Chapter 4

There was music and laughter making the estate lively. The casting golden light on and chandeliers overhead guests mingling, meaningless hums fills up the conversations. Elena sat near the edge of the lounge, she watches as servers moved between the tables, refilling the glasses with whiskey and wines as guests beckoned with resounding whispers in the air.

It was another one of Sanchez’s elaborate gatherings, tonight was supposed to be met for celebrations ,where alliances, betrayals, and blood money are made by powerful men with their wives.

But tonight was meant to seal her fate, Elena’s thoughts.

She saw her father Capello whose face is filled with guilt and tension and his eyes has avoided her gaze.

Sanchez swirling his drink with an air of satisfaction, leaning back on his chair. "niña,you are not enjoying this moment" he mused, his voice sounds silky like a sharp blade. "This ought to be a joyous and memorable night for you."

Elena curls her fingers in her palms. "Joyous?" she repeated snortingly, the word forcefully past the lump in her throat.

Sanchez’s gaze flicking to Alejandro, who watches the conversation with mild amusement while standing close to the fireplace with a glass of whiskey in hand. "You are bethrothed to my son at last. A perfect match fatefully designed."

Fate.

Elena had a sickening feel.

"Tell me it isn’t true." She turns to her father hoping he refutes the claim.

Capello rubbing a hand over his face exhaled deeply. He looked older and more fragile tonight this can’t be the man she knew growing up with lots of admiration for "Elena—”

No reply

Capello hesitated; slowly nods in affirmation “it was decided a long time ago while you were still a child.”

The truth sank in like a stone dropped in a river.

Her whole life had been a pawn. She was traded before she could even speak.

Alejandro with a smirk in his face “come on now Princesa,you must have known” sips from his glass of whiskey with his eyes staring at her.

She could barely control her fury. "Known?" she hissed. "You think I dream of spending my life shackled with you?"

He had a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes but, Sanchez cut in before he could respond.

"It is your father's debt cleared off,and it's not up for any debate nina” He chuckled

“That is my father's burden to bear not me” she quickly snapped.

There was quick silence in the room.

Sanchez’s expression darkened and Alejandro’s smirk widened as he leaned against the mantel, expectantly watching the scenario as a spectator in a gladiator match.

Elena had always feared Sanchez, but her heart pounded and she refused to look away she understood the weight of his power, but tonight—, her fear burned into something sharper and her courage rose like the morning sun.

"Choose your words carefully ,niña," Sanchez said softly. "I don't know how to be patient."

Capello’s, hands trembling against the table, with a husky and shaky voice "She’s still young,Amico. Please she needs time to—"

"Quiet," Sanchez rudely interrupted. "She needs to understand what is served on the table."

Alejandro steps forward closing the gaps in between them. "You ought to be grateful," he murmured, with a low tone. "You are given to me not just anybody but me- you know you would have been given to a nobody with no class ."

Elena’s stomach irritably twisted.

“ I find you annoying and disgusting” she spat.

Alejandro’s jaw dropped. "You don't speak to your fiance like that"

"You will never be my fiancé," she shot back. "You’re just my captor."

There was tense silence between them, the heavy doors of the lounge sprung open interrupting Alejandro from retaliating.

It was Dino walking in.

The attention of the room shifted.

The air felt different .

Dino’s presence came like a rolling storm that is cold, but dangerous.He is dressed in black with a broad shoulder that is tensed,his dark eyes swept over the scene cutting across the faces in the room before landing on Sanchez.

With his calm voice “you summoned me”, but Elena knew better.

"Sit." Sanchez lazily gestured to the seat beside Alejandro.

Dino remained standing still as he wasn't pleased with that gesture.

Sanchez said “we were just discussing the engagement of Elena to Alejandro, don’t you think? it's a perfect match.” while carefully watching him.

There it was in his eyes- Elena saw. A shadow of anger, buried deep; as his gaze locked with hers, and in a spring of the moment, she knew: he wasn't in support of this and he hated it all as much as she.

But he didn't say a word.

He turned his gaze to Sanchez. "I believe you didn’t call me here for that."

Sanchez smirked. "No I didn’t."

Tension steams up in the room

Dino’s fists curled beneath his suit, with his expression unreadable and unpredictable.

Sanchez leaned forward, with amusing tone. "Your mother finally spoke up,by telling me the truth."

Elena saw the smallest flicker of unease in Dino’s face.

"Truth about what” he asked.

Taking a slow sip of his drink before answering.Sanchez exhaled deeply from his nose.

"Truth that I didn't fathered you."

The words hits the walls of the room like a bang of gunshot.

For the first time, Dino lost his balance a bit. A gloss of shock spread on his face before he masked it with a cold of indifference.

Alejandro let out a subtle chuckle. "You needed to see his face when he found out,” he said mockingly. " Playing the loyal comrade all these years and you weren’t even blood."

Elena caught her breath.

Sanchez stepping closer to Dino. "Your mother lied," he said. "She gave herself to a bodyguard. And you?" He sneered. "You are nothing but a low life creature."

Dino’s fingers twitching at his side couldn't speak.

Sanchez tilted his head towards him. "I dare you Say something."

But Dino didn’t.

Elena felt tightening in her chest. She had seen Dino beat down men twice his size, had watched him encountered danger without blinking, but tonight—tonight, she saw something else.

Betrayal and lies

And it hurts.

Sanchez’s eyes widened. "You are to remain loyal to this family, Dino," he said. "As you have always had, you will continue to protect Alejandro."

Dino’s jaw tightened.

Alejandro grinned amusingly. "That’s right, hermano. Nothing changes status quo remains."

Dino’s eyes quickly snapped at him as sharp as a blade.

"You’re wrong," he said quietly.

Alejandro’s grin faded.

Dino turned toward the door.

"Where do you think you’re going?" Alejandro called, his voice laced with anger.

Dino stopped before stepping out.

He glanced back, meeting Alejandro’s gaze with quiet rage and fury.

"Yes you have his blood," Dino said, voice calm, "but you can never be the man he hopes for."

And then he walked away.

Elena's pulse pounds as she watched him go.

She always knew Dino was different.

But tonight, there is a paradigm shift.

Something can't be undone from what is now existing.