The room was suffocatingly silent as I sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Mrs Alfonzo to speak.
My heart pounded loudly in my chest, echoing in the stillness around me. She had barged in, her presence dominating the space like a queen surveying her court, and demanded a private audience. I had no idea what she wanted, but the tension in the air was enough to choke me.
Mrs Alfonzo slowly scanned the room, her eyes sweeping over the expensive furnishings as if they disgusted her.
Her lips twisted in a look of contempt, and for a brief moment, I wondered if her disdain was directed at me, or at the room itself. Either way, the feeling of being scrutinized so harshly made me shift uncomfortably in my seat.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of oppressive silence, she spoke.
"Are you fertile?"
The question was so unexpected, so shocking, that I could only stare at her in stunned disbelief.
My mind raced, trying to comprehend why she would ask something so deeply personal, so inappropriate, without any preamble or context. I opened my mouth, but no words came out at first. My throat felt dry, and my pulse quickened as I struggled to gather my thoughts.
"I—uh—what?" I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mrs Alfonzo arched an eyebrow, her expression unreadable but her gaze piercing.
"Are you fertile?" she repeated, her tone impatient, as though it were the most natural question in the world.
I blinked, still trying to process the conversation. Of all the things she could have asked me, this was the last thing I had expected. My mind went blank for a moment, but then the answer tumbled out before I could fully think it through.
"I… I think so. I mean, yes, I am," I said awkwardly. "But I wouldn't really know for sure because… I'm a virgin."
There was a brief, stunned silence. Mrs Alfonzo's eyes widened slightly, just enough for me to notice. She stared at me, a glimmer of surprise flickering across her otherwise impassive face.
"A virgin?" she repeated, her voice laced with disbelief. "Considering how messy your family is, I'm surprised. But that's… good, I suppose."
Her words stung, though I tried not to show it. The insult toward my family was subtle, but it was there. She had never respected my family, and this was just another reminder of how little she thought of us. But I didn't have the energy to argue. I was too caught off guard by where this conversation was headed.
Before I could respond, Mrs Alfonzo continued, her voice growing cold and calculating.
"You'll be expected to change that soon. I want a grandchild, Maria. As soon as possible. I trust you understand what I'm saying."
I felt the blood drain from my face as her words settled in. My heart pounded so loudly in my chest that I was sure she could hear it. A grandchild. She wanted me to get pregnant. Now. And the demand wasn't a suggestion—it was an order.
"I… I don't think that's a good idea," I stammered, my voice shaking. "Bringing a child into the family so early… we've only just gotten married. Don't you think we should wait? At least until we've settled into everything?"
Mrs Alfonzo's expression darkened, and for a split second, I saw something terrifying flash in her eyes. She looked at me as though I had just said the most offensive thing in the world, and I realized immediately that I had made a mistake.
"Wait?" she spat, her voice rising with contempt. "You think you can afford to wait? You foolish girl, you have no idea what's at stake here."
She stepped closer to me, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"The Alfonzo family doesn't wait for anything. We are a family of power, of legacy, and we will ensure that our legacy continues. A child—an heir—will only strengthen our position. Our wealth will grow, our influence will expand. The prosperity of this family is paramount. And you, Maria, have a duty to this family now."
I swallowed hard, my throat tight with fear. I had known that marrying into the Alfonzo family would come with expectations, but I hadn't realized how soon, or how severe, those expectations would be.
"I… I understand," I whispered, though the words felt hollow in my mouth. "But it's just… it's a lot to take in. I didn't think—"
Mrs Alfonzo cut me off with a sharp glare.
"I don't care what you think," she snapped. "You will do as you're told. You will give this family an heir. And if you don't…"
She trailed off, her lips curling into a cruel smile that sent a shiver down my spine.
"If you don't, Maria," she continued, her voice dripping with menace, "you won't have to worry about anything ever again. Because you'll disappear. Just like that."
My blood ran cold. I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest as the full weight of her threat settled over me.
There was no mistaking her meaning. She wasn't just threatening to throw me out of the family. She was threatening to make me disappear—permanently. To make sure that no one ever found me, that I became just another unsolvable mystery.
I felt a wave of nausea rise in my throat, but I swallowed it down, forcing myself to stay calm. I couldn't let her see how terrified I was. I couldn't let her see the panic that was clawing at me from the inside.
But inside, I was crumbling. I had no idea how to respond, no idea how to fight back against a woman so powerful, so ruthless. I was trapped, and there was no escape.
She stared at me for a long moment, as if daring me to defy her. When I said nothing, she let out a satisfied hum, as if she had already won. She turned on her heel and made her way toward the door, her posture rigid and proud.
"Oh, and Maria," she added, pausing at the threshold. "I suggest you make sure you're pregnant by the end of the week. Otherwise, well… I'm sure you understand."
With that, she left, the door closing behind her with a soft click.
I sat there in stunned silence, my mind racing. Pregnant. She wanted me to get pregnant by the end of the week. And if I didn't… I shuddered at the thought, my entire body trembling with fear.
I had expected this kind of demand at some point, but I never imagined it would come so soon. I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to bring a child into this world, into this family.
Tears welled up in my eyes, and I buried my face in my hands, trying to hold back the sobs that threatened to escape. I had never felt more alone. I had no one to turn to, no one who could help me. I was trapped in a gilded cage, and there was no way out.
And worst of all, I knew that if I didn't comply with Bruno's mother's demands, I might never see the light of day again.
The door clicked open again, and I flinched, my heart racing as I looked up. But it wasn't Bruno's mother who entered this time.
It was Bruno.