I led Alessandro to his room without saying a word.
But my silence wasn't empty.
It was loud.
My face carried every question I was too afraid to ask "anger, confusion, hurt, fear" because he kept glancing at me, jaw tight, eyes stormy, but he didn't speak.
When we reached his room, I pushed the door open and stepped inside. He followed, closing it softly behind us.
The silence stretched "thick, suffocating".
Finally, I couldn't hold it anymore.
"What do you and Jessica have together?" My voice cracked on her name.
He didn't answer right away.
He just looked at me "long, unreadable".
Then, quietly:
"Jessica..." he said slowly. "She was my favorite toy."
The word landed like a punch to the chest.
Toy.
My heart squeezed "sharp, painful. I didn't know if it was heartbreak or something closer to cardiac arrest".
"She understands the game," he continued, voice flat. "She understands the rules."
"Was?" I whispered. "Isn't she still your favorite?"
His eyes darkened.
"No."
One word.
Cold. Final.
"I have you now. I don't need her."
Something inside me shattered.
"So that's what the marriage is about?" My voice rose, trembling. "Just to replace her? Just to have a new toy? Well guess what—your Jessica is back. And I'm not replacing anyone. I'm not competing. I'm out of here."
"Elena. Elena—"
I didn't listen.
Tears burned my eyes as I ran out of his room, down the hallway, straight to the balcony doors.
I burst outside, gripping the railing, chest heaving.
The night air hit my face like a slap.
Behind me, slow clapping.
"Well," Jessica's voice sang mockingly, "looks like Mr. Moretto finally put you in your place."
I stiffened.
She leaned against the balcony doorway, arms crossed, smiling like she'd already won.
"What did you think?" she continued. "That you could replace me?"
I wiped my eyes and tried to walk past her.
She grabbed my arm hard.
"How dare you walk away from me?"
I yanked free.
She shoved me back against the railing.
"Just because you slept with him," she hissed, "doesn't mean you can talk to me like that. I'm still his favorite. You? You're temporary."
I laughed, bitter, broken.
"You can have Alessandro all you want. I don't care."
"Alessandro?" she shrieked. "How dare you call him by his first name?"
Her hand flew.
The slap cracked across my cheek sharp, stinging.
Tears sprang to my eyes.
I raised my hand and slapped her back harder.
"Jessica," I hissed, voice shaking with rage, "you do not have any fucking right to hit me. I don't care about your little affairs with him. Stay out of my way."
"Bitch!" she screamed, raising her hand again—
Alessandro appeared like a shadow.
His hand caught her wrist mid-air.
Jessica's face twisted into fake tears.
"Baby, thank God you're here. She slapped me, called me names, just because you slept with her while I was gone—"
He didn't even look at her.
He walked straight to me.
His thumb gently brushed my stinging cheek.
"Are you hurt wifey?" he asked quietly.
Jessica's voice cracked.
"Wifey?"
"Quiet," Alessandro snapped.
He turned to her, eyes ice-cold.
"I saw everything. I saw how you hit her first. And I'm proud she hit you back."
Jessica's fake tears stopped instantly.
"If you want to remain in this house," he said coldly, "you will respect Elena. Soon she will be my wife and your superior."
His arm slid around my waist.
He led me inside.
Jessica stood frozen.
But her eyes...
her eyes promised war.
Later, Jessica stormed into Aunt Sarah's room.
The woman in black was flipping through a magazine when Jessica burst in, tears perfectly placed.
"Aunt... Elena hit me," she sniffed. "I was only trying to speak to her. She insulted me—slapped me!"
Aunt Sarah set the magazine down slowly.
Her eyes narrowed.
"How dare that low-life touch you?"
Jessica smiled faintly through her tears.
Moments later, they both marched into Alessandro's room.
I was alone sitting on the edge of the bed, cheek still burning, trying to breathe.
The door flew open.
"Elena!" Aunt Sarah snapped. "How dare you raise your hand against Jessica?"
I stayed seated.
"You even have the audacity to sit while I'm speaking?"
Something snapped inside me.
"What exactly do you want me to do?" I stood slowly. "Bow?"
Her eyes widened.
"I respected you when we first met," I continued. "I thought you were a woman of value. I didn't know you'd believe every lie that comes out of Jessica's mouth."
"You're talking back to me?" she hissed. "How dare you?"
She raised her hand to slap me—
"I dare you."
Alessandro's voice thundered from the doorway.
Everyone froze.
Lady Vera appeared behind him.
Damien too.
Alessandro walked in slowly, eyes blazing.
"Who gave you the right to enter my room and threaten my wife?"
Damien scoffed. "How long are you going to keep defending this girl?"
Without warning—
Alessandro pulled out his pistol.
And fired once into the ceiling.
Plaster rained down.
The room went dead silent.
"Let me make something very clear," he said, voice low and lethal. "Anyone who is tired of staying here... should try offending my wife."
My heart pounded.
"Elena is my wife. What she says—you obey. Understood?"
No one breathed.
"Good."
He lowered the gun.
"The next person who raises a hand to Elena... will lose it."
Aunt Sarah's face paled.
Jessica's jaw tightened.
They left.
Slowly.
Lady Vera lingered.
She approached me gently.
"As the lady of this house," she said softly, "if anyone tries to hurt you again, tell me. I support my son."
She smiled "proud, warm before leaving".
Damien stormed to the training ground, punching the heavy bag until his knuckles bled rage pouring out in every hit.
Jessica and Aunt Sarah locked themselves in a room.
"What spell does she have?" Jessica hissed. "What does she have that I don't?"
Aunt Sarah stood slowly.
"Elena crossed a line today," she said quietly.
Jessica's anger faded into curiosity.
"What do you mean?"
Aunt Sarah leaned closer.
And whispered something in her ear.
Jessica's lips curved slowly.
Dangerously.
"Oh," she breathed. "That's perfect."
And for the first time—
I felt it.
This wasn't jealousy anymore.
This was war.
And the scariest part? I didn't know if I was fighting to survive... or fighting because I was starting to care.
**To Be Continued...**