Chapter 4 A Caged Wife

The lock clicked shut behind her.

Alina stood frozen in the center of the dimly lit bedroom, listening as Dante's footsteps disappeared down the hallway.

She was trapped.

Her wedding night was supposed to be filled with whispers of love, with warm touches, with promises of forever. But instead, she was here-locked away like a prisoner in the home of a man who hated her.

Taking a slow, shaky breath, she turned to examine the room. It was massive, elegant, and cold. Dark furniture. A king-sized bed covered in pristine white sheets. Heavy curtains blocked out the world outside, making the space feel even more suffocating.

Alina rushed to the door, jiggling the handle.

Locked.

Of course it was.

Frustration burned in her chest. She wasn't naive-she had known this marriage would be cruel, that Dante would punish her for a crime she didn't commit. But locking her up like a caged animal?

Tears pricked at her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. She had already given up her freedom-she wouldn't give him her tears, too.

Instead, she turned and scanned the room, looking for anything-anything-that could help her escape. But it was hopeless. The windows were bolted shut, the walls too high.

She was well and truly trapped.

A knock at the door startled her.

Alina stiffened. "Hello?"

The lock turned, and the heavy door creaked open. A woman entered-tall, elegant, with sleek dark hair pulled into a bun. Her sharp brown eyes swept over Alina with quiet calculation.

"You must be the new bride," the woman said smoothly.

Alina swallowed. "Who are you?"

"My name is Lucia. I run the Valenti estate," she said, stepping inside. "And I'm here to make sure you don't do anything... foolish."

Alina clenched her fists. "Like what?"

Lucia gave her a knowing look. "Like trying to escape."

Alina's stomach twisted. "Am I a prisoner?"

Lucia tilted her head. "You're Dante's wife. And Dante always gets what he wants."

The words sent a chill through her.

Lucia stepped closer, handing Alina a silk nightgown. "You should get some rest. Tomorrow, you begin learning how to be the perfect wife for a man like Dante."

Alina's jaw tightened. "And if I refuse?"

Lucia smiled, but it wasn't warm. It was warning. "Then life will be much harder for you."

With that, she turned and left, locking the door behind her once more.

Alina stood in the eerie silence of the room, gripping the nightgown in her hands.

She had lost everything. Her freedom. Her choices. Her future.

But she wouldn't lose herself.

No matter what Dante Valenti did to her-she would not break.