I stood there, frozen, as Bruno's words echoed in my ears. "It's a pleasure to finally meet my future wife." I blinked once, twice, but nothing changed.
The scene around me remained the same: the grandeur of the party, the glittering lights, the opulence of the ballroom. And Bruno Alfonzo's smirk, smug and calculated, fixed firmly in place as if my life, my future, was nothing more than a game piece he had just acquired.
My heart pounded in my chest, and I felt a bead of sweat trickle down my spine, despite the cool air. My hands, hidden in the folds of my dress, balled into fists.
I couldn't believe this was happening. That my parents were really doing this to me. That they were handing me over to him, Bruno Alfonzo, the man I have only ever heard horror stories about.
"Stay calm," I reminded myself. "Don't lose it in front of them."
I felt my mother's expectant eyes on me, urging me to say something, anything, that would reflect the gratitude and honor I was supposed to feel. But how could I? I could barely breathe, let alone speak.
"I—" My voice cracked. I forced a smile that felt like it might shatter my face. "It's... an honor to meet you, Bruno." The words tasted bitter on my tongue.
Bruno's smirk widened. He dipped his head in acknowledgment, but the gesture felt more like a predator watching his prey.
"The pleasure is all mine, Maria. I'm sure we'll get to know each other very well."
The implication in his tone made my skin crawl. I could feel the heat of my parents' approval radiating beside me, their relieved smiles as if this twisted arrangement had just solved all their problems.
I had to get out of there.
"Excuse me," I said abruptly, my voice tight as I turned to my father and mother. "I need to get some fresh air."
I didn't wait for their response before slipping away, my pulse racing as I made my way through the crowded ballroom.
Each step felt heavier than the last as I maneuvered through the crowd of people, my mind spinning in a whirlwind of disbelief.
How could this be happening? How could my parents do this? They knew who Bruno was. They had to know the kind of man he was, ruthless, cruel, and notorious for his mistreatment of women. And yet, they were willing to throw me into his arms for the sake of their debts.
As I stepped into the garden, my legs wobbled, and I stumbled to a nearby bench. My entire body felt numb, my mind racing as I tried to process the enormity of what had just happened.
"I can't do this. I can't marry him."
I pressed my palms to my face, feeling the sting of tears prick at my eyes. I wasn't some helpless girl who would let herself be handed over to a man like Bruno. I refused to live like that, a prisoner in a gilded cage.
A sudden thought struck me, and I lifted my head. The idea was wild, reckless, but it was the only thing that made sense in this moment of desperation.
"I could run.
The thought filled me with a strange sense of hope, a flicker of light in the darkness. If I could slip away unnoticed, leave this nightmare behind, then maybe, just maybe, I could escape this fate.
I stood up, scanning the garden, looking for a way out. My eyes landed on the far end of the garden where a tall wrought-iron fence bordered the property. It wasn't particularly high, and I was sure I could climb it if I hurried.
With a quick glance over my shoulder, I began moving toward the fence, my heart thudding with each step.
The sounds of the party faded behind me, replaced by the quiet rustle of leaves and the distant hum of the city beyond the estate. I had no plan, no idea what I would do once I got over that fence, but all that mattered now was getting away from Bruno, from the Alfonzo family, from this nightmare.
As I reached the fence, I kicked off my heels and grabbed onto the metal bars, hoisting myself up. The cool iron dug into my palms, but I didn't care. Freedom was so close I could taste it.
"Going somewhere, Maria?" Bruno's voice was low, mocking.
My stomach flipped. I dropped back down from the fence, my bare feet hitting the cold ground. I backed away, but there was nowhere to go. The fence was behind me, and Bruno blocked my only exit.
He took a step closer, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me.
"You didn't really think you could escape, did you?" he asked, his tone filled with condescension. "What were you planning to do, Maria? Run away? Disappear?"
My mouth went dry, and I struggled to find my voice.
"I… I just needed some air."
Bruno's gaze flickered with amusement, his lips curling into a cruel smile.
"Air, huh? Is that why you were halfway over the fence?" He tilted his head, his eyes narrowing. "You really are something, aren't you?"
I couldn't breathe. My chest tightened with fear as he closed the distance between us, his presence suffocating. I felt the fence against my back, cold and unyielding, trapping me in place.
Bruno reached out, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. His touch was light, almost gentle, but it sent a shiver of revulsion through me.
"You won't get far, Maria," he murmured, his voice like velvet wrapping around my throat. "No matter how fast you run, you'll always belong to me."
I flinched, pressing myself harder against the fence, wishing I could disappear into the darkness. His eyes bore into mine, daring me to defy him, to try and escape again.
"I won't tell your parents about this little… stunt," he said, his voice soft but menacing. "But consider this your first lesson, Maria. There's no escaping me."
I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the urge to scream. He was right. There was no way out. No matter what I did, Bruno Alfonzo had already claimed me, and there was nothing I could do to stop it.
He stepped back, his smirk never faltering.
"Now, why don't you come back inside and join the party? After all, we wouldn't want to disappoint your parents, would we?"
I stared at him, my mind spinning with fear, anger, and helplessness. I wanted to scream, to cry, to fight. But I knew it wouldn't make a difference. Bruno held all the power, and I was just a pawn in his game.
Swallowing my pride, I nodded, my throat tight as I forced myself to turn and walk back toward the mansion. Bruno followed behind me, his presence looming like a shadow, a constant reminder that I was trapped.
As I re-entered the ballroom, the bright lights and laughter of the party hit me like a slap. My parents were waiting, their faces beaming with pride, completely unaware of the turmoil raging inside me.
I pasted on a fake smile, pretending everything was fine, but inside, I was screaming.