Chapter 6. Wedding Night

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 the groom had disappeared. Sofia was met with pity-filled glances from those around her. She sat there, her head lowered in embarrassment and insult, an all too familiar feeling. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first time she had found herself in this situation.

She watched as Leonardo's parents frantically tried to reach him on the phone. She could see the worry etched on their faces as they dialed number after number, but it seemed like they were not getting any response. It was clear that they were deeply disappointed with their son's irresponsible behavior.

"Sofia! Dear," said Leonardo's mother with a polite and gentle tone as she approached her. "I'm afraid Leonardo has to attend to something urgent and won't be able to join us. However, I am here to take you to your new home. You must be tired from the ceremony, so please rest and make yourself comfortable."

As Sofia listened to Leonardo's mother speak to her with such kindness and respect, her heart warmed. It was a rare experience for her, as most people had always treated her as if she was invisible or unimportant. But the way this woman spoke to her made her feel seen and valued. She was such a kind lady.

Sofia nodded her head and smiled at Leonardo's mother as she led her towards a car that had been decorated for a newly wedded couple. Sofia had to ride alone in the car because her husband had left her to be on her own. Leonardo's mother helped Sofia settle in the back seat and instructed the driver to take her to Leonardo's mansion. Sofia couldn't help but feel a little nervous as she embarked on this new journey with fear and expectations. 

Throughout the entire car ride, Sofia couldn't help but wonder what kind of important work Leonardo had to do on his wedding day. As they pulled up to a massive mansion, the driver courteously stepped out to open the door for her. Stepping out onto the pavement, she made her way toward the grand entrance, where a guard stood watchfully at the door.

And a queue of servants was also standing there, waiting for their master. But here, seeing Sofia coming alone, disappointment was visible on their faces. They greeted her and looked at her with their pitiful eyes. Sofia sighed in her heart.  She tried to put on a brave face, smiling at the servants, and lowered her head instantly as she entered the mansion.

As the maid escorted her to a room, she couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy. As she stepped inside, she immediately noticed the masculine decor - all cool greys and whites. In addition, she couldn't help but notice the large TV mounted on the wall in front of the bed and a gaming setup sitting next to it. Clearly, this room belonged to a man, and she quickly understood who the owner was.

Sofia was engulfed by an abrupt surge of anxiety upon realizing that her luggage was not with her. The mere thought of spending the night in her cumbersome wedding dress made her cringe with discomfort. With a heavy heart, she made her way toward the spacious closet, only to be greeted by an overwhelming array of her husband's clothing, shoes, and accessories. As she pondered over her options, she couldn't help but contemplate whether borrowing her husband's t-shirt for the night was a good choice.

She had grown accustomed to a certain sense of neglect throughout her life. People never shared anything with her; she only got their used and old stuff for herself. Thus, she dared not take a shirt from her husband's wardrobe as everything looked new and expensive. So, that night,  she found herself sleeping soundly in her wedding gown, though it was very uncomfortable. However, exhausted and tired, she quickly drifted into a peaceful slumber.

Sofia was suddenly jolted awake by the sound of the door creaking open. She struggled to see in the darkness, unsure of the time of night. Blinking rapidly, Sofia's eyes gradually adjusted to the dimness. She fumbled around for the light switch and finally found it, illuminating the room. To her shock, she saw Leonardo Morelli standing near the doorway, his presence unexpected and startling.

His sudden appearance startled her, and she couldn't help but notice how miserable he looked without his jacket. His tie hung low, and his shirt was unbuttoned with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. As his eyes landed on Sofia lying on his bed, they darkened with anger. He swiftly closed the distance between them with three long strides, grabbing her chin in his hand with a forceful grip.

"How dare you sleep on my bed, bloody whore?" he questioned in a menacing tone. 

Sofia's body involuntarily shivered as his words reached her ears.  She was confused about why he was calling her names. Whore?! She was not a whore. 

Unpleasant recollections of her past came flooding back to her mind, causing her to tremble uncontrollably with anxiety. She was fully aware of what was going to happen next, and her fear grew with each passing moment.

“I... I a.. am sorry. Please forgive me,” Sofia apologized promptly. 

But before Sofia could explain herself, she was thrown onto the bed, and Leonardo’s body pressed her petite frame, pinning her to the bed. Her eyes flared in horror as she freaked out.

“No, please, let me go,'' Sofia begged desperately.

“Stop acting!” He shouted. "You're not innocent, and I know it. You want this, right? Is that why you are sleeping in my bed, waiting for me?” He glared at her while his voice mocking her.

Sofia froze, unable to move an inch, as the scent of alcohol wafted from Leonardo's breath. It was clear he was drunk. Memories of her childhood flooded back, vividly recalling the anguish of witnessing her father's drunken assaults on her mother.

“Stop pretending, you slut! Why are you denying it now? I know what kind of whore you are, and being your husband, I should get a taste of yours. So shut up and let me fuck you. Like a good slut you are, make me feel good,” he slurred as he forced himself on her and started kissing her neck. He was biting and sucking on her neck, making her feel nothing but pain. Her tears had no effect on him. He had become blind in intoxication and lust.  

Despite her reservations, Sofia didn't intervene or halt her husband, allowing him to do as he pleased. She was too scared to react. Although Leonardo attempted to be gentle and bring her pleasure, even in his intoxicated state, Sofia felt an overwhelming emptiness. She lay there, resembling a lifeless rag doll, devoid of any emotional or physical response.

After a while, Leonardo slumped down onto her, exhausted from coming inside her countless times. Unbeknownst to him, tears continued to spill from Sofia's eyes. When she noticed that Leonardo had fallen into a deep slumber, she mustered her courage. Slowly, she rolled her husband off of her and delicately gathered the torn remnants of her dress in her trembling hand. Silently, she slipped out of bed.

Carefully, Sofia dressed herself, her eyes still brimming with tears. She couldn't help but gaze at Leonardo, who lay peacefully asleep with a serene smile adorning his face.

Overwhelmed by the magnitude of the situation, she crumbled to her knees. The room's atmosphere was heavy with tension, and the silence was broken only by Sofia's ragged breaths and the distant sounds of activity echoing throughout the safe house.

Tears streamed down Sofia's face, and her cries became loud and agonized. The weight of the trauma inflicted upon her on what should have been her wedding day proves unbearable. The profound sorrow and disbelief intertwined with her tears.

Sofia sat on the floor, holding her knees close to her chest, tears streaming down her cheeks as she lamented her bad luck. She had always feared ending up with an ill fate like her mother, and now it felt like history was cruelly repeating itself. Her husband proved to be no better than her father, and the pain of that realization was too much to bear.

Exhaustion overtook Sofia, her emotional and physical strength were depleted. Nevertheless, she remained on her knees, the cold floor beneath her as her only support. 

She had enough trauma for her wedding night, not that she had ever imagined her fate like this. Slowly curling into a ball, she closed her eyes, soft sobs leaving her silently. She didn't realize when the sleep took her in its embrace.