Taking Her Power Back
1291 Words
Gia POV
Gia stomach was in knots—and it had been in knots ever since she had found out about Leo’s mistress. She was used to mistresses by now. It’s all their marriage had been about: anger, love and mistresses.
Leo was happiest and most loving when his d**k had been inside another woman. That was just how he was. She didn’t agree with it, but she’d grown used to it.
But today…was the day she was moving in. Aubrielle.
From the moment Gia woke up next to Luca—who was snuggled into her—and stepped into the hallway, she could see the staff readying everything for her arrival.
It was sickening. She’d thought Leo had only said that to hurt her—but to know he was actually going through with it…
“Good morning amore,” Leo purred when she entered the kitchen. She just walked past him, pouring herself a cup of coffee before she sat down at the kitchen island.
“Don’t be angry,” Leo sighed, coming up behind her. She’d been sleeping in Luca’s room for over a week now without saying a single word to Leo. He—of course—had responded like a child. Tantrums, threats, and now, trying to be loving again.
“Amore, aren’t you going to say something? I’m sorry. I should have been more careful. I shouldn’t have gotten her pregnant. But what’s done is done,” Leo started kissing her shoulder. She wanted to pull away, to react, but nothing would hit Leo as hard as just ignoring him.
He sighed, but pulled away without pressuring her, but she knew she was pushing his buttons—and she loved it. She smirked behind her coffee cup.
Let him gloat. He’d be choking on that smug smile soon enough.
Gia heard the car pull up and couldn’t help but sneak a glance out of the window.
A sleek, silver convertible pulled up to the front of the estate with all the dramatics of a movie scene. One of the younger staff members rushed to open the door, and out stepped her—long blonde waves, oversized sunglasses, and a pout that said she was already unimpressed.
Aubriella.
She barely looked older than twenty-one. Tight designer dress, heels much too high for the gravel path, and an attitude that swept into the house before she even said a word.
Leo was waiting near the doorway, smiling in a way Gia hadn’t seen in years. Wide. Eager. Youthful.
Like a man in love.
Gia stood frozen in the hallway, coffee still in hand, her heart beating too loud in her chest.
“There’s my bella,” Leo said, moving forward and kissing Aubriella’s cheek—then her lips. He brushed her hair off her shoulder, whispered something in her ear that made her giggle. It was soft—softer than he’d ever been with Gia. It wasn’t lust. It wasn’t dominance.
It was affection.
And it twisted like a knife in Gia’s stomach.
“I hope everything is to your liking,” Leo murmured, hand on the small of Aubriella’s back. “If anything’s missing, just tell one of the staff. Gia always keeps things too neat, but I’ve had them redo your room exactly how you like it.”
Your room.
Gia’s fingers clenched around her coffee mug as they walked up the stairs. He took her straight to her room. Gia was just about to wake up Luca but couldn't help but pause and listen in, wondering what this woman was all about.
Aubriella slid her sunglasses down her nose and looked around with a sneer. “Ugh. The lighting’s all wrong. I’ll need new curtains. And the closet is too small. Didn’t you say I’d get her walk-in?”
Leo laughed like it was the most reasonable request in the world. “We’ll take care of it, baby. Don’t worry.”
Baby.
Gia didn’t flinch. Not outwardly. But she could feel something crumbling inside her, something cold and old that she thought she’d buried a long time ago.
Aubriella finally noticed her, eyes sweeping over her with a curious smirk.
“Oh, you must be her,” she said, gesturing lazily. “The wife.”
Gia offered a smile. Sweet. Deadly.
“Welcome to my home,” she said calmly. “Let me know if you need help adjusting. I’ve had years of practice.”
Leo’s brows twitched, but Gia didn’t wait for a reaction. She turned on her heel and walked toward Luca's room. Her room now—heels echoing like gunfire in the silence behind her.
She didn’t slam the bedroom door. She didn’t cry.
Because she had a plan.
And now… now she had a reason to make it hurt.
It had been days now. Days of Aubriella walking around, flaunting around the manor, complaining about everything and everyone. Gia clenched her hands into fists every time another insult came her way—while Leo smirked.
She knew just what he was doing. He was punishing her for their fight in the office, and for her sleeping in Luca’s room—he was waiting for her to crack, to make it up to him. To beg him.
But Gia was done playing his game. She’d been doing that for years, and what had it gotten her? Fear and a pregnant mistress. It was time to take her power back—to be more than a ghost of her old self.
When she’d met Dante, she had a smart mouse, independence and sass, but Leo had not liked any of that.
Gia was quietly enjoying her morning coffee in the kitchen, with Leo staring at her. She could feel his eyes on her, as if he wanted to say something, but neither of them spoke.
She could hear the distinct sound of heels—coming closer.
Aubriella entered the kitchen. She tossed her hair back and kissed Leo full on the mouth like Gia wasn’t sitting right there.
“Morning, baby,” Aubriella purred, sliding into Leo’s lap without hesitation.
Gia watched, calm as ever, lips pursed around her coffee like it was just another Tuesday.
Leo smirked. “Morning, princess.”
Luca walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.
“Hi, mommy,” he mumbled sleepily.
Gia’s smile softened. “Good morning, sweetheart. Go grab your cereal, I’ll pour the milk.”
But Aubriella’s gaze snapped to Luca like he was a stray cat.
“He just walks in whenever he wants?” she scoffed. “You don’t have, like… a nanny for him?”
Gia’s body went still. “Luca,” she said gently, “why don’t you eat in the den today, hmm?”
He nodded, sensing the tension.
When he left, Gia stood slowly and walked around the island. Her heels clicked against the tile—measured, sharp.
She leaned in, her voice low but lethal.
“If you ever speak about my son again like that—or disrespect me in front of him—I’ll kill you in your sleep.”
Aubriella gasped, whipping around to Leo. “Did you hear that? Aren’t you going to say something?!”
But Leo… just laughed. “Feisty. I like it when you’re jealous, amore.”
Gia turned her eyes on him. “Oh, I’m not jealous. You deserve each other.”
Still, Leo’s smirk didn’t falter. He thought he was winning. Winning her back.
But little did he know that would never happen again. Gia was going to wreak havoc like she’d never done before.
It was her time now. Time to do what she wanted. And who she wanted.
And she had just the person in mind.
- Writer
