The Unholy Intrusion

Chapter 14: The Meeting and the Mask

Selena felt the air grow thick with tension as they arrived at the Gallo family estate. The grand mansion stood tall, casting long shadows across the driveway as the early morning sun illuminated the well-manicured lawns. This was the moment she had been dreading—a face-to-face meeting with Mark’s grandfather. The man whose legacy she was supposed to be carrying forward. The man she was about to deceive.

Mark was silent as they exited the car, his expression unreadable. Liam opened the door for Selena, and she stepped out, her heart pounding in her chest. She smoothed the fabric of her dress, forcing a smile onto her face as they walked up the stone steps toward the massive front doors.

Inside, the house was just as grand, with high ceilings and elegant decor. Selena barely had time to take it in before they were led to a room where Mark’s grandfather, Don Lorenzo Gallo, was waiting. He sat in a plush armchair, his posture straight despite his age, his sharp eyes watching them as they entered. The weight of his gaze settled on Selena almost immediately, and she felt the full force of his scrutiny.

"Ah, so this is the woman my grandson has been hiding," Don Lorenzo said, his voice deep and commanding, though not unkind. "I must say, Mark, you’ve done well."

Mark glanced at Selena, his face carefully blank. "Grandfather, this is Selena."

Don Lorenzo stood and approached Selena, his cane tapping lightly against the polished floor as he moved. When he reached her, he took her hand in his, his grip surprisingly strong for an elderly man.

"You’re even more beautiful than I expected," Don Lorenzo said, his sharp eyes softening as he looked at her. "And to think, you’re carrying the next generation of Gallos. I’m pleased."

Selena’s smile faltered slightly, but she forced herself to hold it together. "Thank you, Mr. Gallo. It’s an honor to meet you."

"Don Lorenzo, please," he corrected, his tone warm. "We’re family now, after all."

The word *family* made Selena’s stomach twist. She shot a quick glance at Mark, who seemed as stiff and uncomfortable as she felt. But he nodded slightly, encouraging her to play along.

Don Lorenzo turned back to Mark, his expression shifting from warm to stern in an instant. "Now, Mark," he began, his voice carrying an unmistakable edge of authority, "you’ve done something very irresponsible. Getting this lovely young woman pregnant before marriage—what were you thinking?"

Selena’s heart skipped a beat. *This is it*, she thought. *The real pressure begins now.*

Mark cleared his throat, standing straighter. "Grandfather, it was unexpected. But Selena and I are handling things."

Don Lorenzo shook his head, clearly displeased. "Handling things? You call this handling things? You’ve got a baby on the way, and you’re not married. What kind of example is that for our family? For the Gallo name?"

Mark shifted, his jaw tightening. "We need time, Grandfather. We want to do things right, but rushing into a wedding isn’t the answer."

Selena held her breath, silently thankful that Mark was stepping in to delay the inevitable. She couldn’t bear the thought of having to go through with a wedding, even if it was fake.

Don Lorenzo studied Mark for a moment, his stern expression softening slightly. "Time, you say?" He glanced at Selena, his eyes assessing her carefully. "Well, I suppose I can understand wanting to do things properly. But don’t take too long. The sooner you marry, the better it will be for the child’s future."

Selena swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the lie pressing down on her chest. She nodded politely, not trusting herself to speak.

Don Lorenzo seemed satisfied with their response, though, and the conversation shifted to lighter topics—mostly about the Gallo family’s legacy and his excitement about becoming a great-grandfather. Selena played her part, smiling and nodding when appropriate, but inside, her nerves were frayed.

After what felt like an eternity, the meeting finally came to an end. Don Lorenzo wished them well and reminded them to consider marriage sooner rather than later, offering his resources to make the process smooth and quick. Selena thanked him graciously, her mind spinning with relief and dread.

As they left the estate and got back into the car, Mark remained silent, his hands gripping the steering wheel tightly. The tension between them was palpable, but Selena didn’t know what to say. The entire ordeal had been overwhelming, and she was desperate to leave it all behind.

The drive back to her apartment was quiet. Mark seemed lost in thought, his expression hard and distant as he navigated the roads. Selena sat in the passenger seat, her thoughts swirling in a chaotic mess of emotions. She was glad the meeting had gone well, but the reminder of what lay ahead still weighed heavily on her.

As they pulled up in front of her building, Mark finally spoke.

"I meant what I said," he began, his voice low but firm. "We’re not getting married. Not now, not ever. I’ll keep up the charade for my grandfather’s sake, but once this is over, we’re done."

Selena exhaled slowly, her body relaxing for the first time in hours. "Good. That’s what I want too."

Mark turned to look at her, his expression unreadable. "But until then, we have to play our parts. That includes you keeping up the pregnancy story. We’ll deal with the ‘miscarriage’ when the time is right."

Selena nodded, grateful that they were on the same page. "I understand."

"Alright," Mark said, his voice softening just slightly. "Go get some rest. You’ve been through a lot today."

She didn’t need to be told twice. With a quiet goodbye, Selena stepped out of the car and walked up to her apartment. Once inside, she collapsed onto the couch, letting out a long, exhausted breath. She had made it through the meeting, but the weight of the lie was still heavy on her shoulders.

Just as she was about to let herself unwind, her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen and saw Miranda’s name flashing. Selena hesitated, knowing that Miranda was probably calling to check up on her, but after everything that had happened, she needed to talk to someone.

"Hey," Selena answered, trying to sound normal despite the chaos in her life.

"Selena! Where have you been?" Miranda’s voice was filled with excitement. "I’ve been trying to reach you. There’s this party tonight, and you *have* to come with me. It’s going to be amazing, and I won’t take no for an answer."

Selena hesitated. A party was the last thing she needed right now, especially after everything with Mark. But maybe it would be a good distraction, something to take her mind off the mess her life had become.

"Alright," Selena said after a moment. "I’ll come."

"Yes!" Miranda squealed. "I’ll text you the details. See you soon!"

As soon as the call ended, Selena sighed and stood up. She needed to change into something more fitting for a night out. Maybe a party would be exactly what she needed—a break from the lies, from the stress, from Mark. Even if it was just for a few hours, she could pretend everything was normal again.

She headed to her bedroom and picked out a sleek black dress, something simple but elegant. As she slipped it on, she couldn’t shake the lingering unease in her stomach. No matter how hard she tried to distance herself from it, the reality of her situation was always there, lurking just beneath the surface.

But for tonight, she would push it aside. She would go to the party, have a few drinks, and pretend—just for a little while—that everything was okay.