Chapter 2 - A MARRIAGE WITHOUT A WEDDING NIGHT
The next morning, I woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar curtains.
For one blissful second, I forgot where I was.
Then I saw the wedding ring.
And remembered everything.
A knock came at the door.
“Mrs. Viera?”
I sat up.
“Yes?”
A woman entered carrying a breakfast tray.
She was in her fifties, with kind brown eyes and silver hair.
“My name is Teresa.”
She smiled gently.
“I manage the household.”
I nodded.
“Good morning.”
Teresa placed the tray on the table.
“Mr. Viera asked me to make sure you had everything you needed.”
I almost laughed.
Of course he had.
Elio Viera could arrange breakfast.
Security.
A wedding.
An entire life.
Everything except a genuine conversation.
“Thank you,” I said.
Teresa hesitated.
Then asked quietly:
“Are you all right?”
The question surprised me.
I looked at her.
For a moment, I wanted to tell her everything.
Instead, I smiled.
“I'm fine.”
Teresa studied me.
Then nodded.
But before leaving, she said:
“If you need anything, ask for me.”
That afternoon, I explored the East Wing.
There were six rooms.
A library.
A sitting room.
A small conservatory.
And a locked door at the end of the hallway.
I tried the handle.
Nothing.
“Looking for something?”
I turned.
Elio stood behind me.
He wore a charcoal suit.
No tie.
His expression was unreadable.
“Just exploring,” I said.
His eyes moved toward the locked door.
“That room is private.”
I raised an eyebrow.
“Of course.”
He looked at me.
“Ginevra.”
“Yes?”
“We need to talk.”
I crossed my arms.
“About what?”
“Our arrangement.”
I laughed.
“Marriage, Elio. The word is marriage.”
His jaw tightened.
He took a breath.
“I understand you're unhappy.”
I stared.
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Wonderful.”
I stepped closer.
“Then let's discuss the part where you expect me to produce an heir like a valuable mare.”
Elio went still.
For a moment, I thought he might become angry.
Instead, he looked away.
Then said:
“I should not have said that.”
I blinked.
“What?”
He turned back.
“I was speaking carelessly.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Carelessly?”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
I studied him.
“Do you expect me to sleep with you?”
His expression hardened.
“Not unless you want to.”
The answer surprised me.
I stared.
He continued.
“I won't force you.”
For the first time since the wedding, I felt something loosen inside my chest.
Not trust.
Not affection.
But relief.
I looked at him.
“And the heir?”
Elio closed his eyes.
“That was an expectation I had no right to place on you.”
I swallowed.
He looked at me.
“You can have your own rooms.”
I nodded.
“And my own life?”
A pause.
Then:
“We'll discuss it.”
I smiled without humor.
“Then we have a great deal to discuss.”
Elio almost smiled.
Almost.
Then he turned and walked away.
And I realized something.
May you like
The ruthless mafia boss might be harder to understand than I had expected.
But he was not entirely incapable of listening.
