Chapter 7 Unwanted guest

Elena's world froze.

Her breath hitched as she stared at the woman standing in the grand hall of the Russo mansion. Victoria. Her sister. The one person she never thought she'd see again.

For a moment, she wondered if she was imagining things. Maybe her mind, already battered and exhausted from everything, was playing tricks on her. But no-the smug smirk on Victoria's lips, the sharp glint of amusement in her eyes, and the way she tilted her head in feigned surprise were all real.

"Oh, my dear baby sister," Victoria said, her voice dripping with saccharine sweetness. "I've missed you so much."

Elena didn't respond. She couldn't. Her heart pounded against her ribs, her stomach twisted in knots.

What was she doing here?

Dante, who had been watching from a distance, subtly clenched his jaw. He wasn't stupid. The tension radiating off Elena was impossible to miss, and the way Victoria's lips curled ever so slightly-it was like she enjoyed seeing Elena uncomfortable.

Elena finally found her voice, though it was barely a whisper. "What... are you doing here?"

Victoria let out a light laugh, brushing past her as if they were old friends reuniting after years of separation. "Is that any way to welcome your big sister?" She pouted dramatically before sighing. "Well, I suppose I should tell you. I'm here because I was invited."

Elena blinked, confused. Invited?

And then, as if on cue, another voice filled the room.

"Oh, Victoria, my dear," Valeria's voice was warm and welcoming, far too welcoming. "I was wondering when you'd arrive."

Elena felt the blood drain from her face as she turned to see Valeria walking in with a pleased smile.

"Mrs. Russo," Victoria greeted, her tone suddenly softer, sweeter, as if she had been the perfect guest all along.

"None of that, dear. Call me Valeria," the woman said, reaching forward to embrace Victoria as though they were family.

Elena's fingers dug into her palms.

Valeria pulled away and placed a hand on Victoria's arm. "Come, you must be tired from your trip. Let me show you around the mansion personally. You'll love it here."

Elena wanted to scream.

Just like that, Victoria was being welcomed into the very place she had been forced into like a prisoner. Treated as a guest. Given a choice, a luxury Elena had never had.

Victoria turned her gaze back to Elena, and this time, her smirk widened. She had won this round, and she knew it.

Before leaving, Valeria turned to a nearby maid. "Take Miss Victoria's bags to the room beside Dante's."

Elena barely held back a gasp. Beside Dante's?

Dante's head snapped up slightly at that. His mother hadn't even asked him if he was okay with it. Not that she ever did.

"I'll see you later, Elena," Victoria said with a sickeningly sweet wave before following Valeria.

Elena was left standing there, numb.

Dante's gaze flickered toward her briefly. Their eyes met for a split second before he turned away and left the hall without a word.

Later That Afternoon – The Indoor Pool

The water shimmered under the golden glow of the late afternoon sun, yet Elena felt none of its warmth. She sat by the pool, knees pulled to her chest, staring at her reflection in the water. The girl staring back at her looked... lost.

Trapped.

"I shouldn't be here," she murmured under her breath.

A soft sigh came from behind her.

"You look like someone with a lot on her mind," a gentle voice said.

Elena turned slightly to see Alessia standing there, her usual calm expression in place. The maid walked over and sat down beside her, dipping her fingers into the water.

"Want to talk about it?"

Elena hesitated.

Alessia had been the only person in this wretched house who had shown her even an ounce of kindness. But Elena didn't know if she could trust her, not fully.

She exhaled slowly. "It's nothing."

Alessia hummed. "If it's nothing, then why do you look like you're about to cry?"

Elena swallowed hard. She didn't answer.

They sat in silence for a moment before Alessia finally spoke again. "Just so you know... you're not as alone as you think you are."

Elena turned to look at her, eyes searching.

Before she could ask what she meant, the sound of heels clicking against the marble floor interrupted them.

"Elena."

She tensed at the voice.

Victoria.

In The Evening – The Dining Hall

The grand dining hall of the Russo estate was filled with a tense silence, the kind that made every second feel heavier than the last. The chandeliers above cast a warm golden glow over the long dining table, but the atmosphere was anything but welcoming. Elena sat stiffly in her chair, her hands trembling slightly in her lap as she tried to keep her breathing steady. Across from her, Valeria sipped her wine with slow, deliberate movements, her piercing gaze never leaving Elena.

The long dining table was filled with exquisite dishes, but Elena had no appetite. Next to Valeria, sat Victoria, with a victorious smile, basking in the attention Valeria was showering her with.

"You are such a well-mannered young woman," Valeria praised. "Dante needs a woman like you by his side."

Elena tightened her grip on her fork.

Victoria giggled, glancing at Dante, who sat silently at the chair beside his mother, sipping his wine. He hadn't said a word throughout dinner, though his eyes had darkened ever so slightly at his mother's words.

"Oh, I would love that," Victoria responded sweetly. "After all, Dante and I are already family. It only makes sense."

Elena's stomach churned.

Lorenzo, seated at the head of the table, radiated quiet authority, the subtle smirk on his lips betraying his enjoyment of the discomfort filling the room. Victoria on the other hand looked smug, her perfect posture exuding confidence, as if she had already won a battle Elena hadn't even realized she was fighting.

Dante, however, was the only one who remained unreadable. He leaned back in his chair, arms crossed over his chest, his jaw tight as he observed the exchange with calculating eyes.

"Elena," Valeria spoke, her voice smooth and dripping with mock concern. "I hope you're adjusting well to your new home."

Elena swallowed hard, forcing herself to nod. "I-I'm fine."

Valeria let out a soft hum, setting down her wine glass with a quiet clink. "That's good to hear. Though I can't imagine it's easy for someone like you... being in a place like this."

Elena frowned slightly. "Someone like me?"

"Oh, you know," Valeria said, feigning innocence. "A girl with such a... questionable life. It must be hard living under the same roof as the man whose life you've turned upside down."

Elena's fingers curled into fists beneath the table. She knew exactly what Valeria was doing-planting seeds of doubt, trying to make her feel like she didn't belong. She wondered what kind of lies her sister had fed Valeria with.

Before Elena could respond, Lorenzo chuckled. "She should be grateful, Valeria. After all, not many women get the privilege of being under my roof."

Dante's grip on his glass tightened.

Elena's stomach churned. Lorenzo's words were a reminder of her reality-she wasn't here by choice. She was here because she had been sold, handed over like a piece of property.

"And what about Dante?" Victoria suddenly chimed in, her voice laced with amusement. "He's been awfully quiet tonight."

Dante's gaze flickered to her for a second, his expression unreadable. "I don't have anything to say."

Victoria pouted dramatically. "That's a shame. I was hoping you'd say something about how fascinating our little Elena is."

Elena felt the weight of everyone's stares. She wanted to disappear.

Lorenzo chuckled, his tone taunting. "I've noticed it too. My son seems to have a certain... interest in our new little guest."

Dante's jaw ticked, but he remained composed. "I don't mix business with personal matters."

Lorenzo smirked, clearly entertained by his son's restraint. "We'll see how long that lasts."

The tension in the room was suffocating.

Elena tried to focus on her food, but every bite tasted like nothing. She knew Lorenzo was testing Dante-provoking him to see if he would break.

Elena kept her head down, trying to block out everything.

But then, Victoria decided to drop a bombshell.

Victoria's smirk widened as she leaned back in her chair, swirling her wine glass with deliberate ease. Then, in a voice coated with false sympathy, she delivered the fatal blow:

"You do know, don't you? That they never planned to bring you back?"

The air in the room shifted.

Elena's grip on her fork loosened, her vision blurring for a moment. The faint clinking of silverware against plates ceased. Even Valeria, who had been basking in Victoria's presence all night, froze in place.

Lorenzo raised an amused brow, the corners of his lips twitching as if suppressing a grin.

Dante's fingers twitched where they rested on the table, his entire body stiffening.

Silence.

Suffocating.

Heavy.

Unbearable.

Elena's heart slammed against her ribcage as she forced herself to meet Victoria's gaze.

Her sister's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

And then-