been stranded on a desert

island to witness a mirage. But maybe if he stares at it long enough it might just disappear. He stares, stares, and stares. Nothing happens. This is real as it can get. Then again, his parents' estate was an island of its own.

The doorbell rings, Dimitri is holding his breath. It's only seven pm, and behind them the sky has darkened quickly, leaving the stars shining over them.

Beside him, Bella looks beautiful. Her lips are painted with pink, her dark pink satin dress wraps her body tightly - perfectly, amplifying all her luscious curves. There's a split in her dress, showing off her long tanned leg and the back of the dress dips modestly. It's going to take pure utter strength to sit through this dinner. This is a problem. Politics is easy. Family politics is harder.

The door swings open, Dimitri offers Bella his elbow to which she slips her arm into. Nothing has changed about the estate since he left. Dimitri's family only ever retreated back to the estate for Christmas and other minor affairs.

It's an ancestral English manor that has been passed down for seven generations. It originally belonged to aristocrats that are linked to Dimitri by blood. The outside is filled with manicured lawn for miles and vine that wraps aesthetically around the bends. The inside however has been renovated to fit modernly. Large chandeliers, decadent ceiling swirls, cream furniture and expensive paintings. It smells of money and lemongrass. Dimitri recalls spending most of his childhood running through the corridors and watching Theodore crawl on the plush carpet as a baby.

"Dimitri!" Squeals his mother, engulfing him in a tight hug. He hadn't noticed that she popped around the bend as soon as the doorbell rang. He smiles to himself - Eleanor Asterio was always punctual for everything. She smells like blooming roses and her hair is blown out.

"How have you been?"

"Very well, Mummy. How are you?" He kisses both of her cheeks out of courtesy. The woman is already blushing. Her eyes shift to Bella and her smile glows. "She's beautiful, Dimitri." In that moment, Bella can place a tomato to shame with the rosing of her cheeks.

She extends her hands out but his mother is pulling her in for a hug, telling her they're practically family now. The conversation is a low buzz of spanish and Bella's impressing her by the second - goddamnit, she's playing this role awfully well. Her charm and beauty are gripping his mother by the wrists. She's too perfect.

"Why don't you give her a tour of the house, I need to check and make sure that Ricardo hasn't burnt the roast,"

Once she's disappeared through the door, Bella wheezes out with spluttered laughter. "Mummy?" she's losing it by the second, throwing her slender neck back and laughing with all the air in her lungs. Dimitri falls a little harder, a little slower, a little deeper.

His lips are curving slightly but he's trying his best to be angry at her. He's failing devastatingly. He feels a little foolish, a little idotic, a little dippy. It's crazy how this woman is starting to affect and he finds himself genuinely happy around her. He admits that he likes her company, her vibe, her oh so sweet words and the plump of her lips that he can't stop thinking about. Only a few days ago, she was moaning the hollow of his name on her tongue as her back arched off the kitchen island. It's a shame they didn't get far...

"Didn't know you were a mama's boy." she passes him a wink. "Mummy," Bella mocks again, brushing up her best received pronunciation.

Dimitri rolls his eyes, playfully declaring her to shut her mouth. "No, I will tease you for the rest of your life." That was the problem, they didn't have the rest of their lives only a mere few months. His smile fades but he doesn't remind Bella of it.

"Let me give you a tour," Bella slips her hands into the crook of his forearm. As they begin descending up the stairs, Theodore and his father - Matthew are walking down. Theodore's face buried into flashcards. He's muttering something underneath his breath about physics.

His face collides Dimitri's chest and when he turns to look, "Ew so ugly."

Dimitri makes a shrewd face at him, wanting to roll him onto the ground and not let him up until he's screaming sorry. "It's a shame, Mum and Dad didn't pass on the good genes to you." he resists every ounce of urge that courses through him. Having younger siblings is a different type of pain.

"Hiya Miss– uh..."

"You can call me Bella."

He grins at the remark, already making lovey dovey eyes at Bella. Dimitri wants to gag. "If his ugliness gets unbearing, I suggest wearing dark glasses." he passes a wink to her, slipping past them and disappearing down the hall.

"Fucking moron," Dimitri huffs under his breath which earns him a word from his father. Bella giggling at their interaction.

Matthew is the carbon-copy of Dimitri except he's much older and greying. They share the same eyes, same nose and same charming smile. Matthew adores Bella instantly and keeps making playfully comments about his son and his notorious habits pre-Bella.

"Alright Old man, leave us alone now. I need to give her a tour before dinner."

"Wait till your old and grey, son." he excuses and leaves. For a moment, it seems like everyone is teasing and ridiculing him today but if it makes Bella laugh, he's ready to do it for the rest of his life. He takes Bella on a stroll, showing her some of the paintings, describing the estate, talking about his family history. All the boring complexities that Bella is drawn into and completely fascinated by. He softly pulls her down a long hallway before a door in the distance creaks open.

Dimitri can recognise the heavy squeaking of the floorboards anywhere. It was Grandpapa. His body immediately freezes up, his posture straightening and his head rising as he awaits for the footsteps to get closer. He knows Bella beside him feels his body becoming rigid because she's passing him a concerning look.

"Hello Grandpapa," It's nice knowing that nothing has changed with him since Dimitri's left. His grey hair is even greyer than he last recalls, his suits even more expensive than he last remembers and his wrinkled face even more gloomier than before.

He stands tall and straight, the hallway overwhelming Dimitri with his presence. When was it this hard to breathe around him? Suddenly, London's air seems much fresher than this.

"Dimitrius." it's a mere acknowledgement. His icy blue eyes glare over Bella and Dimitri finds himself stepping in front of her. For some odd reason, he doesn't want anyone staring at her.

"This is my fiance, Isabella Romero." Grandpapa looks at her - just a look of pure boredom and disinterest before nodding at her Bella and leaving.

Dimitri has the need to apologise but both of them say nothing. Bella's so understanding, so considerate, so sweet. Dimitri simply feels rotten from the inside. He doesn't know why Grandpapa resents him so much - enough to lure him and Bella into his perfect illusion of wedlock. Regardless, he lets the incident slide until he's chewing on it further at dinner. Grandpapa sits at the head of the table, secularised to everyone and in his own little bubble.

Dimitri frowns, something doesn't quite add up. He had forgotten to brief Bella on how to act properly around his family. But somehow, she knew exactly what to say and do. When pausing to speak, her knife and fork would rest, forming a triangle in her plate. An indication that the meal has been paused, not finished. There are exactly three knives, three forks - all ranging in size and a spoon and she knew exactly which one to use.

Must've been a google search. It's shocking. It takes months sometimes even years to memorise proper table etiquette yet Bella has possessed in mere days.

And the most peculiar thing about her all. Her name - Isabella Romero. She's got her mother's maiden name. It was none of his business but the curiosity gripped him by the throat. What was her former name? Was it a conscious choice to change it? Or had it always been like that?

He wonders if –holy fuck. Bella's hands is sweeping up his thigh, closer and closer and closer... he jerks forward, sending his fork clanging against the plate. The low buzzed murmur dies, all eyes are on him. He mutters an apology, craning his neck at Bella.

His eyebrows are denting and confusion is blasted on his face. He wasn't exactly complaining about her touch, just how good it felt. She's so unaware. Her touch could make him do anything. Bella removes her hand, her eyes widened in panic and pleading.

"So are you going to tell me, poppet?" Eleanor gently smiles at her.

Oh, mummy's said something to her. His jaw locks, a little disappointed but quickly resuming his composure.

Bella fixes her throat, "My memory is a little fuzzy as it's been over a year. But Dimitri can narrate the story for you,"

He freezes midway, levering the fork down. "What story?" Elenanor always had a soft spot for stories and as a child, Dimitri had all of them for bedtime. Would she be shocked if Dimitri blurted that Bella and him were pretending?

"Of how we meet. It was after work at Sky Garden."

"Yes, it was a blind date."

Eleanor is melting in her hand, grinning dreamily at the couple. "Who organised it?"

"My best friend Quinn."

"Anwar."

Bella snaps her head towards him, glaring at him. Dimitri's not exactly pleased either. They had discussed every single detail of their relationship, down to the very last pound and pence... expect this. He's almost simmering away in regret and disappointment for this stupid mistake on his behalf.

"Which restaurant did you eat in? I've heard they serve the best gin on Level 37,"

"It was Fenchurch." Dimitri swallows.

"Brasserie," Bella muses.

All heads turn in their direction, eyebrows raised in confusion. Even Theodore is imitating the blinking man meme. Matthew is laughing, "It was either Brasserie or Fenchurch. You couldn't have eaten from both so which was it?"

Dimitri's plastering on his best smile. "We originally argued about which restaurant to eat in thus this is our inside joke. It was Brasserie." This is a fucking diaster.

"Hm, the sea bass fillet is lovely. Just delightful." Matthew comments. Someone needs to turn the heating down. The room is too stuffy and hot. He pulls on his collar, wanting to suddenly bathe his body in an ice bath. Bella is sipping on her wine, spaced out.

"When was the next time you two met?" Bella cranes her head towards, a clear cry for help. Dimitri wants to roll his eyes. He loved his mother, he really did. But she needed to shut up and stop asking questions that Dimitri clearly didn't have answers for.

"2 weeks later,"

"7 hours later," shit, shit, shit.

Theodore chimes in, "I'm so bloody confused."

"It was exactly 2 weeks and 7 hours later. I've forgotten the exact second," Bella's revealing her pearly white teeth, her smile dazzling everyone for the brief second. Her laughter is forced but she's a natural actress.

Before Dimitri physically banged his head against the table, he needed to steer the conversation into a different direction. He's losing all his sanity by the second. Weddings are a joyous occasion, aren't they? Unless, of course, they're fake.

"So since everyone is present here today I think it's probably a good time to discuss it." he begins.

"Discuss what sunshine?"

"The wedding. I'd like for Bella and I to get married at the end of next month." Everyone stops eating. Deafening silence crowds the table and even Grandpapa has decided to escape his bubble and listen in. He doesn't understand why everyone is staring at him like he's told them the exact location of the Bermuda Triangle. He can feel Bella physically tensing beside him.

"What's the rush, Dimitrius? Give it some time, you've only just proposed." Grandpapa states, the creases on his forehead deepening.

"Time for what? I've found the love of my life and I'm eager to begin my life with her." and for you to hand me the company.

Grandpapa places his knife and fork down, joining both of his hands together. This meant war. This meant to respect his wishes. This meant no. He passes Dimitri a deadpan stare - the look heated enough to drown him headfirst in boiling lava.

Matthew chimes in uncomfortably, "Theodore has his exams starting from next week. Be a bit more considerate,"

Theodore takes a sip of water, shaking his head. "My last exam is Spanish which is on the 22nd of June."

Ah, Theodore. Always on his big brother's side..."Perfect. The 30th of June sounds delightful then. I heard the weather will be nice and sunny,"

Grandpapa huffs, clearly irritated with his new revelation. "Considering your previous rendezvous with Miss Jardins, I think it would be appropriate–" Dimitri feels like he's been slapped across the face. How dare he compare Jelena Jardins to Bella. They were nothing alike. Jelena and him were merely a fling - fuck buddies to say candidly and him and Bella?

Hm, they weren't exactly friends but they worked well together. She was going to be his wife whether he liked it or not. Bella's beauty and class is nothing compared to Jelena's.

"That was three years ago. I was 22 and fresh out of Cambridge. What did you expect?" the remark comes out more defensively than Dimitri planned. The tension can be sliced with a knife.

"Give it some time." it's a warning.

Dimitri grits his teeth. "I don't have time, Grandpapa."

"We'll discuss it after dinner, Dimitrius.'' This is the final warning, telling him to shut up and eat.

"Excuse me, I've just lost my appetite." he states, leaving his knife and fork vertical on his plate. He storms out of the dinner hall, leaving Bella completely alone with his encumbered family.

________________

Dinner was painfully unbearable after Dimitri stormed off. Matthew decided to excuse him and hunt after him five minutes later. I don't blame the Asterio's because dinner with my family was the same. Awkward glances, awkward conversation, forced smiles. No family is ever perfect, and the conversation becomes the latter.

I stalk up to Dimitri's room after explaining all the best places to eat in Barcelona to Dimitri's mother and as I'm about to knock, Matthew steps out and passes me a faint smile before disappearing down the hall.

I knock once on his door and enter. "What!" he snaps as I step in, catching me by surprise. He cranes his head and when he sees me there, he immediately softens. "Sorry," he mutters, loosening his tie.

I stand awkwardly by his door, not sure whether to enter further into the enclave or not. I didn't want him snapping at me. "You okay?" My voice is weak and brittle and of course, he notices it.

"You can come in, Bella," he says softer this time, guarding and studying my reaction. He slowly stalks over to his bed and pats on the empty space beside him. I creep towards him, his eyes don't leave me. "Sorry for leaving you alone. I lost my temper,"

I brush it off, telling him it's fine and his mother was more than accommodating. Regardless, who was I to judge his family structure and start nit-picking each trait? My family was probably worse than his.

"Can I ask you something?" He nods, scratching his chin. "Why are you so reluctant to get married quickly?" Clearly, his grandfather doesn't want the marriage happening and the old man seemed shocked at the news.

For a brief second, he physically looks pained and his eyes drift away from me. He's spaced out and miles away from the room. His pink lips part and he's going to say something but he's measuring his response intricately, very delicately as if it's a spiders web of hassle.

"Because if I get married, I'm showing I'm responsible enough for him to give–" there's a knock on his door and Dimitri pauses.

Theodore steps in, "Grandpapa's called you in his office. Now." Dimitri rushes off without another word.

Great, just when I feel like I was getting somewhere. With nothing left to do, I pry around his bedroom. It's a large room - high ceilings, tall windows, white thick curtains. Organza silk on the bed, tall lamps and black furniture littered in moderation. His favourite colour, of course. It's all exuberantly homey and screams Dimitri.

He's got some photographs on his window ledge and I begin examining them. There's a young Dimitri - all teenage boy drama and angst with a perfect smile clouding the background of Paris. There's another one of him, his mother and Theodore as a baby. It's damn cute and I'll never admit it.

I walk over to his table, he's got some old editions of books stacked in a pile. They are titles I don't recognise but all the genres are action thrillers and suspense. It's appalling he doesn't have any romances in the pile. My lips tug with a smile when I note he's gotten a battered copy of Dickens Great Expectations - for school reading I presume.

The door creaks open, snapping me from my daze. Dimitri looks triumphant with a dazzling grin on his face. "I hope you're free on the 30th of June because we're getting married." With no job and no responsibilities, how could I not be free?

"There's only one tiny condition. You have to sign a prenup,"

I stagger back shocked. His lips don't tug with a smile nor mirth, he's dead serious about this. "What? You think I'm going to take all your property and run off?"

He takes a step forward, threading his hands through mine. His touch comforting and awfully making me dependant. "It's not that I don't trust you, it's Grandpapa's wish. I hope you understand this. I have no choice in this,"

The bitter memories are invading my mind like bile that rises up the throat. This resembles Mama and her experience, for a second I'm having major déjà vu. If this marriage is truly going to happen, I'm going to be stringed along to his wishes. I should end it now, telling him our contract is done and storm off.

But because I don't know any better, I say: "Is this really important to you?" He nods, his eyes sparkling with sincerity.

"Fine, I'll sign it to please your grandpapa." And I do it anyway.