006: SETTING BOUNDARIES

RHEA

I remembered that name from the stories I had heard about Nikolai. His late wife. The woman whose frozen eggs I was supposed to carry.

Why was someone calling him about her in the middle of the night?

Was it about the medical procedure?

Or was there something else I didn't know?

I held my breath and remained perfectly still.

Nikolai listened for several more seconds before speaking again.

"Find out who was responsible, I want a name before sunrise."

A pause followed.

Then he spoke the final words in a voice so cold that even from across the room, I felt a chill run through me.

"Nessuno tocca ciò che appartiene ai Martello."

I didn't know the exact meaning of every word, but I understood enough from his tone.

Nobody touched what belonged to the Martellos.

The call ended.

Nikolai remained by the window for a moment, staring into the darkness outside. Then he turned off the light on his desk and walked toward the bed.

I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.

My heart was beating so hard that I was certain he could hear it.

His footsteps stopped near the sofa.

For one terrifying second, I thought he knew I had been listening.

Then he moved away.

I waited until I heard the bed creak before allowing myself to breathe again.

I pulled the blanket closer and kept my eyes shut.

♤♤♤♤♤

I woke up to the sound of a man's voice.

For a few seconds, I couldn't remember where I was. My body felt heavy, and my neck hurt from sleeping on the sofa. Then I opened my eyes and remembered everything.

Italy. The mansion. The contract.

And, unfortunately, my new husband.

Nikolai Martello stood in front of the large mirror near his wardrobe, adjusting his tie while speaking on his phone. He was already dressed in a perfectly fitted black suit, looking as though he had been awake for hours.

I glanced at the clock on the wall.

Six thirty in the morning.

I had barely slept.

"Make sure everything is ready before I arrive," he said into his phone. "I don't want any delays."

He ended the call and turned slightly, his eyes landing on me.

"You're awake."

I pushed myself into a sitting position, pulling the blanket away from my face.

"Yes."

His expression didn't change.

"Breakfast will be served downstairs in fifteen minutes. Get dressed."

I frowned.

"Breakfast?"

"Unless you intend to spend the entire day sleeping on that sofa."

I ignored his comment and stood up, stretching my aching arms.

"Why do I need to eat downstairs?"

"Because we will be having breakfast together."

I stared at him.

"Together?"

"Did I stutter?"

I folded my arms across my chest.

"I thought you preferred keeping me hidden away from everyone."

Nikolai picked up his wristwatch from the dresser and fastened it around his wrist.

"That was before you became my wife."

I looked down at the diamond ring on my finger.

Right. The marriage.

"The household staff will need to become accustomed to seeing us together," he continued. "You are Mrs. Martello now. I expect everyone in this house to treat you accordingly."

I almost laughed.

How thoughtful…He wanted everyone to know I was his wife, but he couldn't even treat me like one.

"Fine," I muttered.

"You have fifteen minutes."

He walked toward the bedroom door.

"Do you ever say please?"

He stopped and looked over his shoulder.

"Do you ever follow instructions without asking unnecessary questions?"

I rolled my eyes.

There was no point arguing with him. I had a feeling I would spend the rest of my life arguing with this man if I allowed myself to.

I picked up my clothes and headed into the bathroom.

Fifteen minutes later, I was dressed in a simple cream colored dress. I brushed my hair and left it falling over my shoulders before slipping into a pair of comfortable flats.

When I stepped out, Nikolai was waiting near the door.

His eyes moved briefly over my appearance before he turned away.

"Let's go."

I followed him out.

We walked down the grand staircase, passing several staff members who immediately lowered their heads when they saw him.

"Good morning, Don Martello."

"Good morning, sir."

Nikolai acknowledged them with brief nods.

I kept my eyes forward, feeling uncomfortable under their curious glances.

Some of them looked at my ring. Others looked at me as though they were trying to figure out how I had ended up married to their Don.

I couldn't blame them.

I was still trying to figure that out myself.

The dining room was at the far end of the ground floor. When we entered, I stopped briefly.

The room was enormous.

A long wooden table stood in the center, surrounded by expensive-looking chairs. Crystal glasses, silver cutlery, and fresh flowers decorated its surface.

There were enough seats for at least twenty people.

Yet only two places had been set.

One for Nikolai.

And one for me.

"Good morning, Don Martello."

A middle aged woman approached us with a warm smile. She wore a neat black dress with a white apron tied around her waist. Unlike the other staff members, she didn't seem frightened of speaking.

"Good morning, Maria," Nikolai replied.

The woman turned toward me.

"And good morning to you, signora."

I blinked.

"Good morning."

She smiled kindly.

"My name is Maria, I oversee the household staff, If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask me."

"Thank you," I replied.

"Breakfast is ready, signora."

I hesitated at the title.

Signora.

I had never been called that before.

Nobody had ever introduced me as someone's wife with such casual acceptance. Back at my father's house, I was barely treated like a member of the family.

Now, strangers were calling me Mrs. Martello.

It felt strange.

Nikolai pulled out a chair and sat down.

I took the seat close to him.

Maria began placing several dishes on the table. There were eggs, sliced fruits, bread, pastries, cheese, and something that looked like a mixture of vegetables and meat.

I picked up my fork and examined the food.

I wasn't familiar with most of it.

Nikolai, meanwhile, was already drinking his coffee while scrolling through messages on his phone.

He hadn't even looked at me since we sat down.

I tried a small portion of the food in front of me, but the taste wasn't what I expected.

After another bite, I gently placed my fork down.

"Excuse me, Maria?"

The housekeeper immediately turned toward me.

"Yes, signora?"

"Would it be possible to have something simpler? Perhaps some toast and scrambled eggs?"

Before Maria could answer, Nikolai looked up from his phone.

"Is there a problem with the food?"

I glanced at him.

"No. I just don't eat certain things."

"Such as?"

I sighed.

"Do I need to give you a complete list of everything I don't like?"

His expression remained flat.

"Maria, prepare what she wants."

"Of course, Don Martello."

Maria gave me a small smile before walking away.

I looked down at my plate.

It was a small thing. He hadn't even made a big deal out of it.

Still, I had noticed.

But I wasn't going to mistake basic consideration for kindness. A man could order someone to prepare breakfast without suddenly becoming a good person.

Nikolai returned his attention to his phone.

We finished breakfast in almost complete silence.

A few minutes later, Maria returned to clear the table.

"Dr. Pedro has arrived, Don Martello."

Nikolai placed his phone on the table.

"Show him to the examination room."

"Yes, sir."

My stomach tightened.

The medical team.

I wiped my palms against my dress.

"Where is this examination room?"

Nikolai stood.

"On the lower level. Follow me."

I got up slowly.

I wasn't sure what frightened me more, the medical procedure or the fact that I was about to undergo it in a house where I had no control over anything.

We left the dining room and walked down a different corridor. A few minutes later, we reached a set of double doors.

Two women in medical uniforms stood outside with a man wearing a white coat.

The man stepped forward.

"Good morning, Don Martello."

"Dr. Pedro."

The doctor turned toward me.

"You must be Mrs Martello."

I nodded.

"Yes."

"My name is Pedro. I will be overseeing your fertility assessment. These are my assistants, Laura and Sofia."

Both women greeted me with polite smiles.

"Good morning," I replied.

"Please, come inside," Dr. Pedro said.

I followed them into the room.

It looked like a private medical clinic. Everything was clean and organized. There was an examination bed, several medical instruments, a machine I recognized as an ultrasound machine, and a small table covered with medical supplies.

I swallowed…this was really happening.

Dr. Pedro gestured toward a chair.

"Please sit down, Mrs. Martello. We will begin by reviewing your medical history."

I sat down while one of the assistants opened a file.

"Have you ever been pregnant before?" the doctor asked.

"No."

"Have you undergone any fertility treatments?"

"No."

"Any history of reproductive health problems? Irregular periods, severe pelvic pain, or previous surgeries?"

I answered each question as honestly as I could.

The doctor made a few notes.

"Very well. Today, we will conduct a comprehensive fertility assessment. This will include bloodwork, an ultrasound, and a general reproductive health examination."

I nodded slowly.

"Will it hurt?"

"Some parts may cause mild discomfort, but we will explain everything before proceeding. We will also monitor your condition throughout the examination."

"What about the embryo transfer? When will that happen?"

"Not today. First, we need to assess your reproductive health. Once we have the necessary results, we can determine the appropriate preparation and treatment."

I took a deep breath.

"Can you explain the process to me? I mean, everything. I want to know what will happen to my body."

"Of course," he replied.

Dr. Pedro explained that I would need medication to prepare my uterus for the embryo transfer. My hormone levels would also be monitored to make sure my body was ready.

He explained that the embryo would be transferred into my uterus through a thin medical tube. The procedure would usually take only a short time, although the preparation could take longer.

"And what if something goes wrong?" I asked.

"That is why we conduct these examinations first. We need to understand your health before proceeding. You will be monitored throughout the process, and any medical concerns will be addressed before we continue."

"Can I stop the process if I change my mind?"

The doctor paused briefly.

Before he could answer, Nikolai spoke.

"How long will the examination take?"

I turned toward him.

He had been standing near the examination bed, listening to everything without saying a word.

"Approximately one hour," Dr. Pedro answered. "It depends on the results and whether we need additional tests."

"Fine. I'll wait here."

I stared at him.

"Wait. What?"

Nikolai looked at me.

"I said I'll wait here."

"No, you can't."

His eyebrows lifted slightly.

"Excuse me?"

I pointed toward the examination bed.

"Are you seriously planning to stand here and watch the doctor examine me?"

"I'm the person paying for this procedure. I have a right to know what is happening to the woman carrying my child."

I felt my cheeks grow hot.

"That doesn't mean you have the right to watch everything!"

"Rhea."

"No. This is a medical examination...I deserve some privacy."

His expression hardened.

"I have already made it clear that I expect to be informed about everything concerning this pregnancy."

"And I've already made it clear that I'm not your property!"

The two assistants exchanged a quick awkward glance.

Dr. Pedro cleared his throat.

"Perhaps we can discuss this calmly."

I ignored him.

I was tired of having every decision made for me. I had agreed to carry the child, but that didn't mean Nikolai had the right to stand over me while I was half undressed.

"I want him to leave," I said firmly.

Nikolai stared at me.

For several seconds, nobody spoke.

I could feel my heart beating against my ribs. I was terrified he would refuse. He had already shown me how little my wishes mattered to him.

But I forced myself to hold his gaze.

"I cannot do this with you watching," I added quietly.

His eyes remained fixed on mine.

Then, surprisingly, he turned toward Dr. Pedro.

"Call me when you're finished."

Then He walked toward the door.