A Marriage Built on Secrets
416 Words
Valeria sat stiffly in the backseat of the black Maserati, her fingers clenched in her lap. The wedding had been a spectacle—an extravagant display of wealth and power. Every major family in the underworld had been present, witnessing the union of two bloodlines that, until recently, had been at odds.
She barely remembered the vows she had spoken, the cold metal of Matteo’s ring slipping onto her finger, or the way his dark eyes had held hers as he murmured the words that bound them together.
Now, as they drove to his estate—their estate—her mind raced.
Luca hadn’t spoken to her again. He had disappeared after the ceremony, and that silence felt heavier than any confrontation. She knew him well enough to understand he wasn’t giving up.
But something about his desperation earlier unsettled her.
Why now?
Why hadn’t he fought for her before?
She turned her gaze to Matteo. He sat beside her, legs spread slightly apart, one hand resting on his knee, the other adjusting his cufflinks. He looked completely unbothered, as if he had just closed a business deal rather than married a woman who despised him.
He was unreadable. Unshakable. And that made him dangerous.
“You’re quiet,” he finally said, not looking at her.
“What do you expect me to say?” she shot back.
He glanced at her then, his expression as smooth as ever. “Most brides talk about how happy they are to start a new life with their husband.”
She scoffed. “I’m not most brides.”
A small smirk played at his lips. “No, you’re not.”
Silence settled between them again, thick with tension.
When they finally arrived at the DeLuca estate, the gates opened without hesitation. Armed guards lined the perimeter, their expressions unreadable as the car rolled past. The estate was massive—a fortress disguised as a mansion.
As they stepped out, Matteo reached for her hand. Valeria pulled away before he could touch her.
A dark chuckle escaped him. “Still fighting, even now?”
She met his gaze head-on. “Did you think marriage would change that?”
“No,” he admitted, stepping closer, “but it’ll be fun watching you realize you can’t win.”
Her breath hitched as he leaned in, his voice lowering just for her. “Welcome home, wife.”
Valeria didn’t respond. She couldn’t.
Because deep down, she knew this was only the beginning.
- Writer
