CHAPTERFOUR
962 Words
The sharp buzzing of the alarm clock woke Enzo from sleep. He groaned softly and reached for the other side of the bed but it was empty.
“She didn’t even wait to say good morning,” he muttered, a faint smile tugging at his lips as memories of the night before flashed through his mind.
Marcus.
The thought jolted him fully awake. Marcus hated waiting. Enzo sprang out of bed and headed straight for the shower. The cold water helped clear his head, but his thoughts kept drifting back to Ava.
Minutes later, as he dressed, something caught his eye.
A faint reddish stain on the bedsheet.
He froze.
Slowly, he lifted the duvet, his breath hitching when he saw the blood.
“Virgin…” he whispered.
Something settled firmly in his chest not victory, but determination.
I’ll protect her and make her mine.
*****
Marcus was already seated in the living room when Enzo walked in.
“You took twenty-four hours to get dressed?” Marcus scoffed.
“Sorry,” Enzo replied casually.
Marcus smirked. “So… you finally slept with her.”
Enzo nodded.
“No wonder you took forever to wake up,” Marcus muttered.
*****
Ava sat on the edge of the bed, unmoving.
“Aren’t you coming?” Lily asked, adjusting her apron as she and Mary headed for the door.
“Go ahead,” Ava said softly. “I’ll join you later.”
Mary paused and turned back. “Ava… are you okay?”
Ava hesitated, then whispered, “I’m in pain.”
Lily’s eyes softened. “Was it your first time?”
Ava nodded shyly.
“Oh, sweetheart,” Mary said gently. “That’s normal. I’ll get you a painkiller.”
Mary hurried out but nearly collided with the nurse, Mrs. Zara.
“I was coming to the infirmary,” Mary explained.
“I’ve been assigned by Mr. Lorenzo to attend to someone first,” Mrs. Zara replied.
Mary’s eyes widened. “Then maybe you can see her now?”
Mrs. Zara agreed.
“Ava, she’s here,” Lily called.
“Oh… Miss Ava,” Mrs. Zara said kindly. “You’re the one Mr. Lorenzo asked me to check on.”
“Mrrrr Lorenzooo,” Mary sang excitedly.
Ava’s stomach fluttered. The fact that he cared enough to send a nurse made her cheeks warm.
Mrs. Zara treated her gently, chatting the entire time, promising to check on her often.
As Lily and Mary were leaving, they ran into one of Enzo’s men.
“Miss Ava,” he said respectfully.
“Yes?”
“By Mr. Lorenzo’s order, you’re to pack your belongings. You’ve been assigned a private room.”
“My own room?” Ava asked nervously. “I’m fine here…”
“No one refuses his offer,” Lily cut in firmly as Mary was already folding Ava’s clothes.
*****
Ava’s new room was directly beside Enzo’s.
“Wow,” Mary breathed, staring around.
“Even Ophelia’s room doesn’t look like this,” Lily added.
“Ava,” Mary teased, “what did you do to him?”
Ava only sighed and lay down, insisting they stay with her a little longer.
“I don’t want Ophelia looking for us,” Mary whispered nervously.
“She won’t know where we are,” Lily said confidently, already sinking into the sofa. “Let’s just rest today.”
Ava slept deeply, her body finally giving in to exhaustion.
When she woke, the room was quiet. Lily and Mary were gone.
She stretched and walked lazily toward the bathroom. After her bath, she stepped out water dripping off her body.
Someone was in the room.
Enzo sat on the sofa, watching her with a faint smile.
She gasped, instantly covering herself.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“This is my house,” he said calmly, rising to his feet. “I can go wherever I want.”
He guided her gently to the bedside, sitting down and pulling her between his knees.
“How are you feeling?” he asked, brushing his hand along her thigh.
“Better,” Ava replied, avoiding his eyes.
“Next time,” he said lightly, “don’t walk out without a towel.”
“Okay,” she murmured.
“Get dressed. We’re having dinner together,” he added, placing a phone beside her. “It’s yours.”
Ava picked it up slowly, her heart bulging. She hadn’t owned a phone since her father’s downfall.
Two maids entered moments later.
“We’re here to dress you.”
“I can dress myself,” Ava scoffed.
They only smiled.
When she finally looked at herself in the mirror, she smiled softly. She loved the woman staring back.
*****
As she stepped outside, whispers followed her like a breeze.
“She’s beautiful.”
“Look at those curves.”
“I heard she’s Mr. Lorenzo’s girlfriend.”
The last whisper stung.
She forced herself to stay calm as she climbed into the car where Enzo, Marcus, and Tyler waited. Enzo’s gaze lingered proudly on her.
The dinner hall buzzed with voices when they arrived.
“She looks like a model.”
“My future wife?”
“Where did he find her?”
Enzo smiled and took Ava’s arm.
“Sorry we’re late,” Marcus said as they sat.
“Still arrogant as ever,” a man remarked coldly.
“I don’t owe anyone an explanation,” Enzo replied.
“That’s our elder brother, Nick,” Tyler whispered to Ava.
Ava looked up and froze.
The resemblance was unmistakable.
Throughout dinner, Nick’s gaze never left her.
Later, as Enzo’s car drove away, Nick remained standing in the shadows.
“She looks familiar,” he murmured into the night.
- Writer
