LA CONTESSA'S SEDUCTION

LCS 4

"So you really did that? You really are incredible! You’re the only person who can get away with messing with Nikolai like that!" Lara said, looking absolutely amazed.

"I just thought it would be more fun to attend that dinner party. I wanted to see his reaction, especially regarding what people are saying about that woman from another planet," I replied with a laugh.

"For sure, you’re really going to get it later when you get home. Is it World War 35? Or 36?" she added, giggling.

She was right. Nikolai and I would definitely fight later. I could feel how hard he was trying to control his anger earlier.

"I'm just helping him move on," I said casually. Lara raised an eyebrow.

"Aren't you scared he might divorce you? And if that happens, you’ll be back to being poor again..."

"Nope, he can't divorce me," I answered confidently. I saw her eyebrows shoot up again.

"Let me remind you, girl, your contract is already over. A contract you broke, by the way." She emphasized the word 'broke', bringing the memory back to me.

"He still needs me, just like I need him. So I think we're even," I said. She just shook her head at my response.

"Why are you so sure he won't leave you? What are you planning now?" She looked at me suspiciously, so I raised an eyebrow at her.

"Don't look at me like I'm about to commit a crime—"

"Why? Aren't you?"

This time, my expression turned serious and I gave her a sharp look. She seemed to realize her mistake and quickly apologized.

"I broke the rules because his dad found out about the contract. So, he made a deal, he wants grandchildren. Nikolai didn't know about that."

"WHAT? How did his dad find out?" Lara asked, looking shocked. She can be so dramatic sometimes.

"He saw the contract. He promised me that Nikolai would never leave me. His dad prefers me over Nikolai's precious 'angel'," I explained proudly. She clapped her hands as if she was in awe.

"You really have your ways, Silene—oops, I mean Constancia!" I just rolled my eyes at her.

I really do have a unique charm. It’s just Nikolai who refuses to see it! I can do whatever he wants. I can give him everything.

The room was silent when I entered. From here, I could clearly hear the water running in the shower.

He was bathing. I was planning to join him, but I realized it wasn't the best time. I knew how angry he was, and I needed to prepare myself.

A moment later, the water stopped. A sign that he was done. Soon after, he walked out of the bathroom wearing only a towel.

"Is that your plan?" he started. His voice was cold, laced with irritation.

I didn't answer. Instead, I sat on the bed, leaning back on my hands. I looked up at him as he approached.

"Is that how you pamper your husband?" I asked sarcastically.

I saw him take a sharp breath before facing me again. "Are you really trying to fight me, Constancia?" His jaw clenched as he looked at me, seemingly amused but clearly furious.

I stood up and caressed his chest. "No, Honey. I thought you wanted the Marquezes to see us, that's why I said those things," I lied. He quickly removed my hand from his chest.

"We already talked about this, didn't we? But you still do whatever you want! Let me remind you that I am the one who makes the decisions in this relationship."

I just smiled and sat back down in front of him, leaning back on my hands again.

"But I can turn the tables just with a single word?" His jaw clenched even harder in anger.

I stood up and walked closer to him. "Honey, don't be mad at me. I'm doing this all for you."

"For me? Or for your f*****g self? You are so selfish, Constancia!" he shouted angrily.

"I will show you who makes the rules here," he said seriously, dragging me towards a secret door.

"I didn't do anything wrong!" I said. I knew he was furious, that's why he was taking me here. We entered an elevator that went down underground.

My heart was pounding hard. I knew exactly what he was going to do. "Honey, we can talk about this!" I said softly, hoping to change his mind, but it seemed hopeless. He just stared blankly at the elevator doors until they opened.

He pulled my arm out and dragged me towards another door. We were in the underground Chamber.

It was incredibly dark and silent. Nikolai turned on the lights, but they were dim, leaving the room mostly shadowed. He continued pulling me until he pushed me onto a sofa.

"Honey, don't do this to me!" I said, my voice trembling with fear.

"Why wouldn't I?" he asked coldly as he started arranging things. He took items from a cabinet and placed them one by one on the table.

"Take off your clothes..." he ordered. His voice was low but terrifying.

I stood up to reason with him. "Honey, we can talk—"

"Do not make me repeat myself, Constancia. Strip. Now." Every word he spoke sent chills down my spine.

"You want me naked just to prove that I'm weak?" I asked sarcastically, though my voice shook.

His expression darkened even more, and a devilish smirk slowly appeared. "Weak? No. Naked, so you remember that without me, you are nothing but skin and bones. Now strip."

I took a deep breath and slowly removed everything I was wearing. I would have preferred us to be equal, but no, I knew he was going to be cruel. I knew there was no escape, no matter how stubborn I acted.

My dress fell to the floor. "Satisfied?"

He looked at me from head to toe, scrutinizing every inch of my body. I closed my eyes as Nikolai whipped the whip through the air, the sound proving how strong and heavy it was. That sound alone made my body tremble.

Nikolai stepped closer and grabbed my face roughly, forcing me to look at him.

"You think you can play games with me? Humiliate me with your schemes? Let's see how long that mouth of yours lasts," he whispered coldly, dragging the whip against the floor. "You will learn that every betrayal comes with pain."

"You can't do this to me! I'm not just some w***e you hired! I'm your wife!" I shouted at him in frustration and stood up. But he grabbed me quickly and pushed me back.

He shoved me toward the chains. Metal rattled as he bound my wrists high above my head, stretching my body taut. I tested the chains, but they held fast. I was breathing quickly.

The first whip struck my back. I gasped, but I remained silent despite the pain. "Count," he commanded.

"One..." I answered shakily.

The whip struck again, harder and more painful this time. It felt like fire burning my skin.

"Two..."

The next strike wasn't on my back. He targeted my thigh, causing my knees to almost give way. I pulled against the chains, my body convulsing. It stung so badly!

He walked around me like a predator inspecting its prey. "Do you feel it, Constancia? Every strike carving away your arrogance?"

I bit my lip. My entire body was throbbing. I tried my best not to scream or cry. "You'll have to do better than that to silence me."

He let out a dark laugh. "Oh, brave girl! That's what I like!" He put down the whip and picked up a riding crop from the table. Slowly, he dragged it down my neck, over my chest, and down to my stomach. He stopped between my legs, right against the thin fabric covering me. "Pain is just one language. I know many."

I swallowed hard. "You wouldn't dare—"

I screamed as the crop struck my thigh. My voice cracked from the intensity. It left a bright red mark on my skin.

"Four..." I croaked.

The crop struck again, harder this time, making me scream out in agony.

"Five..."

He grabbed my face forcefully, forcing me to look him in the eye.

"Is this what you want, Constancia? To be f****d without love? To be used until you can't even remember your own name?"

I was breathing rapidly. My body felt both terrified and strangely heated. I smiled bitterly. "If this is your way of loving me, Nikolai... then maybe I want more of it." Even though I felt so weak, I still managed to answer him back like that.

For a long moment, he just stared at me. Then suddenly, he let go. He walked out of the room as if nothing had happened. I was exhausted, but I couldn't help but smile, I had won again.

A little while later, a maid came in and helped remove the chains. She assisted me out of the room and into the elevator.

When we got back to the bedroom, she helped me change, cleaned my wounds, and applied medicine to them.