Chapter 4 4

The weight of the night's expectations had settled heavily on

her shoulders, and the momentary quiet felt like a balm, a fragile refuge amidst the storm of scrutiny and hostility.

She closed her eyes, just for a second, trying to summon the strength to face the rest of the night. But the sound of approaching footsteps interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up, her gaze meeting Alessandro's dark, unyielding eyes.

"You seem to be enjoying yourself," he said, his voice low and edged with something that felt almost like resentment.

Her lips tightened. "I'm doing what you asked, Alessandro. Smiling. Playing the role of the obedient wife."

"Is that what you think I asked?" His tone was mocking, but beneath it, she sensed a darker undercurrent, something sharp and unpredictable.

She took a breath, steadying herself. "What would you prefer, Alessandro? For me to sit in the corner and disappear?"

His gaze narrowed, and he stepped closer, his hand catching her wrist in a grip that was just shy of painful. "I would prefer you to remember why you're here."

She felt a surge of defiance, a flicker of anger that burned away some of the fear. "To serve your needs. I haven't forgotten."

He leaned in, his voice a low growl. "Then stop playing games."

She swallowed, her pulse quickening as his grip tightened. The anger in his eyes was unnerving, a stark reminder of the power he held over her. And yet, she couldn't bring herself to back down. "If anyone's playing games here, Alessandro, it's you."

For a moment, he simply stared at her, his gaze a turbulent storm of emotions she couldn't decipher. Then, with a sharp exhale, he released her wrist, stepping back and running a hand through his hair in frustration. She could see the tension in his posture, the way his jaw clenched as he looked at her.

"You don't understand anything about this world," he said finally, his voice tight. "About what's at stake."

"Maybe because you refuse to tell me anything," she shot back, struggling to keep her voice steady. "You keep me in the dark, expecting obedience without question. But I'm not a puppet, Alessandro."

He laughed, a sound devoid of humor. "Oh, trust me, I know. You've made that clear enough."

"Then stop treating me like one." She was breathing hard, her heart pounding as she stared him down, the intensity of her own defiance catching her off guard.

Alessandro's expression softened for a fraction of a second, something almost like surprise flashing in his eyes. But it vanished as quickly as it had appeared, replaced by the cold mask she'd come to know so well.

"You don't know what you're asking, Emilia," he said, his tone almost weary.

"Then tell me," she whispered, her voice barely more than a plea. "Let me understand."

He held her gaze for a long, tense moment, as if weighing her words, considering something she couldn't begin to guess at. But then he shook his head, his expression hardening once more.

"No," he said simply, his voice flat. "This isn't a story for you to understand. You're here to play a role, nothing more."

The words cut deep, colder and sharper than she'd expected. She took a shaky breath, fighting back the sting of tears that threatened to rise. "Then let me play it."

For a moment, he looked as if he might say something, his gaze softening ever so slightly. But then he turned on his heel, walking away without another word, leaving her standing alone in the shadowed corner of the ballroom, the echoes of their confrontation lingering like a bitter aftertaste.

She watched him go, her heart sinking with a mixture of anger and despair. Every time she thought she saw a glimmer of something human in him, he retreated behind his walls, leaving her grasping at shadows.

With a sigh, she drained her glass of champagne, her resolve hardening. If he was determined to keep her in the dark, then she would find her own way to survive in his world, on her own terms.

But as she watched Alessandro slip into a group of guests, his gaze flickering briefly toward Vanessa, who returned his look with a smirk, a dark realization settled over her. If she wasn't careful, this world would consume her, piece by piece, until there was nothing left of the person she'd once been.