جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 8

The sun was shining brightly through the tall windows of the Moretti mansion, but the light brought no warmth to Elian. He woke up slowly, his body feeling heavy and sore. Every movement reminded him of the night before of Julian’s heavy weight, the coldness in his eyes, and the way he had left Elian alone in the dark to go to another person's bed.Elian sat up, pulling the expensive silk sheets around his bare chest. The room was huge, filled with gold and velvet, but it felt like a prison cell. He looked at the door, half expecting Julian to walk in with an apology, but deep down, he knew that wouldn't happen. The boy who had smiled at him in the dirt ten years ago was dead.There was a knock on the door. It wasn't Julian. A young maid walked in, keeping her eyes on the floor. She was carrying a tray with a glass of water and some plain bread."The Don says you are to stay in this wing," she said softly. "You are not allowed in the main garden or the dining room while Miss Valentina

For one month the marriage felt like a long, dark dream. Julian had established a cruel routine. During the day, he ignored Elian, spending his hours at his office or with Valentina in the East Wing. But every night, without fail, the heavy click of the door signaled Julian’s arrival.Julian told himself it was just about dominance. He told himself that he was punishing the Rossi name by using Elian’s body. But as the days passed, the excuses became harder to believe.It was a rainy Thursday night. Elian was sitting on the edge of the bed, wearing a thin, white silk shirt. He felt dizzy again, a soft ache in his lower back making it hard to get comfortable. The room was dark, lit only by a few candles that cast long shadows on the walls.The door opened. Julian walked in, his tie already pulled loose. He looked tired, his eyes dark with a hunger he refused to name."You're still awake," Julian said, his voice a low growl."I can't sleep," Elian whispered. "It's too quiet in here."Jul

The air in the infirmary felt thin. Elian sat on the edge of the high hospital bed, his legs dangling. He was thin, and his skin had a gray tint from the week he spent in the dark basement. But his hand never left his stomach. There was no bump yet, only a slight softness that wasn't there before, but to Elian, it felt like he was carrying the entire world.The door opened with a bang. Julian walked in, followed by a doctor in a white coat. Julian looked at Elian with eyes that held no warmth only a cold, burning curiosity that felt like a knife."The doctor is here for the first sample," Julian said. He didn't come close to the bed. He stayed by the door, as if he didn't want to breathe the same air as Elian."Julian, please," Elian whispered. "I told you. I have never been with another man. Not once. You are the only person who has ever touched me."Julian’s jaw tightened. "You were with those men for six days, Elian. My men found you in a warehouse full of criminals. Do you really

The third month arrived with a biting winter wind that whistled through the cracks in the servant’s room. Elian was thinner now, his cheekbones sharp and his eyes sunken, but his stomach was starting to change. It wasn't a flat surface anymore; there was a small, firm curve that made his old pants feel tight.Every time he looked at it, he felt a mix of love and terror.The routine didn't stop. It was Tuesday again. The doctor had come and gone, leaving Elian’s arm sore and his head dizzy. Julian hadn't spoken a word during the blood draw. He just stared at Elian’s middle with a look of pure coldness, as if he were looking at a disease.On Wednesday, the boots returned. The door to the tiny room swung open, and Julian stepped in. He looked tired, but his eyes lit up with that same cruel joy when he saw the paper in his hand."Three for three, Elian," Julian said, his voice smooth and mean. He didn't toss the paper this time; he held it right in front of Elian's face.PATERNITY TEST #3