Chapter 3: Unending Lies

Aria was in a hurry to reach the kitchen and make breakfast; she didn't want to delay and enrage Alessandro anymore. Suddenly she felt her head spinning. She had to halt, gripping the banister. Her early pregnancy was taking its toll on her. Taking a moment to recover, she continued down to the kitchen and began preparing breakfast. They had servants, but even the servants treated her badly since her own husband didn't care about her. She was enduring everything for a ray of hope, and now she had a reason for living: her baby growing inside her. Though Alessandro didn't love her, she had always loved him and still did. She believed their miracle baby was a result of her wish for true love and a happy life. Maybe after the baby was born, Alessandro would see her differently, and he would change himself for their family. She was lost in her thoughts and cooking breakfast when a pair of arms around her waist startled her. The hot pan dropped from her hand, and she winced as the hot oil burned her soft skin, quickly turning it red. But she only cared about pushing away the dirty touch that made her nauseous. “What the hell are you doing, Enzo? I am your sister-in-law,” she spat out with disgust as she pushed the man violently. Enzo Valentino was Alessandro’s stepbrother, and he didn't miss a chance to assault Aria whenever he found her alone. “Don't be so rude, Sister-in-law!” Enzo smirked as he stepped closer, making Aria take a step back instinctively. “My brother can’t appreciate a beautiful woman like you, but I can. Give me a chance, and I will fulfill all your desires,” he whispered, licking his lips while his dirty gaze roamed over Aria’s body, making her grimace with disgust. “Go away, or I will scream,” she threatened, gazing at him with hatred and anger. Enzo laughed. “And who is going to believe you?!” She shrieked with fear as Enzo lunged at her, trapping her between the kitchen island and his body, trying to kiss her forcefully. Aria pushed him, thrashing her body and trying to hit him, but he didn’t budge. Her eyes widened as he grabbed her hair to steady her face. But a deep voice made him step back with extreme fear. “What the fuck is going on here?” “A…Alessandro!” Enzo stammered with fear as Aria swiftly ran to hide herself behind Alessandro, seeking shelter in his huge, powerful form. “I warned Sister-in-law to stop this, but she seemed to be out of her mind and tried to seduce me,” Enzo said with a sad expression. What?! "He's lying!" Aria protested, her voice rising with indignation. "Why would I lie and why would I betray my brother?" Enzo retorted fiercely. Stepbrother. She corrected silently in her mind. She yearned to slap hard the face of the liar before her. But before she could act, Alessandro grabbed her hand roughly, his grip unyielding as he forced her to face him. She wanted to tell him that Enzo was a black sheep and leeching off Alessandro for his money, but he was so blinded by hatred for his own wife that he couldn't see it. However, when she saw Alessandro's eyes burning with fury as he glared at her, Aria's words died in her throat. He harshly grabbed her hand and dragged her to their bedroom, throwing her onto the bed. “Was I not enough to satisfy you last night that you seek my stepbrother to quench your lust,” he gritted his teeth as he locked the room. “Such a whore you are! Always looking for more men to fuck your slutty pussy.” Aria's heart shattered into pieces hearing those words from her husband. He was the only man, first and last, who had ever touched her. And she didn't want any other man to ever touch her. Never wanted any other man. She loved her husband and was always loyal. "No, Mr. Valentino. I didn't..." she tried to explain, but a loud growl stopped her, "Shut the fuck up, you slut. Never answer me back!" Her husband was so blinded by jealousy that he believed everyone but her. Alessandro swiftly pushed his pants down, and Aria knew what was coming next. Her husband was going to punish her in the worst way. She closed her eyes and let tears roll down as her husband used her body as he pleased. Her heart cried, her soul wept, asking God silently when it would end. Maria was happy as she stood in the corridor and watched the drama unfold before her when Alessandro shouted at Aria and dragged her to their room. She knew he was going to punish his wife for something she never did. A wicked smile stretched on her lips as she descended down the stairs, but her smile disappeared as she found her son standing in the kitchen. She had seen everything and was so scared to think Alessandro would kill Enzo, but blinded by anger and jealousy, Alessandro didn't see anything but all Maria and Enzo wanted him to see. “What were you going to do, Enzo?” Maria scolded her son. “If you want that slut, seduce her alone and fuck her, but stay away from trouble with Alessandro. He is ruthless and will not hesitate to kill you,” she offered a word of advice to her son. "Don't worry, madre. I am too smart to be caught into trouble,” Enzo boasted and both mother and son shared a cunning grin. Enzo was Maria and Antonio’s son from their extramarital affair. Antonio's wife, Teresa, ran away because Maria wanted to kill her, and then Maria fabricated a story to make it appear as if Teresa had cheated on Antonio and fled with her lover. Out of rage, Antonio killed Teresa and then married Maria. Enzo was only a few months younger than Alessandro, but he didn't inherit anything from the fortune because Alessandro was the legal heir of the empire. However, if Alessandro was unable to produce an heir by the age of thirty, Enzo could claim his right and take over the mafia and the entire Valentino empire. With misunderstandings brewing between Alessandro and Aria, the chances were high that either he would never have a child with her or he might kill her, for the greater good.