Chapter 10

Third person/author's POV.

Hayley walked around importantly as she made her way across the courtyard. They were hosting a simple event just for the sake of it, and she had been having fun. The cool breeze caught the edges of her long dress, causing it to billow into the air. She smiled to herself. The last time something like this happened Lorenzo had said it made her look like a goddess.

Not like it mattered if he said it or not, she scoffed, the point was that he wasn't lying.

As if on cue, she heard his laughter behind her. Lorenzo laughed at something one of the guests said, but the fact was that his eyes never left her. He couldn't help but wonder if this was the same woman he had always seen before. She didn't just become bolder, but somehow, she became much more beautiful as well.

She turned around just then and gave him a charming smile.

"Looks like you've got your hands full with the guests." She said jokingly,

He chuckled.

"Maybe, but I've been busier feasting my eyes on the beauty." He kissed her hand.

"You're such a man!" Hayley rolled her eyes. "The good kind, of course."

She turned around to leave when her heel got stuck in a crack, making her lose her footing. Hayley yelped as her ankle twisted awkwardly, and her arms flailed in the air. She closed her eyes as she fell, bracing herself for the pain, but it never came.

Before she hit the ground, Lorenzo was there. He caught her waist firmly and pulled her up to his chest.

"Whoa there, goddess." He said, grinning from ear to ear. "Are you trying to fly away from me now?"

Hayley clutched his shirt tightly, taking in deep breaths.

"Your ground tried to murder me she chuckled "

"It's yours too." He smiled, before his expression turned serious. "Are you okay?"

"No, Enzo. I think I just lost five years of my life."

He chuckled.

"Well, I just gained ten from catching you alone."

She rolled her eyes, but her lips twitched into a nervous smile. She hated the fact that she was feeling so nervous around him again.

"Okay, smooth."

He leaned closer, whispering against her cheek.

"I can be smoother."

"Lorenzo-"

His hand slid down her cheek to her neck, before he took her her hand off his shoulder and kissed it.

"I'm serious, my Luna." He murmured, enjoying how red her face was. "You've been glowing lately. I love it."

Hayley tried to find her words.

"You do?"

She wanted to facepalm herself. A witty comment, a retort, anything, but now she was a nervous mess.

"Hell yes." He said, letting her stand, but not taking his hand off her waist. "It's sexy as fuck.

She bit her bottom lip, letting her hands slide around his neck.

"You're not so bad yourself, husband."

Someone cleared their throat behind them, disrupting their moment.

"Sorry to interrupt." Came a voice, flat, bitter, and unimpressed.

Hayley pulled away slightly. Lorenzo's arms remained around her, but he turned towards the voice.

Stella stood with her arms folded giving both of them a hard look.

"I didn't mean to interrupt." She said, her tone saying the opposite.

Hayley let go of him.

"I'll leave you two." She said. "I'm heading upstairs to change."

Lorenzo kissed her hand lightly.

"Don't trip again."

She smacked his arm playfully and walked off, swaying her hips playfully. She liked this. She never had this kind of thing with Lucien, but Enzo was fun to be around.

Stella waited until Hayley was out of earshot before speaking to Lorenzo.

"Hey, can I talk to you for a second? It's important."

Lorenzo nodded.

"Of course. What's the matter?"

"It's about Hayley." She said.

Lorenzo raised an eyebrow.

"Okay? What about her?"

Stella hesitated for a second.

"I think something's wrong with her. She's... not been herself lately. She's too different, it's weird.

"She's not different, she just decided to start speaking up for herself." Lorenzo said.

Stella frowned.

"Exactly. That's what's strange. That's not the Hayley we all know."

He narrowed his eyes.

"So now it's a problem because she's not being a doormat anymore?"

She flinched.

"That's not what I meant, and you know it!"

"That's exactly what you meant."

"She used to be sweet." Stella insisted. "Now she gives me this... I don't know, sinister vibe. Like she's hiding something."

Lorenzo nodded.

"Now, listen to me. If she's hiding something, it's none of your goddamn business!"

"But-

He cut her off.

"No, stop! Don't bring this kind of nonsense to me again or I won't take it lightly."

Stella opened her mouth but no words came out.

"She's my wife, and your Luna." Lorenzo said firmly. "If you can't handle her strength, that's not my problem."

He walked away from her calmly, not bothering to show his irritation after he had declared the conversation over.

Stella was stunned. Her mouth still open, and her cheeks were red with embarrassment.

She watched him walk away, and with a grunt, she turned on her heel and went towards her room.

"Stupid." She muttered under her breath. "He'll see it one day."

She reached her bedroom door and opened the door. As she went in, the door slammed shut behind her.

"What the fuck-"

A large hand clamped over her mouth. She tried to scream, but it came out muffled.

Stella couldn't believe it. The only thing she could hear was her own heart pounding in her ears and the heavy breathing behind her.

The hand tightened on her mouth, and she felt hot breath on her neck. Stella's eyes widened. She tried to shake her head, or fight her assaulter, but she was held down.

She became aware of the strength difference between them, and of the fact that there wasn't a single thing she could sue to defend herself.

"Don't scream unless you want this to get ugly, lady."