Chapter 6 The Country Girl
This driveway was at least 500 yards long, already packed with all kinds of luxury cars. Well-dressed crowds speaking different languages were walking along it toward the entrance.
At the end of the driveway stood a grand Georgian-style building. Massive gray-white stones, smooth Roman columns, and various Greek-style reliefs made it look both dignified and luxurious, full of historical weight.
I held up my dress and slowly walked toward the main entrance. On both sides of the driveway were different types of French gardens, trimmed neatly and elegantly. On a large lawn, a luxurious wedding venue had been set up, with pink roses everywhere.
I sneered to myself - Victoria really does have an eternally young girl's heart. On one side of the lawn was a fairly large lake, with a stage set up by the water where a band in black formal wear was getting ready.
On the other side of the lake, it looked like... farmland? I stood on my tiptoes, putting my hand to my forehead to look.
Suddenly, a voice spoke beside me: "That's a vineyard! By the way, want to try some top-quality wine?"
I jumped, turned around, and met a pair of beautiful eyes. This was a young man around 24 or 25, with deep blue eyes winking mysteriously at me. Long eyelashes, a small tuft of curly beard on his chin, very tall but thin. He wore an obviously custom-made, expensive suit.
I looked around to confirm he was talking to me.
"You know this place well?"
He nodded.
"There's at least an hour before the wedding starts."
I took out my phone to check - no new messages from Victoria.
"Alright! I'll follow you." After all, nobody here knows me anyway.
I picked up my dress and jogged after him into this huge building.
This really was a castle, decorated so lavishly inside that I could barely keep my eyes open.
So luxurious.
But the young man ahead of me didn't stop to give me a tour, just kept urging me on.
I didn't have time to look closely and followed him all the way down to the basement. He pushed open a heavy wooden door and led me into a dark wine cellar filled with the scent of wine.
"What kind of wine do you like?" he asked while weaving through rows of wine racks.
How would I know? I've never had the money to afford wine!
"No particular preference. You recommend something."
He casually picked up a bottle and handed it to me. "This one," he said, holding the bottle next to my face as if comparing.
"Full of artistic flair, mysterious, with a long finish. Yeah, just like you."
I laughed at this sudden flattery and took a look - Chateau Mouton!
This wine was too famous - I couldn't not recognize it.
"This bottle is very expensive. I shouldn't drink it."
He glanced back at the cellar. "In here, it's not that expensive."
"At least we should ask the owner's permission." I smiled awkwardly.
Although I was the daughter of the lady of the house and could technically claim to be an owner, I didn't dare. He obviously just saw me as a guest's relative - maybe he was also a guest's son, clearly a rather mischievous one.
"Haha, no need! I AM the owner!" With that, he'd already opened the bottle with a corkscrew!
I let out a small gasp. This wine, if I remembered correctly, cost at least $1000!
And this playful young man looked like he was just joking around!
Seeing him hand me a glass, my first thought was to run, so I waved my hand to decline.
He looked surprised, then casually tilted his head back and downed it in one gulp.
"Wow, tastes great! Come on, drink up!"
I stepped back two steps, ready to retreat. I didn't want to be caught stealing by the hosts - after all, my main job today was to preserve Victoria's dignity.
Just then, the cellar door was pushed open! My face went white.
A huge, fat-faced man stood in the doorway! He also wore a black suit, so fat that the buttons on his chest looked ready to pop.
I'm done for! How do I explain this?!
The man suddenly bowed respectfully to the young man. "Mr. Dante Luciano, your father is looking everywhere for you. The wedding is about to start!"
The butler of this wedding?
"Already? I haven't had enough to drink yet." The young man, this Dante, jumped down from an oak barrel.
"Come on, lady, the wedding needs us."
"Young master? You're a Luciano?"
Dante raised an eyebrow. "How about that? Surprised?!"
So we're stepsiblings!
I couldn't help but laugh and said mysteriously, "Very surprised."
Later, when you find out I'm your sister, you'll probably be even more surprised.
The big guy turned and left. I picked up the Chateau Mouton bottle and took two big gulps straight from it.
Definitely worth $1000.
The wedding didn't really start in any meaningful way.
The lawn was crowded with people, many speaking Italian. Dante was quickly called away, but not before blowing me a kiss.
Typical Italian.
I held a cocktail and stood at the edge of the crowd, coldly watching the people around me.
This wasn't just a wedding - it was a snapshot of upper-class American society, especially the Italian immigrant elite circle. Everyone clearly didn't know each other well, yet they all eagerly socialized, chatting about their good old days and reminiscing about friendship bonds that no longer existed.
Just then, two middle-aged men nearby, obviously having had quite a bit to drink, started talking about the Luciano family - in English!
I quietly moved closer, trying to learn something about my future stepfather.
"I heard Mr. Domenico Luciano called back his eldest son from New York to manage the family business. Have you met him?"
"No, I heard he studied in New York and became the youngest business school professor at the college."
"The Luciano family actually produced a teacher? That's surprising - training killers would make more sense."
My heart sank. What was the background of the Luciano family?
Mafia?
My mind started filling with images of blood, guns, and drugs.
Those violent gangster movies started playing in my head.
"Keep your voice down." The speaker made a silencing gesture. "The LA Police Commissioner is here for the wedding today, too."
The other person seemed to understand and nodded.
"Domenico is a smart man. He not only has enough money but also enough vision. I heard he wants to do some legitimate business, and his eldest son was raised for exactly that purpose."
"Really? So his eldest son will be the Luciano family heir?"
"Who knows? Domenico has more than just that many kids." The man held up both hands with all fingers spread. "Right now, the one helping him run the business is his second son - ruthless and clever."
He lowered his voice further.
"I heard the leader of the Ghosts gang died in a woman's bed on the very first day his second son came back to LA. Shot dead."
I couldn't help but shiver.
What kind of husband has Victoria found for herself?!
"I heard Domenico also has a very beloved daughter?"
"I think I just saw her. Very beautiful, probably smart too. Called Giulia, I think? I heard she lived in Europe before, raised by her mother. Recently just graduated from a European business school."
This person seemed to be looking forward to a good show. "All three candidates for the Luciano family are here now? Wonder who'll win."
"Haha, the show's just getting started."
