I stared at the black card in my hand, turning it slowly between my fingers. It felt heavy, not because of the weight, but because of what it meant.
He said, "Take this, get whatever you care for."
Liam Valtieri, the man who barely looked at me, the man whose voice could slice glass, just handed me a card like it was a command.
I frowned. "So, he doesn't care about me, but he cares about what I wear?" I murmured under my breath, staring at my reflection in the glass. "Or maybe… he's just ashamed of me."
Ann, one the maid, stood by the door, hands clasped. "Mrs. Valtieri?"
"Hmm?" I looked up.
"Should I prepare breakfast again? You barely touched the first one."
I sighed. "No, it's fine. I'll just… go out for a while."
Ann blinked. "Out? Alone?"
I slipped the card into my purse and forced a smile. "You'll come with me. I just need to get some things. Clothes, maybe shoes."
Ann looked nervous. "Should I inform Mr. Clark?"
I hesitated. "No need. I'll be back soon. The way she looked at me, half worried, half scared made me pause for a second. But I brushed it off. What could possibly go wrong?.
The city air hit me as soon as we stepped out of the car. Sunlight danced across the shop windows, and I took a deep breath. For the first time since the wedding, I felt something close to freedom.
Ann followed close behind as I entered a boutique. Every pair of eyes turned toward us the clerk, the customers. I wasn't used to being stared at like that.
The woman behind the counter smiled too brightly. "Mrs. valtieris?"
I froze and look up to the woman
She gestured politely. "Everyone in this district knows when a Valtieri car parks outside. Please, come in. Anything you want."
Her words made my heart thump strangely. Mrs. Valtieri. It still didn't sound like my name.
Ann whispered, "You should get what you like, ma'am."
I walked through the aisles quietly, running my fingers over silk, soft cotton, lace. "He said I don't dress like a Valtieri," I muttered. "Fine, I'll show him."
"Rose?"
That voice sharp, familiar, full of venom made my spine stiffen.
I turned.
Samantha.
She stood near the mirror, wearing a red dress and a mocking smile.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, her tone dripping with fake sweetness.
I took a quiet breath. "Shopping."
She tilted her head, pretending to be impressed. "Shopping? Here?" Her eyes darted to the card in my hand. "Is that his?"
I didn't answer.
"Oh, it is," she said bitterly. "Liam's card. The same Liam I was supposed to marry."
My fingers froze around the card.
She laughed dryly. " You know that the proposal was mine first"
I stared at her, my heart thudding. "But you refuse it"
"i did," she snapped. "You know, my dad made a deal with Mrs. Matilda Valtieri. I was supposed to marry him but I said no."
I frowned. "Then why are you bringing it up?"
"Do you know what I heard about him? That he's cold, ruthless, a man who doesn't even like to touch women. I thought it was all truth. I didn't want to be another of his trophies."
Her voice dropped. "And then when they told you about him you didn't even care to refuse it."
"I did, Samantha you of all people should know better "
"Don't say you didn't ask for it!" she hissed. "After I refused, they pushed you in my place! You were the quiet one, the weak one. You didn't even fight back. You just went along with it like some obedient doll."
Her words sliced through me like glass. "You think I wanted this?"
"You wanted the name," she spat. "The house. The power. Everything that should've been mine."
Ann stepped forward. "Miss Samantha, please…"
Samantha ignored her. "You're nothing, Rose. Just a girl they forced on him because I didn't want him. And now, you walk around with his card, acting like you belong here."
My throat felt tight. "You made your choice, Samantha. You said no."
Her eyes darkened. "And maybe that was my mistake."
I blinked. "What do you mean?"
She took a step closer, her perfume heavy, suffocating. "Do you know what it's like to realize you turned down the one man who could give you everything? To watch you, the girl who used to wear my old dresses living in the house that should've been mine?"
I said nothing.
She laughed bitterly. "Don't get too comfortable, cousin. You think Liam Valtieri will ever love you? He won't. He can't. You're just part of his deal. And when he's done with you, he'll throw you out like the rest."
"Enough," I said softly, my voice trembling. "You said what you wanted."
Her smile turned cruel. "You'll see. Sooner than you think."
She turned and walked away, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor.
Ann touched my arm. "Don't listen to her, Mrs. Valtieri."
I exhaled shakily. "It's fine, Ann. I just need to finish shopping."
But as I picked a dress from the rack, my hands wouldn't stop shaking.
By the time we returned to the mansion, the air felt heavier.
Clark met us by the door, his expression tight. "Mrs. Valtieri, where have you been?"
I hesitated. "Shopping."
"Without security?" he asked.
Before I could answer, a voice came from behind him deep, smooth, and cold.
"She didn't."
I froze.
Liam stood at the bottom of the stairs, hands in his pockets, dark eyes fixed on me.
"Liam…"
He stepped forward slowly. "You went out?"
"Yes," I said quietly. "You gave me the card."
"I gave you the card," he said evenly, "not permission to walk out without protection."
Clark lowered his head. "Sir, I…"
Liam's tone turned sharper. "You let her leave the house alone?"
Clark stammered, "I thought she…"
"You thought wrong."
I stepped forward. "It wasn't his fault."
Liam turned to me, his eyes narrowing. "You don't speak when I'm angry."
I froze.
He took another step, his voice low. "You're my wife now. You don't get to walk into the city without guards. This isn't your uncle's little town."
My heart was hammered. "I just wanted clothes."
He looked at the bag in my hand. "You found some?"
I nodded.
"Good," he said dryly. "Next time, I'll approve them first."
He turned away, heading for the door.
"Are you angry because I went out?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Or because someone might see me?"
He paused.
For a second, he didn't answer, then he said softly, "Both."
And he walked out.