Chapter 3:Sleepless Night

As requested, I spent the night in Ricci's residence.

I didn't get any sleep.

Not even a second.

One of the anonymous men in black suits led me to a guest room after I left the study, but the term "guest room" seemed a joke. It resembled a prison cell more than anything else, complete with polished wood and silk blankets. I remained there for what seemed like hours, gazing out the window into the wide, icy blackness outside the estate walls, as the door clicked shut behind me.

The sensation of his eyes on me persisted. Leonardo had already gauged my value based on the way he had regarded me. As if I were a piece in whatever perverse game he was engaged in.

Perhaps I was.

I was startled out of my reverie by a knock on the door. I whirled, anticipating one of Leonardo's goons, or worse, Leonardo himself, and my heart jumped into my throat. But it was a woman when the door opened. Her dark hair had silver strands, and her eyes were keen and perceptive; she was older, perhaps in her fifties. She was modest and well-groomed in a basic black dress, as if she were accustomed to being invisible.

"Miss Marino," she murmured, bowing her head slightly. "We're having breakfast.

I felt my heart speed as I gulped. "I’m not hungry," I said under false pretense. Even though my stomach had been churning ever since I got here, I didn't want to see him again. Not quite yet.

The female did not recoil. "Mr. Ricci insists."

He does, of course. I followed her through the twisting hallways after grudgingly nodding and running my fingers through my hair to control the untamed waves. There was an uncanny silence in the home, a deliberate silence as if every sound were being sucked in before it could be released.

We reached a spacious dining room with a long, polished table that could accommodate twenty people, similar to the kind you'd see in a medieval castle. However, only one spot was reserved. at the table's head.

And there he was. Leonardo.

He was sat already, wearing a clean white shirt with the sleeves pushed up to reveal toned forearms. Despite the early hour, his dark hair was still in its proper place, without a single strand out of place. A slow, almost predatory smile grew across his face as I walked in and he looked up.

With ease, he remarked, "Good morning, Isabella," pointing to the chair across from him. "I trust you slept well?"

I couldn't afford to exhibit any more vulnerability, even though I wanted to tell him the truth and put the restless night back in his face. Not before him. I forced a smile that stopped short of my eyes and nodded. "Like a baby."

Leonardo grinned broadly, but his eyes didn't warm up. "Please, sit."

I tried not to think about how confined I felt in this room with him as I walked stiffly to the chair across from him. A server showed up almost unexpectedly as I was sitting down and set a dish with a delicate spread of coffee, pastries, and fruit in front of me. My appetite was gone as I gazed at it.

Leonardo didn't appear to be aware of or concerned.

"Now that we've had time to think things through, I thought we should have a proper conversation," he remarked, his voice as smooth as the coffee in his cup. "After all, we have a lifetime ahead of us, don’t we?"His words made my chest twist like a dagger. A lifetime. It was like receiving a death sentence. I looked up at him to see how he was feeling. Although he appeared cool and collected, there was a darker side to him that he was trying to keep under control. I was more afraid of that type of control than his reputation ever was.

I'm sure you've heard rumors about me. His eyes were fixed on mine when he asked abruptly. His gaze was so sharp that it seemed as though he could see right into my heart.

I took a deep breath. "I’ve… heard rumors."

A shiver ran down my spine as Leonardo laughed softly, his voice dark and low. "Rumors can be dangerous. People tend to exaggerate. To make the truth more engaging, twist it. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes never leaving mine. "But sometimes, the truth is more terrifying than the rumors."

I didn’t know what to say. My mouth was dry, and I was trying to think of a way out of this conversation, but I couldn't. Not in this place. Not with him.

He tilted his head, watching me with an almost curious expression like I was a puzzle he was trying to figure out. "Do you know why your father chose me, Isabella?" The question caught me off guard. I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came out. Of course, I knew why. My father wanted power. Influence. Safety. And Leonardo Ricci was the embodiment of all those things. But that wasn’t what he wanted to hear.With a raised eyebrow, he was obviously anticipating a response. "He choose me because he is confident in my ability to meet his needs. defense. riches. "Control." He lowered his voice, which made me shiver once more. "And in return, he gave me you."

The way he talked about me as like I were a commodity made my stomach turn. Something to exchange. A negotiating chip in his never-ending power struggle. I managed to say, "I’m not… property," with a little trembling in my voice. I had to say something, even if I detested how weak I sounded. Anything. Leonardo's smile remained unwavering. It became wider, more amused, if anything. "You're not property, no. You are a treasure. A reward. To prevent myself from lashing out, I tightened my fists beneath the table, my nails cutting into my palms. How could he be so calm, so casual, while my entire world was unraveling?

"And what exactly do you want from me?" This time, my voice was more steady as I asked. I wasn't going to make it simple for him to play games if that was his desire.

His eyes never left his chair as he leaned back. "Compliance. devotion. as well as your quiet." He took a moment to process what he had said. "Do those things, and this marriage will be easy for you."

Simple. This would not be simple at all. But right now, I knew better than to fight with him. Not quite yet.

Rather, I sat silently and gazed at the uncooked food before me. My mind was swimming with ideas of escaping and retaliating, and my heart was thumping in my chest. However, I was unable to take any action.

Not quite yet.

Leonardo watched me over the edge of his coffee cup as he took a sip. "You’re thinking about running, aren’t you?"

My breath caught in my throat as I raised my eyes to meet his. How was he aware? How could he—

He said, "I see it in your eyes," in a quiet but menacing tone. "But, Isabella, let me clarify one thing. I'll find you if you flee. And none of the parties involved will come out on top."

I could feel the weight of his words weighing down on me as they hung in the air like a menace.

I was unable to run. I was unable to fight.

Not quite yet.

I swallowed the harsh taste of failure and nodded. "I understand."

Leonardo smiled back, slowly and contentedly, "Good".