Chapter 3 THE WEIGHT OF SECRETS

The days blended into each other, and Marissa couldn't escape the gnawing feeling that her past was still chasing her. Even in the quiet solitude of her apartment, it loomed over her like a dark cloud, threatening to break at any moment. Every time she thought she could relax, every time she thought maybe she had outrun it, something happened to remind her that she hadn't-she couldn't.

Her neighbor, Caleb, had been coming by more often. He was kind, patient, and genuinely concerned about her. But the longer she spent with him, the harder it became to keep up the

walls she had built around herself. The guilt of lying to him gnawed at her constantly. He trusted her, and she couldn't shake the feeling that if he knew the truth-if he knew who she was, what she was running from-he would never look at her the same way again.

Marissa woke up on a crisp morning in early autumn, the cool breeze slipping through the slightly cracked window, bringing with it a sense of calm she hadn't felt in weeks. It was a small comfort, but she took it. The apartment was silent, save for the hum of the refrigerator and the distant noise of city life.

The baby kicked, a soft flutter against her ribs. She pressed her hand against her stomach, taking a slow, deep breath. She had no idea how she was going to raise this child. She had no idea how she could give it the life it deserved, one free from the violence and fear that had defined her own.

But she wasn't going back. No matter what.

She stood up from the bed, stretching her stiff muscles, and walked over to the small kitchen. The cupboards were nearly empty, but she hadn't had the energy or the motivation to go grocery shopping in days. Caleb had been thoughtful enough to bring her food, but it was all too fresh, too normal. She wasn't used to being normal.

There was a knock at the door.

Her breath hitched in her chest, and her body froze in place, her hand still on the counter. It wasn't the usual knock she'd grown accustomed to-the polite, soft tap that Caleb would give when he brought her something. No, this was firm, deliberate, and there was a certain weight to it that made her heart race in her chest.

It was a knock that made her blood run cold.

Her stomach twisted, her pulse quickening as fear rippled through her.

She didn't move immediately. She couldn't. She wasn't ready to face whoever stood on the other side.

Then she heard it again-louder, more forceful this time. The weight of it almost made her stumble.

She didn't have a choice.

She approached the door cautiously, her footsteps heavy against the creaky floorboards. Her hand hovered over the doorknob for a moment, the chill of the metal sending a shiver up her spine. She didn't know who was on the other side, but she knew that opening the door could change everything.

With a shaky breath, she twisted the knob and pulled the door open.

Standing there, on the other side, was a man she never thought she would see again.

It was him.

Alessandro DeLuca.

The man who had owned her.

The mafia boss she had escaped from.

His presence in the doorway was like a physical force-an overwhelming, suffocating energy that made the air seem thin. He was dressed in his usual dark, tailored suit, his face unreadable, a cold, almost menacing glint in his dark eyes. His jaw was clenched, his expression hard and unforgiving.

Her body went rigid, the fear hitting her in waves, but she refused to show it. She couldn't. Not in front of him. Not after everything she had done to escape him.

"What do you want?" Her voice came out sharp, stronger than she felt.

His eyes softened, but only slightly. "I think you know why I'm here, Marissa."

She couldn't let him in. She couldn't let him into her life, not now, not after everything she had fought for.

"Stay away from me," she said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound confident. "I'm not yours anymore."

He took a step forward, his gaze never leaving hers. "That's where you're wrong," he said, his voice low, dangerous. "You think you can just walk away from me? You think you can steal from me and disappear without any consequences?"

Marissa's breath caught in her throat. "I didn't steal from you," she spat. "I took what was mine."

The words hung heavy in the air between them.

"You were never mine," she added, the bitterness in her voice sharper than she intended.

Alessandro's lips twitched upward, but it wasn't a smile. It was a dark, calculating smirk. "You're still mine, Marissa. You always will be."

Her heart hammered in her chest. The walls she'd built over the past few months, the false sense of security she had tried so hard to create, were crumbling before her. He was here. In her life, again.

"I'm pregnant," she blurted out, the words escaping before she could stop them. The confession felt like a weight lifting from her chest, but she instantly regretted it. The moment it left her lips, she knew it was a mistake.

Alessandro's expression softened, just a fraction, but his eyes darkened with something she couldn't quite place. Something cold.

"You're pregnant?" His voice was calm. "Is it mine?"

Her heart raced as she took a step back, away from him. "I don't owe you any answers."

He didn't move, his gaze never leaving her. "You took something that belonged to me, Marissa. And now you're going to give me what's mine."

"You're not taking anything from me," she said firmly, trying to steady her trembling hands. "Not my child. Not anything."

His eyes glinted with something dark. "We'll see about that."

The sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, and Marissa's heart skipped a beat.

Alessandro looked past her, toward the hallway behind her, and his lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"Looks like you've found someone else," he said, his voice almost taunting.

Her stomach sank. She turned her head slowly to see Caleb walking toward her, his face furrowed in confusion. He had clearly heard the exchange. The tension in the room was palpable. His gaze darted between her and Alessandro, his posture stiffening as he took in the situation.

"Who is this?" Caleb asked, his voice calm but firm, though Marissa could see the unease in his eyes.

"This is a... business associate," she said quickly, her voice a little too high-pitched.

Alessandro's smirk widened as he eyed Caleb up and down. "Business associate? Is that what you call me now, Marissa?" He chuckled darkly. "I thought you were smarter than this."

Caleb's brows furrowed, and he glanced back at Marissa. His eyes were filled with questions, but Marissa couldn't answer them. Not now.

"Leave," she said, her voice low but steady. "You don't have a place here anymore."

Alessandro's gaze flicked back to her, and for a moment, she thought he might do something-something violent, something unforgivable. But then, his expression shifted, and he simply gave a small, dismissive nod.

"You're still mine, Marissa," he said, his voice carrying a dark promise. "Don't forget that."

Without another word, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing down the hall as he disappeared into the elevator.

Marissa's legs nearly gave way beneath her as the door clicked shut behind him. She leaned against it, her breath coming in shallow gasps.

Caleb was standing there, his arms crossed over his chest, his face a mask of confusion and concern.

"Marissa," he said softly. "What was that about?"

She didn't answer him right away. How could she? How could she explain any of this to him?

"You need to leave," she said finally, her voice hoarse. "Please."

"Marissa-"

"Please," she repeated, her voice breaking. "Just go."

Caleb hesitated, his eyes searching hers for answers. But there were no answers. There was nothing left to say.

Finally, with a deep sigh, he turned and walked out, leaving her standing there in the silence of her apartment, the weight of her secrets heavier than ever.

Alessandro had found her. And now, the game has truly begun