The next morning, I woke up in a haze. The night before felt like a fever dream I couldn't escape, but the ache in my chest, the cold, unfamiliar sheets, and the unsettling quiet of the Alfonzo mansion reminded me it was all real.
I rolled over in the bed, my body sinking into the expensive mattress, but there was no comfort here. No relief. This place was still a prison, no matter how beautiful it was.
I dragged myself out of bed, my legs heavy as I made my way to the large bay window. The sun was barely rising, casting a pale glow over the sprawling gardens. It was serene, almost deceptively peaceful.
The world outside this mansion went on, oblivious to what was happening inside. Oblivious to the fact that I was trapped here, a guest in a world I didn't belong to. Or maybe not a guest—maybe more like a prisoner.
A soft knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts, and I stiffened. Bruno? My heart rate quickened. I didn't want to see him, not yet, not after last night. I wasn't ready to face the overwhelming intensity in his eyes again, wasn't ready for the game of control he played so easily.
The door creaked open, and a maid stepped in, her eyes lowered.
"Miss Maria, I've brought breakfast," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Relief washed over me.
"Thank you."
She set the tray on the table by the window, her hands moving quickly, but her eyes never quite meeting mine. There was something almost… fearfully obedient about her. Like she had learned not to make too much noise, not to make herself noticed.
"Is there something wrong?" I asked, my voice careful.
Her hands paused for a split second before she turned to face me, the polite smile on her face so tight, it looked painful.
"No, Miss Maria. I hope you enjoy your breakfast."
I wanted to say something more, to ask her if she felt as trapped as I did, but before I could, she turned and hurried out of the room. The door clicked shut, leaving me alone with my thoughts again.
I stared at the untouched food on the tray. Eggs, fresh fruit, croissants, coffee. It was all perfectly arranged, like everything else in this mansion. But I had no appetite. How could I eat when my stomach was twisted in knots?
I thought about the maid, about the way she looked at me, or rather, the way she avoided looking at me. Was she scared of me? Or was it someone else? I already knew the answer.
It was Bruno. Everything in this house was controlled by him, including the people. I could feel it in every glance, every whisper. He was the puppet master, pulling all the strings.
I wasn't any different.
I pushed the tray aside and walked to the wardrobe, opening it to find a row of expensive dresses. I ran my fingers along the fabric, each piece more luxurious than the last. None of it was mine, but I was expected to wear it. To play the part of the woman who belonged in Bruno's world.
The woman I wasn't.
As I pulled out a simple cream dress, a knock sounded again. This time, it was firmer, more purposeful. I already knew who it was before I opened the door.
Bruno stood there, dressed in a crisp suit, his dark eyes locked onto mine with that same possessive intensity I had seen last night. It sent a shiver through me.
"I trust you slept well," he said, his voice smooth, controlled.
I swallowed the knot in my throat.
"I don't think that's what you really care about."
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips.
"Maybe not. But I'm trying to be civil, Maria."
There was a mocking edge to his words, like he knew he didn't have to try. He had already won. He was the one in control here, not me.
"Is there something you want?" I asked, forcing the words out, even though I already knew the answer.
Bruno stepped closer, and I instinctively backed up into the room, the door closing behind him with a soft click. He moved like a predator, his eyes gleaming with something dark, something dangerous.
"I want many things, Maria," he said, his voice lowering as he came to stand just inches from me. "But for now, I want you to get dressed. We're having lunch with my family later."
I blinked, thrown off by the shift.
"Lunch?"
He nodded, his expression unreadable.
"They want to meet you properly. You'll need to make a good impression."
My heart dropped. His family. The thought of facing them again, of sitting across from Sofia's cold eyes and the rest of Bruno's snobbish relatives, made my skin crawl.
I remembered the way Sofia had looked at me yesterday, like I was some lower creature, barely worth her attention. And now, I was supposed to sit at their table, pretend I belonged there?
"I'm not ready," I said, panic rising in my chest.
Bruno's eyes darkened, his jaw tightening.
"You have enough time to prepare."
There was no room for argument in his tone. No compassion. He turned and left the room without another word, leaving me standing there, my heart racing.
The dining room was even more imposing than I had imagined. High ceilings, gold-chandeliers, and a long table covered in the finest china. It looked like a scene from a royal banquet, but the atmosphere was anything but welcoming.
Bruno's family sat around the table, their expressions guarded, like they were sizing me up before I had even spoken a word.
I stood at the doorway, my heart hammering in my chest, my palms damp with nerves.
Bruno was beside me, his hand hovering at the small of my back, not quite touching me, but close enough to remind me of his presence. He had that same calculating look in his eyes, the one that told me this was as much a test for me as it was for them.
"Ah, the guest of honor," Sofia's voice cut through the silence, dripping with sarcasm.
She sat at the head of the table, her eyes narrowing as she looked me over.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my face neutral. I couldn't afford to show fear here. Not in front of them. But it was hard when I could feel the weight of their judgment pressing down on me.
"Please, sit," Elena said, her smile cold and thin. She gestured to an empty seat across from her.
I walked stiffly to the chair, every step feeling like it took an eternity. The other members of Bruno's family, the cousins, aunts, and uncles, watched me closely, their expressions unreadable.
I felt like I was under a microscope, and no matter what I did, it would never be enough.
Bruno took the seat beside me, his presence solid and overbearing. I tried to focus on my breathing, tried to calm the nerves that threatened to make me crumble. But it wasn't just the family that made me anxious, it was him. Bruno. He was always there, always watching, always controlling.
"So, Maria," one of the older women at the table, whom I assumed to be Bruno's aunt, spoke with a thinly veiled smile. "Tell us about yourself."
I blinked, caught off guard by the question. What could I possibly say that would satisfy them? That I was a normal girl thrown into a world I didn't understand? That I didn't belong here and never would?
I opened my mouth, trying to find the right words, but Sofia cut me off.
"She's been quite the mystery, hasn't she?" Sofia's voice was sharp, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Not much is known about her."
I clenched my fists under the table, my heart pounding in my ears. This wasn't a meal. It was an interrogation.
Bruno remained silent beside me, his face unreadable, his fingers tapping lightly against the edge of the table. I could feel his eyes on me, waiting for me to respond.
"I... I'm still adjusting," I finally managed, my voice steady, though the knot in my stomach tightened.
"Adjusting?" Elena raised an eyebrow. "That's an interesting choice of words. Do you think you'll ever truly adjust to this life?"
Her words hung in the air, thick with challenge. I knew what she was really asking. Do you think you're good enough for this family?
I wanted to answer, but nothing came to mind. I truly was inferior.