Episode 4

As soon as we arrived at the mansion, we were greeted by the same housekeeper who had welcomed me when I first got here. We entered the hall and proceeded to a large table. It was an enormous table, laden with plates, silverware, and beautifully decorated. People started arriving and taking their seats, including my brother. My mother wasn't present, and I missed her. She was the only person I wished was there, to hug me and tell me this was all just a nightmare.

But I don't blame her. She has her reasons for not wanting to be in the middle of all this. She never agreed with this marriage, so she had no reason to share my sadness, after all, I wasn't happy. I didn't marry by choice, I didn't marry for love, I was forced into it.

Everyone was in their places, only I remained standing, while everyone watched me. I sat down reluctantly, while Montanari seemed to want to devour me with his eyes. His gaze carried a mixture of anger; he certainly wished I was a submissive wife, expecting me to do everything his way. But we'll see if he can handle me.

Montanari remained standing and launched into a speech full of complicated words that were even putting me to sleep; surely the food the cooks had prepared had gone cold, with so much blather.

"Today was a very important step for me and my most worthy wife," he said, waiting for me to stand. But as I said, "He doesn't boss me around," I stayed seated.

He gave me a visibly irritated look, but his expression soon changed, showing a fake smile to those around the dinner table.

"Get up right now," he ordered through gritted teeth, his eyes flashing with deep anger.

As he looked at me, a shiver ran down my spine, and then I rose, showing a fake smile of my own.

Once again, an endless speech began. Everyone raised their champagne glasses and made a toast, and finally, we sat down to be served a delicious meal.

"How boring, all this for a wedding?" I complained, feeling bored.

Those people seemed to have nothing to talk about except business and money.

"Can I go up to my room?" I asked, although I shouldn't have.

"No," he said calmly, returning to his conversation with the man next to him.

My brother was completely caught up among them; it seemed he wasn't regretful, as he had claimed to be a few days ago.

"I want to get out of here, I want to change, I want to rest, and I will get out of here with or without your permission, husband," I said with disdain.

The bastard grabbed one of my hands under the table and squeezed so hard that I almost passed out, but I held on because I didn't want everyone to see the ugly face I would make.

"When I told you no, it's no. Or do you want me to draw it for you, wife? I guarantee I won't be gentle in demonstrating," he said, releasing my hand, and I felt a sense of relief.

The damn party went on and on. It took a long time for their empty, meaningless conversations to end. I took advantage of the fact that he had left me alone, grabbed a glass of wine, and walked into the garden; I needed some fresh air.

I sat on a wooden bench near some rose bushes and watched the stars, enjoying the silence of the place. The moon was full, it was beautiful. I closed my eyes, released my breath, and let myself feel the cold wind against my face.

Until I heard footsteps behind me and a female voice spoke to me:

"Hey, girl," she said, pulling me off the bench.

"Who are you? How dare you touch me like that?" I asked, already irritated.

"Look at you, so irritable," she sneered. "Look, spoiled little girl, I'm the woman Montanari loves, and it's in my arms that he ends up every night, don't think that just because you married him I'm going to get out of my man's life, you understand? Because that's what he is to me. 'My man," she repeated the last word.

"Of course, you're a frustrated lover who can't accept defeat," I said, circling her as I spoke. "It figures," I laughed. "You know that song that's playing around? 'A lover has no home'? It's unbelievable how people make a song to fit the situation, and this one was definitely made for you," I said, leaving her even more irritated.

"Don't declare victory before it's won. We'll see a lot of each other, spoiled brat," she said, walking away.

I released the heavy breath I had been holding, sat back down on the same bench, took the empty glass of wine I had been drinking, and threw it against a stone in front of me, smashing it to pieces.

"My dear little wife, I was looking for you," Montanari said in his hateful voice.

"What do you want?" I asked directly, looking at him.

"You should be at the party, my dear, not out here."

"I think where I want to be is none of your business. I'll go where I please," I replied.

"Hey, wife, lower your voice when you talk to me," he said angrily. "Or things here won't be good for you, Ragazza," he added coldly.

"What? Are you going to kill me with your gun? Do it, it would be better to die than live with you," I spat the words at him.

He grabbed my arm roughly and pulled me close to him.

"I'll say it again, show me respect or things here will get ugly for you."

"You don't boss me around," I said, with all the hatred I felt, challenging him.

"I do boss you around, because the moment I put this ring on your finger, and you accepted me as your husband in front of 500 people, I became your Master, and you will do whatever I ask, love."

"I'm not your property, and I don't have an owner," I said, pulling my arm from his grasp.

"You're mine and that's that, get that through your head," he roared.

"Go fuck yourself," I said, walking in front of him.

I felt strong hands grab my hair, and he pulled it so hard that I felt pain, a lot of pain. Montanari brought his face close to mine, close enough that I felt his lips near mine, but I felt nothing, only disgust.

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