Chapter 2

The sharp sound of my hand striking her skin rang loud and clear, cutting through the silence of the night like a thunderclap, echoing violently against the cold stone walls of the wide balcony. For a few long, suspended moments, everything stood completely still and quiet. Chloe stood there frozen in place, her mouth hanging open in absolute shock and disbelief, her beautiful hand pressed tightly against the bright red mark now burning hot and visible clearly upon her pale cheek. Her eyes were wide, trembling, and filled with utter horror and confusion, as if she simply could not believe or comprehend what had just happened and exactly what I had dared to do to her.

She had come here tonight fully confident, arrogant, and absolutely certain of her power and authority. She honestly believed that because Lucas loved her, favored her, and practically worshipped the ground she walked on… she was untouchable, above everyone else, and completely invincible. She honestly thought that she had already won everything, that she had already taken everything from me, and that I was nothing more than a defeated, weak woman who would simply bow down, accept everything quietly, and step aside obediently exactly like everyone else expected me to do. She thought she could say whatever she wanted, insult me however she pleased, and humiliate me as deeply as she wished, completely safe and confident knowing that nobody would dare or be able to stop or punish her.

But she learned tonight exactly the hard, painful way… that there were lines which should never be crossed, and boundaries which should never be tested, no matter how powerful or protected you believed yourself to be. She forgot and underestimated one very simple yet crucial fact above everything else — that no matter how much Lucas favored her, no matter how much attention or affection he gave her… at the end of the day, I was, and always would remain, THE WIFE. I held the name, the position, the authority, and the rights that she, or any other woman like her, could never, ever have or take away from me no matter what they did or how hard they tried.

Slowly, deliberately, and calmly, I lowered my hand back down to my side, looking straight deep into her tear‑filled eyes with a gaze cold, sharp, and completely void of any mercy or hesitation. My heart was beating fast and heavy inside my chest, burning hot with rage, pride, and years of accumulated pain and humiliation finally bursting out freely and violently. My hand stung slightly from the force of the impact, yet strangely enough, the sensation felt incredibly satisfying, rightful, and long overdue. It was a feeling of finally taking back control, finally standing tall, and finally putting everything and everyone exactly where and how they truly belonged.

"How dare I?" I repeated her words slowly, quietly, yet every single syllable dripping heavily with ice‑cold warning and absolute authority, stepping closer toward her steadily and firmly, towering over her trembling figure. "You really have the nerve and audacity to ask me exactly how dare I, Chloe? You come here… inside my house, built with my husband’s money and family legacy, eating food prepared inside my kitchen, drinking expensive wine bought from our wealth, breathing the air within my property… and you dare stand right in front of my face, insult me, threaten me, and speak to me with such absolute disrespect and arrogance? You dare tell me I am nothing, you dare tell me to leave my own home and my own marriage just so you can take everything you greedily desire?"

I laughed bitterly, coldly, and sharply right directly into her shocked face, shaking my head slowly in pure disgust and contempt.

"Let me make one thing absolutely clear to you once and for all, Chloe Rios… so you understand perfectly and remember it well forever," I spoke firmly, slowly, and distinctly, emphasizing every single word to make sure it pierced deep into her mind and heart. "I am Alessandra Valeriano. I am the legal wife, the lady of this house, and the woman who carries the name, status, and authority you are desperately dreaming and begging to have. And as long as I hold this position and title… I AM THE LAW here. I decide who enters, who stays, and who gets thrown out! You are nothing here… absolutely nothing except a guest, or more accurately speaking… just a temporary visitor who is allowed to stay and enjoy everything only as long as I tolerate and permit you to be here!"

I raised my hand once again, pointing my finger sharply right directly onto her bruised red cheek, making her instinctively flinch and step backward fearfully, her eyes widening even more with fear and panic.

"You dare insult me? You dare disrespect my name and position?" I continued speaking harshly and mercilessly. "Listen carefully and understand this very well, little girl… Lucas may treat you like a precious princess and a goddess. He may give you expensive gifts, shower you with sweet words, and tell you all the beautiful lies you so desperately want to hear. He may love you, desire you, and prefer your company over mine every single day. But all of these things DO NOT give you the right or authority to step on me, to insult me, or to act like you are superior and better than me. Whatever he gives you, whatever he says to you… they are all just borrowed things and borrowed words. Everything you currently enjoy, everything you currently have… you get them exactly because of ME! Because if I wasn't his wife, if I didn't hold my position and status… Lucas Valeriano wouldn't even look twice or spare you even a single glance, no matter how beautiful or charming you think you are!"

I paused briefly, looking at her trembling face full of shame, anger, and humiliation, feeling absolutely no pity or sympathy toward her whatsoever.

"You said Lucas is going to divorce me and marry you soon?" I asked her mockingly and sharply, smiling coldly and cruelly at her. "You said he loves you more than everything and everyone else? Well, let me tell you something else you obviously do not understand or realize yet, Chloe… Lucas Valeriano loves himself more than anything or anyone else in this whole world. He loves his reputation, his wealth, his family name, and his power far more than he could ever love you or me or any other woman. And he knows perfectly well that divorcing me means ruining his business alliance, destroying his family honor, and damaging his public image completely and permanently… and trust me when I tell you this… he will NEVER EVER choose you over everything he truly values and cherishes. You are nothing more than just entertainment, pleasure, and temporary pastime for him… and the moment you become too much trouble, too demanding, or simply boring to him… he will throw you away exactly like trash and forget you even existed completely, just like he has done to dozens of women exactly like you before!"

Chloe stared at me completely pale, trembling violently, tears now freely rolling down her face mixing with the redness and pain on her cheek. She looked at me with pure hatred and anger burning brightly in her eyes, yet deep within her gaze, I clearly saw the traces of fear, insecurity, and doubt slowly creeping inside her heart and mind. She knew deep down inside that everything I told her was the absolute truth and reality. She knew she had absolutely nothing solid, nothing permanent, and nothing truly secure except Lucas’s temporary affection and attention which could change or disappear instantly anytime he pleased.

"You… you are just jealous!" Chloe shouted shakily, trying desperately to sound brave and strong, yet her voice trembled and broke clearly giving away exactly how shaken and terrified she truly was deep inside. "You are jealous because Lucas loves me and not you! You are bitter and miserable because you know you can never make him love you, and you hate me simply because I have everything you always wanted but never had! You are nothing but a sad, pathetic woman Alessandra… and slapping me and hurting me won't change the fact that Lucas belongs to me and he wants me, not you!"

Before I could even open my mouth to answer or shut her down completely, suddenly the glass door behind us was pushed open violently and roughly, and Lucas appeared instantly, stepping out onto the balcony with heavy fast footsteps, his handsome face dark, furious, and twisted with absolute rage. His eyes immediately landed upon Chloe crying and trembling, then shifting sharply and aggressively toward me standing calmly and composedly facing her.

"What the hell is happening here?!" Lucas roared loudly, angrily, and furiously, his voice vibrating with heavy suppressed anger, his eyes burning with fire and hostility clearly directed entirely toward me. He rushed straight toward Chloe immediately, wrapping his arms tightly and protectively around her trembling body, pulling her close against his chest, shielding her as if I was some kind of dangerous monster or criminal attacking her. He gently cupped her face with his hands, inspecting the bright red mark clearly visible upon her soft skin, his expression turning darker, colder, and infinitely more furious with every passing second.

"Who did this to you Chloe?! Who dared hurt you like this?!" Lucas asked her fiercely and dangerously, his voice sharp, deadly, and full of threatening tone, never once looking or speaking to me directly as if I wasn't even standing right there just a few steps away from him.

"It… it was her Lucas!" Chloe cried loudly, dramatically, and painfully, pointing her shaking finger straight toward me, looking at me with eyes full of malice and victorious satisfaction knowing exactly that she finally had him completely on her side. "She slapped me… she hurt me and humiliated me just because I spoke honestly to her! She is crazy, cruel, and hateful Lucas… she hates me simply because you love me and you prefer me over her! She hates everyone who comes near you…"

Lucas slowly stood up straight, turning his entire body sharply toward me, his grey eyes dark, cold, and full of absolute fury and disgust, looking at me exactly like I was the most disgusting, lowest creature he had ever encountered in his entire life. He walked slowly and menacingly straight toward me, stopping only inches away from my face, towering tall and large above me, radiating such heavy intimidating and threatening aura that used to make me tremble and afraid in the past.

But not anymore… never again.

I stood tall, calm, and completely fearless, looking straight deep into his furious eyes without flinching or looking away, meeting his hostility with my own cold, unbending gaze. I saw clearly the absolute hatred and anger inside his eyes… the exact same look and expression he always had every time I stood my ground or defended myself against his mistresses and his wrongdoings. I saw clearly how much he hated seeing me strong, proud, and independent… how much he preferred and wanted me to be quiet, obedient, and submissive exactly like he always demanded and expected me to be.

"How could you Alessandra?" Lucas spoke slowly, coldly, and dangerously, his voice low and trembling heavily with barely controlled rage, staring at me exactly like he wanted to destroy and crush me completely into dust right there and then. "How could you do this? How dare you lay your dirty hands on her? She is my guest! She is someone important and precious to me! And you… you just hurt her, humiliated her, and treated her roughly exactly like some kind of criminal or enemy? What is wrong with you?! Have you completely lost your mind and manners altogether?!"

He raised his hand violently, roughly grabbing my arm tightly and painfully, his fingers digging deep hard into my skin, squeezing me so painfully tight that I knew perfectly well it would definitely leave dark ugly bruises all over my skin afterwards. He pulled me roughly and violently close toward his face, his breathing heavy, hot, and aggressive against my skin.

"I told you clearly and repeatedly thousands of times Alessandra… I don't like trouble, I don't like drama, and I absolutely hate it when you act like this!" Lucas shouted furiously and violently right directly onto my face, spraying saliva and anger all over me, completely ignoring the fact that I was his legal wife standing right in front of him. "I told you time and time again… you are my wife, you have your position, your privileges, and everything you could possibly need or want! All I ask from you is simple — just stay quiet, behave properly, and don't make problems or interfere with my life and my affairs! Why can't you just understand and obey?! Why do you always have to make everything so difficult, messy, and complicated?! You are supposed to be elegant, understanding, and dignified… yet tonight you acted exactly like a cheap, low‑class woman fighting and scratching just because of jealousy and insecurity!"

He shoved me roughly and violently backward, making me stumble and lose my balance almost falling onto the floor, his eyes full of absolute disgust and disappointment looking at me exactly like I was the dirtiest, ugliest thing in his entire world.

"You embarrassed me tonight Alessandra! You humiliated me and made me look bad in front of everyone!" Lucas continued his verbal attack harshly, cruelly, and mercilessly, completely forgetting and disregarding every vow, promise, and duty he had toward me as his wife. "Chloe did absolutely nothing wrong or harmful toward you! She was just being nice and friendly… yet you treated her with such cruelty and violence! You have changed Alessandra… you have become bitter, hateful, and very difficult to deal with! I honestly don't know exactly what to do with you anymore!"

Behind him, Chloe watched everything happening with bright, happy, and victorious eyes, smiling secretly and triumphantly seeing Lucas scolding, humiliating, and treating me badly exactly how she always wished and dreamed to see happening. She was happy and satisfied seeing him choosing her side completely, defending her fiercely, and treating me like I was the one at fault and the villain in everything. She thought she had completely won everything, completely proven herself above me, and successfully positioned herself as the most important woman in his life and heart.

But as I stood there dusting my dress slowly and calmly, looking straight deep into Lucas’s furious eyes and Chloe’s satisfied expression… I felt absolutely no fear, no guilt, and no regret whatsoever inside my heart and soul. His harsh words, his rough treatment, and his cruel accusations no longer hurt or wounded me the way they used to do in the past. Years of constant pain, betrayal, and mistreatment had hardened my heart and thickened my skin enough to withstand and endure everything he threw and did toward me.

I looked straight at him coldly, sharply, and clearly, answering him without the slightest trace of fear or hesitation in my voice or expression.

"She disrespected me Lucas," I told him calmly yet firmly and strongly, my voice steady and unbending despite everything he had done and said to me. "She insulted my dignity, my marriage, and my rights right inside my own house! She dared threaten me and told me to leave everything and step aside just so she could take my place and position! She spoke rudely, arrogantly, and completely disrespectfully toward me… and you honestly expect me to just stand there quietly, smile sweetly, and accept everything obediently?! You honestly expect me to just lower my head, swallow my pride, and let her step all over me exactly like I am nothing and nobody at all?!"

I stepped forward closer toward him, staring straight deep into his grey eyes which always held absolutely no warmth or love reserved only for me.

"I am your wife Lucas… and whether you like it or not, whether you love me or hate me… I hold the authority and dignity that nobody, absolutely NOBODY, is allowed to insult or destroy!" I declared firmly and clearly, raising my chin proudly and high. "If she cannot respect me and my position… then she has absolutely no right or place standing here, breathing our air, or attending my celebration! I slapped her exactly because she deserved it and she needed to learn her lesson well — never, ever disrespect the wife no matter how favored, loved, or powerful you think you are!"

Lucas stared at me speechless, shocked and stunned by my courage and boldness to defend myself and answer him back directly and clearly. He was so used to me crying, pleading, or staying silent and obedient whenever he scolded or hurt me… seeing me strong, fierce, and unbending was completely strange, unfamiliar, and deeply irritating and infuriating for him.

"She was right Lucas…" I added coldly and bitterly, smiling sadly and painfully at him. "I have indeed changed. You and your endless women finally succeeded in changing me completely… you broke me so many times and hurt me so deeply… that eventually I simply stopped being weak, soft, and obedient anymore. You taught me clearly and painfully that if I don't protect myself… nobody else, not even my own husband, will protect or defend me. You taught me painfully that if I let everyone step all over me… they will never stop and never respect me ever!"

I looked straight into his eyes one last time, speaking the cruelest and most painful truth directly to his face.

"And if you think for even a single moment Lucas… that tonight was bad or difficult… then brace yourself well and listen carefully," I warned him clearly and coldly. "Because as long as you bring these women into my life, as long as they dare disrespect or hurt me… I promise you this solemnly and clearly… I WILL SLAP EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM! I WILL PUT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM BACK EXACTLY WHERE THEY BELONG! I don't care if you get angry, I don't care if you get mad or you hurt me back… but mark my words Lucas Valeriano… I will NEVER AGAIN let anyone, absolutely anyone… humiliate or step on me while I am still standing and breathing!"

I turned around slowly and gracefully, leaving him standing there stunned, confused, and furious… leaving Chloe crying, humiliated, and defeated… walking away slowly and proudly back into the crowded hall, holding my head high and dignified, ignoring the pain in my arm and the heaviness in my heart.

I knew clearly exactly what awaited me later that night. I knew perfectly well that Lucas would definitely punish me, shout at me, and treat me even worse and crueler than before. I knew exactly that tonight’s incident was just the beginning of even bigger storms and battles coming straight toward my path. I knew Chloe would definitely use everything to turn Lucas completely against me and make my life as miserable and difficult as she possibly could.

But for the very first time in five long painful years… I finally felt brave, strong, and completely ready to face everything and everyone coming against me. I finally realized clearly that as long as I stood firm, held onto my rights, and protected my dignity fiercely… nobody, absolutely nobody, could truly defeat or destroy me completely and entirely.

TO BE CONTINUE