“Remember those two girls, Mica’s friends from Ukraine?”
“Yeah... Pretty cute...”
“Cute, sure, but what good is that?” Davide sighed. “Anyway... Toward the end of the night, they were all completely wasted and climbed up on the table.”
“What?!”
“Yeah... They put on a show you wouldn’t even see on TV.”
“Unbelievable...”
“Tell me about it,” Davide continued, his voice thick with frustration. “You can’t imagine what they were doing up there. They hiked up their dresses, jumped around between the plates, shook their hips, belted out songs, howled, and shouted over each other like old drunks outside a bar. Mica decided she was the queen of the night and her word was law. So, getting them down from that table was no easy task. And when she finally did come down, she spotted an old man standing there, chuckling at the spectacle. So, she grabbed him and dragged him onto the dance floor. Man... I’m glad you didn’t see that, Armando,” he exhaled heavily, then went on:
“It was a nightmare, I’m telling you. The bottom of her dress, smeared with food, was flapping around the room. She spun that poor old guy so hard, I thought he’d have a heart attack. A little more, and he’d have turned to dust. In the end, she lost her balance, and they both crashed to the floor. The old man split his forehead on the edge of a chair. Mica tore her dress, scratched her arm, and snapped the heel off her shoe.”
“Mamma mia... I... I don’t even know what to say.”
“Well, I do. The problem isn’t just how they fell—it’s who she nearly crushed in the process. That old man... the one who got hurt... That’s Stefan Merker. Ring a bell?”
“Oh, damn it!” Armando clutched his head in shock. That name was well-known to many. Merker was a big fish down at the Livorno port, a longtime business associate of Davide’s father. A lot depended on him, not just for the Cagliari family, but for the whole town. “What a mess... So, what now? Is he...?”
“I don’t know. My dad promised to handle it. Though, honestly, I have no idea how he’ll pull that off. Merker was furious. If he doesn’t sue us, it’ll be a miracle. And at work, there’s no doubt we’re in for trouble.”
“Man...” Armando sighed heavily, unable to meet his friend’s eyes. The last time he’d seen Davide this broken was when he’d learned about his father’s cancer diagnosis. “And how are the others? Your parents? Grandma?”
“Don’t even ask. Everyone’s on meds. The caregiver stayed by Grandma’s bedside until morning. We were worried her blood pressure would spike even higher. But... I hope she’ll be okay.”
“What a disaster! I can’t wrap my head around this. You said she was practically an angel. How could this happen? How could she change so much?”
“I don’t understand it either. The only thing I can think of is...” He let out a breath. “She’s a cunning little schemer who played me—and all of us—for fools. She spent a week pretending to be all sweet and innocent, and now she’s decided the act is over. Time to let loose.”
“I never thought I’d say this, but... it sure looks that way.”
“Yeah, damn it... Lesson learned. You can’t lose your head over a girl you’ve only known for a few days. But... I was such an idiot, I fell for her so hard I couldn’t see anything wrong. Maybe there were signs before, but I just ignored them? Who knows.”
“Well... If we’re being honest, you didn’t exactly find her on your own. So... at least part of the blame falls on... you know who. What was she thinking? Fine, you were only looking at her looks, but your mom? What kind of girl did she push on you? She should’ve seen through her. Right?”
“Yeah... She’s just as shocked. Says it’s like Mica’s been swapped out for someone else. I’m telling you, before the wedding, she was completely different. Everyone saw it. Everyone liked her. I just don’t get it...” Davide scratched his head and slumped onto the sand.
“And what about her mother?”
“What about her? My dad kicked her out last night after all that mess. She went to stay with Nonna Paloma. Who, by the way, was acting kind of strange. Before the wedding, she wanted to talk to me. Said it was something really important. But... we got caught up in everything, and it didn’t happen. Later, when I approached her, she just sighed and said she’d changed her mind, that it was nothing. She seemed so serious, almost sad, I’d say.”
“Yeah, that’s weird. So... what are you gonna do, Davide?”
“I don’t know. I’ll see... First, I need to clear my head.”
“Let’s get out of here, buddy. Don’t just sit around. Someone might see you.”
The friends headed up the hill and went their separate ways, each on their own ride. If you could call Davide’s powerful, cutting-edge motorcycle and Armando’s equally sleek car mere “rides.” They shared similar tastes when it came to their iron steeds.
Back home, Davide found his newlywed wife still passed out. Her dress lay crumpled on the floor like a dirty old rag. Her shoes and veil were strewn somewhere nearby. He nearly tripped over those designer heels as he walked in. Mica was sprawled across the bed on her stomach, wearing nothing but lingerie. Her long hair was a tangled mess, almost covering her face. A thin blanket barely draped over one leg. Her smooth, youthful body practically glowed in the morning sunlight streaming through the large windows. And the delicate white lace of her thong and bra, like intricate spiderwebs, only added to her allure. Sigh... It could’ve been so perfect, but...
Romance? Hardly. For one, the room reeked of stale alcohol. And for another... Whoa, what tattoos! He hadn’t expected that. Right above the waistband of her panties was a sizable butterfly inked on her lower back. On her firm backside, some kind of flower. So much for the shy girl... What else didn’t he know about her? What other surprises did this beauty have in store? A wave of frustration washed over him.
Damn it! How did this happen? He wasn’t blind or stupid, yet he’d basically bought a pig in a poke. What a mess! This wasn’t how he’d pictured the start of their life together. Man... He’d dreamed so much about their first night with Mica. He hadn’t wanted to pressure her, had even been thrilled that she was so reserved, not rushing into his bed. It had been exciting to savor the anticipation, but now...
It was over. Everything he’d dreamed of, everything he’d wanted, shattered like a crystal vase smashed against a wall. The girl who’d so quickly become his ideal, his cherished dream, had lost all her charm in an instant. He’d wanted to savor every moment with her—vacations, quiet weeknight evenings. He’d dreamed of showing her the stunning places in South America she’d talked about. Imagined her squealing with delight when she saw Angel Falls. Pictured her growing to love Livorno as much as he did over time. He’d dreamed... of so much more, but now all of it had lost its color. It was hard to imagine a future with someone who valued nothing more than her own reckless whims.
He opened the windows to air out the room, changed clothes, and headed to the kitchen. He also wanted to check on his parents, sister, and grandma. His own head throbbed like he’d been beaten, and he felt nauseous from the sleepless night and stress.
The caregiver said his grandmother was still in bed, having fallen asleep after taking her meds. His parents were resting too. Only Donatella was up, preparing breakfast for herself and her son. Salma, the family dog, lay in her favorite spot by the terrace door, while Rico, her pup, bounced around her playfully. At least someone was in a good mood...
Davide approached, and his sister shot him a sideways glance before continuing to make coffee and breakfast. She started talking to her son. The tension in the family was palpable; they were still reeling from the shock. In Donatella’s eyes, he saw a mix of anger and pity. He remembered how, at the wedding, Mica had made a “clever” joke about his sister’s weight. That would’ve been bad enough if it had just been words—she might not have understood the impact. But no, the bride had also used exaggerated gestures to mock Donatella’s... well... figure. She and her friends had a good laugh at her expense. Unbelievable! That wasn’t something you’d forget anytime soon.
Eventually, Donatella poured him a coffee and handed him a pastry. He ate it quickly, downed the strong, aromatic espresso, and left.
His mind was such a mess that he didn’t know what to do with himself. He’d taken time off work since they were supposed to go on a honeymoon. But now... He didn’t even want to go anywhere with that... walking disaster with long, slender legs. The last thing he needed was for her to pull the same kind of stunt at a hotel or somewhere else as she had at the wedding. No... He’d had enough. Damn it! He’d dreamed of proudly showing off his young, beautiful wife at interesting places, events, and gatherings. And now... He just needed to recover from this one event.
He decided not to make any decisions until he’d calmed down a bit. Instead, he headed to the port to spend some time on his small yacht. It was something he’d always loved. Ever since he was a kid, he’d enjoyed going out to sea with his father.
The sea was especially beautiful early in the morning or at dusk. The water’s surface would shimmer and reflect a myriad of colors under the gentler rays of the sun. The silence was broken only by the soft lapping of waves and the cries of seabirds. It was so peaceful...
He called Armando and invited him along. He also ordered some food and a few bottles of his favorite wine. Not exactly what he’d envisioned for the first day after his wedding, but... the main thing was to keep from losing his mind. And to not strangle his own wife...
When Solomiya arrived at Pisa Airport, she had no idea she was being closely watched. With over three hours until her flight, the young woman settled into the waiting area. Soon, a stranger approached her and spoke in Italian:
“Hello. I’m Carla, assistant to a private investigator. We were hired by Signora Paloma. She’s uncovered the truth about you and Signorina Micaela. And now, she wants to speak with you. Here,” she said, handing Solomiya a phone.
Solomiya froze in shock, unsure of what to do. Her emotional state was already a wreck; she could barely drag herself around. And now... Well, that was it. If the spoiled rich girl hadn’t finished her off, her grandmother surely would. Her heart sank to her heels. With a trembling hand, she took the phone and croaked in Italian:
“I’m listening.”
“Well, hello there, young lady. Planning to go far, Solomiya?”
“Home,” she whispered, barely audible.
“Of course... I know. Listen up, I also know that for nearly a week, you’ve been pretending to be Micaela. I suspected it from the very first day. But I couldn’t say anything until I had more information. Do you know what I found out?”
“No...” she squeaked.
“No, of course you don’t. You were so flustered, you didn’t have time to think straight, did you? I understand. We need to talk. Properly, not over the phone. Wait for me where you are; I’ll be there soon. And don’t even think about running—someone’s watching you.”
“Oh, God...” Solomiya exhaled heavily.
Good thing she was sitting, or she would’ve collapsed for sure. Deep down, she’d known this wouldn’t just blow over. There it was... She hadn’t listened to her mother’s advice. She knew lies usually ended badly. They always came with consequences. And now, here she was... She’d earned this mess...
“Don’t be afraid, child. I’m not going to eat you alive. Though, of course, I’m upset with you. I just want to clear some things up. Wait for me. I’ll explain everything. Alright?” Signora Paloma said, her tone reassuring.
“Okay...” Solomiya managed to mutter. “I’ll wait.”
What choice did she have? There was nowhere to run; they’d find her anyway. Whatever happens, happens.