Mirabella’s Pov Tears uncontrollably roll down my cheeks as I observe myself in the huge mirror, and I ask myself what wrong I've done to deserve this level of punishment the universe has chosen to deal me. This is my life; misery. One month since I've been married to this monster, and every day, I'm one step closer to death. A death I know will be delivered to me by my husband. Matteo. In one month, I've been buried alive and made to stay underneath the earth five hours each day for three days. I've been stripped and flogged with a leather flogger until I passed out. I've been locked up in a dark room with no food for so many days until I was close to losing my sanity. I've been pushed into the pool and left to drown by Matteo after he found out I couldn't swim. This has been my life with Matteo for a long one month. He doesn't talk to me but whenever he does, there's always punishment accompanying each word. Punishments that seem too extreme and well thought out as though h
Matteo’s Pov There's power in self reflection, to take a moment and look at how far you've come, how you have transformed into a better or a ridiculously worst version of yourself. To give yourself credit for conquering all your demons and waking from that nightmare. As I stand by this window and try my best to self reflect, the only question that plagues my mind is, where has my head been in the past month? I watch my wife as she trembles from the cold, I look at her and see how much damage I've done to her both physically, emotionally, and mentally. I ask myself how much of a monster I truly am to have done this to an innocent woman. The same woman I saw her pictures and felt the need to be close to; the same one I wanted to become my wife and I have an opportunity to have her as my wife but look what I've done to her. What differentiates me now from the people I detest the most? The people who derive pleasure in hurting others? The people who hurt me. The people who hu
Mirabella’s Pov A fist drives into my gut and knocks me out. I choke and cough, my hand clutching tightly onto the part of me that seems completely ruptured. I fall face down and sob, there's not a part of me that is whole; at least not anymore and my father made certain of it. "Enough with your whining!" Father's voice thunders as he forces me on my knees. "Tell me exactly what it is you saw that day," he orders and I shake my head 'no'. "I don't remember anything." I lie; but I do it to protect myself. "Maybe she's telling the truth. we've broken her in unimaginable ways, yet, she still stands by her word," my father's minion whispers to him but I pay very close attention and I hear him. "Have we? There's still one thing that is yet to be done to her." Father sneers and the man's eyes widen. "She's a kid! She'll not survive it. Isn't she just ten years old?" "I don't care if she dies. Ready the chair, no questions asked." Father orders as he stands by the side with Annabella
Mirabella’s Pov "Tell me something about you; something I don't already know." Matteo questions in a soft voice as he wraps the cuff of the sphygmomanometer around my upper arm. I blink a few times from the unexpectedness of his question. He raises an eyebrow nudging me to answer as he continues taking my blood pressure and I scoff. "Bold of you to think you know even a thing about me." "You have no idea, Annabella. . ." His voice is laced with mischief. I narrow my eyes at him. Something in my gut telling me that Matteo knows something about me; something that might jeopardize me. My identity perhaps. "So, what's your story, you know with the consistent nightmares." Matteo calls back my attention and I bite down on my bottom lip. "I don't know, Matteo, you tell me. After all you're the one who has dedicated your time to making sure you traumatize me with your horrific punishments," I answer in one breath making sure my sarcasm doesn't go unnoticed. "So? I'm responsible
Matteo’s Pov "Get over here! Come here and prove to me that you're worthy of this empire!" Grandfather commands and I fall on my knees. I'm shaking my head vigorously, tears running down my face uncontrollably as I sob. "Please pa don't make me do this," I plead. I am now at Grandfather's feet, at his fucking mercy and I grasp both his ankles as I continue to beg him. My father being held down by a few men in a corner, my mother hugging my five year old sister in another corner. My life flashing before my own eyes. I can't bring myself to do what grandfather is asking of me. Never. The butt of a gun slams against my forehead over and over again until my blood is spewing uncontrollably but I do not quit begging. With each slam to my forehead, my plea becomes louder. "Matteo, fratellino; it's okay, I understand. Go ahead and do it," my eldest sister says in between her sobs and I shake my head 'no'. Her voice keeps taunting me and I can no longer take it. "Stai zitto per l'amor d
Mirabella’s Pov I'm home alone, I might as well put a call across to my associate and handle my own business. Exactly three days ago, about two hours after my very thoughtful husband violated me with his eyes and walked out of the room, I decided to go to the kitchen and help myself with something to calm my nerves. While I made my way down the hall, my ears picked up on some inaudible chatter and being a curious personality that I am, I decided to listen in. The closer I got to where the sound was coming from, the clearer I could hear what was being talked about. Matteo and his father seemed to have been in a heated argument about me? "Father, I already told you many times before that I do not trust her father. This marriage is just an illusion; he's playing a game with us and we don't even know it." Well, I didn't think I'd ever say this but my husband is a smart man. "She's your wife regardless," Matteo's father had voiced. "Only on paper!" Matteo snapped and silence ensued
Matteo’s Pov The last seventy two hours has been the most excruciatingly painful hours to say the least. After my takeover was announced, I had to travel to all the warehouses owned by the Denaro's. After that was done, I had to meet up with very prominent men and business partners and those fuckers couldn't keep their mouths shut about my wife. Lately, it seems to be her face and name everywhere. I've made every attempt to avoid her as much as I can which seemed to be working until she flashed me with her tits. Fuck. That fucking bitch. First, she lies and now she's invading my thoughts in the most unholy ways. I was supposed to return a day before but made a decision to visit my underground fighting ring. I had to go get myself involved in an extremely physical activity in hopes that it helps me forget my wife whom I'm not supposed to be thinking of. But the thoughts of her still remain. Jesus Fucking Christ. Now back in Sicily, I decide to go home fingers crossed t
Mirabella's PovFor a moment there, I was beginning to think that Matteo felt any sort of attraction towards me but all of it; that night was a lie.I wonder why I allowed myself get carried away.Exactly one week since he walked into my room and touched me in ways that lit a certain kind of fire in my soul, Matteo has put in extra effort in making certain we don't cross path.Such an asshole.He instructed that my personal guard makes certain I remain on my own side of the mansion at all times. Went as far as instructing my maid to make sure every meal of the day is served to me in my room.All this effort and rules just so he's unable to see my face.First, he leaves me high and dry, and now he's making sure to rub his rejection of me all over my face.I hate my fucking self.Today has been exceptionally quiet and peaceful around the estate. Peace and quiet that gets me thinking about the possibility of Matteo not being present.I smile at the thought of it. Finally, I can move arou