The morning light filtered through the heavy curtains, casting a faint glow across the room. I blinked tiredly, trying to adjust to the brightness, but the unease from the previous night still clung to me like a shroud.
The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on me, making it impossible to shake the dread that had settled deep in my chest.
I sat up slowly, my mind already racing. The man Bruno's men had beaten and interrogated, his face bloodied and his words dripping with malice—it all replayed in my mind.
The words were etched into my thoughts, filling me with a cold, gnawing fear. He had spoken about my father, about my family, as if they were already marked for death.
A wave of panic washed over me. I needed to hear from them. I needed to know they were safe.
I grabbed my phone from the nightstand and dialed my parents' number, my fingers trembling as I pressed the call button.
The phone rang once, then twice, before going to voicemail. I stared at the screen in disbelief, my pulse quickening. I redialed, praying that they would answer, but once again, the call went unanswered.
"Come on," I whispered, my heart pounding in my chest. "Pick up, please…"
Voicemail again.
I sat there, gripping the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white. I knew that Bruno's family was supposed to be protecting them, keeping them safe from the people who wanted to harm them because of my father's debts. But that man's words had shaken me to my core, and now I couldn't help but fear the worst.
I pressed my hand to my forehead, trying to calm the rising tide of panic. My parents were supposed to be safe. Bruno had assured me that his family had the situation under control. But what if something had changed? What if they weren't safe anymore?
The fear gnawed at me, making it hard to breathe. I felt a tear slip down my cheek, and then another. Before I knew it, I was crying, the flood of emotions from the past few days finally breaking through the walls I had built around myself.
The fear, the loneliness, the feeling of being trapped in a world I didn't want to be a part of—it all came crashing down.
I buried my face in my hands, my shoulders shaking with silent sobs. I didn't even hear the door open until a soft voice broke through my tears.
"Miss Maria?"
I looked up, startled, to see the maid standing in the doorway, holding a set of fresh clothes in her arms. Her eyes widened when she saw me crying, and she took a step back, as if she had intruded on something private.
"I'm so sorry," she stammered, her face turning pale. "I didn't mean to—"
I wiped my eyes quickly, trying to compose myself.
"No, it's fine," I said, my voice shaky. "You don't have to leave."
The maid hesitated, clearly uncomfortable, but she nodded and stepped further into the room, placing the clothes on a nearby chair. She glanced at me, her expression filled with concern.
"Are you… alright, miss?"
I let out a bitter laugh, wiping away the remaining tears.
"Do I look alright?"
She bit her lip, unsure of what to say, and I realized I was being unfair to her. She was just doing her job. But the weight of my situation had become too much to bear, and I needed someone—anyone—to talk to.
"I'm sorry," I said softly, looking down at my hands. "I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just… everything's a mess right now."
The maid shifted uncomfortably, her gaze flicking toward the door as if she was wondering whether she should leave. But then, to my surprise, she spoke again.
"I don't mean to pry, miss, but… why are you crying? You have everything here. A beautiful house, wealth, security… Isn't that what everyone dreams of?"
I let out another bitter laugh, this one tinged with a sadness I couldn't hide.
"That's just it. I don't want any of this. I didn't choose this life. I didn't ask to be a part of this family, and I certainly didn't ask to marry Bruno."
The maid's eyes widened slightly, her hands twisting the hem of her apron.
"But… Mr. Bruno, he's your husband. Doesn't he…?"
I shook my head before she could finish the question.
"He doesn't love me. And I don't love him."
The maid's expression changed instantly, her face paling as she took a step back, her hand instinctively moving to cover her mouth.
"Miss Maria, you… you shouldn't say things like that."
I frowned, confused by her sudden shift in demeanor.
"Why? It's the truth."
She glanced toward the door nervously, as if expecting someone to walk in at any moment.
"You don't understand," she whispered, her voice trembling. "There was another woman once. She said things like that, too. About not loving Mr. Bruno. About wanting to leave. And then… she disappeared."
I felt a chill crawl down my spine, my breath catching in my throat.
"What do you mean she disappeared?"
The maid's eyes darted toward the door again, and she took a step closer to me, lowering her voice even further.
"It was before you came. She was in this very room, crying, just like you. She told me she didn't love Mr. Bruno, that she wanted to leave. And then… one day, she was gone. Mr. Bruno took her away, and no one's seen her since."
I stared at her in shock, my mind struggling to process what she was saying. Could it really be true? Had Bruno… done something to this other woman? The thought sent a wave of nausea through me, my stomach twisting painfully.
"What happened to her?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "Did Bruno—"
Before the maid could answer, the door swung open, and we both froze.
Bruno's mother stood in the doorway, her sharp eyes taking in the scene before her. Her lips pressed into a thin line, and I could feel the weight of her disapproval like a physical force.
"I need to speak with Maria," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument.
The maid immediately stepped back, her face paling even further. She gave me one last apologetic glance before hurrying out of the room, leaving me alone with Mrs Alfonzo.
I stood there, stunned and confused, my heart racing as I tried to figure out what was happening. Why was she here? What did she want with me?
And more importantly… what had I gotten myself into?