Chapter 4 Alessia

Alessia

I groan loudly, wincing as a sharp pain shoots through my back. Why does everything hurt so much?

My eyes are shut, but I can feel the bright sunlight streaming through the curtain.

This isn't my room, I can tell something is off. The bed doesn't feel familiar, and the faint scent in the air is nothing like home.

I try to piece together why my entire body aches so badly. Fragments of memories start coming back, and suddenly, I gasp, sitting up in bed with a rush of panic.

I look around, my heart pounding as I take in my surroundings.

The room is empty. Where is the mysterious stranger from last night?

The blanket covering my body slips down, and my breath catches in my throat.

I'm completely naked, gasping for air.

Oh God.

Did I just lose my innocence to a stranger? I've always been so proud of keeping myself pure, waiting for the right person. And now, it's gone to someone whose name I don't even know.

The only thing I remember about him is the way his unique eye color stood out in the dim light and that rugged, almost ethereal look he had.

No, this has to be a dream, one I must wake up from.

I slowly pinch my arm, trying to convince myself that this is all just some cruel trick. But the sharp sting that follows sends a chilling message-it's real.

I panic as fear grips my heart, squeezing it painfully at the horrifying réalisation

What will my father do when he finds out? He'll probably kill me, and worse, the man I'm promised to.

My father must have bragged about my innocence to him. If he discovers the truth, he'll see it as the ultimate betrayal.

In our world, such treachery doesn't just bring shame, it brings death.

A single act like this could ignite a bloodbath between two rival gangs.

And the thought of being the reason for such destruction makes my stomach churn.

How could I have been so reckless, so impulsive?

Why did I lose my mind when I saw that man?

Why did my body betray me so completely, burning with desire the moment he came near?

His eyes flash in my memory, with the tattoos etched on his skin, his dark aura, and that distinctive mark beneath his eye-it seems so familiar.

And yet, I can't place it, no matter how hard I try.

What have I done?

A loud knock at the door jerks me out of my frantic thoughts followed by the echo of approaching footsteps.

I know it's Livia. She must be worried out of her mind, wondering where I've been all night.

The stale scent in the air and the way I clutch the blanket tightly to my chest can only mean one thing. She'll know I had sex.

"Alessia," she gasps in shock as she scans the room.

The disbelief on her face makes my heart sink. Panic surges through me, and I leap off the bed, scrambling to dress as quickly as possible.

Before I can say anything, Livia grabs my wrist, as she pulls me towards the door.

"Your father is here," she whispers.

The room seems to drop in temperature as fear creeps up my spine. How am I supposed to explain this?

What excuse can I give for being here, when I should have woken up in my room, preparing for my wedding in just two days?

How could I have let this happen? And now, how do I face my father?

"You had sex with a man you don't even know! Have you lost your mind?" Livia whisper-yells, in panic and disbelief.

I clench my fists, trying to steady my trembling body. "Don't you think I know that?" I hissed in fear. "Please, Livia, no one can find out about this," I plead, as the level of my panic rises.

I'm sure I've lost my mind because I'm damn sure that man used some kind of spell on me to make me do it.

She grips my shoulders, slightly shaking me.

"Put yourself together, Alessia. They're here to take you," she whispers, with a trembling voice.

I know she's scared for me and herself.

Livia's mother works as a servant in our house, and if this scandal comes to light, her family's livelihood will be at risk.

Quickly, Livia pulls a small perfume bottle from her bag, spraying it in the air and on my body. The scent fills my lungs, making me cough violently.

"Sorry," she murmurs, trying hard to mask the fear in her voice.

But the reality is too harsh to ignore.

My father will kill me when he finds out what I've done. And the man I'm promised to-he will hold it against my father.

I started to shake, my body wracked with fear at the realization. Knowing that this reckless act could tear everything apart.

The loud footsteps echo down the hallway, tightening the knots in my stomach.

Pretending nothing happened feels like it's my only option.

"One of your father's men is coming," Livia whispers.

I hear the unmistakable voice of Roland.

"Miss Alessia," he calls.

I guess the perfume Livia sprayed around the room and on me helped mask the scent of alcohol and sex, at least enough to keep him from detecting it.

I released a breath I didn't realize I was holding, trying to compose myself. I must look like a mess, and Roland notices, but he says nothing.

"Your father is waiting for you outside," Roland informs me.

Sweat trickles down my face as I realize that no matter how well I think I've hidden the evidence, I can't fool my father. Nothing escapes his watchful eyes. He'll know.

I hesitate for what feels like an eternity. Roland notices my reluctance. "Your father will come inside if you don't walk out now," he warns with a sigh.

My heart leaps into my throat. If my father came inside, he might burn the entire place down in rage.

He's cruel and heartless.

Sometimes, I wonder why fate made him my father.

We may share the same dark hair, blue eyes, and sharp cheekbones, but our characters are entirely different.

Summoning every ounce of willpower, I step out of the room with trembling legs.

I glance around and notice the hallway is now eerily empty.

I notice Livia following close behind. I know she's just as scared as I am.

My breath hitches when I spot my father standing ahead, his hands tightly clasped behind his back.

He's the kind of man whose mere presence can make even the strongest tremble.

He has an unreadable expression. He's calm on the outside, but that calm is deceptive.

A calm Leonardo is the most dangerous.

As I move closer, his eyes lock onto mine. I shouldn't fool myself into thinking he doesn't know what happened.

He knows and I can sense the anger he is trying to keep at bay. My heart races, and fear spreads through my body like poison.

I don't need to think twice to know he's aware of everything I did, but he won't say a word here, not in front of others.

"Daddy, I swear I didn't do anything. I just wanted to be free for a day before I'm shipped off for marriage," I blurt out in desperation, trying to convince him, though I know it's futile.

My father is too smart to be fooled by such a weak attempt.

"Take Alessia back to the mansion," he commands, without breaking eye contact with me.

The disappointment in his eyes is like a dagger to my heart, making me want to cry, but I hold back the tears.

I've been trained never to cry-only weaklings shed tears, and I am not one of them. At least, that's what I've been taught.

He didn't soften his gaze, not even as he saw me on the verge of breaking down.

The tightness in my chest increases as the realization hits me-I'm doomed. Whatever punishment awaits me will be far worse than I can imagine.

I turn away, walking towards the waiting car, my body numb with fear and shame.

He won't say anything now, but I know, deep down, that the silence is just the beginning. Something far more severe is coming, and there's no escaping it.