Chapter 5 When Love is a Prison

Chapter five

Alessandro sat at his desk, typing furiously on his laptop when his phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and picked it up.

"San, I heard you got married!" Eduardo's voice exploded from the speaker, forcing Alessandro to pull the phone away from his ear.

"Jesus. How the hell do you always find things out?" Sandro muttered, leaning back in his chair.

"I have my ways," Eduardo replied smugly. Alessandro could already picture his friend's grin.

"So it's true, huh?" Eduardo continued. "What girl in her right mind would marry you?"

"Fuck off."

Eduardo chuckled. "Come on, how was it? Is she... you know?"

"I didn't really look at her," Sandro said, lighting a cigarette. "She's small. Fragile."

"Fragile can still be hot. Is she curvy?"

"You're a bloody asshole. When will you be back?"

Eduardo laughed harder. "When am I coming back? Soon. I'm wrapping things up here, then taking a one-year break."

"A year of freeloading off me. Great."

"Back to your bride," Eduardo said, his tone dipping. "Her family must really hate her to hand her over to you."

There was silence. Then, Alessandro exhaled slowly.

"Go to hell," he said quietly, before hanging up.

He leaned back, staring at the ceiling. "Fucking bastard," he muttered. Needing air, he left his study, cigarette still between his fingers, and stepped out into the cool night.

Mariana couldn't sleep. Her thoughts were a tangled mess of Leonardo's smile and Alessandro's cold eyes. She needed to clear her head.

Clutching her phone, she wandered outside. Her fingers brushed against the photo of her and Leonardo, and her heart ached.

"I miss you," she whispered.

She walked absentmindedly until she stumbled upon a swimming pool-large, still, and glistening under the moonlight.

A rare smile tugged at her lips. Swimming had always been her escape. She glanced around, saw no one, and stripped off her top, leaving only her pants and strapless bra. Then, without a second thought, she dove in.

The water wrapped around her like a blanket, and for the first time in days, she felt at peace. Until a hand gripped her waist.

She screamed and spun around-only to find herself face-to-face with Alessandro, emerging from the water like a shadow.

"What the hell-?" she gasped.

He smirked, his hand still firmly on her waist. "You'll go to any length to seduce me, won't you?"

"I didn't know you were here," she stammered.

"Didn't you?" His smirk deepened. "So why my pool? What happened to the one in your wing?"

"I didn't know I had one," she replied quickly. "I haven't explored the house yet."

Alessandro stepped closer, his hand trailing down her spine. "Aren't we married? Maybe tonight can be our wedding night."

"What are you doing?" she whispered, panicking.

His hand slid lower. "Just enjoying my bride," he said darkly, squeezing her ass gently.

She shoved him back and slapped him-hard.

"How dare you?" she shouted, tears threatening to spill.

Alessandro didn't react. He touched his cheek, then looked at her with an unsettling calm.

"You've got a soft ass, kitten," he said coolly. "But don't try that again. I'm not always this gentle."

He climbed out of the water, droplets glistening on his bare torso.

Mariana stared after him, trembling, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I love watching people break," he said over his shoulder. "So leave. While you still can. The door's always open."

And then he disappeared into the shadows.

She crumbled to her knees in the water, tears finally falling. Her heart-shattered.

Mariana woke with a throbbing headache. After a hot shower, she dressed in a short red gown and loose curls. The heels clicked softly beneath her as she stepped into the hall where the maids were setting the breakfast table.

She had no appetite-but seeing their effort, she forced herself to eat a little. She declined the driver's offer and took a cab instead.

Her first stop wasn't school. It was home-real home.

She rang the bell once. Then again. And again.

Finally, the door opened.

"Aunt Meekha!" Mariana burst into tears as her aunt rushed forward to embrace her.

"Oh baby, I missed you so much," Meekha whispered, holding her tightly as they stepped inside.

"I'm sorry I left without telling you," Mariana sobbed. "I was scared. I didn't have a choice."

After she explained everything, Meekha shook her head in disbelief. "Beatrice is a demon. How could she do this to you?"

"I had to save Dad. I'm his only hope... but Alessandro... he's a monster. I can't live like this, Aunt."

"Is he hurting you?" Meekha asked sharply.

Mariana shook her head. "Not physically. But he's cold. And cruel."

"Call Leonardo," Meekha said softly. "You broke him, Anna. He's called me every day, asking about you."

"I miss him. God, I miss him so much," Mariana whispered.

Later, after Meekha had insisted she eat something, Mariana left the house.

She was walking down the street, lost in thought, when a sleek car screeched to a stop beside her. Before she could react, the door flung open-and Leonardo stepped out.

"Leo?" she gasped.

Without a word, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her into the car.

Then he drove off.