Chapter 20

Vivienne's pov

The DeMarco estate was nothing like the Moretti manor. The Moretti manor was warm and inviting, with cozy rooms and family pictures on the walls. But the DeMarco estate felt cold and strange.

The walls were tall, and everything looked shiny and new. Beautiful chandeliers hung from the ceiling, sparkling like diamonds. The floors were made of polished marble, shining under the bright lights. It was all so luxurious, but I felt out of place.

For the first time since this whole marriage situation started, I felt really nervous. My heart raced as if it just realized that I was now married to Lucian DeMarco. He was my enemy. He was the one person I truly despised.

Just a few days ago, I never thought about getting married. If someone had told me that I would marry Lucian, I would have laughed at them and thought they were crazy. It was hard to believe I was standing here, about to start a whole new life, away from everything I had known.

I took a deep breath, trying to push down the fear that was creeping up inside me. I looked around at the beautiful decorations, but instead of feeling happy, all I felt was anxiety. I tried to hide my worry. What would my life be like now?

“Welcome home, Mrs. DeMarco,” Lucian said, his voice dripping with mockery.

I wanted to roll my eyes at his arrogance, but I held my tongue. He stood there, looking smug and confident, as if he had won a great battle.

“Take my hand, Tigress,” Lucian said, his tone changing to something more serious.

He seemed to expect me to follow his orders without question. I hesitated, feeling trapped. I didn’t want to take his hand, but I also didn’t want to appear weak. So, I reached out and grabbed his hand, feeling the warmth of his skin against mine.

Inside the grand foyer of the DeMarco estate, about a hundred workers were lined up in neat rows. They stood silently.I realized what this was—an audience to my new life, waiting for their queen to acknowledge them.

“Everyone, meet my wife, Mrs. DeMarco,your new Madam” Lucian announced.

His words sent a chill down my spine. I suddenly felt like a trophy on display, a prize he had won, rather than a partner in this new life.

Lucian continued, his tone firm, “I expect you all to treat her with the utmost respect. She is not just my wife; she is your mistress now. Any disobedience will not be tolerated. You will carry out your duties with efficiency and loyalty. Is that clear?”

“Yes, Mr. DeMarco!” the workers chorused, their voices a blend of fear and respect.

I could see the way they reacted to his words; some looked frightened, while others seemed resigned to their fate. Lucian obviously ruled with an iron hand.

“Remember,” he continued, “ You will follow her lead and assist her in anything she requires. She is now a part of this family, and I expect you to treat her as such.” His gaze turned to me, and for a moment, I saw something almost softer in his eyes. “You’re in charge here now, Tigress."

I looked around; there were hundreds of house workers and mafia enforcers, all standing in perfect rows, their expressions a mix of fear and compliance.

I looked around; there were hundreds of house workers and mafia enforcers, all standing in perfect rows, their faces were a mix of fear and compliance . Even though I hated to admit it, I was going to be here for up to a year. I couldn't have Lucian's men disrespecting me, so I had to assert my dominance.

“I expect everyone to do their jobs well,” I said, my voice steady. I walked deliberately among them, allowing my gaze to pierce through their faces, searching for any hint of disrespect.The silence was think as they braced themselves for what I would say next.

“You are here to serve this household and this family, and I won’t tolerate laziness or disobedience. You will follow my orders as if they were from Lucian himself.”

If I wanted them to respect me, I knew I had to make a strong impression. I couldn't show weakness. I took a deep breath, and continued, “From this moment on, any failure to meet your duties will have consequences. I am watching, and I expect nothing less than perfection.”

As I walked, I noticed a young man laughing with another worker, completely disregarding the seriousness of the moment. I stopped in front of him, raising an eyebrow. “What’s your name?” I demanded.

“Alex, ma’am,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. His laughter faded, replaced by a look of panic as he understood my authority .

“Alex,” I repeated “I expect you to be efficient and diligent. If I hear even a whisper of failure from you, I will not hesitate to make an example of you.”

His eyes widened, and I could see the sweat forming on his brow. I stepped closer, invading his personal space, and let my gaze bore into his. “Am I clear?”

“Yes, Madam.” he stammered, his voice shaking slightly, and I could almost sense the fear spreading through the ranks of workers behind him.

“Good,” I said addressing the group again. “You are all dismissed. Get back to your duties, and remember—failure is not an option.”

I didn’t want to become someone who thrived on fear, yet I understood the necessity of establishing authority in a place like this.

After the crowd left, I turned back to Lucian, who leaned casually against a marble column, a satisfied smirk on his face. “Well done, Tigress,” he said. “You’ve got a knack for this.”

I shot him a glare, “Don’t call me that,” I snapped, I was definitely not his pet.

“You’ve got to admit, you handled yourself well. Not many can command that kind of respect so quickly.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, I was desperately fighting the urge to shoot his handsome face Instead, I forced myself to take a deep breath , reminding myself that I couldn’t afford to show weakness. “It’s easy to command fear, Lucian. Respect is something entirely different.”

His eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, I thought I might have struck a nerve. “And how do you propose to earn that respect?” he challenged, stepping closer.

I was determined not to back down “By being more than just your wife. By being a leader in my own right, regardless of how this twisted game began.”

Lucian’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Ah, now that’s the spirit. But let’s not kid ourselves, Tigress You’ll need to play by my rules.”

“Your rules?” I echoed. “I’m not a piece on your chessboard, Lucian. I’m here to make my own moves.”

He chuckled. “Then let’s see how that goes. Just remember, the game can be unforgiving Tigress.”

“Maybe,” I said, my voice steady. “But I’ve never been one to back down from a challenge.”

Lucian’s expression shifted, “Well, I look forward to seeing what you’re capable of, Mrs. DeMarco.”

I narrowed my eyes at him. “Shut up Lucian,” I snapped.

“I didn’t realize you were so eager to take charge,” he continued, stepping closer. “You’re really stepping into the role of Mrs. DeMarco.”

I crossed my arms. “I’m not doing this for you, Lucian. I’m doing this for me. I won’t let your men treat me like some puppet.”

He stepped closer, “Well, if you’re so eager to be Mrs. DeMarco, you can assert that in the bedroom.”

Before I could protest, Lucian carried me up in his arms, his grip was strong.I felt a anger surge through me.“Put me down, Lucian!” I shouted, struggling against him, but instead he laughed