ログインDay after day passed. Before I knew it, two months had gone by since Alexandro announced when our contract would end. Two months since he said we only had one year left. Two months since I decided to stop chasing the love of a cold man.Alexandro grew busier. Every morning he left before I woke up. Every night he came home late, often after I had fallen asleep. Sometimes I heard the sound of the bathroom door in the middle of the night, the sound of his tired footsteps, the sound of his heavy breathing, but I never opened my eyes.At the office, my desk was still next to his. But he was rarely there. Reports piled up on that dark wooden desk, documents scattered everywhere, pens lying around. Marco occasionally came in to take files, then left without a word.I just copied data, went home, ate dinner alone, and slept alone.Contract wife. That was my job, and I did it well.But starting today, everything was different.Today, I was going to college.The campus was big. The buildings w
The car stopped in front of an old, unremarkable building. From the outside, it looked like an empty warehouse or a factory that was no longer operating. The walls were dull, the windows were tightly shut, and there were no signs or nameboards of any kind. But once that iron door opened, I knew this place was not ordinary.We walked through a long hallway with concrete walls. Fluorescent lights flickered on the ceiling, illuminating a path that gradually sloped downward. We entered the basement.And I was amazed.The basement was huge, very huge. Maybe the size of a soccer field. The walls were made of thick concrete, the floor of polished cement that gleamed. Spotlight lamps were mounted on the high ceiling, lighting every corner of the room brightly.And on those walls, weapons hung. Long rifles lined up neatly on iron racks. Pistols hung on magnetic boards, glistening under the lights. There were also weapons I didn't recognize, oddly shaped, large, maybe some kind of launcher or g
After showering and changing clothes, I wore Alexandro's white shirt because I hadn't had time to grab other clothes, then we left my uncle's house. Auntie didn't dare say hello. Elena was nowhere to be seen. Only Marco was already waiting in the car with the engine running.I thought we were going home, but no.Alexandro sat next to me in the back seat. His face was serious. His eyes looked forward, not speaking."Hubby, are we going home?" I asked."There's some sudden business.""You can leave me at my uncle's house.""No. I don't want to leave you in that house."The car drove away from the neighborhood. We passed roads that grew quieter. The trees grew denser. Houses grew fewer, until there were no houses at all, only forest on both sides.We passed through the forest.Again.I remembered that night. The night our car was infiltrated, the night a man pointed a gun at my head.My hands started to tremble. I grabbed Alexandro's arm."It's okay," he whispered.I nodded and tried to
Alexandro went out because he got another phone call. I watched his broad back disappear behind the door.I was still sitting at the dining table, playing with the leftover croissant on my plate. Elena across from me was silent, but her eyes weren't. Her eyes stared at me with hatred she no longer hid."Come with me for a moment," she said.I looked at her suspiciously. "Why?""There's something I want to show you."She stood up and walked to her room without waiting for my answer.I stood up and followed her.Elena's bedroom door closed behind me. Her room was bigger than my old room, but still small. The walls were covered with posters of herself—her face smiling in various poses, various styles, various makeup looks."You're showing off, huh?" Elena looked at me with narrowed eyes. "You deliberately called your husband here to humiliate me?""I didn't call anyone. He came by himself.""Liar! You must have arranged everything. That flower, that food, that jewelry store, you delibera
The next day, I woke up to the sound of whispers.I blinked, trying to chase the last traces of sleep from my eyes. Next to me, the bed was empty. The sheets were still warm, but he wasn't there.I turned my head.Alexandro stood in front of the window. His back was broad, facing away from me. His white shirt was still the same as last night, a little wrinkled at the shoulders, but he still looked perfect."The body has been found? Where?"A pause, maybe the person on the other end was answering."Take care of it. Don't let anything leak to the media." Another pause. "I know who did this, but not now. We'll wait."I closed my eyes. I pretended to still be asleep. I didn't want him to know that I heard. I didn't want to know about bodies, about death, about the dark world he lived in every day. I just wanted to be stupid Lucia. Lucia who knew nothing.Alexandro ended his call. I heard his footsteps approach. I felt the weight of his body as he sat on the edge of the bed. I felt his gaz
I don't know why he asked about my father, but the way he said that name—Matteo Bianchi—was like he had known him for a long time.That night, I lay down next to him.I heard him moving. Left. Right. On his back. Tilted to the left. Tilted to the right. On his back again. The mattress was hard and uncomfortable. The thin sheets weren't soft enough for his skin, which was used to silk.I opened my eyes. From behind the darkness, I could see the silhouette of his restless body. He sat up. His hand rubbed his face, then his hand moved to his neck, to his arm, to his calf. Scratching. Rubbing. Scratching again."Lots of mosquitoes," he muttered.I smiled slightly. "A man born rich won't be able to sleep here," I said.Alexandro didn't answer.Suddenly, from outside, I heard a voice, then the sound of unsteady footsteps, sometimes loud, sometimes weak, like someone struggling to walk straight.Then Elena's voice."I'm home..."I heard Auntie wake up from her sleep. Her footsteps hurried to
I showed him everything I had learned from Mira.I sat on his lap, both arms wrapped around his neck. My breath was slow, rhythmic, exactly as Mira taught. "Breathing is the key," she said before. "Proper breathing can make a man lose control."I whispered in his ear. "Where do you want me to start
"A makeup tutor?""Yes, Madam. Mr. Alexandro arranged it. He said you need to learn how to do your makeup for future family events.""Al... alright. What time?""At ten o'clock, Madam. So you still have time for breakfast and to get ready."I nodded.A short while later.I was still sitting on the
That night I slept alone.Alexandro never came back down from his room. Maybe he slept in another room, maybe he left again. I didn't know.I just sat in my room, staring at the pile of lingerie on the chair, and wondered how my life had come to this.The next day.I showered, cleaned myself, then
The priest began to recite the prayer in a steady voice that echoed throughout the church. I stood still beside Alexandro, my hands feeling stiff as I held the bouquet. The scent of lilies was too strong, almost making me dizzy."We are gathered here today to witness the marriage of Alexandro De Lu







