Elena's POV
It's been a week. A whole fucking week since the whole pool drama, and I haven't seen Adrian even once.
I've been trying to understand if there was anything I had said to make him not want to see me, but I couldn't come up with anything.
I had even questioned Lucia about his whereabouts, but she'd always tell me that he was probably busy with work. Lies. No one is ever that busy. He's avoiding me.
It's pathetic, really, how much space he takes up in my head. Every morning when I woke up, I'd rush to his room to check if he was there. And he never was.
I'd stand at the balcony, waiting to see if his car would pull up. I had even fallen asleep there sometimes.
Was that how much he despised me? Did he see my body once and become repulsed, or could he just not stand being around me at all?
Even if his presence in the house was never welcoming, it still filled up the bit of silence in the house. It filled up the loneliness in my heart. And I know Mrs. Lucia is there, but it's just not the same, I guess, and even I can't explain why.
I was tired. Tired of thinking about him all the time. Tired of the quiet and emptiness. And so I left.
I left without a phone or security. I basically snuck out. Even Lucia is unaware of my whereabouts, but I really needed some time to myself.
That house was suffocating. I needed to breathe.
"Here's your order, ma'am," the server passes me my chocolate matcha.
"Thanks." I place a few bucks on the counter along with some change before I leave.
I'm glad I took a book with me. At least I can pass a little time with it.
About thirty minutes into the book, I close it with a thud and sigh.
The male main character of the book is an insufferable Mafia lord. The cliché stuck-up, bossy, daddy-issues, traumatized kind of man.
He took in a wife because his father forced him to do so. They got married, said all the wedding vows, and then they get home.
Guess what happens next? He leaves!!
He fuckin' leaves her all alone in a big stupid mansion to fend for herself, while he goes out to sleep with other girls in the club.
Ugh!! Can men be any worse? I thought reading fiction would take my mind off my reality, but I guess I was wrong.
I continue sipping on my matcha. It's getting dark. I'm sure Lucia has probably been looking for me everywhere by now.
Once I'm done, I'm about to step out when I accidentally bump into a pair of broad chests. I stumble back a bit, but force myself to maintain balance.
Something hits me in the nose. That smell. Wood and aftershave. My heart seizes.
It can't be him. Why would he be here?
I look up, and my stomach tightens immediately.
Adrian. My husband. He's standing right in front of me, looking nothing like I know him to be.
He looks disorganized. His always combed-back hair is messy, and strands are falling over his head. His tie hangs carelessly around his neck, and his sleeves are folded up to his arms.
At the sight, anger takes over me. What the fuck is he doing here?
I bend down again and pick up my book that fell, then I move to walk past him. He must be crazy if he thinks I'll..
An arm comes around my throat, pulling me back until I slam into his hard chest. "Don't you dare think of walking away from me, Elena," his voice is low, but carries a dangerous edge to it. Like he's restraining.
His grip is tight, but not too tight.
"Let me go," I bite out.
"Let you go?" He laughs humorlessly.
"I said let go, Adrian, there are people watching."
"I don't give a bloody damn who's watching us!" This time his voice raises just slightly.
"Let them watch. Let them see how stupid my wife is. How reckless she is. Let them see how deranged you are, Elena," he whispers low in my ear.
"You're crazy!" I spit.
Before I can blink, he spins me around so I can face him, and then he releases my neck.
"You're the craziest," he takes a step forward, and I take one backward. "Most reckless," another step. "Deranged person I've ever met, Elena."
"First, you leave the house without my permission. You didn't even tell Lucia your whereabouts, then you proceeded not to take any security or even your phone with you?! How stupid can you be, Elena?!"
"Don't yell at me," I grit. "You have no right! No fuckin' right, Adrian!"
"Permission? From who, exactly? I mean, you left me in your big stupid house for a whole week, without a word. No call, no text, nothing. And now you want to speak to me about permission?"
"Go to hell, Adrian!" I shove my index finger in his face.
His jaw clenches, and I see the rage in his eyes.
"Do you not understand, Elena? You are my responsibility. If something had happened to you, I would be the one to be blamed for it."
A soft, bitter laugh leaves my lips.
"Of course. Your men would say that you're not capable enough. That you couldn't even take care of your own wife."
"You're just worried about your reputation, Adrian, so stop acting like you care. I only went for a drink. No one's going to die from that. And even if anything had happened to me, you would be the last person to care, so please, let's just stop this."
"You can't go out alone, Elena. I have enemies. Thousands of them. You're acting all tough now like you weren't trembling and shaking on our wedding day when the gunshots were fired."
My chest tightens as the memory of that day flashes in my mind.
"You think highly of yourself, because I let you act freely, move freely. Now you feel you can act out of order. That you can raise your voice at me."
He takes a step closer, his gaze never leaving mine.
"Need I remind you, Elena. I don't need this marriage. This is a marriage of convenience. One that benefits you and your father more than it does me. I never wanted this, and I still don't."
"If I decide to end this whole sham today, you and your father will suffer for it, and the earlier you come to that realization, the better for you."
"You have no power in this marriage. Your word does not count. So if I say you do something, then you do it."
"I'm not your puppet, Adrian, neither am I your prisoner," my voice comes out a bit shakier than I wanted.
"But I own you. Every bit of you. I own your name, your body," his hand comes up, and he brushes my chin with his knuckle.
"I own you, Elena."
I shove my face out of his hold. His words hit me hard. That's all I am to him, a possession. A prize.
"You couldn't even defend yourself when your father proposed marriage to–"
"You know nothing about me." Tears threaten to spill, but I fight them back. I won't cry in front of this man. I can't let him think I'm as weak as he sees me.
"But I do. So, Elena, before you think of doing anything ever again, make sure to think hard about it."
"And know that there is nowhere in this world you could run to, that I wouldn't be able to find you"
His head dips low. "I will find you. Always."
My eyes sting.
He leans closer until his lips brush my ear. "And let today be the last day you ever raise your voice at me, or speak to me in that manner again. Have I made myself clear, Elena?"
I don't respond. I can't. If I open my mouth, the tears I've been struggling to hold back might just spill out.
"Am I clear, Elena?" he repeats, his voice dangerously low this time.
"Y..yes." Warm liquid runs down my face at the sound of my defeat.
"Now get in the fuckin' car," he bites out.
I don't hesitate. I turn around and move straight for the car without another word.
The ride home is silent. I stare out the window and let my tears flow silently.
He's right. I'm stupid. What was I even thinking? That I could challenge him? Or I could just do anything and get away with it?
I had forgotten the man I got married to.
Adrian Moretti. He has, and will always live up to his name.
When we finally pull into the driveway, he's the first to step out of the car.
He heads straight into the house without another word, bypassing Lucia and not even acknowledging her.
I step out of the car a few seconds later. Lucia comes rushing towards me.
"Oh, dear, where were you? I was worried sick! I thought someone had kidnapped you, so I called Adrian."
She looks me up from head to toe, spinning and patting to check if I have any injuries.
"Were you hurt, dear? Are you–"
I pull her into a tight hug before she can finish her question. And then I cry. Loudly, and unapologetically.
At how pathetic and miserable I am.
"Let it all out, dear." She wraps her arms around me, rubbing gently on my back.
I let myself sink into her warmth, as it's the only thing I can do.