Bound by love and betrayal

el

she left. "There are things you don't know ab

to chase after her, to demand answers, but I knew it wouldn't do any good. Sofi

. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Alessio's cold, calculating gaze, and heard his voice echoing

I was still awake, my body tense and my nerves frayed. A knock at

, my voice barely

was young, maybe in her early twenties, with dark hair and a timid expr

mano," she said, her v

Romano. It sounded wrong like

forcing a smile.

lse. She just stood there, her hands clasped i

asked, trying to break

id, her voice b

nodding. "Thank you

. I stared at the tray of food-eggs, toast, fruit-but I had no appetite

ain, and Alessio walked in. He was dressed in another tai

said, his tone, f

ared at him, my hands clenc

amining it as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. "

I shot back,

down. "Good. Because today, we'r

peated, my st

mine. "You're my wife now, Evie. And

le number one," he said, his voice low and commanding.

th to argue, bu

om for protest. "You don't contact anyone outside this

ls digging into my palms. "

inches from mine. "T

ouldn't do any good. Alessio held all the power,

final. "You don't ask questions. About me. About

pounding. "Yes," I whisp

used and glanced back at me. "One more thing," he said, his tone softer but no less threat

ng me standing there with the weigh

re clear, but they only raised more questions. What was he h

off. The toast was slightly burnt, and the fruit looked... wrong. I picked up a piece of apple

eone tried to poison me? Or

clear: I couldn't trust anyone