All Chapters of Bound by love and betrayal : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

EvelynThe church was too quiet. The kind of quiet that made your skin crawl, like the calm before a storm. I stood at the altar, my hands trembling as I clutched the bouquet of white roses. They were beautiful, but they felt heavy in my hands like they were made of stone instead of petals. I glanced around the empty pews, my stomach twisting into knots. There was no one here to witness this farce of a wedding. No friends. No family. Just me, the priest, and the man who was about to become my husband. Alessio stood beside me, his presence overwhelming. He was dressed in a black suit that fit him like it had been tailored by the devil himself. His expression was unreadable, his dark eyes fixed on the priest as if this were just another business transaction. And maybe it was. To him, this wasn't a wedding. It was a deal. A contract. And I was the price. The priest began the ceremony, his voice echoing through the empty church. I barely heard the words. My mind was racing, trying to m

Evelyn Sofia's words lingered in my mind long after she left. "There are things you don't know about Alessio. Things that could get you killed."What had she meant? What was Alessio hiding? And why had she warned me? I wanted to chase after her, to demand answers, but I knew it wouldn't do any good. Sofia was as much a mystery as her brother, and I had no idea if I could trust her. I spent the rest of the night pacing the room, my mind racing with questions. Sleep was impossible. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Alessio's cold, calculating gaze, and heard his voice echoing in my mind. *"Don't think about running. If you do, I'll make sure your father pays the price."* When the first rays of sunlight crept through the balcony doors, I was still awake, my body tense and my nerves frayed. A knock at the door made me jump, my heart pounding as I turned to face it. "Come in," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. The door opened, and a maid stepped inside, carrying a tray of food

EvelynThe knock at my door came just after sunset. I'd been sitting on the edge of the bed, staring at the untouched tray of food Maria had brought hours earlier. My stomach growled, but the thought of eating made me nauseous. How could I eat when my life had become a prison? The knock came again, sharper this time. I stood, smoothing my hands over my wrinkled dress, and opened the door. Alessio stood there, his expression unreadable. He was dressed in another perfectly tailored suit, this one a deep charcoal grey that made his dark eyes seem even more piercing. He didn't say anything at first; he just stared at me like he was trying to figure me out. "What do you want?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt. "Come with me," he said, his tone leaving no room for an argument. I hesitated, my instincts screaming at me to refuse. But the memory of his threats that my father will suffer the consequences is rooted in place. I stepped into the hallway, closing the door behind me, and

Evelyn I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the gun on the table. My hands were still trembling, my mind racing. Alessio's words echoed in my head, each one a reminder of the power he held over me. "You either learn to defend yourself or you die." But I didn't want to learn. I didn't want to be part of this world. I just wanted to escape. The sound of footsteps outside my door made me freeze. I stood, my heart pounding, and walked over to the window. The guards were patrolling the grounds as usual, their movements sharp and deliberate. But something felt... off. The door creaked open, and I turned to see Maria standing there, her expression tense. "Evie," she whispered, glancing over her shoulder. "You need to come with me. Now." I stared at her, my mind racing. "What's going on?" She stepped inside and closed the door behind her, her voice barely above a whisper. "Your father... he's gone. He ran. And Alessio's men are looking for him." My heart sank. "What does th

Evelyn I sat in the study, my hands trembling as I clutched the hoodie. Alessio's words echoed in my head, each one a reminder of the power he held over me. "You're the key to your father. And if you want to survive, you'll help me find him." But how could I help him? I didn't even know where my father was. And even if I did, could I really betray him? The door creaked open, and I looked up to see Sofia stepping inside. She closed the door behind her and walked over to the desk, her expression unreadable. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice soft. I shook my head, my throat tight. "No." She sighed and sat down in the chair across from me, her green eyes filled with something I couldn't quite place. "Alessio can be... difficult. But he's not as cruel as he seems." I laughed bitterly. "Really? Was that supposed to make me feel better?." She didn't respond, her gaze dropping to the floor. "Why are you helping me?" I asked, my voice trembling. She looked up at me, her