Chapter seven:A life she never choose
1390 Words
By the time Sofia finally got back to the De Santis mansion, it was already afternoon.
The moment she entered her room, she shut the door behind her.
She was exhausted.
She went straight to the bathroom and took a long, refreshing shower, hoping it would somehow wash away the frustration of the past few days.
It didn't.
When she came out, she changed into something comfortable and collapsed onto the enormous bed.
She stared at the ceiling.
She was tired.
Completely drained.
But she didn't want to sleep.
Sleeping only meant waking up and remembering that everything was real.
Her eyes wandered around the room until they landed on the enormous television mounted on the wall.
She hadn't even bothered turning it on since she'd arrived.
What was the point?
She wasn't interested in television.
She was interested in getting out of this prison.
Still, boredom eventually won.
Sofia grabbed the remote and switched it on.
The screen immediately lit up.
She froze.
A familiar face appeared.
Her own.
Beside Matteo's.
Sofia sat upright.
“What the...?”
The headline stretched across the bottom of the screen.
MATTEO DE SANTIS AND A MYSTERY WOMAN — SECRET MARRIAGE?
Sofia's mouth dropped open.
A young female reporter stood outside what appeared to be one of Matteo's businesses.
“According to the reports we've received,” the reporter said, “Matteo De Santis is reportedly married to the mystery woman seen beside him yesterday.”
She smiled toward the camera.
“This has certainly come as a shock to many people, especially the countless women who have spent years hoping that the billionaire would finally settle down.”
Sofia rolled her eyes.
“That wicked man.”
She grabbed the remote and quickly changed the channel.
Unfortunately, the next channel was also showing the news.
But this time, the headline was different.
BODY DISCOVERED IN ABANDONED WAREHOUSE
Sofia stared at the screen.
A reporter was standing behind a police barrier.
“The body of a man was discovered earlier today in an abandoned warehouse. Authorities have not yet released the identity of the victim, and investigations are currently underway—”
Sofia's entire body went still.
Her stomach tightened.
She didn't know why, but something about the report made her uncomfortable.
She quickly turned off the television.
“Nope.”
She threw the remote onto the bed.
“I don't want to know.”
She lay down again and stared at the ceiling.
There was only one thing she cared about now.
School.
She had been in her final year before all of this happened.
Her projects were unfinished.
Her classes were unfinished.
Her entire future had suddenly been placed on pause because her parents had decided to hand her over to a man she barely knew.
Sofia clenched her jaw.
“No.”
She sat up.
“I am finishing school.”
Whether Matteo liked it or not.
She would figure out how to make him understand.
Eventually, exhaustion caught up with her.
Sofia fell asleep.
When she woke up, the room was dark.
She blinked several times.
Night had already fallen.
Sofia stretched and sat up.
Then she heard footsteps outside her room.
Slow.
Heavy.
Familiar.
She immediately knew who it was.
Matteo.
Sofia climbed out of bed.
She was wearing a simple short-flowing nightdress that reached well below her knees.
She walked into the hallway and stopped outside Matteo's bedroom.
She raised her hand to knock.
Before her knuckles could touch the door—
It opened.
Sofia nearly jumped.
Matteo stood there.
He was shirtless, his expression completely unreadable.
Sofia's eyes widened for half a second before she immediately looked away.
“What do you want?” he asked coldly.
“I... I...” Sofia stammered.
She cleared her throat.
“I want to talk to you.”
Matteo stepped aside.
“Okay. Come in.”
Sofia stared at the room.
“Your room?”
Matteo raised an eyebrow.
“We're married, Sofia.”
She scoffed.
“Keep dreaming.”
She crossed her arms.
“This isn't marriage. It's bondage. You forced me into this.”
Matteo's expression hardened slightly.
“Forced you?”
He scoffed.
“Are you done?”
Sofia opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
She had almost forgotten why she'd come.
“Wait.”
Matteo sighed.
“If you have something to say, make it quick.”
Sofia took a breath.
“I want to talk about my school.”
He waited.
“I need to go back. I have to finish my project. This is my final year, and I can't afford to have a carryover because of this marriage.”
Matteo stared at her.
“Okay.”
Sofia blinked.
“Okay?”
“Are you done?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
He turned slightly.
“No problem. We'll talk about it properly tomorrow.”
Sofia's shoulders relaxed.
Then Matteo added,
“Or better yet, when you're ready to go, the guards will take you.”
Her relief disappeared.
“But there's a condition.”
Sofia's heart skipped.
“What?”
“You're not staying there.”
Her eyebrows shot up.
“What?”
“After school, you come home.”
She stared at him.
“The driver and some of my guards will accompany you every day until you're finished with whatever project you're working on.”
Sofia's face immediately twisted with anger.
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
“I'm not a child, Mr. Matteo.”
“I didn't say you were.”
“Then why are you treating me like one?”
Matteo's eyes narrowed.
“Because you're now connected to me.”
Sofia stared at him.
“And?”
“And there are people who would use you to get to me.”
Her anger faltered for a moment.
She hadn't expected that answer.
But she quickly recovered.
“I'm perfectly capable of protecting myself.”
Matteo almost smiled.
Almost.
“You have no idea what you're talking about.”
“I know that I don't need an army following me to school!”
“If you can't comply, then I'm afraid, Sofia, you'll have to stay here.”
The words landed heavily.
Sofia stared at him.
“You cannot be serious.”
“I am.”
“I have a life!”
“And you can continue living it.”
“Under your rules!”
“Yes.”
Sofia's eyes widened.
“The audacity.”
Matteo simply looked at her.
“I guess we're done.”
“Excuse me? I'm still talk—”
The door closed.
Right in her face.
Sofia stood there in disbelief.
For several seconds, she didn't move.
Then her face twisted with anger.
“The audacity!”
She lifted her leg and kicked the bottom of his door.
“You don't treat a lady like that, you i***t!”
Silence.
No response.
Sofia stormed back toward her room.
“Rude billionaire.”
She slammed her bedroom door.
The next morning, Sofia reluctantly went downstairs for breakfast.
She was still annoyed about the previous night.
She entered the dining room and immediately saw Matteo sitting at the table.
He was already eating.
Sofia stopped.
She considered turning around.
Maybe she could just go back upstairs.
But before she could leave, Matteo spoke without looking up.
“I'm done.”
He picked up his suit jacket.
“You can stay and eat. The dining room is all yours.”
Sofia stared at him.
He stood.
His guards immediately moved toward him.
Within seconds, Matteo was walking out of the mansion.
Sofia remained standing there.
She frowned.
What is wrong with this man?
Last night, he had practically shut a door in her face.
Now he was acting like nothing had happened.
Like they hadn't argued.
Like she wasn't still furious with him.
Sofia slowly sat down.
“Well...”
She looked at the food.
“At least the food doesn't talk.”
She began eating.
After breakfast, she returned to her room.
She fell backward onto the bed and stared at the ceiling.
No school yet.
No friends.
No sister.
No freedom.
Just a giant mansion, endless rules, and a husband who seemed determined to make every conversation with her a battle.
Sofia sighed dramatically.
“What a boring life.”
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