Chapter 7 The Rulebook

After I sign the contract, Dante smiles sweetly at me and calls for a button man to escort me back to the first bedroom, which would now officially become my room and unofficially my prison cell. As we reach the bedroom door, he halts and pulls a key out of his pocket.

"The Don said I should hand this over to you." He says, his face straight. I keep my face blank and collect the key, putting it in the key cylinder behind the door and then I shut the door in his face. My heart beats fast, not with fear but with restrained anger and bitterness. Dante giving me the key was his way of saying : "You're free to run, but don't bother because I'll catch you anyways'. I grit my teeth as this realization hits me. For all I know, I am not my father and why should I even suffer for the bullshit he did when he was alive? Did I tell him to be a mobster who borrowed ridiculously high amounts of money for trivial things like alcohol and women and leave me, my mother and siblings in poverty and debt?

Numerous thoughts of anger and blinding hatred swirled around in my brain and I had to take another drink of water to calm down, and I lay down on the bed. I didn't know when I had fallen asleep until I felt warm sun rays against my face as a figure opened the curtains.

I sat up, immediately alert and rubbed my eyes quickly. It was a young woman, dressed in a crisp black and white maid's uniform, her brown hair tied back into a tight bun. She held a silver tray in her hands, full of breakfast items-a bowl of fresh cut fruit, croissants and a steaming cup of coffee. But what stood out most was the thick stack of papers placed neatly beside the meal.

She bowed slightly. "Good morning, signora. The Don requests that you go through these as soon as possible."

I stared at the papers, then back at her. "Huh?" My voice was hoarse from sleep, but my annoyance was still visible in my voice.

The maid didn't flinch. "Your rules, signora. Written and approved by Don Valenti himself."

Rules.

Of course, he would give me rules. I shouldn't have expected anything less from a controlling, overbearing bastard like him.

I sighed and snatched the stack of papers off the tray, flipping through the first few pages. The length of it was absolutely ridiculous and unnecessary. It was literally a goddamn booklet.

I skimmed through the first few lines:

You will wake up at exactly 7 AM every morning. If I find you in bed past this time, I will personally wake you up, and I promise you won't enjoy my method.

You are to remain within the estate grounds unless accompanied by me or someone I authorize. Should you attempt to leave without permission, you will be escorted back-whether conscious or not.

You are forbidden from addressing me by my first name in private or public. I am either 'Don Valenti' or 'my husband.' Slip-ups will most definately cost you.

You will accompany me to every formal event as my wife and behave accordingly. If you embarrass me, I will return the favor tenfold with glee.

I scoffed, flipping to another page.

6.You are not permitted to speak to any man in this household unless necessary. If any of them speak to you first, you are to report it to me immediately.

7.If I give you a gift, you will wear it or use it. If I notice you avoiding it, I will make sure you regret it.

8.You are forbidden from locking any doors inside this house, except for the bathroom. If I find a locked door, I will break it down, and you will not enjoy what happens next.

My jaw clenched. My fingers tightened around the pages as a burning rage ignited deep in my stomach. The urge to tear this nonesense stack of papers filled my thoughts, but I held back and decided to continue reading.

15. You will sleep in the bedroom assigned to you. My room is off-limits.

16.if you wish to make a request, you must write it on parchment, seal it with the wax stamp in your room, and leave it on the silver tray outside my office before sundown. Speaking your requests aloud is not permitted.

17.. Your marriage to me is a business arrangement. Do not mistake it for anything else.

I continued reading to see if this gets any worse.

45.The last rule will remain unwritten. You will know it when the time comes.

I threw the booklet onto the bed and pushed the tray away, barely stopping myself from sending the entire thing crashing onto the floor.

The maid took a cautious step back. "Signora-"

But I was already up, my blood boiling as I stormed toward the door. My bare feet slapped against the cold marble floors as I yanked the door open and marched down the hallway, ignoring the guards stationed outside my door. I didn't care that I was still in my dress from yesterday, didn't care that my hair was all tangled and a mess from sleep. I didn't also care that I had no idea where I was actually going and I could get lost in his labyrinth of a mansion. I only cared about finding Dante and shoving those ridiculous rules right in his mouth. And probably suffocating him with them too.

After a few minutes, I found him exactly where I expected. He was seated at the head of the long dining table, sipping coffee without a care in the world. A newspaper was spread open in front of him, and he barely looked up as I approached.

"Ah," he murmured, turning a page. "You're awake."

I slammed the booklet down onto the table, making the utensils rattle. "What the hell is this?"

Dante didn't even blink. He merely set down his coffee cup and looked at me calmly. "What's the problem with it?."

I crossed my arms, staring right at him as my chest rised and fell rapidly. "I'm not following any of these?"

A hint of a smirk played on his lips. "I expect you to do as you're told."

"And if I don't?"

He leaned back in his chair, studying me with amused. "Then you'll learn the hard way."

At that moment I wanted to slap him, and slap that smug expression right off his face. Instead, I picked up the booklet and flipped to one of the most ridiculous rules. "I'm not allowed to speak to your men unless necessary? What's even the purpose of this?" Then I pointed at the rule about social events. "You expect me to play the role of your perfect wife?"

He shrugged. "That was the agreement, was it not?"

I inhaled sharply, struggling to contain my fury. "You're a bastard, you know that?"

Dante chuckled, completely unfazed. "I've been called worse."

I wanted to scream. Instead, I turned on my heel, ready to leave before I said something that would get me into real trouble.

But his voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Oh, and mia amata?"

I glanced over my shoulder, still seething.

He smiled, "Welcome to your new life. I shall send you more details on our wedding ceremony much later."

Nope. That's it. I was going to escape.