Chapter 4 What Did She Expect

Lucia's days as a substitute for Elena had gone on for more than a month. She had learned to twist her long hair into a flawless bun like Elena. Furthermore, she had learned to wear the plain, almost ascetic silk gowns Elena favored. She had also learned to adjust Alessandro's tie each morning. She held her breath during the process so that her trembling wouldn't betray her fear. At night, she became Alessandro's plaything. After dinner that evening, Alessandro didn't go to his study. He merely gave her a look and motioned for her to go upstairs. Once they were inside the bedroom, he didn't even give her time to bathe. He opened the drawer beside the bed and took out a thin black riding crop. His gaze slid across her smooth, trembling back. He liked seeing her afraid, as it made him feel in control. But he also hated her fear because Elena had never feared him. Elena had always accepted every one of his peculiarities. In fact, she even welcomed them. "Spread your legs," he ordered. Lucia bit her lip and obeyed. She knew resistance only led to harsher punishment. The cold tip of the crop slid down her spine, causing goosebumps to break out on her skin. Then, it suddenly cracked down! After a crisp smacking sound, a vertical red mark bloomed instantly on her skin. Lucia let out a muffled cry and curled forward with her forehead pressing against the cold mirror. The woman in the mirror had a flushed face. Her eyes were misty and pained. That was her reflection, yet it felt frighteningly unfamiliar. Her breathing became ragged. Her stifled whimpers turned into uncontrollable moans that she couldn't suppress. She felt the wetness between her legs. Alessandro threw the crop aside and turned her around, pressing her back to the mirror. Then, he took her. "Say my name," he growled, sweat dripping from his brow onto her chest. "Alessandro…" Lucia cried, her nails scraping against the mirror with a sharp screech. "Wrong." He suddenly gripped her throat and tightened his hold. "Again. Who am I?" He loosened his grip just enough for her to catch a breath before squeezing hard again. "You're… a devil…" Those words slipped out of her lips instinctively as her consciousness became hazy. That line seemed to anger Alessandro, or perhaps it ignited his desire to conquer. His eyes reddened, and he lost control. He flipped her over and pushed her onto the cold carpet. Before she could react, he pinned her down from behind. He took a black gag from the nightstand and forced it between her lips before pulling the straps tight. Lucia could only make helpless, muffled cries as saliva trailed down her chin. She looked and felt pathetic. Then, Alessandro grabbed a vibrating toy and shoved it inside her. The vibration was set to the highest. In no time, an intense, tingling sensation tore through her. Lucia's body convulsed violently. The pain and unbearable sensation crashing over her caused her eyes to go wide as a burst of blinding white filled her sight. Alessandro seemed to be completely absorbed in his brutal acts and didn't notice that her breathing had turned shallow. It wasn't until Lucia's body suddenly went rigid and collapsed onto the ground like a broken doll that he realized something was wrong. "Hey. What's wrong with you?" Alessandro froze. He slapped her face lightly and got no reaction. Lucia's face was ashen, and a layer of cold sweat covered her forehead. Her breathing was so faint that it was barely there. In that instant, Alessandro's heart skipped in horror. The lustful fire inside him was extinguished like a bucket of icy water had been poured over him. … When Lucia woke up, a faint buzzing numbness still lingered inside her. She flinched violently because the first thought that entered her mind was that she was doomed. She had passed out before satisfying Alessandro. What punishment awaited her now? She looked to the side of the bed, feeling panicked. But what she saw next stole her breath. Alessandro was sitting on a hard wooden chair, with his upper body leaning over the edge of the mattress. He had fallen asleep there. He was frowning, and his disheveled dark hair concealed the eyes that were usually icy. When he let his guard down and slept, he looked strangely exhausted. Lucia stared at him blankly. Here was the man who tortured her every night. Why was he at her bedside now? A ridiculous emotion arose in her. She murmured, almost without thinking, "Thank you…" As the words fell, Alessandro's head snapped up. When their eyes met, the tension in the air became so thick that it was stifling. "You're awake," Alessandro said. Lucia clutched the blanket fearfully and explained, "I-I didn't faint on purpose…" Alessandro stood up and slowly straightened his sleeves. He looked down at her with a scrutinizing gaze. Any trace of softness from a moment ago vanished. He let out a cold laugh and said cruelly, "You'd better stay alive. I'm not done playing with you." With that, he opened the door and walked out without looking back. Lucia lowered her eyes, her heart sinking to her stomach. She thought, "Of course. What was I expecting?" In the hallway, Alessandro didn't leave immediately. He lit a cigar. The smoke curled upward, masking the turmoil in his expression. He breathed in deeply, forcing down that inexplicable rush of relief he had felt when he saw her eyes open. Alessandro reminded himself that she was just a substitute. However, he could still feel the fading warmth from her skin when he checked her breath earlier. It burned him with unwelcome restlessness.