03

TIME ticked.

One second. Two. Three.

Too long.

And then Alessia had seen enough.

She turned on her heel, ready to walk away and that was when Damien noticed her. Vanessa too.

“Okay. You didn’t see us?” Damien’s voice cut in.

She stopped, but didn’t turn immediately. Her fist clenched at her side.

Vanessa chuckled, soft and low.

“Youuuu never could tell,” she said, dragging the words just enough to irritate.

Alessia slowly turned back to them. Her face was calm, too calm.

“I thought you were at work, Damien. I didn't expect to see you here.”

Vanessa rolled her eyes.

Damien scoffed.

“Exactly. At work, while you lazy about all day here, doing nothing.”

The words hit.

Of course they always did.

Alessia exhaled slowly, holding it in, holding everything in.

Across from her, Vanessa giggled again, one hand resting on her swollen belly, rubbing it like it was something to be displayed.

“Okay,” Alessia said quietly.

Just that.

She turned to leave.

“Don't dare move an inch, Alessia.”

Her steps halted.

Slowly, she turned back.

“What again?”

Damien straightened slightly.

“What kind of thinking was that?” he said, his tone sharp. “Have you forgotten so soon that you prepared the guestroom for someone yesterday?”

Her eyes rolled before she could stop herself.

“I didn't forget. I was thinking that you would at least have the dignity to go to the office and then by evening, this would take place,” she waved her hand slightly toward Vanessa, “this.”

Vanessa stiffened. Her back straightened.

“Am I the one you refer to as ‘this’?”

Damien sighed, already annoyed.

“Don't let that get you worked up, dear,” he said, his tone softening immediately as he looked at Vanessa, then turning back to Alessia, “just leave, go.”

“Yeah. That is what I always do,” Alessia muttered under her breath, already turning.

“Alessia.”

She stopped again.

It was Vanessa this time.

“Fuck…” she whispered under her breath, turning sharply this time.

“What is it?”

Vanessa tilted her head slightly, her expression shifting into something almost… sympathetic.

Almost.

“I'm sorry, ok. I'm sorry I kind of, took everything from you—”

Alessia’s hand tightened. Her teeth sank into her lower lip.

Vanessa continued, her voice softer now.

“And ugh, I also took motherhood from you. It must be so painful, I'm really sorry.”

Her fingers dabbed lightly under her eyes as though she was wiping away tears. Mock tears.

Alessia didn’t look at her, she looked at Damien who quickly lowered his gaze, deliberately avoiding her eyes.

That was enough. Something in her settled.

At that minute, a small smile appeared on her lips, a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

“You took nothing from me… Vanessa,” she said, her voice steady. “Except for of course, my pains.”

A brief and sharp silence fell over them, as she processed the words. Her expression flickered, just for a second.

Then she quickly masked it with a laugh, a short laugh that obviously didn't get to her heart.

“Oh! Still your loss.”

Alessia rolled her eyes.

“Bitch,” she muttered under her breath.

“Um… my bags,” Vanessa said suddenly, turning to Damien. “They are still in the car, Damien. She should just go get them.”

Alessia’s head snapped slightly.

“Huh!”

Damien shook his head, already back to rubbing Vanessa’s belly.

“Don't worry about that, I will handle it,” he said.

But Vanessa wasn’t having it.

“Oh come on. She should just go get it, or, are you expecting me to go get them?”

“No no no. Never. Not with my heir in your belly. Just… let it go, Vanessa.”

“But that is what she always does, right?” Vanessa turned to Alessia again, her eyes scanning her lazily. “She is always working at home isn't she? A full time housewife. She should just go get them. They are in the booth of the SUV.”

Alessia said nothing.

She just watched her.

Watched her talk.

Watched her perform.

Then—

“It's not your fault,” she said quietly and turned to leave.

Vanessa frowned immediately, her face tightened.

“Hold on,” she called again, her tone sharper this time.

Alessia stopped, irritation clear now as she turned back.

“What now?”

Vanessa leaned back slightly, her hand still on her belly.

“You really think you can just walk away every time? That attitude… it is annoying.”

Alessia let out a short breath.

“I’m not here to entertain you.”

“Oh, but you are,” Vanessa smiled faintly. “You have been doing that for years without even realizing it.”

That landed hard.

Damien shifted slightly but said nothing. Alessia’s jaw tightened.

“For someone living under my roof,” Vanessa continued, her tone turning colder, “you should learn your place.”

That did it.

Alessia took a slow and measured step forward.

“This,” she said quietly, her eyes locking onto Vanessa’s, “is not your house.”

Vanessa’s smile thinned.

“Give it time.”

A thick and tense silence took over.

Then Alessia turned to finally leave.

Vanessa waved a hand dismissively.

“Fine,” she turned to Damien, “if you wouldn't let her do that, at least let her make me breakfast. Something very light.”

Alessia stopped again.

“What?”

Damien sighed but said nothing.

“What is what?” Vanessa snapped. “You are heading for the kitchen anyway. What difference does it make? Just breakfast, I didn't ask you to carry a child—”

Alessia’s eyes shut, pain flickered across her face. Her fist tightened harder.

“Now that is enough, Vanessa,” Damien finally said.

“What?” Vanessa shrugged, unbothered. “It's not like I requested something difficult anyway, just breakfast. Or aren't you hungry?”

“Vanessa, that is my wife, not your slave, not my slave.”

Vanessa scoffed.

“Whatever. It's not a new thing to her, I mean that is what she has been doing for years now—”

“Enough, Vanessa.” His voice hardened slightly. “If you are hungry I can order for something. Maybe a fresh croissant, some scrambled eggs, yogurt, and orange juice.”

Vanessa crumpled her nose.

“Hmph. Whatever.”

Then she shifted closer to him, her tone changing instantly.

“Please baby… rub… rub… rub… awww…”

She exaggerated it, dragging the sounds.

Her eyes flicked toward Alessia, making sure she was watching.

Alessia saw.

Of course she saw.

But she said nothing, not a word.

She just turned and walked away.

This time, she didn’t stop, she didn’t turn back. She didn’t react. She just walked, straight into the kitchen.

The moment she crossed the doorway, the doorbell rang.

Sharp and unexpected.

Both Damien and Vanessa looked up at the same time.