20 - MRS. SAGE HADES ROMANO

-SAGE-

" Sit here."

I nod at my father's words, obediently sitting on the couch at the centre of the stage. Josephine gives me a small smile as she kneels down adjusting my gown.

" Dont cry anymore sweetie." she whispers handing my a paper tissue.

I nod at her looking down at my lap again. I felt everyone's gaze on me, piercing through me. Enrique and Sabrina were sitting on the table just opposite to the stage as they both glared at me.

" Sorry, I'm late." Shawn chuckles as he sits on the couch beside me.

" You good, my love ?" he whispers kissing my forehead.

" Just nervous." I mumble looking up at him. He was the only one in my family who doesn't hate me yet but I'm sure one day, Sabrina and father will also take him away from me too and I'll be left alone with those monsters.

" I'm here with you." he whispers stroking my cheek.

" Shawn, it's not your place to sit. Hades will sit there." Father growls, glaring at me as if I've done something wrong again.

" He isn't here yet." Shawn snaps.

" He is here." Elena giggles running towards us.

" He looks so hot." she pants rolling her eyes.

" Really ?" Sabrina shots up from her seat as Enrique scoffs.

" Shawn, come on." Father mumbles.

" Can't I just be with my sister ?" Shawn snaps again.

" You as her brother have to go receive the Romano family. Let's go." he growls.

Shawn rolls his eyes before he nods at me as follows Father towards the entrance. I try to stand up and peek at the door for a glance of Hades but there were many people blocking my gaze.

" Calm your org*sms down, little Sage. He is coming." Ethan snickers as he bursts out laughing.

Sabrina joins him laughing at his joke as Enrique rolls his eyes. I glare at Ethan, the anger and sadness mixed together was making me feel frustrated but I bit my tongue back . . . like I always do. I don't want to be the centre of attention, I never did and yet they call me attention seeker.

Everyone suddenly in the hall quitens down as they all stand up. I look confused as Sabrina pulls Enrique and Ethan to stand too.

Everyone bows their head down in respect as Hades walks in with his head held up high and mighty.

Behind him came two girls, a man and a woman. They all were dressed in royalty and their outfits were screaming filthy rich.

Hades winks at me up making me go all red as he kneels down taking my hand in his before kissing my knuckles.

" You might just be the major reason for global warming today." he winks at me again before standing up.

" Sage, meet your Mrs. Romano." Father chimes in gesturing towards the woman.

" Nice to meet you, Mrs. Romano." I smile as her but she just stares at me with anger.

" No respect." she scoffs.

" Sage, bow down." Father grits his teeth.

" Huh ?" I look at him confused.

" Bow down." Father growls.

" That won't be necessary." Hades interrupts my father, wrapping his arm around my waist.

" That's disrespect, Hades." Mrs. Romano growls.

Uh-oh.

" She isn't a slave who will bow down to you, she's my wife." Hades growls. His voice sends everyone silent, putting an end to the argument.

" This is my brother and two sisters. Leo, Giana and Sofia." Hades says pointing at the others.

" Nice to meet you, I'm Sage." I smile at the three.

Leo smiles nodding his head but the girls glared at me again like their mother before rolling their eyes.

Umm . . . okay. Maybe this is normal . . . maybe.

" Um, Mrs. Romano, this is my elder daughter Sabrina and her fiance Enrique." Father says, introducing them proudly.

" Nice to meet you, Mrs. Romano." Sabrina smiles bowing down at her.

" Nice to meet you too, dear." Mrs. Romano pats her shoulder.

" I'm Elena Princeton, Enrique's sister and this is Elliot." Elena smiles as she and Elliot bow down to Mrs. Romano too.

Wait . . . so I had to bow down to her too ? Ohhh shit!

She looks back at me and then glares at Hades.

" Out of so many beautiful gems, you just had to choose that trash, didn't you ?" she growls at him.

I gasp at her blunt words before looking at Hades who was glaring at his own mother as if she has stolen both of his kidneys.

" I even said that Elena would be best for Hades but Sage knows how to manipulate men well. She quite has a history about it." Sabrina shrugs innocent as Mrs. Romano glares at me harsher this time.

" Are you a virgin ?" she asks.

" Excuse me ? You can't just be that blunt." Shawn glares at her.

" You know the rules, Hades. If she isn't a virgin, she won't be your bride." Mrs. Romano growls.

" I'm not following that." Hades snaps.

" Do you want me to call your father?" she growls.

" I'm not scared of him." Hades shoots back.

" I'm sure you aren't but you'll have to worry about her." she glares at me.

Hades sighs loudly in frustration as he looks at me, gritting his teeth in anger of his mother's words.

" Let's not form a scene here right now, Hades can see that himself after the party. He can go ahead in their relationship if he enjoys her or you can always break it." Sabrina smiles at me.

I'm not a product that Hades can enjoy and take a ride before he finally buys it. How she use this crude words that too in present of so many people !?

" That's more like it." Mrs.Romano smiles at Sabrina's suggestion.

" All done then." Father claps his hands happily before he leads the Romano family down from the stage to their table.

Sabrina smiles at me before she also walks away. She's my sister, the one I always thought of my mother and today, her actions are stabbing my heart.

" I'm not ready for this." I whisper to Hades.

He looked like a Versace model tonight. His beautiful chocolate brown hair was pulled back into a neat style, his light stubble was clean shaved today and his face glowed like a makeup highlighter.

" I know." he winks at me.

" Hades." I whisper as he looks down at me.

" Yes, baby ?"

" I'm scared." I whisper as tears prick into my eyes again.

I knew who I was and I'm sure Mrs.Romano would probably want to skin me alive if she gets to know about it and my family would happily give me to her.

" I won't let anyone hurt you, ever again." he whispers stroking my cheek.

" I really didn't know I had to bow to her." I whisper as he nods.

" I gave Sabrina instructions to tell you about these but I guess, she didn't. Anyway, I'm glad you didn't bow. You're my queen and queens don't bow." he winks at me again.

" You're being flirty, Mr Romano." I giggle knowing atleast Hades isn't angry at me for disrespecting his family.

" I love hearing your little laughs, soon to be Mrs Romano." he chuckles.

" What are we going to do after the party ?" I whisper as he smirks at me.

" Play hide and seek." he smiles at me.

" Hades." I giggle hitting his arm playfully.

" What do you want me to do ? Scare your father? Scold your sister? Make Enrique give you a foot massage ? Anything my queen likes." he smirks.

" What about you give me a foot massage?" I whisper.

" Aha." he wiggles his eyebrows.

" I'll do it gladly but I'm not sure if my hands are going to behave or not." he whispers earning a giggle from me.

" Your lips are so sweet, wanna catch Covid the sexy way ?" he winks at me.

" N-no." I laugh barely keeping it down.

I look up to see Enrique, Jace and Sabrina glaring at me. It immediately vanishes my smiles as Sabrina mouthes ' I hate you ' to me. I look away towards Shawn who was on his phone talking to someone. At least he loves me.

Beside him was Elliot and Ana, his girlfriend. They were both kissing each other hungrily. As much as I want to believe on Sabrina's words, I think she might be lying because Elliot already has a girlfriend.

" Lets begin."

Hades pulls me up, wrapping his arm around my waist as Mrs.Romano and father hand us the rings.

" I'll love you forever and always protect you." Hades whispers sliding the ring on my finger.

The ring was gorgeous and had a big 'Pink Star diamond' encrusted on it making me wonder of how much expensive this was. Hades was surely spending alot more on me than it was needed.

" Keep it safe, it's worth millions." Giana smiles at me but I could feel the taunt behind her smile.

I nod at her before taking Hades' ring. I look at Enrique who was watching us with sweaty face and teary eyes, it was me in place of him yesterday and see how quick the tables turned. I smirked at him, sliding the ring up Hades' finger.

" Congratulations."

Applauses ran through the room when Hades leaned down, kissing my forehead gently.

I wrap mr arms around him, hugging him tightly. I have to let the past go and accept that he is my future. Hades is my everything from today and his happiness is all that has to matter. I can't lose them like I've lost the others.

We break apart and sit back on the couch as the others begin dancing or enjoying the food. I look at Hades who was now playing with my hair with a smile on his face.

" You're happy?" I mumble.

" Alot." he chuckles kissing my cheeks.

" Hades." I whisper.

" Yup, baby girl." he smiles.

" I have to tell you something," I mumble.

" I'm listening." he says.

" Not here, can we go upstairs ?" I whisper.

" Right now ?" He raises an eyebrow.

" Please."

" Okay, lets go." he chuckles holding my hand into his before we begin walking up the stairs.

" Where ar-"

Hades ignores my father completely walking up as he glares at me and gestures me to keep quiet near Hades but I knew what I had to do.

To build a future with Hades and never lose him, I have to tell him the truth. I have to let out the darkest secret of my life to the only person who has shown love to me romantically after these two years and probably it won't hurt that much if he leaves now after knowing the truth rather than when he leaves later.

- REAL LOVE IS ALWAYS TOUGH-