Chapter 5: The Best Seat in the Room
Luca recovered first with a laugh too loud to sound natural.
“Come on. It was a joke. Family joking.”
“Was the inheritance fraud also a joke?”
His face emptied instantly.
Bianca stepped forward, pearls trembling at her throat.
“You are pregnant. This stress is not good for the baby. Sit down.”
There it was again.
A command disguised as concern.
Control wrapped in the costume of care.
So I sat.
Not because she told me to.
Because I wanted the best seat in the room.
Matteo pulled me near the hallway, his voice low and sharp.
“You embarrassed me.”
I stared at him. “That’s what concerns you?”
His eyes narrowed.
“What exactly did you hear?”
“Enough.”
“Careful, Elena.”
The old version of me might have cried.
Instead, I touched my stomach and said quietly, “No, Matteo. You should be careful.” Continue Reading ⬇️