Chapter 5: The Best Seat in the Room

Luca recovered first with a laugh too loud to sound natural.

“Come on. It was a joke. Family joking.”

“Was the inheritance fraud also a joke?”

His face emptied instantly.

Bianca stepped forward, pearls trembling at her throat.

“You are pregnant. This stress is not good for the baby. Sit down.”

There it was again.

A command disguised as concern.

Control wrapped in the costume of care.

So I sat.

Not because she told me to.

Because I wanted the best seat in the room.

Matteo pulled me near the hallway, his voice low and sharp.

“You embarrassed me.”

I stared at him. “That’s what concerns you?”

His eyes narrowed.

“What exactly did you hear?”

“Enough.”

“Careful, Elena.”

The old version of me might have cried.

Instead, I touched my stomach and said quietly, “No, Matteo. You should be careful.” Continue Reading ⬇️