Opening Scene: A Cage with No Keys
Aurora sat in the massive bedroom, staring at the locked door. She had spent the past hour testing the windows, checking the walls for any weakness—anything to escape this nightmare. But it was useless. The walls were thick, the windows reinforced, and the door locked from the outside.
She was trapped.
Her gaze fell on the silk nightgown laid out on the bed, a silent demand from Lorenzo. She clenched her fists. He might have forced her into this marriage, but she refused to let him control everything.
The door swung open.
Lorenzo entered, his presence overwhelming the room. He was dressed in a crisp black shirt, sleeves rolled up, exposing the tattooed veins of his forearms. His cold, dark eyes landed on her, and a slow smirk touched his lips.
"You didn't change." His voice was amused, but there was an underlying edge of authority.
Aurora lifted her chin. "I'm not your doll."
Lorenzo's smirk disappeared. In two steps, he was in front of her, his hand gripping the edge of the dresser beside her, trapping her in place.
"I told you before," he murmured, his voice dangerously low. "Obedience is the only thing keeping you alive."
Aurora's heart pounded, but she refused to back down. "Then kill me."
For a second, silence stretched between them. His jaw tensed. Then, without a word, he stepped back.
"You want to play games, dolcezza?" He leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "Fine. But remember this—you're mine now. And you will learn to obey."
With that, he turned and left, slamming the door behind him.
The First Act of Rebellion
Later that evening, Aurora was escorted downstairs by one of Lorenzo's men. The dining hall was grand, with a long table set for two. Lorenzo sat at the head, lazily swirling a glass of wine between his fingers.
She sat as far from him as possible.
"I don't bite, Aurora," he said smoothly.
"Only when you want to," she muttered.
A low chuckle. "Smart girl."
The food was extravagant—roast lamb, truffle pasta, wine that probably cost more than her rent back home. But Aurora didn't touch anything.
Lorenzo noticed. "Not hungry?"
She met his gaze with quiet defiance. "I don't eat with strangers."
His smile vanished.
"Eat."
"No."
The air crackled with tension. His fingers tapped against the glass, and she could see it—the irritation, the way he was barely restraining himself.
She thought he might lash out. Instead, he leaned back and smirked.
"I'll make you beg for food soon enough."
A Failed Escape Attempt
That night, Aurora didn't sleep. She waited.
At 2 AM, the mansion was silent. She tiptoed to the window, using a decorative chair to reach the ledge. With her heart pounding, she managed to force it open just enough to squeeze through.
The cold night air hit her face as she dropped onto the ground outside.
Her breath hitched. She was out.
Her bare feet barely made it across the lawn when a sharp voice cut through the night.
"Going somewhere, Mrs. Romano?"
She froze.
Lorenzo stood by the main gate, hands in his pockets, as if he had been waiting for this moment. His guards flanked him, their expressions unreadable.
Her stomach twisted. He knew. He had been expecting this.
"I warned you," he murmured, stepping closer. "Disobedience has consequences."
Before she could react, he lifted her effortlessly, throwing her over his shoulder like she weighed nothing.
Aurora kicked, struggling. "Let me go!"
"Not in this lifetime," he replied smoothly.
As he carried her back inside, her mind raced. She needed a new plan.
Because one thing was clear Lorenzo would never let her go.