MILLIE
In the corner of my vision, I saw Dario take a step forward, a conflict evident in his eyes as he grappled with his loyalty to Gio and his concern for me. The room crackled with tension, a battle of loyalties that mirrored the war of emotions within me. But in that frenzied moment, I was resolute. Gio’s hold on me was not just as my husband, but as the one who had kept secrets that shattered our lives.
“Leave,” Gio commanded, his voice firm, a semblance of control returning to his features. Dario obeyed, and the room was left with only the two of us, a battlefield of emotions.
Through my tears, I saw Gio rise, his gaze unyielding as it bore into me. I stood my ground, defiant and consumed by a tumultuous blend of emotions. His words sliced through the charged air, his incredulity palpable.
“This is what’s tearing you apart?” he questioned, disbelief lacing every word. The chasm between us felt insurmountable, a gulf created by his secrecy and my fractured trust.
Frustration surged within me, my tears mingling with my anger. “You can’t understand, can you?” I retorted, the words escaping me in a trembling rush. “You’ve never loved anyone beyond yourself, beyond your own desires. You can’t comprehend what it feels like to see the person you love most in pain, to feel your heart breaking for them. I would give everything, even my own life, for those I hold dear.”
His gaze remained unyielding, a coldness settling over him as he absorbed my words. And in that chilling moment, the rift between us deepened, the intimacy we had shared overshadowed by the stark revelation of our differences.
I wiped away my tears, standing tall despite the vulnerability I felt. “You kept this from me,” I accused, my voice a mixture of accusation and heartache. “For weeks, you hid the truth. Why?”
His response was swift, the admission a testament to his perception of my emotions. “Because I knew you wouldn’t approve.”
The cold mask that I had seen before, a mask that concealed his true emotions, settled upon his features once again. And as he stood before me, a figure shrouded in enigma, I couldn’t help but wonder if the divide between us was insurmountable. The anger, the hurt, and the love that had once bound us were now locked in a complex dance, leaving me to grapple with a torrent of emotions and questions that threatened to consume me whole.
I vehemently shook my head, a cascade of emotions swirling within me. “You were fully aware that I would be consumed by anger, yet you deliberately chose not to reveal your intentions, fearing it might jeopardize your chances of achieving your ulterior motives.” My demeanor remained composed, my cheeks untinged by a blush, even though the term I employed was entirely unfamiliar to me until now.
Gio’s stance stiffened, his reaction betraying a hint of discomfort. “Certainly, I entertained the notion of a more intimate connection with you. Nevertheless, I was under the impression that our physical encounters held an element of mutual satisfaction.”
His words were like daggers, driving into my heart. My desire to hurt him in return was overpowering his coldness was cutting to the core. This had always been about his possessive entitlement, about asserting his control over my body. He harbored no genuine concern for me or anyone else. “And yet, you feared that my ability to perform convincingly after our orchestrated charade on our wedding night might be lacking. I had even managed to deceive you,” I added with a harsh laugh, tainted by bitterness. “You were led to believe that I was genuinely enjoying the experience.”
In Gio’s eyes, a flicker of something momentarily appeared, a glimmer that almost prompted me to retract my words. However, his lips curled into a sinister smile, extinguishing any inclination toward remorse. “Do not attempt to deceive me. I’ve had my fair share of encounters to discern the nuances of genuine pleasure.”
His words hit me like a physical blow, causing me to flinch involuntarily. Had he truly just likened me to the women he frequented like commodities? In my resentment, I lashed out with the most cutting retort I could muster. “Some women even experience arousal during acts of violation. It’s not an indication of enjoyment but rather a physiological response to trauma.”
Silence lingered heavily in the air, fraught with tension. Gio’s nostrils flared, his chest heaving with restrained fury, and his fists clenched in evident anger. For a moment, it seemed as though he might unleash his rage upon me, but then a shift occurred his anger gave way to an eerie detachment. His countenance transformed into a mask of impassivity, his eyes resembling polished steel, impenetrable and remote. “Your sister should consider herself fortunate that Sebastian has shown interest. Few possess the patience to endure her incessant chatter.”
I uttered my disbelief with a mixture of disgust and revulsion. “Is that truly the impetus behind their union? Merely because she dared to challenge his advances that day at the hotel? He couldn’t bear the blow to his ego, his twisted charm rendered ineffective.”
“She shouldn’t have defied him. Sebastian is a relentless pursuer. He claims what he desires.” Gio’s voice retained its icy calm, mirroring the frigidity of his expression.
“The assertion that he attains his desires holds no virtue when he coerces her into marriage, seeking my father’s approval like a coward,” I spat out, my disdain palpable.
“Nonetheless, the arrangement has been made. They will wed.” He turned his back dismissively, as though my objections held no consequence.
Gio failed to grasp the depth of the situation. He couldn’t comprehend Harper’s character as well as I did. She wouldn’t acquiesce to this fate silently, unlike myself. Driven by frustration and a surge of determination, I stormed towards the elevator, my steps resolute and purposeful. “Millie, what on earth do you think you’re doing?”
I entered the elevator before Gio could intercept me, the doors sliding shut as I descended one floor. Stepping out into Sebastian’s apartment, an almost identical reflection of ours, except without the duplex layout, I found him lounging in an armchair, immersed in some banal rap music. As his gaze met mine, he rose cautiously, his wariness evident. “What brings you here?”
The weight of my intentions bore down on me as I pressed my palms against his chest, halting him in his tracks. “Revoke your proposal. Convey to my father that Harper is not your desired choice.”
Amusement danced in Sebastian’s eyes as he chuckled. “And why would I do that? I desire her. My inclinations have always been pursued with resolute success. Harper should have realized the gravity of engaging with the likes of us.”
My restraint shattered, and I allowed my fiery Italian temperament to seize control a rare lapse, even more restrained than my other siblings. His grip on my arm tightened, pushing me forcefully against the wall. Pain radiated through my spine, and I gasped for breath. “Remember that you are fortunate I am your brother’s wife.”
The elevator’s chime resounded, signaling its arrival and doors parting. “Release her,” Gio’s voice rumbled, his figure emerging. Sebastian withdrew, granting me a frigid smile.
Gio advanced, his gaze sweeping over me before fixating on his brother. “You won’t lay your hands on her again.”
“Then educate her on propriety. I refuse to endure another affront.” “Teach her manners,” he had said. If only he grasped the impending disaster that awaited his union with Harper.
Gio’s voice resonated through the room, its timbre dropping an octave lower. The tension was palpable, a charged current that hung in the air. “You won’t lay a finger on my wife again, Sebastian,” Gio’s words were heavy, carrying a weight of both fraternal loyalty and a fierce protectiveness. The bond between them was unbreakable, a blood connection that transcended all else. “I’d take a bullet for you, but if you dare to repeat this, you’ll have to reckon with the consequences.”