Going into the big house through the huge entrance, Alessia and Dominic did seem well-guarded. The cold night air touched her face softly. With every step she took, because of that agreement she had signed, it felt heavier than the one before. She was going back to a place she had avoided for many years. Even though that fancy black car looked big, it showed how big this house was, like a protected place in the dark wild, a risk of being attacked because of its wealth, which showed power.
The interior of the house was so big: a dim light reflected itself on the shiny floor, and by its side was a nicely decorated stone wall. The workers ceased their careful movements for Alessia when she came in properly attired. Their eyes quickly glanced into hers. The silent stories being shared in the corridor felt like something on her skin. "Psst, the lady who went away is back," someone hushed, just loud enough to hear it.
"Abigail," Dominic said in his deep voice as he entered the hallway of the house. Abigail came out from the dark. Her steps were quiet and smooth. She moved a bit closer, with a small smile appearing on her face. But there was concern etched on her face. "Alessia," she whispered.
Alessia forced a weak smile that did not seem quite real. "Abigail," she answered quietly, not wanting to show any worry. Even though it was short-lived, Abigail made Dominic forget all the problems in his life. She was among the few things that made him feel better.
Dominic didn't beat around the bush with pleasantries. He regarded Alessia again, this time his expression razor-sharp and grave. "This way," he directed her deeper into the house. Every hallway seemed endless, with fancy art and statues that made the place feel powerful and dangerous. Alessia noticed guards in key locations watching her while pretending to look somewhere else.
At last, they came to the main bedroom. Dominic opened the door to a big, fancy room: thick curtains, dark wood furniture shining from the clean surfaces. Most importantly, the bed was big enough to hold someone who probably does not sleep alone.
"You will stay here," Dominic said. He is really handsome and knows how to use his looks. Alessia took a deep breath and nodded, the feeling of her mouth getting dry. She knew. We didn't have any choices to stay in the main bedroom; we were told to stay there. He wanted to show everyone that she was there and that she belonged to him. Also, to let anyone who would question him know too.
Alessia let her bag fall onto the chair next to her, releasing it from her shoulder, and let out a sigh. Relieved, she sat. But the unease inside her didn't subside. She knew she would have to be open and nervous but not under this much pressure to look good. She looked around the room anxiously, taking it all in. There was nothing personal or out of place. In fact, everything was too neat, too perfect.
He was constantly close to her; it made her feel uncomfortable. He stood behind her, very close, always observing and acting cold and serious. That felt more like attempting to control her than taking care of her. Alessia's heart was beating fast; she felt overwhelmed because she knew how much he could control her.
But she had no choice, as she could not escape. She was confined to a big house and more importantly, to an environment with rules she barely understood anymore. Dominic had devised those rules, and they were policed with immense power. To make it through, she had to avoid mistakes in her undertakings of these rules and mask her weaknesses that might be used against her.
Alessia sought to relax, briefly settling her gaze on Abigail. It felt good to have her there, almost normal in a crazy situation. Abigail watched her intently, the small wrinkle between her eyebrows showing her concern. "He's… a lot," she whispered, almost unconsciously. "But you'll figure it out, Alessia. You always do."
Alessia nodded, composing her face to look confident while feeling quite unsure inside. "I have to," she whispered to herself. As she reshuffled her bag, she felt that some portions of it were empty now, as some papers were no longer inside. Only now did Alessia understand the world of Dominic-where everything revolved around power-and now she was part of it, whether she liked it or not. Dominic's voice cut into her thoughts once more. "Dinner in an hour. Be ready." Matter-of-fact, no politeness. Alessia swallowed and nodded, heart still racing. It seemed as though every part of this mansion was a test, every shadow looking like a threat. She knew there was no privacy, no avoiding being watched. The walls seemed to have eyes on her, and Dominic reminded her that in his world, freedom was just an illusion.
She unpacked a few things, but her mind was racing. She had been avoiding dangers, plans, and running away, but this was different. The mansion was a fancy prison, full of unknown dangers where every move could make things go wrong. Dominic wasn't just a man she had loved; he was an authority figure now, a man in charge of the world to which she had returned, where her actions were against his strict rules. Alessia sat heavily on the edge of the bed, breathing deeply. Her hands were still shaking as she looked around the room, noticing the cameras and security, and how perfectly clean it was. She knew for sure that she didn't belong in his life anymore. She had been his wife once; now she felt more like a visitor, someone to be used in a game she didn't fully understand. He, who had taken such good care of her, was now consumed by power and control, watching her every move, and demanding that she justify why she was staying in the
life he controlled.