Chapter 4 4.

Several days have passed since Athena and Valentino met. Although the wedding preparations are underway, the engaged couple barely cross paths. While Valentino is immersed in work at the factory and occasionally visits Lirio at her apartment, Athena is trying to adapt to her new life in the mansion.

Fortunately, she doesn't feel alone; her friend visits her regularly, they go shopping, and she has a nanny and some subordinates at her disposal. The loneliness and bewilderment are becoming more and more bearable for her.

At night, Valentino locks himself in his room, avoiding going down to the dining room to have dinner with his fiancée. In the mornings, he leaves without having breakfast, creating a monotonous routine. However, Athena, apparently ignoring his presence, maintains contact with her family and friends, spending most of her time away. It seems that both of them avoid facing each other after their last disagreement.

"I hope you've adapted well here, Athena," Clodan comments, bringing the cup of coffee to his lips.

"I can't complain," she answers with a kind smile, "but I think your son doesn't like me. He avoids me all the time, and we're days away from getting married. What will people think of us? We have to put on a good face now that the press is feasting on us."

"You're very right about that," he mentions, frowning. "I apologize for the trouble he's been causing lately, and especially with what happened last time with that woman. It must have been very unpleasant."

"Don't worry, she's his mistress after all..."

"What?" The man seems dismayed. "Don't believe the things she says. They had a relationship, but that's over."

"Oh, don't get me wrong," she hurries to reply. But for a moment, before telling him that she doesn't care at all that Valentino has another woman, she considers it. "You know what? When I got here, I didn't get a good reception from your son, and even less so from that woman named Lirio. They were both very cruel."

"Really?" Mr. Clodan's brow furrows in bewilderment. "I'll talk to my son about this situation. And about that woman..."

"Don't worry about her," she interrupts him, giving a crooked smile. "I know perfectly well that you cast your line into the sea where big and fat fish abound, don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"This marriage is simply one of convenience, and you more than anyone benefit from this, since your factory is practically bankrupt," she elaborates, capturing her father-in-law's interest. "I also know that Lirio, your son's mistress, is not beneficial to your family. So don't worry about her; she won't affect our contract at all."

"You are a very intelligent girl," the man smiles with satisfaction. "I'm glad to have you as my daughter-in-law. Anyway, it doesn't hurt to put a stop to Valentino, so leave it in my hands."

"As you wish." She returns that same look of complicity while both enjoy their coffee.

In the darkness of the night, Athena was getting ready in her room to rest after having dinner alone in the dining room. Her father-in-law was absent on business, and her fiancé showed a clear disinterest in seeing her.

While she brushed her long hair, she put on a white silk mini-pajama, ready to sleep. However, the doors of her room burst open before she could lie down. Although she was briefly startled, she sighed in annoyance when she identified the intruder.

"Were you raised with wild cattle or something?" she spat expectantly. "Knock on the damn door before you come in; this is my space."

"Listen well, brat!" He approached her like an enraged bull, grabbing her arm tightly. "This is my mansion, and you're just an insignificant nuisance," he roared with fury. "What did you say to my father? Keep your nose out of my business with Lirio!"

"First of all, let go of me." Her gaze darkened, and seeing the man's persistence, she pulled away aggressively. "Who am I? Here I am your damn fiancée and future wife, the one who will save your miserable factory from falling into ruin."

"Insolent!"

"Don't you yell at me, you idiot!" she exclaimed in the same tone. "And I don't know what your father told you; I don't care." She stood in front of him like an enraged doll.

"Now you want to play innocent? I know you talked to him about Lirio, because he didn't hesitate to come and complain," he stated with disdain. "I told you to leave Lirio alone; things were clear from the moment you set foot in this mansion." He got closer to her, furious. "Listen carefully, I won't give you the place you're claiming; I won't give you and my father the pleasure of leaving Lirio."

"And I'm going to tell you something, for being too insignificant, you take up a lot of space, you imbecile."

"What?"

"I'm fed up with you, tired of your same damn sermon about that stupid woman."

"I won't allow you to talk about her like that!"

"You don't allow me to do anything!" Athena replied, annoyed. "Don't you get tired? Stop lamenting so much and playing the victim with your Lirio, because nothing bad is happening to her. You just complain and throw your curses at me, knowing that you are the one who benefits the most from this. And me? I have the bad luck of having to put up with someone as bitter and despotic as you, who is only hiding behind a woman's skirt." Valentino clenched his jaw, his gaze darkening. "Grow up, Rizzo, accept that you're going to marry me, because just like you, I can't stand you, I despise you, but even so, I'm not complaining."

"How dare you?" He grabbed her wrist with force, causing her to let out a groan. "Listen, Athena Volkova, let this be the last time you speak to me like that," he sentenced. "If I'm continuing with this damn contract, it's not because I want to; I'd rather everything go to hell than have to be married to a woman I don't love. I thought everything would be easier if my fiancée were a manageable lady, not a woman as arrogant as you."

"Well, I have bad news for you, we will be married for a year, and if you can't stand me, that's your problem, because I don't suffer over any trash that gets in my way, unlike you," she replied with indifference, receiving a cold look from her fiancé. "If you don't want to go through with this, talk to your father and cancel everything, because I'm more than willing."

"You're so despicable." He let go of her abruptly, and she stumbled back several steps from the push. "I hope you face the consequences of your rebelliousness and your insolence."

He gave her one last look filled with contempt before slamming the door as he left the room. Athena fell onto the bed, letting out all the air held in her lungs, and tried to calm down by running both hands over her face, processing everything that had just happened. She had enjoyed moments of peace when she wasn't around that bitter man, who apparently turned into a beast every time they touched on the subject of Lirio, his beloved mistress.

The girl looked at her wrist, seeing Valentino's finger marks drawn on her pale skin. She began to question whether this marriage was really a good idea, since he seemed to hate her with all his might; after all, their first encounter had not been exactly friendly.

"Athena, my dear," Soledad, Athena's nanny, entered the room worriedly. "What just happened? The shouting echoed throughout the mansion."

"Nothing, Nana." The girl fell back onto the bed, still looking at her wrist before answering. "It's just that the animal I have for a fiancé is a complete idiot."

"Did he do something to you?" The woman sat on the bed beside her. "I was very worried; the shouting was heard downstairs."

"It's because of that woman, Nana, his mistress," she sighed and ran a hand over her face. "Is it my fault that Clodan hates that woman and didn't take her as a daughter-in-law? That guy has no brain; he simply wants to take out all his hatred on me no matter what."

"My dear, I think it would be best to talk to your parents and cancel the wedding; this won't end well," the woman advised, and Athena immediately raised her head, frowning as she looked at her.

"Do you think I'll give him that satisfaction, Nana?" she asked in bewilderment. "No one is going to impose rules on me, much less walk all over me because of some mistress. I'm staying here, and I'm going to marry him even if he doesn't want to; I won't give them the satisfaction." Her nanny sighed, knowing that with the simple look full of determination, Athena would not back down. "I'm telling you, Nana, Valentino Rizzo will know who Athena Volkova is, I swear."