“Let’s get one thing straight, shall we?” he interrupted with a tone as hard as the reality I now faced. “We might be married, but as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing more to it than a piece of paper that gives you the right to use the Silvestro name.” He ripped the peony boutonniere from his jacket and threw it aside, anger rolling off him in waves that crashed against my chest. “I have no desire for small-talk in a bid to tame the awkwardness between us. It would be futile and a waste of my time. Understood?”
I raised a brow in disbelief, the memory of the kiss we shared inside the church gone. “So much for trying to make this easier—”
“Easier?” he blurted. “Oh, believe me, this arrangement will be quite easy and simple. All you need to do is know your place, do as you’re told, and do not cause me or my family any sort of embarrassment.”
“Embarrassment?” My discomfort instantly morphed into annoyance. “Why on Earth would I embarrass you?”
He scoffed. “I suppose for someone like you, the options are endless.”
“Someone like me?”
He turned to face me, hard lines covering every inch of his face. “You are a Moretti. Your embarrassment is right there flowing through your veins.” He gestured toward my arm. “It’s in your fucking blood.”
“Screw you.” The words just dropped from my mouth like hot coals, and I regretted it the second I said it.
His cold eyes and wicked glare forced me to press myself harder against the door as he stretched his arms along the headrest of the seat. His expensive cologne filled the tiny space between us—a scent of black pepper and spice.
He rubbed his clenched jaw, eyes pensive and cold. “I will assume your outburst is due to a lack of manners and the inexperience of a woman raised without pride. But this is the first and last time I will be so lenient.”
“Lenient? Oh, my God, this is insane.” I exhaled and leaned back in my seat. I wanted to spit in his face, the chauvinistic asshole who had an ego the size of fucking Texas.
I let out a breath and braved a glance his way. His glare held nothing but malicious intent, and warning prickled the back of my neck, cautioning me to tread lightly. My feet itched to run. I wanted to tear the wedding dress from my body and run from this entire situation as far as I could. But my father made it clear that if it wasn’t me, it would be Alessa, and I’d rather die than witness the same fate befall her.
“Once we get to my estate, we’ll discuss the rules.”
“What rules?”
He lifted a brow, and his lips curved at the edges. “Mine, of course.”
It was three simple words, yet it reeked of unspoken threats. But I chose to ignore it and refused to continue the conversation regarding his rules, which was merely a method to intimidate me.
I cleared my throat. “Just as long as we’re clear, we might be married, but I won’t sleep with you. If you so much as think about touching me—”
“Then what?” he countered. “You’ll fight me? Scream? Drive a knife through my heart?”
“That sounds tempting.”
He scoffed, his eyes filled with amusement. “You are my wife, sold to my family by your father because he managed to make enemies he could not stand against alone.” He inched closer. “You are here because your father is weak and has no son to carry forth the Moretti name. In our world, sons are born to be kings while daughters are bred to be currency.”
“That is such a sexist thing to say.”
“Doesn’t make it less true. I own you, Daniela. And if that diamond ring on your finger isn’t enough to prove that, the newfound alliance between our families is.” He shifted closer, his cologne strong and overwhelming. “Your sole duty in life now is to make me happy. So, here’s your first and final warning about how this is going to go. You will live and breathe only to please me. You will obey my every command.”
“I will never obey you.”
He let out a maniacal laugh while his hand slithered up my thigh. “Then you should know that the harder you fight me, the more I’ll want to break you.” He inched closer, his vile breath skidding across my cheek. “And I always get what I want.”
Chapter Four
After driving for an hour to upstate New York, we finally arrived at the estate. Steel gates welcomed us, two statues of eagles with their wings spread wide guarding the landscape. Perfectly manicured grass stretched as far as I could see, and round topiary plants stood proud along the path. The large fountain in the middle of the roundabout driveway was a clear indication of their family’s love for everything lavish, and the need to shove their wealth in the rest of the world’s faces.
I glanced at Gian as his fingers brushed across the keypad of his phone. Even though he looked the part of a sophisticated man born to wear a tailor-made suit, he was all hard edges with an arrogance reflected from his expression. He had pretended to be immersed with whatever business he had on his cell phone ever since we left the church. On the other hand, I had to stare out the window and into the distance the entire time since my lifelong struggle with motion sickness and the added churning of nerves in my gut had me swallowing bile the whole way.
The car came to a stop, and my passenger side door opened. Climbing out of a vehicle with a wedding dress proved quite the challenge, and I almost landed face first in the dirt if it wasn’t for the helping hand of the man who held the door open for me.
“Thank you.” I felt my cheeks flush with embarrassment, and he nodded politely.
The grueling New York sun beamed down, its summer rays seeping through my pores, and the leaves of the surrounding white alder trees showed no sign of even the most subtle breeze. I gazed at the Mediterranean style mansion, the oversized, double iron and glass door clearly custom designed to complement the Silvestro vanity.
Gian stepped in next to me, buttoning his suit jacket.
“It’s beautiful.” I admired the double-story architecture, a wide balcony stretching along the entire top floor. But Gian ignored my compliment as if he didn’t even hear it, or rather didn’t give a damn about what I thought.
“Let’s get inside.”
I hesitated and watched as he walked toward the entrance. I didn’t want to go in. I didn’t want to see what this house looked like because I didn’t want to set foot in it. There were too many uncertainties waiting for me inside those walls, and I wasn’t sure if I would be strong enough to survive it. But as much as I hated being here, I had to keep up my end of the deal. With all the uncertainties regarding my future, there was one thing I knew for sure—my father didn’t make idle threats. If I didn’t do this, he would force Alessa to pay for it.
I clutched the lace of my wedding dress, lifting the hem from my feet and moved across the cobbled driveway, heels clicking across the stone. Through the imposing front door, I stepped into a dramatic entry foyer separated from the dining area with Tuscan columns. Romer rustic gold marble flooring lay beneath expansive chandeliers, every immaculate detail to the priceless art that decorated the white raison walls. Every inch of the interior was adorned with meticulous craftsmanship, gold elements, and pristine trimmings. The open spaces were enhanced by plenty of natural light coming through large windows with draped curtains. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it.