Chapter 005

The moment Louisa disappeared down the hallway, Alessandro’s anger brewed to the surface, he was barely holding himself from lashing out at Vivienne.

What the fuck did she think she was doing? She hadn't been home in two days and now she was back trying to play the good wife? She knew how to get on his nerves and it was working.

Without sparing her a glance he began walking away, back to his study. Every step he took was long and calculated. His jaws kept clenching and unclenching in frustration.

Vivienne? She wasn't done with her tantrums. She tailed after him slipping into his study the moment he also walked in.

Alessandro casually strode to the wine wrack, grabbed a bottle of an untouched Sassicaia wine, popped it open, and began pouring the content into a glass of ice.

“I wasn't done talking to you yet, don’t walk out on me Alessandro!” Vivienne slapped her palms onto the table the moment she approached him.

Alessandro’s eyes darkened in annoyance. She was his wife didn't mean he wouldn't cut off her growing wings.

“It's about time I keep one of my men just right by the door, to stop you from coming in here.” He said, lifting the glass to his lips to sip the content.

Vivienne couldn't believe what he was saying to her. The veins in her neck pulsated as she clenched her fists tightly.

“You don’t talk to me that way! I'm still your wife, you should respect that.”

“Respect? Isn't that something we earn Cara?” The corner of his lips tilted up into a knowing smirk as he watched her facial expression fall into guilt.

“I told you I don't want a woman in my home, why did you have to let that girl stay here? How about the villa? The penthouse? Anywhere but here!” she retorted.

She wasn't going to let him have his way on this, she still had to exert her rights. Beneath she quivered from what Alessandro could do to her if she provoked him further but she masked it and stood her ground.

“Stay away from her! This is my home and I decide who stays and who leaves!” He raised his voice this time, his tone harsh just enough to wound Vivienne’s ego.

“Are you trying to sabotage this marriage? You know that wouldn't end well my love”

“Don't kid yourself, sweetheart, this thing called marriage? It ended when you threw yourself at another man” He spat in a sarcastic tone.

“That was a one-time thing, it was a mistake and you know it Alessandro—” Her voice faltered and her demeanor began to soften.

“It's been over a year, stop punishing me!” she stomped her right foot onto the floor like a stubborn child would. In hopes of diffusing the heated argument, she crossed the table to where he stood, flung her arms around his neck, and rested a side of her face on his chest.

“Alesso—” she whimpered.

Alessandro frowned. Forcefully pulling her hands from him, he grabbed her right arm in a tight hold, enough to cause her pain.

“You must take me for a fool, Vivienne”

Their faces were just an inch apart and her heart hammered against her chest as he spoke. His deep voice dangerously engulfed her.

“Let me go Alesso, you are hurting me!” she winced, trying to pull her arms off but he wouldn't budge.

“Where have you been for the past two days?” He glared daggers into her eyes inquisitively.

Vivienne flinched.

“Uhm, the penthouse of course—“ her voice cracked “I just went away for a while, did you miss me that much?” she let out an awkward smile as a painful lump rose to her throat and beads of sweat now gathering on her forehead.

Alessandro snapped.

He shoved her very hard, just enough to make her lose her footing and she crashed into a sofa by the corner.

Reaching for his drawer, he brought out a stack of pictures and threw them to her face. Vivienne shrieked. It felt like her tongue had suddenly been tied as she was lost for words.

She underestimated him, she really did!

“You’d absolutely pass as an actress Cara” He let out a subtle laugh, low and deadly.

He moved back to the chair, sat on it, and began pulling out the cufflinks on his shirt cuff “Are you that daft? Stupid? You should know I have eyes everywhere.”

The pictures all over her were one with a man she could recognize. First, they were walking into a hotel, the next picture they were smooching, the next they were both stark naked, the next they were making out, and then the next they were laying in bed cuddling up.

The photos kept getting worse until the next her that caught her eye left her gasping in shock.

“Y–you killed him!” She exclaimed wide-eyed and hands trembling as she watched the man she had left that morning lying dead in a pool of his blood in the jacuzzi bathtub they had both shared earlier.

“Alessandro, you killed him!” She screamed at the top of her voice in horror, the tears welling up in her eyes already threatening to fall. She rose to her feet and began retracing her steps back to the door.

“Thank you stars I didn’t do the same to you Cara” A wave of satisfaction washed over him as he watched the horrid look plastered on Vivienne’s face.

“You know I hate being humiliated, you should have warned your lover” He deadpanned.

Her knees buckled and she leaned against the wall for support.

“He’s not my lover, we were just—“

“Get out!” He ordered, not wanting to hear any more of her lies.

She had guts, he’d applaud her for that.

“At least hear me out” she pleaded, her heart racing in fright.

Alessandro rubbed his temples in annoyance. From the rigid look on his face, she should know his anger was boiling to the brim and should be running but Vivienne was one persistent woman.

“Don't make me repeat myself!” His voice tightened, she was this close to fully getting on his nerves.

Vivienne with balled fists by her side stormed out but not without slamming the door hard behind her.

So what? She cheated but it didn't mean he’d go ahead and have his way with that little bitch right under her nose, she wouldn't let that happen.

She took long strides down the hallway, storming in on Teresa who had just been coming from Louisa’s room.

“Signora—” The woman started to say.

Vivienne quickly cut her off “Where’s the surrogate’s room?”

“Just upstairs, the third door”

Her brows furrowed as she scoffed in disbelief.

“upstairs? Why on the same floor as Alessandro’s bedroom?” she piqued, eyes almost bulging out of its socket.

“Orders from Signore” Teresa bent her head to avoid her death stares. She knew how vicious her signora could get.

Vivienne huffed. Was he doing this to get back at her?

“Where's she?”

“Who? Oh! Signora Louisa? In the dining hall”

“Who gave y'all the right to address her that way?” she barked.

“Signore Alessandro ordered that we respect her and treat her warmly. She’s also married” Teresa explained, her voice trembling slightly.

“Oh wow! She’s married? The nerves of her!”

Vivienne turned around and began descending the stairs to the dining hall. Her anger simmering just beneath the surface.

Louisa who was done with her meal, watched awkwardly as the maids packed up the dishes. She wasn't used to being served.

“Can I help? I'm good with this” she told them and began packing up the plates and leftovers when one of the maids rushed out from the side of the kitchen and snatched it all from her hold.

“We are sorry signora, we can't let you do that, we’d lose our job once this gets to Signore Alessandro” the young maid quivered with fear.

“Oh!” she muttered, pressing her lips together as she withdrew her hands back to her sides. His rules were too stringent and until she talked to him about it, she would let them be.

Vivienne barged in and before Louisa could register what was happening, her hair was being yanked and she got pulled to the floor in full force.

“Aargh!” Louisa yelped the moment she felt her ankle sprain.

What had just happened?

She lifted her face from her sprained ankle to catch the eyes of Vivienne glaring at her like a snake about to spit its venom.

“Why did you do that?” Louisa asked in horror. Her hair was all messed up and scattered across her face.

Vivienne’s demeanor quickly softened, her eyes now wide open in a remorseful way as if realizing what she had just done.

The maids all stood aside, their eyes falling to their toes to avoid watching the ongoing drama.

Teresa stood at the edge of the stairways also watching, her eyes filled with concern for Louisa who looked confused and helpless, she didn't dare interfere.

“Oh my god!” Vivienne exclaimed throwing a palm over her mouth, eyes wide in feigned shock.

“I didn't mean to do that, here let me help you up!” she stretched forth her hands to Louisa who gullibly accepted it, and the moment Vivienne pulled her up mid-air she let go of her hand.

Louisa crashed onto the floor again, this time bruising her right arm.

“What the—”

The words died on her lips when she felt something cold wet her face. Vivienne had just splashed water on her.

Louisa sat there in a daze. Speechless. Anger riled up in her.

She hadn't recovered from one attack yet and the next was happening.

Vivienne knew how to play her games well.

She was a cunning witch that wasn't to be trusted.

“Oh my god! Why are you so careless Louisa? I was going to help you up” Vivienne purred sweetly, crouching down to her level, a sly smile crawling up her lips the moment she met Louisa’s eyes.

She didn't need to say much, she was very certain Louisa got the message as they both glared at each other.