Chapter 2

Chapter 2

(Larissa)

I let the air escape past my lips and turned off the phone; looking at those pictures wouldn’t help me at all. It was nothing new that Alessandro Moratti, my husband, was constantly going out with other women. Unfortunately, our marriage is a secret to anyone outside the Santini family.

An arrangement that in the beginning made no difference to me, and I even thought it was better that way, but today… It’s been five years together, impossible to deny the feelings I grew over time.

I returned my focus to my work, finalizing the details for a new packaging for a groundbreaking face cream at Moratti Essenza, where after much fighting, I landed a job as a designer. Since for Alessandro, I would stay at home doing nothing.

The delicate scent of fragrant products hung in the air, creating a relaxing atmosphere in my office. On the computer, a screen full of vibrant colors and sleek shapes was displayed as I meticulously adjusted every detail.

Suddenly, the door swung open without a knock, and my department manager, Mr. Oliveira, walked into the room with a serious expression, interrupting my concentration.

— Larissa, I need you to work on an urgent project.

I looked up from the computer, caught off guard by the abrupt interruption. But then I nodded, ready to receive my next task.

— What do you need me to do, Mr. Oliveira? — I asked, while he placed a folder down onto my desk.

— We are launching a new skincare line, and we need packaging that is sophisticated, but also modern and youthful.

He looked at me, opening the folder to reveal some preliminary sketches and a brief description of the project.

I took the folder, starting to examine the material, absorbing the information while already visualizing the concepts in my head. I knew I would need to capture the essence of the company and convey it through the packaging design.

— Understood, Mr. Oliveira — I answered, determined. — I’ll start working on it right away.

Mr. Oliveira nodded approvingly before walking out of the room. My mind was buzzing with creativity about what I could do, when my phone vibrated on the desk, catching my attention.

I picked it up to see it was a text from Alessandro.

Alessandro: My mother called, we’re having dinner with my grandparents tonight. Don’t make any plans.

— Great! — I said, disgusted. I adored Alessandro’s grandparents. Ever since I married him, his mother and sister treated me so poorly that I often thought about running away. But I always backed down when I remembered how my father was, that the company was in its prime, he was finishing treatment and smiling again like before.

Elias passed away two years ago and Alessandro kept maintaining the partnership and helping my father’s company.

Teresa and Carlo are his grandparents, the only ones who treat me like a human being. I always loved being around them, but knowing that Rosa, Alessandro’s mother, will be there makes all my excitement vanish.

Whenever we get together, by the end of the day, I end up under the shower crying. Larissa: All right.

It wasn’t really what I wanted to reply, but there wasn’t much to do. I looked at my computer with the old project and the folder in front of me. All the excitement dissipated.

I decided to finish up what I had already started.

When I was done, I put the folder in my bag and shut down my computer, leaving my office and bumping straight into Catherine. She gave a sad smile and tried to walk away quickly, but I picked up my pace and caught up with her.

— Hey, running away from me? — I asked, stepping into the elevator with her and hitting the underground parking button.

— No, I’m just in a bit of a rush.

I looked at her for a few more seconds before dropping my gaze to the floor, but when I heard her sigh heavily, I turned to face her again.

— Cathe, what’s going on? Was it Pedro again?

Her eyes met mine, and before she nodded, confirming it, I could see the sorrow in them.

— Do you want to talk?

— Can it be later? I really need some time to myself.

I agreed and held her hands, looking at her with a gentle smile on my face.

— I don’t know what happened, but know that I’m here by your side. Relationships are complicated, but you know what to do and I’ll support you through any choice, okay?

I could see her lip trembling, as if she were about to burst into tears. The elevator chimed and more people stepped in when the doors opened.

Most employees got off at the ground floor, and three others and I went down to the parking garage. I walked to my car and drove all the way to the mansion where I lived.

I was taking a shower when I heard the bedroom door open and shut. I hurried up and, upon leaving the bathroom, I spotted Alessandro sitting on the bed, looking at something on his phone.

He lifted his gaze and dragged it down my body, sending my pulse racing as he stood up and started walking right toward me.

Except he never reached me, because his phone rang and Alessandro spun around, grabbing it and stepping out to answer. It was definitely something far more important than me.

To him, anything was.

I walked into the walk-in closet and grabbed an army-green tailored trouser and cropped-top set. I put on the necklace Teresa gave me and brushed my hair, pulling it back into a high ponytail.

I sprayed my perfume and grabbed a simple purse before leaving the bedroom, watching Alessandro walk past me to take his shower.

I took the chance to check my social media, where I shared random pictures of my day-to-day life and whatever caught my fancy. The only people who could see them were the two hundred followers I had.

It didn’t take long for Alessandro to leave the bedroom, and both of us headed to the car. He started the engine and took the route toward his grandparents’ mansion.

— Are you on the team in charge of designing the skin cream? — His voice sliced through the silence that settled inside the vehicle.

— Yes, Mr. Oliveira handed me the materials today.

After a few seconds, he kept staring at the road while speaking.

— It’s a major launch, done in honor of someone very important to me. I hope you do a good job with the design; otherwise, kiss that desk at my company goodbye.

I looked at him in sheer confusion. Why was I being threatened out of nowhere?

— Who are you honoring? — I asked, curious, but the look on his face made me sink back into the seat.

— None of your business. Just do your job.

I chose not to answer and focused my gaze on the view sweeping past the window. In reality, my mind was trying to figure out who the person he was honoring truly was.

We arrived at the mansion and I stepped out, having to hurry slightly to keep up with Alessandro. We stopped right before the massive white double doors, and I felt his fingers lace into mine.

Our marriage was no secret to his grandparents, but the contract was. Teresa had been sick, and she was one of the reasons Alessandro agreed to marry me, alongside the deal between our fathers. Now her health was much better, but he always used her as an excuse whenever she noticed distance between us.

There were four extra cars here, meaning everyone got here before us. I took a deep breath and we walked inside the mansion. I was determined to do my absolute best to make a good impression, even knowing it was an almost impossible feat.

The moment we entered the living room, Teresa was the first to spot me. Her face lit up with a smile and she walked toward me, moving with difficulty because of the issues in her left leg.

— Alessandro, darling, Larissa, what a joy to have you here with us tonight — the grandmother said with a warm smile.

I smiled back, feeling slightly more comfortable. However, the atmosphere shifted fast when Rosa, Alessandro’s mother, stepped into the room with a look of pure disdain upon seeing me.

— Alessandro, I expected something far more appropriate for an occasion like this — she said, glaring coldly at me. — You could have chosen a more suitable wife to represent our family.

I felt my heart tighten at the cruelty of my mother-in-law’s words. I tried to keep my composure, but the pain and humiliation were clear on my face, and I knew it.

Alessandro, predictably, remained silent, not lifting a finger to defend me.

What hurt me the most was that behavior of his, but I couldn’t ask for more; he never promised me more.

I shouldn't have developed feelings for him, but the way he always treated me in bed, so tenderly, somehow made me look past our daily reality. I know I shouldn’t, and I fight with everything in me against this feeling.

My attention was pulled back when Teresa stepped closer, looking at me with firmness and resolve.

— My dear Larissa, you are a wonderful addition to our family. Your kindness and sweet nature brighten our lives — the grandmother said, resting her hand over mine with tenderness. — Don’t let the cruel words of certain people shake you. You are loved here.

The comforting words of Alessandro’s grandmother brought fleeting relief to my body and mind, but I knew the strained relationship with my husband’s family was still a long way from being fixed.