The Price Of His Desire

The Quarrel

Aria sat at the edge of the bed wrapped in a robe. Alfonso had dragged Matteo out already. The girls were downstairs scrambling half-naked through the hallways, grabbing their things in panic.

I pushed the door open once I realized Aria was alone.

Shock flickered in her eyes first. Then disbelief. Then anger.

I clapped slowly as I walked toward her, stopping just an inch in front of her.

“Congratulations, Aria. Happy married life.”

Her jaw tightened. She didn’t answer.

I leaned closer, lowering my voice.

“So tell me. Was this the plan all along?”

Her eyes stayed fixed on the floor.

“You didn’t return my calls. You blocked me. And all because of what? Him. This.”

She still stayed silent.

“Can’t you talk back? Are you too ashamed to speak because of what you did?”

That was what finally made her look up at me. The tension in the room thickened, sharp enough to feel in my chest.

“Ashamed?” she repeated as she rose to her feet, stepping directly in front of me.

“I don’t give a f**k, Diana.” Her voice sliced through the room like glass. “I did what I did, and I do not care what you think. I do not owe you any explanation.”

She stepped closer, anger burning right behind her eyes.

“I married him. So what. He is not a child. He chose me. He wanted me. How is that something to be ashamed of.”

“You do not have an ounce of self-respect, Aria.” My voice was low and sharp. “You say this over a teenager who nearly ruined our lives. Do you even consider what it—”

She cut me off.

“About what. You.” Her laugh was bitter. “After what you did. You talk about self-respect as if you have any. You sold yourself to a man. What does that make you.”

My eyes widened at her words.

“I always knew, Diana. Deep down I knew you were jealous. You wanted what I had. You hated the money that came my way.” She smiled cruelly. “Now look. You have Alfonso. It is a pity he only sees you as a toy. A s*x slave he can play with.”

Her words were a knife. Without thinking, I raised my hand. The slap landed hard across her face.

She stared at me in disbelief.

“Did you just slap me?” she asked, eyes wide.

“I will do it again if I have to.” My voice cracked. “How dare you, Aria. After everything I did for you.” I started, but she raised her hand.

“Do not ever lay a hand on her.” Alfonso stepped forward, grabbing my arm and pulling me to his side.

“If there is anyone here who is a desperate w***e, it is you.” His voice was harsh and cold. “Do not ever speak to my wife like that again.”

His jaw was locked tight. The way he said wife sent a strange pull through my stomach. A warmth I could not ignore.

“I warned you to stay away from Matteo. Now you will bear the consequences,” he said. Aria swallowed hard, her eyes turning glossy. Then he looked at me and told me quietly that we needed to leave.

I stared at her one last time as Alfonso pulled me toward the door. Her cheeks were wet with tears.

“Whatever happens, I am Matteo’s wife. That makes me part of your family. I will get my share when you force us to divorce.” Her voice cracked as she yelled after us.

Alfonso did not say anything. We just walked out. We heard her scream in frustration behind the door.

Now that she could not see me anymore, my eyes finally burned. The tears fell freely.

I could not believe this had just happened.

This was what she had always wanted. Money.

All along.

And now her choices had destroyed everything we had.

Was I a jealous sister for caring so much?

Was choosing her happiness over mine the reason she called me jealous?

Her words kept replaying in my mind, sharper each time, and the pain of it made my chest ache until I could not hold it in anymore. The tears came again, and I let them.

Alfonso noticed. When we stepped outside he stopped walking. He turned to me, his expression unreadable at first, then softer. I avoided his eyes, wiping at my face but it did nothing.

“Diana,” he said quietly.

I finally looked at him.

“Stop,” he whispered.

But instead I broke again. The tears flowed harder.

He reached for my arms gently and pulled me into him. I let myself fall against his chest. His arms wrapped around me like a shield, solid and warm. My sobs muffled against him as he held me. His chin rested lightly over my head. His scent filled my lungs. His warmth soaked into my skin.

And for a moment, it felt like the world outside that moment did not exist.

Just then a car pulled up and I jerked away from him. A man climbed out and walked toward us; he was dressed all in black and wore a cap. My pulse jumped.

“Take care of it,” Alfonso told him. The man nodded and disappeared into the house.

“What’s happening?” I asked, afraid. Alfonso kept hold of my hand as we walked toward the car.

“I told you to let me handle it. That’s exactly what I’m doing,” he said, then opened the door for me.

“You’re not going to kill her, are you?” My voice cracked.

He raised an eyebrow but said nothing. He sat beside me; the driver was already in place.

“Please,” I whispered, gripping his fingers. My eyes filled with tears again.

“It’s not what you think, Diana. She won’t die. I just need to teach her a lesson.” As he spoke, I caught movement through the tinted window. Aria was being dragged out, her hands cuffed. She’d changed her clothes but she was struggling, screaming, trying to break free.

I watched in horror as the man pushed her into his car, shut the door, and then came to Alfonso’s window and knocked. Alfonso rolled the glass down, the man nodded, and Alfonso rolled it back up.

“Please don’t hurt her. I’m begging you,” I shouted, voice breaking.

That made Alfonso smirk. He gestured for the driver to move. The car began rolling forward and I stared at him in disbelief, realizing he actually found my panic amusing.

“What is funny?” I asked, wiping my tears with the back of my hand.

His lips curved again, a slow crooked smirk.

“You look cute when you’re scared,” he said.

It caught me off guard. It was the first time I had ever seen this version of him — playful… almost teasing.

The smirk made me smile a little, which eased some of the tension in my chest and loosened my nerves.

I had to know about Matteo. I hadn’t seen him since the party.

“What did you do to him?” I asked after a long silence.

“I had them take him away.” he said, turning to face me. “He will be dealt with.”

“I am not going to hurt your sister, but I cannot let her walk away from what she has done. Her intentions are clear. She will do anything for money,” he said. He paused, then leaned closer, his hand lifting to gently cup my face.

“She does not care about you, Diana. It is time you stop trying to be the good sister in her life. Focus on yourself.”

My throat went dry at his words, and at how close he was. My voice came out weak.

“Where are you taking her?”

“I plan to lock her up in a correctional center,” he said. “She’ll stay there for months, maybe years. She’ll get better.” His tone was flat, certain.

I hesitated for a moment, then realised I couldn’t argue. It was better than her going to jail.

“Maybe some months,” I said.

“So will you let me go then? Now that you know I had nothing to do with any of this?”

His thumb brushed across my lips slowly. A shiver rushed through me and my eyes fluttered closed without my permission.

“I told you already. I will not repeat myself again.” His voice dropped lower, firm. “You belong to me.”

He looked straight into my eyes, then leaned forward and placed a soft kiss on my lips.

The warmth of it stunned me. For a moment the whole world went still.

And suddenly I found myself questioning everything.

Did the contract mean nothing anymore?

What exactly were we now?