The Secret Behind The Marriage
826 Words
I spent my first night as Alessandro De Luca's wife staring at the ceiling.
Not sleeping.
Not resting.
Just thinking.
That was the problem with silence.
It gave your mind too much space to remember everything you were trying to forget.
The contract.
The wedding.
His words.
"One day, Elena, you are going to discover the truth."
What truth?
I hated that question.
Because a part of me wanted to know.
And another part was afraid I would regret finding out.
By morning, I had made a decision.
I was going to find answers.
If Alessandro De Luca thought he could keep secrets from me, he had chosen the wrong woman.
---
The mansion was quiet.
Too quiet.
I walked through the halls, studying everything around me.
There were no family pictures.
No memories.
No signs of a childhood.
Nothing that explained the man who lived here.
It was like Alessandro had erased every piece of himself.
"Looking for something?"
I turned quickly.
A man stood behind me.
Not Alessandro.
Older.
Gray hair.
Calm eyes.
"I didn't hear you walk in."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"Most people don't."
"Who are you?"
"Marco."
He extended his hand.
"Alessandro's head of security."
I hesitated before shaking it.
"Security?"
"Among other things."
I looked around.
"Does everyone in this house have a mysterious job title?"
Marco smiled slightly.
"With Alessandro, mystery is usually safer."
I should have ignored that.
But I didn't.
"How long have you known him?"
Marco's expression changed.
"Many years."
"What was he like before?"
The older man looked toward the windows.
For a moment, he didn't answer.
Then he said:
"Different."
That single word told me more than a long explanation could have.
"What happened?"
Marco studied me carefully.
"You really don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
Before he could answer, a voice interrupted us.
"Marco."
Alessandro.
I turned.
He stood at the end of the hallway, already dressed in a dark suit.
Perfect.
Controlled.
Untouchable.
But his eyes were different.
They went from Marco to me.
And immediately, he knew.
"What were you discussing?"
"Nothing," I answered.
Too quickly.
His gaze returned to mine.
"You are a terrible liar."
"Good thing I never said I was one."
A faint smile touched his lips.
For some reason, that bothered me.
I didn't want to make him smile.
Especially not at me.
"I need to leave for a few hours," he said.
"Should I ask where?"
"No."
"Should I ask why?"
"No."
I crossed my arms.
"Then why tell me?"
His expression softened slightly.
"Because I promised no unnecessary control."
I wasn't expecting him to remember.
"You actually listen?"
"Sometimes."
"That must be difficult for you."
"It is."
The answer was so serious that I almost laughed.
Almost.
Then his phone rang.
The change in him was immediate.
The warmth disappeared.
The businessman returned.
The man everyone feared.
He answered.
"Speak."
A pause.
His face became colder.
"What?"
I watched his jaw tighten.
"No one moves until I get there."
He ended the call.
"What happened?"
"Nothing you need to worry about."
"That means something happened."
His eyes met mine.
"Elena."
The warning in his voice was clear.
But I didn't step back.
"I'm your wife."
The words surprised both of us.
His expression changed.
Only slightly.
But I saw it.
"You are my wife on paper."
"Isn't that what you wanted?"
A long silence.
Then he walked closer.
Not threatening.
Not angry.
Just close enough that I could feel the tension between us.
"Be careful what you remind me of."
My heartbeat quickened.
"Why?"
His eyes dropped briefly to my lips before returning to mine.
And that small movement made me forget how to breathe.
"Because sometimes I forget this is only a contract."
The words hung between us.
Then he stepped away.
Leaving me with more questions than answers.
---
That afternoon, while Alessandro was gone, I did something I knew I shouldn't.
I searched his office.
I wasn't looking for money.
Or secrets about his business.
I was looking for one thing.
The reason he chose me.
For almost an hour, I found nothing.
Until I opened the bottom drawer of his desk.
Inside was a file.
My name was written on it.
ELENA ROSSI.
My hands went cold.
I opened it.
The first page contained information about my life.
My school.
My work.
My family.
But then I reached the last page.
And my entire world stopped.
There was a photograph.
A photograph of me.
But I wasn't alone.
Beside me stood a woman I had never seen before.
A woman who looked strangely familiar.
Under the picture were five words that made my blood run cold.
"She is your daughter."
I stared at the page.
Unable to breathe.
Unable to move.
Because I had always believed I knew everything about my family.
But maybe the biggest secret of my life...
was the one everyone had hidden from me.
- Writer
