Soft golden lights cast shadows across the walls, the air thick with heat and tension.
Elena's breath came out uneven as she clutched onto Marco's shoulders, her nails digging slightly into his skin.
"Marco..." she whispered, her voice low, almost breathless as he moved in rhythm, sliding in and out of her.
A smirk tugged at his lips.
He liked the control.
Her head tilted back slightly, her fingers tightening as she tried to steady herself, but Marco only pulled her closer...
"Careful," he murmured near her ear, his tone teasing. "You might lose control."
She let out a soft scoff, though her body betrayed her.
"You wish."
But her voice lacked its usual bite.
For once... Elena wasn't the one in control.
And she hated that.
Hated how easily he could get under her skin.
Marco chuckled lowly, clearly aware of it.
His hand moved to her waist, steady, possessive.....
Just then, his phone rang...
The sharp sound cut through the tension like a blade.
He paused while she frowned instantly.
"Don't you dare...."
It rang again...
He exhaled, clearly irritated, then pulled away.
Just like that...the moment shattered.
Elena stared at him in disbelief, sitting upright and wrapping the duvet around her exposed chest.
"You're kidding me."
He ignored her, reaching for his phone.
Her irritation spiked.
"Marco."
He glanced at the screen and his expression changed.
Slightly more serious.
Without a word, he answered the call.
"Keep it down, Elena" he muttered before walking away.
Her jaw dropped.
Keep it down??
"Come finish what you started."
She fumed as she watched him move toward the bathroom, already engaged in conversation.
"...Yeah."
A pause.
"I'll be there."
The line ended.
He didn't even look back at her.
Didn't explain or cared about what was happening before the call.
He simply grabbed a shirt and headed into the bathroom.
The door shut, leaving Elena sitting there, alone and fuming.
Her fists clenched at her sides.
"That bastard..."
Her lips curled in annoyance because she didn't need to guess.
There was only one person who could interrupt Marco like that and get away with it.
Antonio.
Her eyes darkened.
"...So it's because of him."
A scoff escaped her lips.
Then a slow, dangerous smile followed.
"Perfect."
If Antonio was involved...
Then things were about to get interesting.
"Maybe it's time I pay Antonio a visit." She said to herself.
*
Antonio stood at the entrance hall, his posture relaxed.
Servants moved faster than usual.
Voices were lower and careful because 'she' was here.
The doors opened and she stepped in.
Mrs Emma De Luca, Antonio's mother.
Elegant, composed and untouchable.
Her heels clicked softly against the marble floor as her sharp eyes scanned the space.
Nothing escaped her.
Nothing.
Antonio walked forward slightly and dipped his head.
"Mamma."
She didn't respond immediately. Instead...her gaze shifted and landed on Regina standing a few steps behind him.
Tense.
Watching.
Her expression hardened as she took in the view.
"...American."
Not a question but a statement.
A cold, sharp statement.
Antonio exhaled quietly.
Here we go.
"Antonio," she continued, her tone now laced with clear disapproval, "have all the women in Italy gone extinct?"
Silence dropped...
Regina blinked.
Oh.
So this is how it's going to be.
Antonio didn't react much.
"You said you were bringing me a fiancée," his mother continued, stepping closer, her eyes still fixed on Regina, "not importing one from across the world."
Regina swallowed.
Okay... wow.
But before she could even process that, the baby made a small sound.
That was when his mother noticed her.
Her gaze shifted.
Softened for just a fraction.
"...And what is this?"
Regina instinctively held the baby closer.
Mrs Emma stepped closer, slower this time, observing carefully.
"Is this my grandchild?" She asked softly..
Regina's heart stopped.
Antonio didn't hesitate.
"No."
The answer came flat and immediate.
His mother paused, trying to take it in..
Then she turned, slowly..to him.
"Excuse me?"
Antonio remained calm.
"The child isn't mine."
She let out a breath.
Shocked.
Then immediately displeased.
"So..." she said, her tone dropping dangerously, "you brought a woman into your home..."
Her eyes flicked to Regina.
"...a single mother..."
Then back to Antonio.
"When there are countless women without complications?"
Regina felt that.
That one hit hard.
Antonio said nothing.
Because honestly..there was nothing to say.
If he told his mom the child wasn't Regina's either, it would complicate things.
His mother shook her head slightly.
"I leave you alone for a while and this is what you do?"
Then, she stepped closer to him.
Lowered her voice slightly, but not enough.
"First an American..."
"Now this?"
Her gaze flicked briefly to the baby again.
She noticed something. Her expression shifted slightly.
She leaned in closer, studying the child's face..
"She has your eyes."
Antonio's brows furrowed.
"She doesn't."
But his mother didn't respond immediately.
She simply looked at the child a second longer...
Then straightened, composed again.
"Bring her inside," she said, turning away like the moment never happened.
Commanding and final.
Just before she could move further, voices echoed from the entrance.
"Well, well... if it isn't the queen herself..."
He stopped mid-sentence as he walked in, his eyes landing on Regina.
A grin spread across his face.
"Queenie."
Behind him, Marco stepped in..Calm and collected.
And beside him... stood Elena.
Uninvited.
Unbothered.
Her sharp, judgmental eyes locked onto Regina almost instantly. A smug plastered on her face.
Oh, she came for war.
Antonio's gaze darkened slightly.
"Who invited her?" he asked, voice low.
Giovanni raised both hands slightly.
"Not me."
Marco adjusted his cuff calmly.
"She insisted."
Elena smirked faintly.
"I thought I'd pay my respects."
Her eyes flicked to Regina again.
"...and see how 'things' are going."
Antonio's mother turned slowly, taking in the new arrivals.
Her presence alone silenced the room.
Giovanni straightened instantly.
"Signora," he greeted respectfully.
Marco followed.
Her eyes landed on Elena...
"And who might she be? Your girlfriend...Marco dear?".
"No, Signora..." He replied.
"Madre," Elena said smoothly, stepping forward, "I'm Antonio's ex."
"Oh.." Mrs Emma flashed her son a quick glance, then returned her gaze to Elena.
"I see".
Elena dipped her head slightly.
But her attention was still on Regina.
Her smug remained.
*******************************************
The dining hall was nothing short of grand.
Crystal chandeliers hung above, casting soft golden light over the long polished table.
Everyone was seated.
Mrs. Emma De Luca sat at the head where authority belonged.
Antonio sat to her right.
Regina... to his left.
A deliberate placement.
A dangerous one because every eye at that table found its way back to her.
Elena sat beside Marco, her posture relaxed... and her eyes...calculating.
It was too peaceful for her.
Giovanni leaned back lazily in his chair, swirling the wine in his glass like he had all the time in the world.
And then, he smiled.
Trouble.
"Well..." he began casually, glancing between Antonio and Regina, "this is interesting."
His eyes flicked to Regina.
"Didn't expect you to settle down so fast, my boy."
Antonio didn't respond.
Giovanni chuckled, then leaned forward slightly.
"Or should I ask..." he tilted his head, smirking, "are you still... entertaining your married Italian beauty?"
Marco paused mid-motion.
Elena's grip on her fork tightened ever so slightly.
Regina didn't move but she heard it.
Every word.
Antonio's expression didn't change. He simply continued eating.
Like it didn't concern him.
Like nothing ever did.
Giovanni let out a soft laugh.
"Ah... still the same."
Mrs. Emma placed her cutlery down gracefully.
"I warned you about that Camilla woman," she said calmly, her tone refined but firm.
Her gaze shifted to Antonio.
"A man in your position does not entangle himself with another man's wife."
Elena's jaw tightened slightly...
No one noticed her.
So she acted.
Her hand slid onto Marco's arm, fingers curling around him as she leaned closer.
A performance.
To make Antonio Jealous.
Her laughter came out soft... intentional.
"Marco," she murmured, brushing her fingers lightly against his sleeve,
"You've been ignoring me all evening."
Marco glanced at her briefly, then at Antonio.
Then back to his plate, uninterested.
Elena's smile faltered for a second.
Antonio didn't even look at her.
Not once.
That stung badly.
Regina sat quietly but her mind ran wild...
Married woman?
Just what kind of a man is he...?
Her fingers tightened slightly around her glass.
He wasn't giving only Rosselia premium access to his body...
A married woman also...?
She became curious on who the 'Camilla' woman was.
But then, she relaxed.
Let it go.
Because honestly...
It wasn't her business.
Mrs. Emma's gaze shifted again, back to Regina.
"You've been very quiet." She spoke.
The entire table stilled.
Regina looked up slowly, every eye was now on her.
She placed her cutlery down gently.
"I didn't realize I was expected to entertain," she said softly.
Polite.
But not submissive.
Giovanni's brows lifted slightly.
Oh?
Interesting.
Mrs. Emma tilted her head just a fraction.
"Then what are you expected to do?"
The question was deliberate.
A test.
Regina didn't rush or fumble...
Instead, she reached for her glass of water.
Took a small sip.
Then met her gaze directly.
"I was brought here as his fiancée," she said calmly, her voice steady,
"not as a distraction."
"If conversation is required, I'll participate."
A slight pause.
Then she added....
"But I don't speak just to fill silence."
Giovanni leaned back slowly, a grin spreading across his face.
"Now that..." he muttered, amused,
"is new."
Marco's lips twitched slightly.
Impressed.
Nothing seemed to ever pique his interest but he became interested in her.
In a good way.
Elena?
She was fuming.
Mrs. Emma said nothing immediately, she simply watched her.
Longer this time.
Then, a small nod.
Barely noticeable but it was there.
Approval.
Antonio, who had been silent the entire time...finally looked at Regina.
A small smile plastered to his face..
Giovanni broke the silence again, raising his glass.
"To Antonio," he said casually, "for finally choosing a woman who doesn't bore me."
Then he smirked at Regina.
"...Queenie."
Regina didn't smile but her gaze didn't drop either.
She would play her part as a Mafia Boss's Fiancée and stick to it only.
*
Antonio's office was quiet.
He slipped into his office after dinner
The faint ticking of the clock blended with the low hum of the air conditioner, but neither of them masked the tension thick in the room.
Elena didn't knock....she never did.
The door clicked softly as she slipped inside, her heels barely making a sound against the floor.
Antonio didn't look up immediately.
He already knew it was her.
"...You've gotten bold," he muttered, flipping a page in the file before him.
She smirked.
"And you've gotten cold."
She walked closer... like she had every right to be there.
Like nothing had changed.
Her fingers brushed the edge of his desk...then trailed upward...until they reached him, resting lightly on his shoulder.
Antonio's jaw tightened.
"Take your hand off me."
She didn't.
Instead, her fingers slid from his shoulder...down his chest...slow...familiar.
"Do you remember..." she whispered, leaning closer, "...how you used to hate it when I stopped?"
Silence followed...
Then, his chair scraped softly as he stood.
"You've become shameless," he said flatly.
That should've stopped her.
But Elena only smiled.
"And you've become boring, Antonio."
Before he could step back, she grabbed his collar and kissed him.
Bold, forceful and desperate.
Antonio froze for a split second, then shoved her back, hard.
She stumbled slightly but caught herself, breath uneven.
"Don't touch me," he said, voice low. Dangerous.
"You don't get to act like I didn't matter!" She retorted.
"I didn't say that." He scoffed.
"Then stop acting like it!"
She closed the distance again.
More aggressive this time, more reckless.
Her hands gripping his shirt, pulling him down...
Another kiss.
This time harder and messier, like she was trying to prove something.
Claim something.
Or take something back.
As if on cue, the door opened and Regina walked in..she stopped just one step inside.
Her eyes landed on them.
Paused, took it in and processed it.
Her expression didn't break.
"Your mother is asking for you," she said curtly.
Then she turned, ready to leave.
That's when Antonio snapped.
He pushed Elena away, harder this time....causing her to fall.
A sharp gasp left her lips as she hit the floor.
Before Regina could take another step, he closed the distance, his hand wrapped around her waist, firm and possessive.
"Antonio-"
Too late.
He pulled her back, lifted her effortlessly and sat her down on his desk.
Her eyes flashed with anger and confusion.
"What the hell are you-"
He kissed her with no hesitation.
No warning..
Nothing gentle about it.
It wasn't soft.
It wasn't careful.
It was consuming.
Regina's hands came up instantly, pressing against his chest, pushing and resisting.
Her heart racing against his.
Her breath stolen.
Her thoughts scattering.
"What are you-mmph-!"
He didn't stop immediately.
Didn't acknowledge anything else in that room.
For those few seconds, it was just her.
Then he pulled back, just enough for her to catch her breath.
Her breathing was uneven.
Eyes wide.
Lips parted.
"What are you doing?" she asked, breathless.
His gaze dropped to her lips briefly before meeting her eyes again.
Calm. Dark. Unapologetic.
"I needed something pure," he said quietly.
"...to wash away the bitterness from a few seconds ago."
Behind them, Elena's laugh came out bitter and broken.
"You bastard!" she snapped, struggling to stand.
Her eyes burned with humiliation and rage.
"With her?!" she pointed at Regina.
Antonio didn't even look at her.
And that hurt more.
"Now you've done it," Elena continued, voice shaking. "You've finally done your worst."
Regina slid off the desk slowly still staring at Antonio.
Trying to understand...
Why her heart was beating like that.
Why that kiss felt-
No.
She cut the thought immediately.
Elena straightened herself, glaring at both of them.
"This isn't over."
Then she turned and stormed out.
The door slammed.