THE DON’S FORBIDDEN MARRIAGE
The Don’s Forbidden Marriage – Chapter 2
©Joy Cindy
The Don’s House
The journey was silent.
Elena sat in the back of the black car, staring through the rain-covered window. Alessandro sat beside her, perfectly still.
She had expected him to say something.
He didn’t.
That silence was beginning to frighten her more than his threats.
Finally, Elena turned toward him.
“Where are you taking me?”
“Home.”
She frowned.
“Your home?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t want to go there.”
Alessandro looked at her.
“That wasn’t a question.”
Elena’s eyes narrowed.
“You really enjoy ordering people around, don’t you?”
“People usually listen.”
“Well, I’m not people.”
For the first time, a faint expression crossed his face.
Almost amusement.
“That,” he said, “is becoming obvious.”
Elena turned away from him.
The car continued through the dark countryside until enormous iron gates appeared ahead.
The gates opened automatically.
Beyond them stood a massive Italian villa surrounded by tall trees, stone walls, and security guards.
Elena stared at the estate.
“This is your house?”
“Yes.”
“It looks like a prison.”
Alessandro glanced at her.
“Prisons have fewer guards.”
Elena looked at him.
“That wasn’t comforting.”
“It wasn’t meant to be.”
The car stopped in front of the villa.
A man opened the door.
Alessandro stepped out first.
Elena remained inside.
He turned toward her.
“Come.”
She folded her arms.
“I can walk by myself.”
“I didn’t say you couldn’t.”
“Then stop ordering me around.”
Alessandro stared at her for a moment.
Then he stepped aside.
Elena climbed out of the car.
The moment she entered the house, she felt the atmosphere change.
The villa was beautiful.
Too beautiful.
Dark wooden floors. Marble walls. Expensive paintings. Tall windows overlooking the grounds.
But beneath the elegance was something colder.
Everywhere she looked, there were guards.
Watching.
Waiting.
Alessandro walked ahead of her.
“Your room is upstairs.”
Elena stopped.
“My room?”
“Yes.”
“Not yours?”
His eyes slowly moved toward her.
“No.”
She wasn’t sure why that answer surprised her.
“Good.”
Alessandro raised an eyebrow.
“You sound disappointed.”
“I am not.”
“Then why are you blushing?”
Elena’s face became warm.
“I’m not.”
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
It disappeared almost immediately.
“Your room is the second door on the left.”
Elena walked past him.
Then stopped.
“Wait.”
He looked at her.
“Why am I here?”
The question changed the atmosphere.
Alessandro’s expression became cold again.
“Because you’re in danger.”
“That’s not the whole truth.”
“No.”
“Then tell me the truth.”
He stepped closer.
Elena refused to move back.
For several seconds, they simply stared at each other.
Then Alessandro spoke.
“Your father made a deal with my family.”
“I know.”
“There is more.”
Elena’s heart began to beat faster.
“What more?”
Alessandro reached into his jacket and pulled out the black folder.
He handed it to her.
“Read it.”
Elena opened the folder.
The first page contained several signatures.
Her father’s.
Alessandro’s father’s.
And one more.
Her mother’s.
Elena froze.
Her mother had died when Elena was a child.
She had never known her mother had been involved in any agreement.
“What is this?”
“A marriage contract.”
Elena turned the page.
Her eyes moved across the words.
Then stopped.
She read the sentence again.
Her hands began to tremble.
“No.”
Alessandro watched her carefully.
“What does it say?”
She looked up at him.
“You know what it says.”
“Say it.”
Elena’s voice was barely a whisper.
“If I refuse to marry you, my family loses everything.”
“That is one condition.”
She turned the page.
Her face went pale.
“There are more.”
Alessandro said nothing.
Elena continued reading.
“If the marriage is dissolved before one year, the Moretti family will lose all protection and financial assets connected to the agreement.”
She looked at him in disbelief.
“One year?”
“Yes.”
“You expect me to stay married to you for one year?”
“That is what the contract says.”
“Why?”
Alessandro’s eyes darkened.
“Because someone wants to destroy both our families.”
Elena stared at him.
“Who?”
He didn’t answer.
She stepped closer.
“You brought me here. You forced me to read this. Now tell me who wants to destroy my family.”
Alessandro’s jaw tightened.
“Your family has secrets, Elena.”
“So does yours.”
“Yes.”
“Then maybe we should start telling the truth.”
For a moment, Alessandro said nothing.
Then he leaned toward her.
“Be careful.”
Elena’s heart skipped.
“Is that a threat?”
“No.”
His voice was dangerously quiet.
“It’s a warning.”
He took the folder from her hand.
“You will stay here until the danger has passed.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then you can leave.”
Elena blinked.
She hadn’t expected that.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
She took a step toward the door.
Alessandro’s voice stopped her.
“But if you leave, I won’t be able to protect you.”
Elena turned around.
“I don’t need your protection.”
Something changed in his eyes.
“You will.”
Before she could answer, a woman appeared at the end of the hallway.
She was elegant, older, and dressed in a dark suit.
Her gaze moved from Elena to Alessandro.
“Alessandro.”
He turned.
“What?”
“We have a problem.”
His expression hardened.
“What kind of problem?”
The woman looked at Elena.
“The man who attacked the Moretti house has been found.”
Elena’s heart stopped.
“Who is he?”
The woman hesitated.
Alessandro noticed.
“Answer her.”
The woman looked at Elena.
“He works for someone close to your family.”
Elena felt the room spin.
“Who?”
The woman looked at Alessandro.
He said nothing.
Elena’s voice became sharper.
“Who?”
Finally, the woman answered.
“Your brother.”
Elena stopped breathing.
“My brother is dead.”
The woman shook her head.
“No.”
She looked at Alessandro.
“He isn’t.”
Elena stared at her.
The world seemed to tilt beneath her feet.
Her brother had disappeared eight years ago.
Her family had told her he was dead.
She had believed them.
Alessandro stepped toward her.
“Elena.”
She raised a hand.
“Don’t.”
Her voice broke.
“Don’t come near me.”
He stopped.
She looked at him with tears in her eyes.
“You knew?”
Alessandro’s silence was an answer.
Elena’s face filled with disbelief.
“You knew my brother was alive?”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Eight years.”
She stared at him.
Eight years.
Eight years of grief.
Eight years of believing she had lost the only person who had ever truly protected her.
And Alessandro had known.
She struck his chest with both hands.
“You knew!”
He allowed her to hit him.
“You let me believe he was dead!”
“I didn’t kill him.”
“That doesn’t answer me!”
“No.”
His eyes remained fixed on hers.
“But I kept him alive.”
Elena froze.
“What?”
Alessandro lowered his voice.
“Your brother is alive, Elena.”
He stepped closer.
“And if you want to see him again…”
Her breath caught.
“You will marry me.”
