All Chapters of The Unseen Husband : Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

PRESENT DAY - THE VILLAGE POST OFFICEThe bell above the door chimed as Alessia Russo stepped into the cramped post office, her three children trailing behind her like ducklings. Dante held Marco's hand, while Lucia clutched the hem of her mother's worn dress."Mrs. Russo!" The postmaster, Signor Benedetti, looked up with surprise. "I wasn't expecting to see you here. I usually send post up to the house.""I know." Alessia forced a smile. "I thought I'd save you the trip. The children wanted to see the market."It was a lie, but a necessary one. She'd overheard Helena talking to Tomasso three days ago: "Important papers are coming for Sebastian. Make sure you intercept them before that girl sees anything."Alessia had woken before dawn, dressed the children quietly, and slipped out of the house before anyone else stirred."Ah, well then." Benedetti shuffled through the sorted mail behind his counter. "Let me see... yes, here we are. A letter from the capital. Official looking." He han

DAWN - THE RUSSO HOUSEHelena stood at the window of her sitting room, watching the sun rise over the village. Her tea had gone cold in her hands.They were gone.She'd checked Alessia's room an hour ago—empty. The children's room—empty. Their meager belongings packed and taken."Mother?" Tomasso appeared in the doorway, still in his dressing gown. "What's wrong?""That girl has taken the children and left.""Left? Where would she go? She has no money—""To the capital." Helena's voice was tight. "To find Sebastian."Tomasso paled. "But if she tells him—""I know what she'll tell him." Helena set down her teacup with precise control. "The question is whether he'll believe her.""Of course he won't! You've been sending him letters for five years. He trusts you.""Sebastian trusts evidence." Helena turned from the window. "And she'll have that marriage certificate. She might even have..." She stopped, her mind racing. "The letters. Did she take anything from my study?"They rushed to He

THE TRAIN STATION - NIGHTThe station was chaos.People everywhere—pushing, shouting, rushing in all directions. Vendors hawking food and trinkets. Porters hauling luggage. The noise was overwhelming after the relative quiet of the countryside.Alessia held Lucia in her arms while Dante and Marco clung to her skirts, all three children wide-eyed with fear and exhaustion."Stay close," the officer said, his hand on her elbow, gently guiding them through the crowd. His other officers formed a loose protective circle around them, keeping the worst of the jostling crowd at bay.Alessia had never been more grateful for anyone in her life.They made their way through the massive station—all marble and iron, grander than anything she'd ever seen. Gas lamps cast everything in golden light. The ceiling soared impossibly high above them."This way," the officer directed, leading them toward the exit.But before they could reach it, another officer approached, saluting sharply. "Sir, the prisone

THE COMMANDER'S OFFICE - CONTINUEDThe door closed behind Ferrara, leaving Alessia alone in the office with Sebastian and the children.The silence was deafening.Sebastian stood behind his desk, still in his full Commander's uniform, his expression one of shock and disbelief. Alessia stood near the door, her children clinging to her, her mind still reeling.The kind officer from the train.Her husband.The Commander of the Royal Guard.All the same person."This is a mistake," Alessia said, her voice shaking. "You can't be Sebastian Russo. My Sebastian Russo."Sebastian stared at her, his face pale. "You're Alessia. From the village. The woman on the train.""Yes, but—" Alessia's mind was spinning. "You're the Commander. My husband is just an officer. A lieutenant or something. Not—""I am Sebastian Russo," he said slowly. "Commander of the Royal Guard. Married five years ago in a village ceremony."Alessia's legs felt weak. "On the train, you talked about your wife. Your absent wife