His Bride By Debt

Alessia’s POV “Dad… please don’t do this.” My voice breaks as I stare at the marriage contract lying on the desk between us. One signature. One wedding. One life I never wanted. Dad keeps his eyes on the papers. His hands tremble, and for the first time in my twenty-two years, the strongest man I know looks broken. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” His voice is barely above a whisper. “I have no other choice.” “There has to be another way.” “There isn’t.” Silence fills the room. I look at Mom, hoping she’ll say something. Anything. Instead, she lowers her head. She’s crying. “Dad…” My voice shakes. “Who’s making you do this?” He opens his mouth, but before he can answer, the sound of engines echoes outside. One. Then another. Then another. I rush to the window. Three black SUVs roll through our front gate. My stomach drops. I’ve seen that SUV before. I pray it’s just a coincidence. I’m wrong. Men in black suits step out… A chill runs down my spine. Knock. Knock. Knock. Nobody moves. The front door swings open before anyone can answer. A tall man in a black suit walks in like he owns the place. His eyes settle on my father. “Mr. Moretti,” he says. “The boss is waiting.” … Three Days Earlier… The smell of fresh bread always means one thing. Home. Every morning, it drifts upstairs from our family bakery before my alarm even rings. Mom is already baking. Dad is downstairs, telling the same terrible jokes that somehow still make her laugh. I smile as I tie my apron. It feels like any other Friday. Or so I think. The bakery is warm and busy. Fresh bread and golden croissants fill the shelves while customers wait for their orders. “Morning, Mrs. Carter.” “My favorite baker!” she says with a grin. “I saved your cinnamon rolls.” “I knew I could count on you.” I laugh and hand her the bag. For a moment, everything feels normal. Then that feeling returns. Something isn’t right. I can’t explain it, but it’s there, sitting heavily in my chest. “Alessia.” Mom hands me a tray of warm cookies. “Can you put these out?” “Of course.” As I arrange them in the display case, a little boy rushes in with his mother. His eyes go straight to the cookies. “They look amazing,” he whispers. Smiling, I hand him one. His face lights up after the first bite. “They’re the best cookies ever!” Everyone laughs. Usually, I would too. Today, I can’t. My eyes drift to Dad’s office. The door is closed. That’s unusual. A muffled voice comes from inside. Dad isn’t alone. I can’t hear the words, but I hear the fear in his voice. The door opens. Dad steps out. For a second, he doesn’t notice me watching. Fear is written all over his face. The moment our eyes meet, he forces a smile. One that doesn’t reach his eyes. “Everything okay?” I ask. “Of course.” “You’ve been saying that for weeks.” “I’m just tired.” I know he’s lying. Whatever is happening… It’s tearing him apart. The drive home is painfully quiet. Dad grips the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles turn white. Mom stares out the window without saying a word. I sit in the back seat, watching them both. Something is wrong. I just don’t know what. I glance out the window. That’s when I notice it. A black SUV. It’s been behind us since we left the bakery. At first, I tell myself it’s just going the same way. But after two turns, it’s still there. Dad notices too. His grip tightens. At the next traffic light, the SUV stops two cars behind us. “Dad…” He doesn’t answer. Mom looks into the side mirror. “They’re still there,” she whispers. “I know,” Dad says quietly. A chill runs through me. “Who’s following us?” Silence. The light turns green, and we drive on. The SUV follows. I try to look inside, but the windows are too dark. “They’ve been behind us the whole time.” “Alessia.” “Yeah?” “Don’t look back again.” Something in his voice makes me face forward. The rest of the drive passes in silence. When we pull into our driveway, the SUV slows as it passes our house. The passenger window rolls down just enough for someone inside to watch us. Then it rolls back up. The SUV disappears around the corner. Dad lets out a slow breath. “Let’s go inside.” He gets out without another word. Mom follows. I take one last look at the empty street before hurrying after them. The house looks exactly as it always does. Mom’s flower pots still line the porch, and white curtains sway gently behind the windows. Everything looks the same. But the moment I step inside, it doesn’t feel like home anymore. The warmth is gone. Only silence remains. Dad walks straight to his study. Mom stays behind, staring at the family photo above the fireplace. It was taken five years ago, after our bakery won Best Family Bakery in Italy. We’re all laughing. Dad has flour all over his face because Mom threw it at him. I haven’t seen him smile like that since. Mom reaches out and touches the frame. A tear slips down her cheek. She quickly wipes it away. Too late. I already saw it. “Mom…” She turns to me with a weak smile. “You’re frightening me.” She wraps her arms around me and holds me tighter than ever before. “I’m sorry,” she whispers. My heart sinks. “Sorry for what?” She pulls away before she can answer. “Alessia.” Dad’s voice comes from the study. Mom gives me a small nod. “Go.” Every step toward the study feels heavier than the last. Dad is already sitting behind his desk. A glass of whiskey sits beside him. Untouched. He hates whiskey. He always says it tastes like burnt medicine. So why is it there? “Sit.” I do. A moment later, Mom walks in and quietly closes the door. The click of the lock makes my stomach twist. Dad rubs both hands over his face before letting out a shaky breath. “I promised myself I’d never drag you into my mistakes.” My stomach tightens. “What mistakes?” Instead of answering, he opens the top drawer of his desk and pulls out a thick brown envelope. My name is written across the front. Alessia Moretti. A chill runs through me. “What’s that?” His eyes fill with regret. “It’s the future I failed to protect you from.” “I don’t understand.” “You will.” He slides the envelope across the desk. “Open it.” My fingers tremble as I open it. The first page steals my breath. MARRIAGE AGREEMENT No. My eyes move down the page. Bride: Alessia Moretti. Then… Groom: Dante De Luca. My blood runs cold. Even as a child, I’d heard that name whispered in fear. The De Luca family isn’t just powerful. They’re dangerous. “Dad…” My voice breaks. “Tell me this isn’t real.” He lowers his head. “I owe the De Luca family more money than I can repay.” The room spins. “What does that have to do with me?” “They’ve given me one way to clear my debt.” My chest tightens. “No…” “They want you.” Tears fill my eyes. “Dad… please don’t do this.” “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” “I have no other choice.” Before I can speak again, the sound of engines fills the air. One. Then another. Then another. No… The SUVs. They didn’t leave. “They’re here.” Dad closes his eyes. A loud knock shakes the front door. Nobody moves. Another knock. Harder. The door swings open. A tall man in a black suit walks in as though he owns the house. His cold eyes settle on my father. “The boss is waiting.” Then he looks at me. “The bride comes too.”