The Bridegroom's Addiction

Chapter.4

Amelia's Pov Enzo was speaking on the phone, his voice deep and menacing. "...Viktor, do you think you can simply ignore a debt worth millions of dollars? You're taking a risky gamble, buddy."The luxurious jail that now served as my residence started to feel more and more constricting. Enzo was always busy, his energy ready to burst at any moment. I would see him walking back and forth in the study, wearing a worried expression, making phone calls that contained threats and hidden messages.One very stressful afternoon, I felt compelled to approach the study door, attracted by the furious vibe coming from inside. Reluctantly, I glanced through a crevice, feeling my heart thumping in my chest.After a brief pause, during which he tightened his jaw, he resumed speaking with a threatening tone in his voice. "Viktor, let's be perfectly clear about this. You will settle your debts, either by one means or another. If you believe Monte Carlo is a secure place, reconsider your thoughts. I can reach places much farther than you realize."A chill descended along my back. This man, Enzo Hernandez, was a merciless entrepreneur who instilled terror even in the walls.Slamming the phone down, he ran his hand through his hair in frustration. I quickly moved back as his eyes quickly shifted to the door, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.Later on in the evening, a heavy tension lingered between us. We were planned to go to a fancy event thrown by my father's main rival. Enzo stood at the door, looking sharp in a tuxedo, his gaze focused on me."You look... adequate," he eventually stated, the term reluctantly serving as a compliment.I bristled. "And you look like you'd rather be negotiating a multi-million dollar oil deal." A flicker of a smile played on his lips. "Perhaps I would. But duty calls." He extended his arm to me in a surprisingly formal manner. I paused briefly before placing my hand in the bend of his elbow. I felt a shock run through me as soon as he touched me, igniting a feeling that I couldn't put into words.The event was an oppressive experience, filled with insincere smiles and superficial talks. Enzo appeared comfortable, radiating charm as he navigated the room, making deals and creating partnerships. I observed him from the outskirts with a strange combination of fascination and fear swirling in my stomach.As the evening progressed, the atmosphere became saturated with champagne and confidential murmurs. Enzo left the conversation briefly, then came back, staring directly at me."Are you prepared to depart?" he inquired, his voice rumbling softly.A feeling of relief flooded through me. "I said, following him out of the stuffy ballroom, more than you realize."The journey back was characterized by an uncomfortable quietness. Enzo's voice was terse as we finally reached the driveway.Amelia, it's time for you to rest and get some sleep. Tomorrow we have a lot on our plate.I gave a brisk nod and quickly slipped into the refreshing night breeze. My room, once a place of refuge, now seemed like a luxurious prison. Getting into bed, I felt anxious about having to share a space with Enzo. The memory of his cruel behavior earlier that day replayed in my head, making me shudder.I couldn't fall asleep. Every time the floorboard made a noise, I became tense and anxious. Afterward, the door opened slightly with a creak, and Enzo entered. The only clothing he wore were dark silk pants, with his exposed chest and strong arms shining in the moonlight.I caught my breath. "What is your current activity?" I murmured, my voice just barely louder than a squeak.He paused in the center of the room, his eyes scanning me up and down. "In accordance with the agreement, we should share a bed."I was overwhelmed by panic. "The agreement does not mention anything about..."He interrupted me, his voice husky, to mention specific implications. "Consequences of getting married."My chest pounded with the beating of my heart. "Enzo, this marriage is not legitimate! It is a...business agreement."He advanced towards me slowly, closing the gap between us with every step. "Really?" he responded, his voice a quiet dare. "Is there something else at play, something quietly brewing beneath the facade?"His eyes locked onto mine, their depth and hunger almost palpable. I gasped for air, unable to breathe. Unspoken tension filled the air with a powerful blend of fear and an exciting thrill. He closed the gap with a single predatory step, causing the distance between us to vanish. My back collided with the headboard, the cool wood creating a vivid contrast to the warmth coming from his body. He inclined closer, his breath heating my ear.He whispered softly, suggesting that we take a cautious approach, his voice filled with a seductive rasp. "Alternatively, we can investigate the options."My thoughts were a storm of mixed feelings. I felt a battle between fear and a new, unfamiliar longing that stirred deep inside of me. His gentle touch caused a shiver to run down my spine initially. His fingers lightly touched my cheek, then moved down my neck, pausing on the gentle curve of my collarbone.All of a sudden, a beam of moonlight captured my attention. He was undoing his shirt, the silk sliding off to expose a wide, strong chest adorned with a variety of tattoos. I felt a strong fascination conflicting with the growing fear inside of me. I looked at the detailed designs, a combination of swirling patterns and fierce animals.Then I saw it.A stylized skull on the back of his neck, with its ghostly white teeth gleaming back at me. I felt a sudden chill of realization sweep through me, taking my breath away.The identical skull with the detailed design was on the stranger's neck, the person who had sparked a flame in me a few weeks earlier. The realization struck me like a massive tidal wave.Enzo, now my husband, was the same powerful and merciless businessman with whom I had a passionate and unexpected night. The person I had assumed was a brief meeting, a recollection overshadowed by betrayal and desperation, had now become a constant presence in my life.The disclosure caused a sudden surge of mixed feelings within me, blending fear with an unexplained excitement. Enzo stopped when he noticed my movement, his deep eyes looking into mine."Amelia?" he whispered, a touch of doubt in his voice.However, I was unable to communicate verbally. The heavy truth lingered silently in the atmosphere, accusingly. Silently, my lips formed a question so shocking and unbelievable that just thinking of voicing it gave me chills."Enzo," I whispered, the words almost inaudible, "are you...the guy from that night?"