Chapter 7

Maria

I tried to shut the door in his face but he had always been stronger than me and his hand was able to stop it.

“Can we talk?” He asked me. I avoided his pretty blue eyes because they had always been a form of weakness for me.

“I have nothing to say to you.” I told him, turning away from him and abandoning the door.

“But I do. Please.” I turned around when I felt his presence in the room with me.

“Leave the door open. I'm married now, remember?”

His eyes flashed down to the hand bearing my rings and I pretended not to notice his clenched jaw.

“You didn't have to get married to him just to get back at me.” He said.

I chuckled. “It's really cute how you imagine that every decision I make revolves around you.”

“It used to be like that.”

“And look how that turned out.” I said with a smile that didn't reach my eyes.

He stepped closer. The part of me that had been madly in love with him for years wanted to step closer as well, then I remembered him in bed with my sister and bile rose to my throat.

“You should divorce him. If truly you're even married to the man.”

“And why, pray tell should I do that.”

“Because I still love you.” The words flowed so naturally out of his lips that a former me would've believed him straight away and accepted him back. But apparently one night of reflection was enough for me to see past the toxic haze before my eyes.

“Really? That didn't stop you from rolling around in the sheets with my sister.”

“For God's sake Maria! It was just one time. Stop being so petty.”

My eyes widened in shock.

“Petty?” I parroted.

“Yes, petty. You're not the first woman to go through any of this. Women in our world accept things like this and move on because at the end of the day you're still going to need someone to pay for your thousand dollar Birkin.”

The more he spoke, the more I couldn't reconcile him with the man I had grown up loving.

I turned around and continued packing my suitcase.

“You should leave.”

“Listen Maria,” he said in a calmer voice, “anyone but Giovanni.”

“Leave.”

“Mar-”

A phone's ringing cut him off abruptly. He ignored it and was about to speak again but when it rang for the second time he cursed and answered the call.

“What?” He hissed into the speaker. The volume was loud enough for me to hear.

“If you're done trying to seduce my wife, I expect her to be on her way down right this instant. She has been gone for far too long.”

If I wasn't too shocked by how Alvize knew what was happening up in my room, I might have thought more about why Lucas turned unnaturally pale after hearing Alvize's cool, clipped voice.

I didn't even wait for Lucas to open his mouth, I grabbed my small suitcase and marched out of the room. Grateful to be free from his suffocating presence.

Alvize was waiting for me by the door, my purse clutched in his hand. I bit back a smile at the funny picture it painted. Alvize in all his stone faced glory, holding my extremely feminine purse in his large hands.

He took the suitcase from me the instant I got to him.

“Took you long enough to pack a suitcase this light.”

I smiled brightly. “I may have encountered a crazy ex along the line. Nothing major. How about I go tell my family a quick goodbye?”

He raised a brow and only said, “I'll be outside.”

I traipsed to the dining area where I walked into a very sullen atmosphere. The dinner had been served but no one was eating. I noticed Lucas was already back to the table, totally avoiding my eyes.

“Just wanted to say a quick goodbye to all of you. Not sure when I'll see either of you again you know. Oh and Alice, maybe try to keep your husband in check. I'm not into dallying with men my sister is married to.” With that, I turned around and walked out of the room. Not bothering to check whether or not I left chaos in my wake.

Family, am I right?

I entered the car where Alvize was waiting for me and without a second thought, we drove out of my parents' mansion. This was probably going to be the last time I stepped into this place again but it didn't matter because I was done.

I hated the silence in the car because it left me alone with my thoughts so of course I had to do the most illogical thing. I spoke to Alvize.

“Do you listen to music?” Yes, that was the first thing that popped into my head but come on a person's music choices tells you a lot about that person. I mean what if he listened to Justin Bieber? What would I say to that??

He cut me a glare that was enough answer for me.

“Oh come on. So what do you do when you're driving alone and you need to clear your head?”

He didn't answer.

“I'm starting to consider my life choices you know. Like do I really want to stay married to a man with borderline psychopathic tendencies? I'm pretty sure you can kill me and get away with it.”

He still didn't utter a word, only exhaled loudly in exasperation.

“Hey, don't give me that attitude. I simply need to know if my husband is going to murder me in my sleep. I can't always sleep with my eyes open, that'd be terrible for my sleep schedule.”

I wasn't expecting a reply this time but then he spoke.

“I won't murder you in your sleep.”

“What? Why?” I asked, surprised.

“Because then I'll have to find another way to make my plans easier. I also didn't realise you were so interested in getting murdered.”

“Of course not.” I said quickly, not wanting to give him any ideas. “So you're only keeping me alive for your revenge?”

“Maybe I'll kill you off after I'm done with you.”

He sounded so serious I couldn't stop the gasp that left my lips.

Of course I didn't talk a beep after that. I had encouraged him enough. So the ride home continued in silence and thoughts of my family left my head. Instead, the only thoughts left in my head were the methods my husband would use to kill me if he ever decided he was done with me. Maybe he'd make it painless. Hopefully.