Chapter 67 OUR HOUSE.
\~~~RAINA.
That night, it was the first time in four months since Luciano and I had married that we didn’t spend the night in the same room when he was around.
After my last statement to him of how he had overestimated his importance in my life, Luciano had stood still, watching me like I had struck a direct blow to his ego. His eyes had hardened, his jaw tight, and for a brief second, I thought he would say something sharp, or something cruel.
But he didn’t.
And I didn’t bother to clear the air either.
I turned away from him and shut myself into the room, my hands shaking slightly as I locked the door behind me. I told myself I didn’t care, I also told myself this was better, that space was good and the stance was necessary.
Still, when I lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, sleep refused to come.
Every time I closed my eyes, the image returned and it was of Irina on his lap, her lips on his, and the way my heart had dropped straight into my stomach. I knew Luciano didn’t love me. I had never been foolish enough to believe otherwise. I expected little from him, honestly.
It wasn’t even like I loved him either.
But the disrespect?
That was something else entirely.
How dare he do that to my face?
In our house, with workers around.
What exactly was he telling them by acting that way? That I was nothing? That I was invisible? Or that I was just a placeholder wife he could humiliate without consequence?
The anger burned hotter the longer I lay there.
When sleep finally came, it was restless and shallow. I woke up several times during the night with my chest tight, and my head aching. By morning, I felt worse than when I went to bed.
I dragged myself out of bed, my body heavy, and my mind foggy. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I barely recognized the woman staring back. My face was swollen, my eyes red, dark and circles settled beneath them like shadows.
Perfect.
I showered, dressed for work, and forced myself to go through the routine as if nothing was wrong. I chose a simple outfit, tied my hair back neatly, and applied just enough makeup to look presentable even though it did nothing to hide the exhaustion underneath.
By the time I got to the dining room, my mood was already sour.
I sat down and asked for breakfast. A rolled omelette was placed in front of me, neatly cut, alongside lightly buttered toast and sautéed potatoes. A cup of tea steamed quietly beside the plate.
I ate slowly, barely tasting anything as my thoughts were miles away.
I was halfway through my meal when I felt another presence enter the room.
Luciano.
He took the seat across from me.
I didn’t lift my head, didn’t acknowledge him and I just kept eating, my fork moving steadily, and my expression blank.
“Morning to you,” he mumbled.
I ignored him.
I took my cup of water, drank from it calmly, then placed it back down. I stood up, grabbed my bag, and only then did I speak.
“Morning,” I groaned, my voice flat.
And just like that, I walked away.
By the time I got to work, my anger had settled into something sharper and something restless. My mind wasn’t stable. I kept staring at my screen without actually seeing anything. Numbers blurred and emails went unread. Meetings passed with me nodding along while barely listening.
I pushed through anyway.
I wanted the day to end quickly. At the same time, I wanted it to drag on forever. Going home felt exhausting and staying here felt suffocating.
Not long after, the door to my office barged open and Alessia walked in without knocking.
I sighed inwardly.
“Is something going on with you?” she asked immediately. “You have been so out of it lately, and if I can feel it, it is only a matter of time before your workers do.”
“I… I am okay,” I sniffed hurriedly, forcing a weak smile.
She didn’t look convinced.
She closed the door, walked over, and settled into the chair in front of my desk, breathing out slowly.
“What did Rafael do?”
I blinked. “Why would you think he has anything to do with my mood?” I forced another smile.
“Just tell me this instant,” she said firmly. “Does he…” Her voice dropped, and her eyes sharpened, “Don’t tell me he hits you.”
“No way!” I waved my hands instantly, panic flaring. She had already sat up straight, her fists curling tightly.
“Then tell me,” she said. “Else I am just going to assume he hits you.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat before I could stop it. My chest tightened, and my eyes burned suddenly. I looked away, blinking hard.
“God,” Alessia muttered softly, standing up. “What happened, Talia?”
“Irina was at our place yesterday,” I said quietly.
She froze.
“I… Irina?”
“Yes.” My fingers curled into the fabric of my skirt. “And I caught her and Luciano…” My voice broke, and I swallowed hard, unable to finish the sentence.
The silence that followed was heavy and Alessia’s face darkened instantly.
“He did what?”
I shook my head, tears finally spilling despite my efforts. “I walked in on them kissing.”
Her chair scraped loudly as she stood up.
“They did what?!”
“The two of them…” I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.
“They were kissing, Alessia.”
I closed my eyes, letting the tears fall freely now.
And for the first time since everything started spiraling, I admitted the truth to myself.
I was hurt.
God, that had hurt me more than it should have.
It was as though I was stabbed multiple times in my chest.
And no matter how much I pretended otherwise, no matter how much I acted like it didn’t matter, it mattered far more than I wanted to admit.