Sofia's heart pounded in her chest as the rain pelted against the windows, matching the rhythm of her mother's sobs. She could hear her mother's footsteps pacing back and forth in the living room, waiting for her husband to come home. Then, suddenly, the sound of a car pulling up to the house cut through the storm."Mama, he's here!" Sofia whispered, barely audible over the sound of the rain. She watched as her mother rushed to the door, wiping away her tears and plastering on a fake smile."Welcome home, dear," her mother said, her voice shaking. Sofia's father strode into the house, a beautiful woman in his arms. Sofia recoiled at the sight of her father's mistress, but her mother put on a brave face."Who is this?" her mother asked, trying to keep her tone light. "Is everything alright?""Everything is fine," her father sneered, pushing her away. "Can't a man have a little fun?"Sofia's mother's face fell. "Please don't hurt me," she begged. "I just wanted to make sure you were
*Seven Years Later*“Sophia, come to my room quickly.” Sofia heard her stepmother, Emma, calling her. She felt a pang of hunger in her stomach, but she knew she had to obey her stepmother's command. Sofia covered her plate and placed it on the slab before leaving. She couldn't risk facing the consequences of disobeying her stepmother.After her mother's death, her life became a living hell. Her stepmother didn't provide her with enough food to eat or proper clothes to wear. Sofia wasn't allowed to enjoy any luxuries in her father's mansion; she was treated as nothing more than a housemaid. Emma, her stepmother, justified her actions by claiming she was disciplining Sofia, fearing that without her mother, Sofia might turn out to be whore due to her mother's poor family background.Sofia was confined to the house and forbidden from attending any social gatherings or her friends' birthday parties. She wasn't even allowed to have any friends. Today after gathering all the leftover food fr
“I won't marry that girl!” Leonardo shouted angrily, throwing the contract papers off the table. Alessandro, looking out of the window, listened to his son’s outburst. The study, lavishly decorated with antique furniture and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, was thick with tension."Leonardo. Try to understand. This wedding is very important for this merger," his father declared nonchalantly."No, Father, it is not fucking possible. I won't marry a slut like her," Leonardo refused sternly. "By the way," he narrowed his grey eyes sceptically. "I was supposed to marry Ricci's other daughter. So, why did they change the bride at the last moment?" he scowled."We don't know why they changed the bride. However, this marriage will only last for three years and not a real one, so it doesn't matter who the bride is," his father explained patiently, but Leonardo was not in a good mood to understand those things."Are you serious, Dad? You want me to marry a whore for a business deal ?! You can't f
Leonardo entered his friend's condo feeling frustrated and upset. His friend Domenico Russo greeted him with a warm smile, "Hey, Leonardo!" But Leonardo didn't respond. Domenico sensed something was wrong and asked, "What's wrong?" Leonardo huffed."Father issue!" Domenico snorted.Leonardo scowled.Domenico inquired once more, "Tell me what happened this time."Leonardo, visibly frustrated, responded with clenched teeth, "He has replaced the bride and now expects me to wed that slut, Sofia Ricci, who is deemed worthless by the Riccis.""Why did they change the girl at the last moment? Weren't you supposed to marry Kat Ricci?" asked Domenico, clearly worried.Leonardo sighed deeply and massaged his forehead before pinching the bridge of his nose. "I have no idea," he said, his voice thick with frustration. "My father threatened me, and I have to marry Sofia Ricci. My life is a mess."Domenico sat next to him and gave him a reassuring pat on the back. "I'm sorry to hear that, my fri
"What's wrong, darling? You look troubled." Emma asked Carlo. Her eyes showed a scowl which she hid quickly as she actually knew what her husband's problem was."I was thinking about the contract and Sofia’s wedding. I hope it proves to be a good decision for her. But I have doubts because She is not willing to marry Alessandro Morelli’s son," he said, and his eyes were gloomy as he was pitying his daughter. I went near him and rubbed his shoulder."Honey, you are thinking too much. We are doing it for her good future. Otherwise, who would marry her with her reputation of sleeping around?” She said, showing her concern for Sofia but cursing her in her heart. She was afraid Carlo would change his decision. She would have buried Sofia with her mother if it were in her hand. Her hatred was so immense she spread the rumor in society that Sofia was a whore, just as her mother was. But the truth was Sofia's mother was not a whore but an innocent woman, becoming prey to Emma's jealousy.Be
The wedding rituals finally ended and Sofia and Leonardo now stood as husband and wife. The media were all over the place, capturing every moment and detail of the ceremony. The Riccis and the Morellis really outdid themselves and made it a grand event that everyone would remember for years to come. After the wedding, they all made their way to the ballroom. Leonardo was seated next to Sofia, engrossed in his phone. Sofia was too nervous to glance over at him, but she noticed him furrowing his brow out of the corner of her eye.Sofia furrowed her brow as she watched Leonardo answer his phone. She couldn't hear anything from where she sat, but Leonardo's expression had quickly soured. Without a word to her, he got up from their table and began walking away, still speaking into the phone. Sofia was left sitting alone in the ballroom, wondering what could have possibly upset him so much.As the announcement for the newly-wedded couple's first ballroom dance was made, everyone noticed th
Leonardo woke up abruptly in the middle of the night, a sense of unease washing over him. Something felt different, out of place. His gaze landed on the crimson stain on the bed sheet, and suddenly, the events leading up to his slumber flooded his mind. He had made passionate love to his wife, Sofia, and now he realized with a sinking feeling that she had been a virgin.A wave of regret and self-reproach crashed over Leonardo. He cursed himself for his impatience. He didn't know she was a virgin. But the truth was he couldn't stop himself as if he was a hungry wolf.However, a few things were bothering him, and the first one was that, despite the rumors, Sofia was not at all ugly. In fact, Leonardo found her to be quite beautiful. He couldn't help but be drawn to her charm, which meant the rumor that she was good at seducing men was true. From the moment he first laid eyes on her, he felt a strong pull toward her, and he found it very hard to resist. When he held her trembling hand, h
Whilst Sofia was in her deep slumber, she felt as though she was floating weightlessly on a bed of the softest clouds. She was embraced by a warm and comforting layer that surrounded her in a cocoon of tranquillity. Sofia held onto the snug cover tightly, unwilling to let go of the dream. However, her peaceful rest was interrupted by someone shaking her and calling out her name. Sofia gradually opened her eyes, still feeling the remnants of her comforting dream.As her eyelids gradually lifted, she struggled to adjust to the blinding brightness that flooded her vision. She squinted, and blinking repeatedly she attempted to clear her vision until her eyes finally adjusted to the intense light. It was then that she noticed a young woman standing directly in front of her, regarding her with an expression of complete disinterest.Sofia quickly got up from her bed and sat there for a moment, mentally slapping herself for sleeping so late. She knew she was supposed to wake up early and make