Chapter 8: Before the Vows
1172 Words
Alessia’s POV
I wake with a start.
For a moment, I don’t move.
The shadow.
The figure standing outside my window.
Was it real?
Or was I just imagining things?
I throw the blanket aside and walk to the window.
The gardens are quiet.
Nothing moves.
No one is there.
I let out a slow breath.
Maybe I really did imagine it.
After getting dressed, I leave my room.
I stop.
Two guards stand outside my door.
I don’t remember seeing them yesterday.
As I walk through the mansion, I notice even more.
Guards at every entrance.
Others patrolling the halls.
The servants keep their heads down, speaking in whispers.
The whole mansion feels… different.
Too quiet.
Too tense.
Something is wrong.
I need some air.
I leave the mansion and head toward the garden.
Before I can take another step, a guard moves in front of me.
“I’m sorry, Miss Moretti.”
“You can’t go any farther.”
I frown.
“Move.”
He shakes his head.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Mr. De Luca’s orders.”
Anger rises inside me.
“So I’m a prisoner now?”
The guard doesn’t answer.
He simply steps back into place.
I look past him.
The gates are closed.
More guards stand outside.
Watching.
Waiting.
I take a slow step back.
For the first time…
I realize the truth.
I’m not just living in this mansion.
I’m trapped inside it.
I turn around.
Only one person is going to explain this.
Dante.
“Good morning, Miss Moretti.”
I turn to see Sofia walking toward me.
I don’t waste time.
“What’s going on?”
She hesitates.
Then she says, “Mr. De Luca increased security around the estate this morning.”
“Why?”
She looks away.
“I’m sorry.”
“I can’t tell you.”
I study her face for a second.
She knows something.
She’s just not allowed to say it.
My stomach tightens.
Maybe I didn’t imagine the shadow after all.
Sofia leads me into one of the larger rooms downstairs.
I stop in the doorway.
Three women are already waiting.
One of them smiles.
“Miss Moretti. We’re here for your final fitting.”
I stop walking.
“My what?”
“Your wedding dress.”
“No.”
The word comes out before I can think.
“I’m not trying on a dress.”
The women exchange nervous glances.
Sofia steps closer.
“Miss Moretti”
“I said no.”
“I’m not choosing a dress for a wedding I don’t even want.”
Silence fills the room.
For a moment, no one moves.
Then one of the women carefully unzips a large white garment bag.
The dress appears.
I hate myself for staring.
It’s beautiful.
I always imagined this moment would be different.
When I was little, I dreamed of marrying someone I loved.
Someone who loved me back.
I imagined my father walking me down the aisle with a smile on his face.
My mother crying happy tears from the front row.
My family celebrating the happiest day of my life.
Instead…
I’m standing in a stranger’s mansion.
Looking at a wedding dress for a marriage I never chose.
The thought makes my chest ache.
Slowly, I reach out.
Soft white satin.
Delicate lace.
Simple.
Elegant.
Exactly the kind of dress I used to dream about as a little girl.
A lump forms in my throat.
This isn’t how I imagined wearing a wedding dress.
My fingers brush the fabric.
It’s real.
Tomorrow, I become Dante De Luca’s wife.
A movement near the door catches my attention.
I look up.
Dante stands there.
His dark eyes meet mine.
Neither of us speaks.
The room suddenly feels smaller.
The memory of his kiss flashes through my mind.
I quickly pull my hand away from the dress.
He says nothing.
He simply turns and walks away.
Somehow…
That feels worse.
I catch up with Dante just as he’s about to enter his study.
“Wait.”
He stops.
Slowly, he turns to face me.
“What is it?”
I fold my arms.
“Why does this place suddenly feel like a prison?”
He doesn’t answer.
“There are guards everywhere,” I continue. “No one will tell me what’s going on.”
His expression doesn’t change.
“They’re doing their job.”
“And what exactly is their job?”
“Keeping you safe.”
A bitter laugh escapes me.
“Safe?”
“You kidnapped me.”
“You forced me into a marriage I never wanted.”
“And now you’re locking this place down.”
I shake my head.
“Stop pretending you’re protecting me.”
For the first time, something shifts in his eyes.
“You think I brought you here because I wanted to take something from you.”
His voice is calm.
Steady.
“I brought you here because someone else wanted to.”
My heart skips.
“What does that mean?”
He doesn’t answer.
I take a step closer.
“Who wants me?”
For a second, it looks like he’s going to answer.
His lips part.
Then they press into a thin line.
“Dante.”
I take another step toward him.
“I deserve to know.”
His eyes meet mine.
“I know.”
“Then tell me.”
Silence.
“I can’t.”
“Why?”
“Because the fewer people who know…”
He stops.
His jaw tightens.
“What?”
He shakes his head.
“Forget I said anything.”
Frustration rises inside me.
“I’m tired of everyone keeping secrets.”
His expression hardens.
“So am I.”
The words are quiet.
Almost too quiet to hear.
Before I can say anything else, he opens the study door.
“This conversation is over.”
The door closes behind him.
Leaving me with more questions than answers.
Sleep refuses to come.
I sit by the window, staring into the darkness.
The wedding dress hangs across the room.
Waiting.
Tomorrow…
I wear it.
Tomorrow…
I marry Dante De Luca.
The thought makes my stomach turn.
I think about my father.
His apology.
His warning.
“It was the only way to keep you alive.”
Then I think about Dante.
The man I should hate.
The man who stole my freedom.
The man who kissed me without my permission.
I still don’t trust him.
I still don’t forgive him.
But one question refuses to leave my mind.
If Dante isn’t the monster…
Then who is?
A sudden knock breaks the silence.
Three sharp knocks.
Before I can answer, the door opens.
Matteo steps inside.
His face is unusually tense.
“Mr. De Luca needs you.”
I frown.
“Now?”
“Now.”
“What happened?”
He holds my gaze for a long moment.
Then he says the words that make my blood run cold.
“They’ve found a body.”
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