His Bride By Debt

Chapter 5: No Escape

Alessia’s POV

I don’t remember walking back to my room.

One second I’m standing there, listening to Dante tell me my wedding is in three days.

The next, I’m inside this huge bedroom with the door closing behind me.

Three days.

The words echo through my mind as I pace the room.

This can’t be happening.

I’m not marrying Dante De Luca because my father made a deal.

I stop in front of the mirror and look at my reflection.

I barely recognize myself.

This morning, I was home with my family.

Now I’m standing in a stranger’s house, expected to become someone’s wife in three days.

I shake my head.

“No.”

The word comes out quietly.

But I mean it.

I walk toward the door and grab the handle.

I pull.

Nothing.

I try again, harder this time.

Locked.

Of course.

I step back and stare at it.

I shouldn’t be surprised.

I move to the windows next.

For a moment, hope rises when I see the beautiful view outside.

Then I look down.

Too high.

Even if I somehow got out, I wouldn’t make it far.

I glance around the room.

The room is beautiful, filled with expensive furniture and luxury.

It doesn’t matter.

A prison is still a prison.

I walk back toward the door and place my hand against it.

Somewhere outside this room are guards.

Somewhere outside this room is Dante De Luca.

The man who thinks he can decide my entire life.

I refuse to let him win.

I don’t know how yet.

I don’t know when.

But I’m not staying here forever.

I take a deep breath.

There has to be a way out.

A knock on the door pulls me away from my thoughts.

I don’t answer.

A few seconds pass.

Then the door opens slightly.

“Miss Moretti?”

I turn around.

A young woman steps inside carrying a tray of food.

She looks around my age.

Maybe a little older.

She places the tray on the table carefully.

“Breakfast.”

I stare at it.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Mr. De Luca asked that you eat.”

I laugh without humor.

“Of course he did.”

She sets the tray down and turns to leave.

“Wait.”

She stops.

I study her.

“You don’t have to act like you’re scared of me.”

Her eyes widen slightly.

“I’m not.”

“Then why do you look like you’re waiting for someone to punish you?”

She doesn’t answer.

That tells me enough.

I look back at the tray.

“I said I’m not eating.”

The maid is quiet for a moment.

Then she says softly,

“You should keep your strength.”

I look at her sharply.

“Why do you care?”

She hesitates.

“I just think you should eat.”

I take a step closer.

“Are you helping me?”

Her eyes widen.

“No.”

Too fast.

I narrow my eyes.

“What’s your name?”

“Sofia Bianchi.”

“How long have you worked here?”

She hesitates.

“Long enough.”

She isn’t telling me everything.

She turns toward the door.

“Please eat something, Miss Moretti.”

Then she leaves.

I stare at the closed door.

I don’t know if Sofia Bianchi is someone I can trust.

But for the first time since I arrived here…

Someone looked at me like I was a person.

I spend the next hour trying to convince myself this isn’t real.

It doesn’t work.

A knock comes at my door.

Before I can answer, it opens.

Three women step inside carrying large garment bags.

I immediately know something is wrong.

“What is this?”

One of them smiles politely.

“Good afternoon, Miss Moretti. We are here for the wedding preparations.”

My stomach drops.

“The what?”

They exchange a quick glance.

“The wedding.”

Of course.

I should have expected this.

They move around the room, carefully placing the bags on the bed.

One by one, they unzip them.

White fabric spills out.

Beautiful.

Expensive.

The kind of dresses most women dream about.

I feel nothing.

They aren’t symbols of love.

They’re proof my future has already been decided.

I take a step back.

“Take them away.”

The women stop.

“I’m sorry?”

“You heard me.”

My voice is firmer this time.

“Take them away.”

They look at each other.

Not confused.

More like shocked.

Like nobody has ever refused something connected to Dante De Luca before.

One of them slowly touches the dress beside her.

“Miss Moretti, these were selected specifically for you.”

“I don’t care.”

“But…”

“No.”

I shake my head.

“I don’t want them.”

Silence fills the room.

The woman hesitates before saying,

“Mr. De Luca chose them himself.”

That makes me pause.

For a second, I don’t know why.

Why would he choose them?

Why would the man who forced me into this marriage care about what dress I wear?

I quickly push the thought away.

It doesn’t matter.

A pretty dress doesn’t change what this is.

I look at the women.

“Tell Mr. De Luca he can choose another bride if he wants someone who will happily wear them.”

Their faces tighten.

They clearly don’t know what to say.

Finally, one of them nods.

“We’ll leave them here for now.”

“I said…”

“Please, Miss Moretti.”

Her voice is softer.

Almost like she understands.

But she still doesn’t take them.

They leave the room, closing the door behind them.

I stare at the white dresses sitting on my bed.

This morning, I had no idea who Dante De Luca was.

Now I’m expected to walk down the aisle and become his wife.

I look away.

I refuse to let a dress make me feel like I’ve already lost.

Because I’m not giving up.

Not yet.

A knock sounds again.

I stare at the door.

If one more person walks into this room without my permission, I might actually lose my mind.

“Come in,” I say bitterly.

The door opens.

Matteo steps inside.

His eyes move around the room before landing on the wedding dresses still sitting on the bed.

He doesn’t look surprised.

Of course he doesn’t.

“Still refusing?” he asks.

I cross my arms.

“Is that a problem?”

He looks at the dresses.

“You should cooperate.”

I laugh.

“Funny. I don’t remember anyone asking what I wanted.”

I point toward the dresses.

“You all expect me to smile, put on a dress, and pretend this is normal.”

He walks closer to the dresses but doesn’t touch them.

“Dante has made his decision.”

“Of course he has.”

“But you should understand something.”

I look at him.

“He doesn’t make decisions without thinking about the consequences.”

I almost laugh.

“That’s supposed to make me feel better?”

“No.”

His answer is immediate.

“It’s supposed to make you understand that fighting him won’t always get you what you want.”

I stare at him.

“So you’re telling me to give up?”

“No.”

He shakes his head.

“I’m telling you to be smart.”

The room falls quiet.

For the first time, I don’t see him as just another person carrying out Dante’s orders.

He’s still loyal to him.

But maybe he isn’t heartless.

Matteo turns toward the door.

Before leaving, he stops.

“Miss Moretti.”

I look up.

“Not everyone here wants to hurt you.”

Then he walks out.

I stare at the closed door.

I don’t trust him.

Not yet.

But maybe…

Maybe Matteo Romano isn’t the enemy I thought he was.

I can’t stay in that room another second.

The moment the hallway is empty, I step outside.

No one stops me.

Dante said I could go anywhere inside the estate.

Fine.

Then that’s exactly what I’ll do.

I make my way downstairs and out into the gardens.

The fresh air does little to calm me.

Everywhere I look, there are guards.

Walking.

Watching.

Waiting.

I keep moving, pretending I’m only looking around.

Then I hear it.

The low rumble of an engine.

I turn toward the front of the estate.

A delivery truck pulls through the gates.

For a brief moment…

The gates are open.

My heart starts pounding.

This is it.

Before I can talk myself out of it, I run.

The gravel crunches beneath my feet.

Someone shouts behind me, but I don’t look back.

The truck is only a few steps away.

Almost there…

A hand grabs my arm.

I stumble to a stop.

“No!”

I try to pull away, but the grip doesn’t loosen.

I spin around.

Matteo.

He doesn’t look angry.

Only disappointed.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t do this.”

I yank my arm again.

“Let me go!”

He does.

For a split second, I think I’ve surprised him.

I turn and run.

Two guards step in front of me.

I freeze.

There is nowhere else to go.

Slowly, I turn back.

Matteo is still standing where I left him.

Calm.

Patient.

Like he knew exactly how this would end.

My chest rises and falls as I struggle to catch my breath.

“You planned this,” I whisper.

He says nothing.

He doesn’t have to.

My chest tightens.

That was my chance.

And now…

It was gone.

I slowly turn back to Matteo.

He meets my eyes.

“Mr. De Luca wants to see you.”

My stomach twisted.

He led me through the mansion in silence until we stopped outside two massive wooden doors.

Matteo knocked once.

“Come in.”

The deep voice sent a chill through me.

Matteo opened the door.

Dante stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows with his back to us, one hand in his pocket, the city spread out behind him.

Without turning around, he said,

“Leave us.”

Matteo obeyed.

The door clicked shut.

Dante slowly turned to face me.

His dark eyes settled on mine.

“So…”

A faint smile touched his lips.

“You tried to run.”