before her eyes. She closed her eyes, but the words lingered behind her eyelids in cruel mockery. She couldn't stay here any longer. She had no choice. She was about to lose everything.These are memories from the past.Vivienne had worked tirelessly to relive those moments, cherishing the smell of freshly baked bread and the laughter that echoed from the kitchen as her father joked about his infamous failed cooking attempts. Those were the memories she treasured most, the ones that had kept her going after the crash. But today, those memories only served to exacerbate the pain. She sat on the couch, the cushions sinking under her weight, and let the silence wash over her. She closed her eyes for a moment, allowing herself to be transported back to a time when the house was vibrant and full of possibilities. Back then, she was a college-bound girl with bigger dreams than her circumstances. She saw her mother standing in the kitchen, stirring a pot of soup and humming a soft tune. Her father was always present, leaning against the doorway, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he teased her about her cooking abilities. They had always laughed together, sharing everything: joys, difficulties, and even the tiniest of achievements. But that was before. Before the crash that shattered her world. The incident occurred during a car accident. One moment, they were on their way to the grocery store. Suddenly, her life took a drastic turn. It had been a stormy evening, the roads slick with water, the visibility poor. Her parents' automobile collided with another vehicle, causing an unexpected sound of metal bending and cracking. Vivienne had been in the rear seat, unconscious for most of the accident. Upon awakening in the hospital, she discovered that her entire world had crumbled. Her father had died quickly. Her mother had fought for weeks before finally succumbing to her injuries. And Vivienne, left alone in the world, had to face the burden of their loss and the crushing weight of their obligations. Now, sitting in the same house that had once been full of love, Vivienne could sense the hollow emptiness that had settled inside her. She pulled up a photograph of her parents; the edges faded after years of handling. The photo had faded, yet their smiles remained vibrant. They had been so joyful back then, so full of hope. Her mother's voice lingered in her memory, her soothing tone pushing Vivienne to follow her ambitions. "You can do anything, darling. "You have the world at your feet." However, everything was slipping away from her. The hope of attending college had died with her parents, as had the goal of keeping the house. She couldn't help but wonder how they would react to her now. Her father would have known how to solve things; he always did. But he wasn't around anymore. Vivienne ran her fingertips over the photograph and felt a tear fall down her cheek. She hurriedly wiped it away, refusing to feel weak. However, it was impossible to ignore the truth. Her life was falling apart, and there was nothing she could do about it.The Flower Shop.The perfume of fresh flowers filled the air, making Vivienne forget about her problems for a time. Dante's flower store was a modest sanctuary, a tranquil area that had always provided her with a temporary respite from the outside world. She had been working here for nearly a year after losing her old job, and it had become her second home. As she entered the shop, Dante Voss, the proprietor, greeted her with a smile. He was a kind-hearted man in his mid-thirties, with brown hair that was often a touch too unkempt and a simple smile that made his shop feel warm and friendly. He was one of the few people who had stood by her after her parents died, offering her a steady job when she had nothing else. Morning, Vivienne, he said, taking a bouquet of roses from the counter. She smiled slightly in response, but the motion did not reach her eyes. Morning, Dante. He looked at her for a moment, his brow furrowed slightly. You're okay. She nodded quickly, not wishing to burden him with her troubles. "Yeah, just a little tired, that's all." Dante appeared unconvinced, but he did not press. Instead, he handed her a flower arrangement and asked her to get it ready for delivery. Vivienne took the bouquet and concentrated on the task at hand. It was easier to focus on the delicate flowers than to confront the impending reality of losing her home. As she worked, the phone in her pocket vibrated. She pulled it out, hoping for positive news, but instead received the dreaded notification. It came from her bank. As she opened the message, her heart raced. It reminded her that her mortgage payment was due tomorrow. Tomorrow. She swallowed hard, the tightness in her throat threatening to choke her. She knew she couldn't make the payment. She had no savings, no safety net. All she had was this job, and it wasn't enough to keep her afloat. Dante approached her again, his eyes filled with concern. Vivienne, please confirm if everything is alright. Vivienne closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath. She would rather not tell him the truth, not yet. Yes, she is currently addressing an issue. But I'll be fine. She put the phone back in her pocket, trying to ignore the growing panic inside her. Tomorrow. It would all come crashing.