THE HEIR’S BRIDE

Chapter 5: The Woman In The Shadows

Bianca Ricci stood in front of the tall mirror in her private room at the De Luca mansion, staring at her reflection. Her wine glass was almost empty. The smooth silk of her emerald-green robe hugged her body, and she wore it on purpose to remind everyone, especially him, of what they had lost.

She could still feel Alex’s coldness, cutting deeper than any knife. His words played over in her mind like a sting she couldn’t forget. “You shouldn’t be here,” he had told her.

Bianca’s lips pulled into a bitter smile. Elsa. The name itself felt bitter on her tongue. A clueless girl with no strength, no idea what kind of life she was stepping into. And yet, he chose her?

Bianca’s grip tightened on her wine glass. No, Alex hadn’t chosen Elsa. This was all Victor’s plan.

Still, it burned inside her. Without thinking, she threw the empty glass across the room. It smashed against the wall, the sound sharp and loud, a small relief for the anger boiling inside her.

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts. “Come in,” Bianca called, her voice laced with irritation.

Sofia Caruso stepped in, her movements quiet and precise. Dressed in the unassuming uniform of the household staff, She closed the door behind her and folded her hands neatly in front of her.

“Anything new?” Bianca asked, barely glancing at her.

“Plenty,” Sofia replied with a faint smirk. “Elsa’s best friend showed up today without warning. Isabella Conti. She acts protective, but she’s naive.”

She paused, then added, “And as for your dear Alex… let’s just say he’s keeping his distance. He hasn’t exactly been making his bride-to-be feel welcome.”

Bianca’s smile returned, wicked and calculating. “Of course not. Alex doesn’t want her. He never would. She’s a pawn, nothing more. He’s probably counting the days until he can pawn her off or send her running. But if I play my cards right, I won’t give him the chance.”

“And how do you plan to do that?” Sofia asked, tilting her head.

“By reminding him of what we had,” Bianca said confidently. “Alex is stubborn, but he’s not immune to temptation. I know how to get under his skin, I know what makes him tick.”

“If that is all, you may leave “

“Oh, and Sofia, clean this up,” she said, pointing at the broken glass scattered across the floor.

Once Sofia was gone, Bianca poured herself another glass of wine and sat down in the soft velvet chair by the window. The moonlight shone on her, covering her in a gentle silver glow. As she sipped her drink, her mind wandered back to the past,back to Alex.

Her fingers absentmindedly traced the rim of her dress, caressing it as she thoughts about that night. The night that had changed everything.

Their first night together had been electric. They had met at one of Victor’s infamous parties, where the air was thick with smoke, laughter, and danger. Alex had stood in the corner, aloof , a glass of whiskey in his hands , watching the room with his sharp, calculating eyes. He wasn’t there to mingle. No, Alex De Luca wasn’t the type to indulge in pleasantries. He had been a figure of power, a force that demanded attention without uttering a word.

Bianca had felt the pull from the moment their eyes locked. She had been drawn to him, intrigued by the challenge he represented. She had known then that if she wanted him, she would have to make the first move

It hadn’t taken much. With a confident stride, she had approached him, her body language inviting. Their conversation had been brief, an exchange of flirtatious remarks, but there was something in the way he had looked at her that had spoken louder than words. It was a look that told her everything, he was interested, but he would not be easily claimed.

She had invited him upstairs,Alex hadn’t hesitated

He hadn’t bothered with charm or pretense. He had taken her hand, led her upstairs, and locked the door behind them

Inside the room, the door had clicked shut behind them, sealing them in the intimate space where nothing else mattered. The moment they were alone, the tension between them exploded.When their gazes met, the tension was instant

Bianca shivered at the memory. His hands had been rough, his touch firm and demanding. His lips pressed against hers with a hunger that left her breathless. He had pushed her up against the wall with such force it stole her breath.

She could still feel the heat of his body against hers, his chest pressing close while his hands moved over her, touching and claiming her like she belonged to him. She had gasped into his mouth when his hands slid down her sides, tracing her curves and lighting a fire inside her she never knew existed.

“Are you sure you want this?” he whispered in her ear, his voice low and dangerous.

Bianca could barely hear the words. Her mind was clouded with desire, and nothing else seemed to matter.

“Yes,” she had breathed out, her hands moving to the back of his neck, pulling him closer.

And then, without warning, his hands had found the hem of her dress, lifting it just enough to reveal the soft skin of her thighs. She hadn’t worn any panties that night, she never did when she wanted to be in control.

He had smirked, a playful glint in his eyes as he pulled her toward the center of the room, their lips never breaking apart. His hands were everywhere on her back, her thighs, her neck.

She remembered how he whispered her name in a deep, rough voice as his mouth trailed down her neck.

“Are you sure you can handle me?” he murmured, his fingers skillfully loosening the straps of her dress.

Bianca had responded by pulling him closer, her nails digging into his back as they tumbled onto the bed. His voice thick with lust as his fingers had worked deftly on the clasp of her dress.

The rest of the night had been intense, almost electric. Alex was in control, guiding her, pushing her to the edge, then pulling her back again, only to do it all over. His touch was possessive but careful, always knowing just how far to go.

Bianca had let herself go completely, lost in the feeling of his body against hers, lost in the sensation in the fire they created together.

Bianca swallowed hard, her cheeks flushing with the memory of his body pressed against hers, the way he had made her feel alive and utterly consumed.

Bianca had never forgotten. That night had stayed with her, and the memories of it fueled her rage.

She had tried to break through his walls, to make him see her as more than just a passing moment. But Alex was like a fortress closed off and unbending.

When things ended between them, there were no words, just silence. And that silence had stayed with her, haunting her ever since.

She had vowed to never let him go, and now..

Bianca rose from the chair, her determination renewed. She wouldn’t sit idly by while Elsa Moretti took the life that should have been hers.

By the time dinner was over tonight, she would make her presence known. Elsa might have the title, but Bianca knew how to wield her influence. Alex wouldn’t stay away forever, not when she knew every crack in his armor, every weakness he tried to hide.

With a sly smile, Bianca began to prepare. She chose a sleek black dress that hugged her figure like a second skin, paired with blood-red lipstick that added an edge to her beauty.

Tonight, she would start to remind Alex of what they once had. And Elsa? She wouldn’t even see it coming.