The clock showed it was past midnight, and Aria was fast asleep, completely oblivious to everything around her. Exhausted from a busy day, all she longed for was a peaceful rest.
Suddenly, she felt a heavy weight on her, crushing her petite form and pushing her deeper into the mattress. Panicking, she opened her eyes, looking desperately through the darkness of the room, and found those intense bright blue eyes staring back at her with unknown emotions.
She didn’t need to switch on the light to know that the person touching her was her husband. She knew him very well—his touch, his smell, his eyes, and his breath.
“Why are you wearing panties? Did you forget that I told you you shouldn’t wear panties and to always be ready for me in our bed?” he growled in her ear dangerously, making Aria shiver with fear.
Aria didn’t want to enrage her husband, but she forgot all about it when she lay on the bed and fell asleep instantly. She hadn’t been feeling well lately, and today she was so tired and sick that she couldn’t think about anything except resting. However, this excuse was not going to work on her husband, Alessandro Valentino, the Mafia lord of Western Italy. Although he was a very rich and handsome man, he was even more dangerous whom no one wanted to upset because the only response that person got in return was a bullet to the head. Aria was also very afraid of her husband. Their marriage was not a normal one but a traditional, arranged union.
Alessandro had married Aria because his grandfather insisted on it. Aria was an orphan who had saved Alessandro’s grandfather’s life, and the grandfather believed Aria was the perfect bride for his grandson. When Alessandro refused, his grandfather threatened to disown him and strip him of his inheritance, including the Mafia empire and Valentino Enterprises, if he did not marry the girl of his grandfather’s choice. His grandfather was a formidable figure in the Mafia world, and no one dared to defy him.
Alessandro’s grandfather had chosen Aria as his granddaughter-in-law because of her simplicity and kind nature. However, Alessandro cared little for her and deemed her a gold digger. He never missed an opportunity to remind her of his disdain.
Alessandro’s burning eyes bore into her. He was naked and warm, lying above her, and her body reacted involuntarily to his touch. She was startled and shrieked when her husband tore her panties swiftly and entered her without warning, causing Aria to cry out in pain. She had not been prepared, and the last thing on her mind was engaging in sex tonight.
“Fuck, you’re so dry,” Alessandro grunted with disgust. “And how many times have I told you to take a bath and change your clothes before going to sleep? You smell so bad, all sweat and spices as if you have been surrounded by them the whole day,” he said with a scowl.
This was nothing new to her; in the three years of her marriage, she had accepted long ago that he didn’t love her. But the constant insults were slowly killing her, bit by bit. Despite it all, she still clung to hope in her heart that one day he would fall in love with her. One day.
Aria averted her eyes and pursed her lips, unable to handle any more humiliation from his piercing gaze and cutting words. But in the next moment, he dipped his head into her neck, inhaling deeply as if relishing her scent, contrast to his degrading words.
Her breath hitched as she felt his fingers brush against her clit, moving in slow, deliberate circles. His wet and warm tongue traced along the silky skin of her throat, and she bit her lip to stifle any moans that threatened to escape. But the sensation was too intense, causing her to inadvertently utter a name.
“Ah, Alessandro!”
Suddenly, he stopped, lifting his head and fixing her with an intimidating glare.
“What did you just say?” he whispered, his voice slow and dangerously quiet, causing Aria to swallow hard.
“I… I’m sorry, Mr. Valentino,” she stammered, the words tumbling out of her trembling lips.
She was not allowed to call him by his first name. Alessandro had forbidden her from doing so, stating that only his family and friends could address him by his first name. She couldn’t.
“That’s right. I’m only Mr. Valentino to you,” he asserted coldly, his tone cutting like ice.
“Fuck, you taste so bad,” he taunted, licking his finger drenched with her wetness, his gaze was icy as he looked at her. But his words didn’t match his actions as he licked his finger clean as if it tasted so good.
Aria’s heart sank as she felt the weight of his humiliation, her eyes glistening with the sting of his insults. He thought he could arouse her by making her feel undesirable, but all it did was fuel her anger.
She wanted to push him away, to scream at him and demand why he couldn’t leave her alone and go and fuck those women he used to have in his arms during those high society parties. But she knew better than to challenge the devil himself.
She stared back into his eyes, expecting to see a grimace or hatred, but to her surprise, they remained unreadable, glaring at her without blinking, as if she were the most beautiful thing in the world.
His fingers resumed flicking her clit, and he thrust his hips fiercely, entering her once more, her slickness enveloping him easily. His lips found hers, kissing her with such hunger as if they had been apart for years. Yet, the reality was far from that; he had sex with her every night, regardless of her exhaustion or the disgust he always felt toward her.
Aria couldn’t fathom why he harbored such animosity toward her, yet couldn’t go a night without her. If she didn’t know him so well, she might have mistaken his actions for those of a man in love. But he was Alessandro Valentino, the most ruthless and cruel man in the world. He lacked the capacity to feel anything; his heart was as cold as ice.
Alessandro was never gentle, always a rough and merciless lover between the sheets. Aria was accustomed to his roughness and aggression in bed, but today she feared getting hurt as Alessandro increased his pace.
“Wait, Mr. Valentino!” she blurted out, her voice tinged with panic.
“Why? What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone laced with irritation.
“Please, be gentle tonight,” she whispered, her voice pleading.
“What’s so special tonight?” Alessandro chuckled dryly.
“I… I’m not feeling well,” Aria murmured, lowering her eyes. But Alessandro grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him.
Aria thought she saw concern in his cold blue eyes, but the next moment, it vanished, leaving her to believe it was just her imagination.
“What is this? A new trick of yours?” He narrowed his eyes on her.
Aria remained silent, refusing to respond. Growing impatient and determined to elicit a reaction from her, Alessandro threw her legs over his shoulder, entering deep and slowly rocked his hips, causing her to gasp.
“I enjoy seeing you in pain beneath me,” he admitted with a wicked smile, and that was precisely what Aria feared.
But it seemed he was not in the mood to listen to her. So she lay there like a lifeless body, letting him have his way with her. Surprisingly, Alessandro was gentle tonight, trying everything to make her climax, despite Aria’s refusal to respond. Yet her traitorous body succumbed to her husband’s seduction, and she hated it. After nearly ravishing her for two hours and cumming inside her three times, Alessandro collapsed on top of her, exhausted and sleepy.
She gently touched his shoulder and rolled him to his side on the bed as he was too heavy for her to handle.
But another worry weighed heavily on her mind. For days, she had been feeling sick and nauseous, her body betraying her in ways she couldn’t ignore. And when she missed her periods, she knew she had to face the truth.
She had taken a test this morning, the little white stick confirming her fears: she was pregnant.
A mixture of emotions flooded her—joy, fear, uncertainty. But foremost was the daunting task of telling Alessandro. He had made it abundantly clear from the very beginning that he didn’t want a child with her, and the thought of his reaction sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t recall when she forgot to take her pill and this miracle had happened.
But deep down, beneath the fear and uncertainty, a glimmer of hope flickered—the hope that maybe, just maybe, Alessandro would surprise her with understanding and acceptance and this could be a new beginning for them as well, with a new life coming to their family.
Chapter 2 Unfaithful
The next morning, Aria was woken by a knock on her door. She slowly opened her eyes but panicked when she found a heavy hand around her, holding her tightly against a hard body. She recognized the touch of her husband but was still confused as to why he held her closer when he despised her so deeply. Was he so drunk last night that he forgot his hatred for her?
She slightly shifted and carefully peeked at her sleeping husband. She was still stunned by how a man so dangerous and powerful could look so gorgeous. Her eyes drank in the sight of her mafia husband’s broad, powerful shoulders and strong, muscular, tattooed arms wrapped around her like a python.
His hard, well-sculpted chest pressed against her back, and she could still feel every groove and ridge of his eight-pack abs. His thick, muscular thighs were entangled between her legs, and his hard morning wood poked her, seducing her to succumb to the temptation.
She sighed, looking at his calm face and closed eyes. His blue, enchanting eyes were his most alluring feature. However, his broad forehead, pointed nose, full natural red lips, and sharp jawline could even defeat a Greek god.
She still remembered her wedding day when she saw him for the first time and fell in love with him instantly. But then she realized slowly she had given her heart to a heartless devil who didn’t know how to cherish her love.
Right now, she was terrified that if his sleep was disturbed, his mood would be worse than ever. After spending three years with him, she knew him very well. She understood his needs and wants without him even speaking. It wasn’t a regular habit, but a result of her selfless and unconditional love for him. She married him when she was eighteen, falling in love with him at first sight. After marrying him, she lived with the hope that one day her love and devotion would make him fall in love with her.
But slowly, her hope shattered as every day she saw photos of her husband with a new woman in his arms in every newspaper and tabloid. She realized she was living in false hope and that her wish for a happy marriage was never going to be fulfilled.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, she slowly removed his hands from her waist and carefully got up without making a noise. She was still naked, so she swiftly put on her clothes as the sound of knocking grew louder and went to open the door. The sides of the door slid apart, revealing her mother-in-law looking at her with a pitiful smile.
It was no secret how Alessandro treated his wife, and Aria was accustomed to those pitiful glances and sometimes mocking looks at her miserable status as the wife of the strongest and most powerful man in the country.
“Is Alessandro awake?” her mother-in-law, Maria, asked Aria. Maria was Alessandro’s stepmother, but she was always kind to Aria and the only person who felt empathy for her. She had managed Alessandro’s father and Alessandro after his mother ran away with her lover, betraying his father. Alessandro was fourteen years old then, and since that day, he had hated women and never trusted any except his stepmother, Maria.
“No, he is still asleep,” Aria replied softly.
“Oh dear, he will be mad if he is late for his office. Never mind, I will wake him up. You go and prepare his breakfast. You know how terrible his mood gets when he doesn’t get everything on time,” Maria suggested, holding Aria’s hand with concern. Aria nodded and quickly scurried downstairs to the kitchen to prepare Alessandro’s favorite breakfast.
Maria entered the room and closed the door behind her, a cunning grin playing on her lips as she looked at the sleeping Alessandro. She knew exactly what she had to do to spoil his day. As she slowly walked toward Alessandro’s bed, something caught her foot, causing her to look down. There, on the floor, lay the shredded panties of Aria.
Her happy mood turned sour, and she gritted her teeth in anger. Maria never wanted her stepson to have a happy married life and constantly created misunderstandings between Alessandro and Aria. Alessandro, blinded by his trust in his stepmother, believed everything she said.
With hatred, Maria kicked the shredded panties, sending them sliding under the bed. Plastering on her fake sweet smile again, she approached the bed and tenderly caressed Alessandro’s head, waiting for him to wake up.
But Alessandro slapped her hand away on instinct, making Maria yelp in pain. Alessandro opened his eyes and looked at Maria’s pained face, confusion and irritation mingling in his sleepy gaze.
“I am sorry, Mother. I didn’t know it was you,” he muttered, but his voice remained cold. He had forgotten how to speak softly. So much bitterness filled his heart that he was unable to feel love or affection.
When his mother ran away with her lover, Alessandro’s father, Antonio—who was the mafia lord of western Italy at the time—caught them and killed both his wife and her lover in front of Alessandro. A small boy’s heart couldn’t bear the trauma of witnessing his mother’s murder, unable to do anything to stop it. To shield himself, he instinctively began to believe that every woman was unfaithful and untrustworthy.
After Antonio married Maria and brought her home with her son, Alessandro was forced to call her “Mother.” Maria showed him more love than she did her own son. Slowly, young Alessandro began to believe she was his well-wisher and trusted everything she said. Even now, as a twenty-eight-year-old grown man, believing his stepmother had become a habit for him.
“Good morning, Alessandro. It’s late, and I thought to check on you. I was worried since you never sleep in so late,” Maria murmured in a concerned voice.
“I came in late last night and I don’t have a meeting until the afternoon. So, I didn’t have to go to work early. Don’t worry, I am fine,” Alessandro said, getting out of bed and pulling a T-shirt over his head.
“Oh, silly me,” Maria laughed playfully, slapping her forehead. “And I thought you would be upset because Aria spent two million on shopping yesterday,” she said in a trembling voice. It was all part of her act to get Alessandro to believe her. “Please, don’t be mad at her. She’s young and naive.”
“Why would I be mad at her for spending my money? She’s my wife and can spend as much as she wants,” Alessandro said carelessly. Maria burned with jealousy, but she put on a meek smile. It was she who spent two million on shopping using the black card Alessandro had given to his wife with an unlimited limit. Maria always used Aria’s card but blamed Aria for being a gold digger and using Alessandro’s money without care.
“Oh, Alessandro, you are such a kind husband, my son. I don’t know why Aria feels the need to flirt with other men,” she whispered slowly but loud enough for Alessandro to hear.
“What did she do?” Alessandro’s eyes burned with anger as he glared at his stepmother.
“I am sorry, I shouldn’t have blurted it out. I… I should leave,” Maria muttered, her voice trembling with worry. She began to back away, knowing what was likely to happen next. It was her everyday act.
“No, stop,” Alessandro ordered furiously. “Tell me what Aria did.”
Maria sighed, pretending to be hesitant. In a falsely dull voice, she said, “Yesterday, when we went shopping, she met a young and handsome salesman. She flirted with him. I tried to warn her, but as you know, she never listens to me.”
Alessandro didn’t wait to hear more. He stormed out of the room, his mind set on finding his wife. Burning with anger and jealousy, he needed to make Aria realize who she belonged to.
Chapter 3 Unending Lies
Aria was in a hurry to reach the kitchen and make breakfast; she didn’t want to delay and enrage Alessandro anymore.
Suddenly she felt her head spinning. She had to halt, gripping the banister. Her early pregnancy was taking its toll on her. Taking a moment to recover, she continued down to the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. They had servants, but even the servants treated her badly since her own husband didn’t care about her.
She was enduring everything for a ray of hope, and now she had a reason for living: her baby growing inside her. Though Alessandro didn’t love her, she had always loved him and still did. She believed their miracle baby was a result of her wish for true love and a happy life. Maybe after the baby was born, Alessandro would see her differently, and he would change himself for their family.
She was lost in her thoughts and cooking breakfast when a pair of arms around her waist startled her. The hot pan dropped from her hand, and she winced as the hot oil burned her soft skin, quickly turning it red. But she only cared about pushing away the dirty touch that made her nauseous.
“What the hell are you doing, Enzo? I am your sister-in-law,” she spat out with disgust as she pushed the man violently.
Enzo Valentino was Alessandro’s stepbrother, and he didn’t miss a chance to assault Aria whenever he found her alone.
“Don’t be so rude, Sister-in-law!” Enzo smirked as he stepped closer, making Aria take a step back instinctively. “My brother can’t appreciate a beautiful woman like you, but I can. Give me a chance, and I will fulfill all your desires,” he whispered, licking his lips while his dirty gaze roamed over Aria’s body, making her grimace with disgust.
“Go away, or I will scream,” she threatened, gazing at him with hatred and anger. Enzo laughed.
“And who is going to believe you?!”
She shrieked with fear as Enzo lunged at her, trapping her between the kitchen island and his body, trying to kiss her forcefully. Aria pushed him, thrashing her body and trying to hit him, but he didn’t budge. Her eyes widened as he grabbed her hair to steady her face. But a deep voice made him step back with extreme fear.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
“A…Alessandro!” Enzo stammered with fear as Aria swiftly ran to hide herself behind Alessandro, seeking shelter in his huge, powerful form.
“I warned Sister-in-law to stop this, but she seemed to be out of her mind and tried to seduce me,” Enzo said with a sad expression.
What?!
“He’s lying!” Aria protested, her voice rising with indignation.
“Why would I lie and why would I betray my brother?” Enzo retorted fiercely.
Stepbrother. She corrected silently in her mind.
She yearned to slap hard the face of the liar before her. But before she could act, Alessandro grabbed her hand roughly, his grip unyielding as he forced her to face him.
She wanted to tell him that Enzo was a black sheep and leeching off Alessandro for his money, but he was so blinded by hatred for his own wife that he couldn’t see it. However, when she saw Alessandro’s eyes burning with fury as he glared at her, Aria’s words died in her throat. He harshly grabbed her hand and dragged her to their bedroom, throwing her onto the bed.
“Was I not enough to satisfy you last night that you seek my stepbrother to quench your lust?” he gritted his teeth as he locked the room. “Such a whore you are! Always looking for more men to fuck your slutty pussy.”
Aria’s heart shattered into pieces hearing those words from her husband. He was the only man, first and last, who had ever touched her. And she didn’t want any other man to ever touch her. Never wanted any other man. She loved her husband and was always loyal.
“No, Mr. Valentino. I didn’t…” she tried to explain, but a loud growl stopped her, “Shut the fuck up, you slut. Never answer me back!”
Her husband was so blinded by jealousy that he believed everyone but her. Alessandro swiftly pushed his pants down, and Aria knew what was coming next. Her husband was going to punish her in the worst way. She closed her eyes and let tears roll down as her husband used her body as he pleased.
Her heart cried, her soul wept, asking God silently when it would end.
____________________
Maria was happy as she stood in the corridor and watched the drama unfold before her when Alessandro shouted at Aria and dragged her to their room. She knew he was going to punish his wife for something she never did. A wicked smile stretched on her lips as she descended down the stairs, but her smile disappeared as she found her son standing in the kitchen. She had seen everything and was so scared to think Alessandro would kill Enzo, but blinded by anger and jealousy, Alessandro didn’t see anything but all Maria and Enzo wanted him to see.
“What were you going to do, Enzo?” Maria scolded her son. “If you want that slut, seduce her alone and fuck her, but stay away from trouble with Alessandro. He is ruthless and will not hesitate to kill you,” she offered a word of advice to her son.
“Don’t worry, madre. I am too smart to be caught into trouble,” Enzo boasted and both mother and son shared a cunning grin.
Enzo was Maria and Antonio’s son from their extramarital affair. Antonio’s wife, Teresa, ran away because Maria wanted to kill her, and then Maria fabricated a story to make it appear as if Teresa had cheated on Antonio and fled with her lover. Out of rage, Antonio killed Teresa and then married Maria. Enzo was only a few months younger than Alessandro, but he didn’t inherit anything from the fortune because Alessandro was the legal heir of the empire.
However, if Alessandro was unable to produce an heir by the age of thirty, Enzo could claim his right and take over the mafia and the entire Valentino empire. With misunderstandings brewing between Alessandro and Aria, the chances were high that either he would never have a child with her or he might kill her, for the greater good.
Chapter 4 Complicated Emotions
Maria knocked softly on the door, and a moment later, Aria opened it. Her eyes were downcast, and her shoulders slumped. Maria gave her a pitiful look and whispered, “I’m sorry, dear. I was helpless.”
Aria’s heart ached, but she knew no one could have saved her from her husband’s fury. She didn’t reply, her lips pressed into a thin line as she turned away and walked back to her chores. Her hands moved methodically as she stripped the bed sheets, her fingers trembling slightly, and replaced them with fresh ones. The bed had to be perfect, just as Alessandro liked it.
From the bathroom, the sound of the shower running was a constant reminder of his presence. Aria moved with purpose, smoothing the new sheets and fluffing the pillows, trying to keep her mind focused on the task.
“Is he in the shower?” Maria asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. Aria nodded without looking up, her movements mechanical.
Before Maria could say more, the bathroom door swung open, and Alessandro stepped out, a cloud of steam billowing around him. He wore a fluffy white robe, cinched tightly at his waist, his wet hair slicked back. He paused in the doorway, his eyes cold as they swept over Maria briefly before settling on Aria, who continued her work, not paying attention to her cruel mafia husband. Alessandro silently strode toward the walk-in closet to get ready for work.
Maria felt a surge of happiness as she watched the cold exchange between the husband and wife. Her plan seemed to be succeeding perfectly. But then, Aria jerked her head as her hair fell across her face, bothering her. As she unintentionally swept her hair to the side, it revealed love bites all over her neck and chin, and even on her cheek near her lips—marks Alessandro had left while punishing her in a loving way.
Maria gritted her teeth in rage. She couldn’t understand why, despite all her efforts to turn Alessandro against his wife, he still chose to be intimate with her. Maria had tried everything to break their marriage. She sent hot supermodels and famous actresses to seduce Alessandro, hoping he would fall into their traps.
But Alessandro remained cold and indifferent to all the advances. Every night after the party, he would go home, having only taken pictures with those gorgeous women in his arms for the paparazzi. None of them could appeal to him enough to make him stay with them for the night. Instead, Alessandro just wanted the party to end so he could rush home to his wife.
Maria snorted at the thought that Alessandro might prefer seeing his wife cry in pain beneath him rather than hearing the other woman scream his name in pleasure.
She had no idea that Alessandro had never made love to his wife while she was in tears. Despite Aria’s reluctance to be intimate, Alessandro would seduce her, bringing her so much pleasure that her cries turned into moans of delight. Yet, the harsh language he used to conceal his true feelings inflicted deeper wounds. But this was the way he had always been, learning from a young age to hide his feelings and make others bend to his will.
Alessandro never laid a hand on Aria in violence, but his words were sharp enough to cut her soul. Each cruel remark chipped away at her spirit, breaking her a little more every day. Aria’s tender heart and sensitive mind suffered under the weight of his relentless emotional torment. She became convinced that her heartless husband took pleasure in her pain, believing he only cared about torturing her and watching her cry.
Aria’s stomach churned suddenly, and she felt a wave of nausea wash over her. Clutching her hand over her mouth, she stumbled hastily towards the bathroom, her steps hurried and unsteady. Maria sensed something amiss and followed closely behind.
Inside the bathroom, Aria doubled over, her body racked with heaves as she emptied the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl. Maria stood at the doorway, her brow furrowed as she watched Aria’s distress. Suspicion flickered in her eyes with a hint of distaste arose in her mouth.
After what felt like an eternity, Aria finally managed to rinse her mouth clean and emerged from the bathroom, her face pale and drawn. She made a feeble attempt to leave the room, intending to proceed with her morning chores. She needed to set breakfast on the dining table for Alessandro before he emerged, ready for work. He demanded everything to be ready on time.
But before she could leave the room, Maria’s sharp voice halted her in her tracks.
“Oh my God, Aria! Are you pregnant?” she exclaimed, her tone laced with forced excitement as she plastered a fake smile onto her face.
Alessandro swiftly emerged from the walk-in closet, his shirt half-buttoned and tie hanging loosely around his neck. His eyes shifted toward his wife, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.
Aria swallowed hard, her head spinning and her heart sinking with fear as her innocent doe eyes locked onto her devil mafia husband.
“Oh, Alessandro,” Maria continued, her voice dripping with insincerity as she reached out to grasp her stepson’s hand, feigning joy. “I am so happy! Finally, after three years of marriage, I am going to be a grandmother.”
“Wait, what did you just say?” Alessandro’s eyes narrowed into thin slits, his voice taking on a dangerous edge that could send shivers down anyone’s spine.
Maria, sensing his rising anger, trembled with fear and instinctively took a step back, putting some distance between herself and her stepson.
Alessandro’s gaze then turned sharply to his wife, Aria, and he gritted his teeth in disbelief. “Aria is pregnant?!”
His furrowed brow sent shivers down Aria’s spine, instantly drenching her in a cold sweat as she froze in place. Alessandro took measured steps toward her, his presence looming over her.
“Is it possible for you to carry my child, sweetheart?” Alessandro’s voice was low and gentle, but beneath the softness, Aria could detect the warning, the impending storm. His seemingly tender tone held more cruelty than his harshest words, signaling that hell was about to break loose. Without a second thought, Aria instinctively shook her head, a defensive action to protect herself from her husband’s wrath.
Chapter 5 His Girlfriend
“In your words, wife,” he ordered, a cold smirk playing on his lips, his tone dripping with menace.
“N..no!” Aria managed to stammer out the words, her voice trembling with fear.
“That’s right, and that’s the only answer I expect from you,” Alessandro drawled, his gaze piercing.
Then, Maria, with a look of disdain flickering across her face, muttered, “Then whose child is this?” She quickly masked her expression with false concern. “I… I didn’t mean to say that.”
But those words were enough to ignite a storm of anger, jealousy, and hatred in Alessandro’s mind. Swiftly, he grabbed his wife’s face between his fingers and thumb, exerting so much pressure that Aria feared her face might crack in two. His eyes bore into hers, a silent warning hanging in the air.
“If I find out you’re carrying another man’s child,” he whispered dangerously, his voice a venomous hiss, “I won’t hesitate to kill you and that bastard baby.”
Aria’s heart plummeted into the pit of her stomach. No matter what she said, she knew her husband wouldn’t believe her. So, she remained silent, the weight of her secret pressing down on her. Alessandro grew weary of staring at her terrified face and glistening eyes. With a slight push, he turned away, grabbing his suit jacket and briefcase. He left for work without stopping at the breakfast table.
As the door clicked shut behind him, Aria’s shoulders sagged in relief, but only momentarily. The looming dread returned as she realized she could only exhale freely until Alessandro discovered her pregnancy. She prayed for a miracle or a helping hand to make him see the truth, to realize that the life growing inside her was his own flesh and blood.
________________
In the dimming evening light, Aria wearily completed her household chores, her mind already drifting towards the impending task of preparing dinner. As she bustled about the kitchen, her movements slow with fatigue, Maria sauntered over, a sneer playing on her lips as she observed Aria’s tired form, knowing full well the secret that lay hidden beneath her weary facade.
Aria’s pregnancy, concealed with careful lies, had not escaped Maria’s notice. She had stumbled upon the telltale pregnancy test stick in the refuse bin, a revelation that had ignited a simmering fury within her. Yet, outwardly, Maria maintained a facade of composure.
“Aria, dear,” Maria began, her voice laced with false sympathy, “We’re all heading out to the party soon. I hate to leave you alone like this, but you know how moody Alessandro can be. He’ll be terribly upset if we don’t obey his command to attend.” Maria’s words were laced with pity, though her true emotions lay elsewhere.
“And you won’t believe the reason for this party,” Maria continued, her voice laced with bitterness. “It’s all for Vanessa, Alessandro’s precious girlfriend, returning after three years . She’s been away, pursuing her dreams of acting and modeling.”
Aria’s throat tightened at the mention of Alessandro’s beloved.
“Take care,” Maria said, squeezing Aria’s hand in empathy before departing.
Left alone in the vast mansion, Aria’s appetite waned at the thought of Alessandro celebrating his girlfriend’s return. She set aside dinner for the servants before retreating to her room, seeking solace in early rest. As she settled, her phone chimed with a notification. Opening it, she was greeted by a viral news article featuring a picture of Alessandro and Vanessa locked in a passionate kiss. They appeared so happy, so perfect together, and Aria’s heart shattered into countless pieces. Tears welled in her eyes as her hands circled around her stomach instinctively, thinking about her unborn baby. It became painfully clear that Alessandro’s acceptance of her baby was uncertain. With Vanessa’s return, Aria’s last hope for a happy married life with Alessandro evaporated. She resigned herself to the reality that she could never be the woman Alessandro would truly love.
Suddenly, the electricity went out, plunging the entire mansion into darkness. Aria quickly lit up her phone, its dim light casting eerie shadows around her. She walked down the hall and tried calling the servants and guards, but no one responded. Panic began to rise within her when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps—many footsteps—entering the house. Flashing her phone’s light toward the noise, she caught sight of several masked figures in black clothing, armed with knives and guns, clearly up to no good.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly turned off her phone’s light and began to run, relying on her intimate knowledge of the mansion. Having lived and worked there for so long, she knew every corner by heart. She silently navigated through the dark, hiding behind the kitchen counter, and waited, her breath shallow and quiet.
The intruders scattered through the house, their voices echoing ominously.
“Come out, come out, wherever you are,” one of them taunted, their tone chilling.
Suddenly, she heard one of them speak with urgency, “We have to find that bitch and kill her right now, or the Boss will kill us.”
Boss!
The name clicked in her mind. There was no denying it; she knew who it had to be. Who else could be the boss but Alessandro Valentino? The realization hit her like a punch to the gut. Her own husband wanted her dead.
The weight of the betrayal was almost unbearable, but she knew she had to survive—for her baby.
With a renewed sense of determination, Aria decided to stay hidden inside a kitchen cabinet, holding her breath as she listened to the intruders search the mansion. They were rummaging through rooms, their voices growing more frustrated with each passing moment. She waited, heart pounding, until she sensed they had moved further away.
Seizing the opportunity, Aria quietly opened the cabinet door and slipped out of the kitchen. She moved stealthily through the darkened halls, her knowledge of the mansion guiding her steps. When she reached the front door, she peeked outside, ensuring the coast was clear.
As she stepped out of the house, a chilling realization struck her, confirming her doubts: Alessandro had orchestrated this so well. He had instructed the servants and guards to leave her alone in the mansion, making it easy for his men to intrude into the mansion and kill her. Tears streamed down her face, but she wiped them away, focusing on her escape. For the first time in her life, it seemed that fate wanted her to live.
Determined and resolute, Aria left everything behind—the house, her husband, her old life. Aria sold her wedding ring, a symbol of her broken marriage, which was worth ten million dollars. With the money, she bought a plane ticket to New York, planning to start a new life where no one could find her or her baby.
“Don’t worry, baby. Your dad doesn’t want you and me, but I will always love you and protect you,” Aria said, caressing her belly as she talked to the baby inside. Tears of betrayal and heartbreak rolled down her cheeks, but she quickly wiped them away with firm determination.
As she boarded the flight, she took a final look behind her.
“Goodbye, Alessandro Valentino,” she whispered to herself. “Now you are free to live as you want.”
