A moment later, the lock clicks into place. Here I am again, in my prison.
With an exasperated sigh, I pace the room. My body and mind are burning up with the intense hatred I feel for Adrian. I still can't believe he did this. That he brought her back here, where we shared special memories together, despite every crime he's committed against my family. I know Nicoletta is innocent in all this, but I despise her. I burn up with jealous hatred when I think of her looking at Adrian. It's already driving me crazy and I've only known for an hour.
Eleanora enters the room a moment later. I barely notice her until she shoves another letter into my hands. Knitting my brows together, I sit on the couch and skim my brother's words.
They're planning on getting me out of here, but they need my help. And I decide I will help them. I will get out of here. I don't owe Adrian anything. I'll marry Vitto out of pure spite if I have to, just to hurt Adrian as much as he's hurt me with his actions.
Eleanora leaves me alone after I scribble a reply that I'll look for a chance to run. After she's gone, I wait in vain for Adrian to come. I toss and turn on the bed even though it's too early to sleep. But what else am I supposed to do? I only want to paint him and I hate him too much to see him, even if it is on canvas.
With a groan, I turn around and stare out of the window at the property. It's so beautiful here. If only I were allowed outside, so I could explore the gardens. I miss the fresh air.
A pleasant breeze blows through the window and I let out an exhale, my fingers lightly tracing the skin that my dress exposes. I bite my bottom lip under the weight of my fingertips. Will Adrian still touch me like this? Will he still want me now that he's going to marry someone else?
Either way, Adrian's not around to give me the pleasure I crave so much right now. So I do what any woman would do. I think of the man I can't have as my fingers work to pull down my thong, exposing my swollen pussy to the cool air of the evening.
I flush deeply, telling myself I'm silly. Adrian is going to watch the footage of tonight on the cameras... or even worse, one of the guards will. And he'll see me touching myself.
Well, maybe if he does, I'll get his attention. Maybe if he sees me misbehaving he'll feel the need to punish me and show me to my place.
A wicked smile begins to play on my lips.
I'm going to get exactly what I want. Adrian isn't the only one who can play games around here. I'm not going to be the meek, obedient girl he wants me to be. I'm going to stand up for myself. Who's going to stop me now? My parents are dead, my brother is gone.
I answer to no one.
I raise my chin defiantly and look directly into the blinking red eye of the camera. I stare straight into the lens as it zooms in on me, picking up activity in the room. I'll show him. I'll make this hard for him every step of the way. Make him regret ever taking me in the first place.
I'll make Adrian Bernardi pay.
21
Adrian
I watch Marzia leave while my heart threatens to beat right out of my chest. I want to go after her. I want to fucking make her mine again. But I'm forced to sit there and grit my teeth through the long evening that just doesn't seem to end. My father questions Nicoletta about bullshit I haven't even thought about, and I don't remember any of it. My mind is on Marzia and what she's doing locked up in her room.
Is she thinking about me? Is she going crazy, knowing I'm going to marry someone else? How upset is she now that Nicoletta's in the same house she's in? Fuck, I hope it makes her cry. I want to make her cry so fucking much...
The moment Nicoletta yawns, I'm on my feet. "Let me escort you to your quarters, Nicoletta."
"No, I need to speak to you," Father says with a firm grip of my forearm. "One of the servants will take her. We can talk in my office."
"Actually—"
"It's urgent." He cuts me off, looking into my eyes to signal how serious this is.
I want to curse out loud, but instead I say goodnight to Nicoletta like a fucking puppet and follow Father into his office.
Finally, we're alone. I slam the door of the office and turn to face him. "We need to talk about this messed up situation."