Chapter 10 Chapter Ten
I don't know what to say or how to even react as I stand face-to-face with her, still frozen in surprise.
From our close proximity, the color of her eyes comes vividly into view. They're a mix of grey and blue, gleaming and shining with enthusiasm as she stares straight at me.
The scent of her cinnamon and cherry perfume pervades my nostrils, prompting unease to crawl into my chest. Can’t lie, she smells wonderful—everything about her is.
Her smile. Her beauty. Her figure.
She has the physique and face of a model. The realization makes saliva pool in my mouth, knowing this is what I’m up against.
Hold on—did I just say up against?
Scoff. The fuck is wrong with you, Liora?
I’m seriously not thinking about competing with this lady for that monster’s attention and affection now, am I?
She can have him for all I care... I just want to go home.
Her dulcet voice pulls me from my reverie as she places her palm on my shoulder. A shudder runs through me, but my demeanor remains standoffish.
"Oh, you’re so beautiful. I hate that I missed the wedding... but it’s good to finally meet you," she says, her grey-blue eyes sweeping over my features, that smile of hers still etched on her face.
And it makes me want to believe she’s genuinely happy to see me—but I highly doubt that.
I saw the way she clung to him earlier. Even though her expression hadn’t betrayed her inner feelings back then, I knew deep down she wasn’t pleased to see me— that's if she’s who I think she is.
She put on the perfect façade in front of him. Well, I think it’s high time she drops it and tells me the real reason she’s here. And I know it’s probably to warn me to back off from him.
That’s what these women normally do when they feel threatened by another woman who’s close to their man. Except in my case, I wish to get away from her man.
"How are you?" Lorenzo’s bombshell asks again as she cups my cheek—to my utmost surprise—staring down at me like she’s in love with me or something.
And I don’t understand it. I mean, why is she still pretending even though Lorenzo’s nowhere around?
Clearing my thoughts, I reply to her fake-ass inquiry, my tone flat. "I’m alright."
She nods, her manicured thumb brushing my cheek before she asks, "Are you sure? You barely look it. Have you been eating well?"
Why do you care? That’s none of your business.
But of course, I don’t voice my hostility. Instead, I tilt my head to avoid her touch. "I said I’m fine. Thank you for your concern."
She chuckles and sighs, withdrawing her hand. "Alright, I get it—I’m too much. Sorry, I’m just so eager to know everything about you. I must say I’ve been looking forward to meeting you."
My forehead scrunches at her words. What?
Why?
Why has she been looking forward to meeting me? What business do we have in common—except him? But I don’t give a fuck about him.
Did Lorenzo seriously tell his mistress/girlfriend about me?
Fucking hell.
I swallow hard, unsure how to respond politely. I opt to remain silent because I don’t want to sound rude.
I’m upset right now, you know. First, I see her with him, and now she’s acting like we’re fucking BFFs when I barely know who she is. I don’t even know her damn name.
Could this be a ploy from Lorenzo?
What if he sent her here to make me jealous, frustrated—or simply to rage-bait me?
Is this his pathetic attempt at payback for my defiance the other day?
I scoff inwardly, my eyes still glued to the woman, whose focus has now shifted elsewhere.
She’s looking at something—no, someone—behind me. Her genial smile remains intact, and there’s a glimmer of recognition in her expression.
Who’s she staring at though?
My curiosity is quenched when she waves at the person behind me.
"Agnes, hey, it’s been a long time! How have you been?"
Agnes’s friendly voice comes from behind me. "I’m good, ma’am. It’s good to see you again."
"I can say the same. You look as good as ever," the bombshell grins. "I missed you, you know."
My heart skips a beat.
I swiftly glance over at Agnes, just to see the expression crossing her face at those words.
To my astonishment, Agnes reciprocates her confession with the most genuine smile I’ve ever seen on her face.
"I missed you too, ma’am. It’s been a void without you here—"
"I know, right?"
I can’t believe my ears.
What? A void?
And that smile? Agnes has never smiled at me like that before—not even before our minor conflict—and I thought we were becoming close friends.
Who exactly is this woman?
What has she done to everyone in this house? I’m certain Agnes isn’t the only staff she’s familiar with. They seem really close.
But why didn’t Agnes mention her to me before now? Why didn’t she tell me her boss had a girlfriend and that I’m merely his wife on paper or something?
Gosh, I feel like a fool. Betrayal pricks at my chest, and I barely manage to close my parted lips as I meet Agnes’s eyes.
She’s still beaming, oblivious to the fact that I’m hurting, as she returns her focus to the woman behind me.
I really don’t stand a chance against this bombshell, do I?
She seems to have captured everyone’s attention. Even that cold-blooded monster was warm around her.
And I don’t even know why this makes me sad. I’m trying to leave anyway. I shouldn’t care about who’ll replace me—or who was my replacement before I even came.
Maybe this lady isn’t the 'other woman.' Maybe I am.
What if she was Lorenzo’s girlfriend once, but things didn’t work out—and now she’s back to claim what’s rightfully hers?
What if Lorenzo intends to be with her while keeping me locked up?
He wouldn’t do that now, would he? That’d be seriously selfish.
But isn’t selfishness one of the defining traits of a Mafia Lord?
"Liora," her soft voice wrenches me from my thoughts. I turn to face her again, swallowing hard as our eyes lock.
I hate to admit it, but she’s really beautiful. Or at least her eyes are. And her hair, too, if I’m to include that.
"You have a beautiful name, Liora. And you’re a beautiful woman, too."
I gulp at her compliment, caught off guard. But I say nothing in response.
"I’m quite tired from jet lag. I would’ve loved to chat more tonight. How about tomorrow?" she asks warmly.
Wait—she’s spending the night here?
My head spins.
In... his room?
My chest constricts, my heart feeling like it’s just been ripped from its cage. Goosebumps rise on my skin, and my cheeks flame with fury.
I cannot believe this.
I can’t believe he’d do this to me.
We’ve only been married for a few days, and now he’s blatantly cheating on me? In our matrimonial home!?
I know he’s a Mafia Lord—free to do whatever he pleases—but this isn’t right.
If he wants to fuck other women, he might as well just let me go and have his full freedom to do that. At least then I wouldn’t feel bothered nor care. And I definitely wouldn’t feel this fire of jealousy burning through my insides.
Fingers snap in my face twice, dragging me back to the present. My frustration only deepens when I see her face.
My jaw tightens, but she doesn’t seem to notice as she asks sweetly,
"You keep zoning out every two minutes, Liora. Are you okay?"
"Pardon, ma’am," Agnes answers before I get the chance to. "She’s still adjusting to the new faces around here."
"Oh," the woman nods in realization. "I guess Lorenzo didn’t mention me to her then."
Why would he?
He’s a lying, cheating piece of shit. Of course he wouldn’t tell me he has a girlfriend.
Nonetheless, she chuckles softly, leans forward, and plants a kiss on my cheek. "That's okay. See you tomorrow, Liora. Have a good night."
With that, she turns on her heel and saunters away, her hips swaying effortlessly.
I force the lump down my throat.
Once she’s out of sight, I let out a quiet yet heavy exhale and shut my eyes briefly.
Annoyance swirls within me, my chest still burning with the knowledge that she’s returning to Him.
But I try not to think about it. Instead, I distract myself as I retake my seat on the stool, picking up my cutlery.
"Didn’t know you were acquainted with your boss’s friends..." I remark with a hint of sarcasm, breaking the silence.
I don’t look up at Agnes, my gaze remains fixed on the food I keep forking but never eating.
Agnes chuckles softly. "She’s not just any friend. She’s special."
My heart clenches with jealousy, but I brush it off. "Oh yeah? Tell me about it," I murmur, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes.
Agnes must pause what she’s doing and look at me because she asks. "You have no idea who that woman is, do you, Liora?"
Dropping my fork, I lift my gaze to her and shake my head. "Nope," I shrug nonchalantly. "Who is she?"
With a mocking scoff, she replies, "That’s the boss’s sister—Carmen Sorrentino. She's been away in Russia on business. I guess she decided to return to New York with the boss, since he recently visited there."
Her answer sends a chill down my spine. Disbelief smacks me in the head, and my lips part.
"Wait—what?" I exclaim.