Consciousness returned like a sledgehammer to the skull.
Alessio’s eyes cracked open, taking in the unfamiliar ceiling, the scattered clothes, the woman curled against his chest. Long dark hair obscured her face, but the bite marks on her shoulder told him everything.
No. Please, no.
The woman stirred, lifting her head with a predatory smile. “Morning, lover.”
Daniela.
“What did you do?” His voice was raw, dangerous.
“What did I do?” She laughed, sharp and bitter. “That’s funny coming from you.”
Memory fragments flashed–the bitter taste in his mouth, the room spinning, hands that weren’t Noemi’s but felt so familiar…
“You drugged me.” The realization hit like a punch. “You fucking DRUGGED me!”
“And you fucked your brother’s wife for two years. Guess we’re both capable of anything, huh?”
He rushed over her, pinning her to the bed, hands around her throat. “You manipulative bitch—”
But she just grinned wider, even as his fingers tightened. “Go ahead. Kill me. The photos still get sent.”
“What photos?”
“Oh darling.” She coughed as he released her. “You were very… enthusiastic last night. Calling me ‘baby,‘ telling me you loved me. The camera caught it all.”
Ice flooded his veins. “You recorded us?”
“Insurance policy.” She sat up, shameless in her nakedness. “Marry me, or those photos go straight to your precious Noemi. To the press. To everyone.”
“She’s pregnant, you psycho! The stress could-”
“Could what? Hurt her baby? Like you hurt mine?” Daniela’s mask finally cracked, revealing raw fury underneath. “I lost our child because of your lies! Because you made me believe I was married to Marco!”
“That’s not-”
“SHUT UP!” She slapped him hard. “You destroyed my life, Alessio. My reputation. My sanity. Now it’s your turn to lose everything.”
He grabbed her wrists, shaking with rage. “I will never marry you.”
“Then Noemi sees exactly how you spent last night. How you moaned my name. How you begged for more.” Her smile turned vicious. “Think she’ll forgive that? While carrying another man’s baby?”
The image hit him like a physical blow–Noemi opening those photos, the betrayal in her eyes, the stress on her pregnancy…
“You’re a monster.”
“Takes one to know one.” She yanked free, wrapping herself in the sheet. “Three days, Alessio. Wedding or scandal. Choose.”
He sat on the bed’s edge, head in hands, searching desperately for an escape. But she’d trapped him perfectly. Any move he made would hurt Noemi
“Why?” The word came out broken. “Why do this?”
12:43
To End My Cruel Twin Mafia Heir’s Fobidden Lake Death Game, I Became His Deadly Enemy’s Bride
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Chapter 30
“Because I can’t go back to being nothing.” Her voice shook. “Because the Zanettis were trash before I married into the Morettis. Because I’d rather be the villain in your story than a footnote in hers.”
“This won’t make you happy-”
“Happy?” She laughed, high and wild. “Happiness died when I found out my husband was actually his brother. Now I just want security. Revenge. Power.”
“By forcing me-”
“Oh, spare me the victim act.” She moved to the mirror, examining her bruised throat with satisfaction. “You played God with my life for two years. Turnabout’s fair play.”
Silence stretched between them, heavy with mutual hatred.
Finally, he spoke, voice dead: “Fine.”
“Sorry, what was that?”
“I said fine. You win.”
Her reflection smiled–cold, triumphant, cruel. “See? That wasn’t so hard.”
As she sauntered to the bathroom, Alessio remained frozen. This was the end. Not just of his hopes with Noemi, but of any pretense of being a good
man.
The shower started running. Through the open door, he heard Daniela humming–actually humming–as she washed away their night together.
But nothing could wash away what they’d become. Two broken people, clawing at each other in the wreckage of their lives.
He looked down at his hands–the same hands that had pulled Noemi from danger so many times. Now they were just instruments of betrayal.
I’m exactly what she thinks I am, he realized. A liar. A user. A destroyer of lives.
The humming stopped. Daniela appeared in the doorway, wrapped in a towel, water dripping from her hair.
“Oh, and Alessio?” Her smile widened. “Welcome to the family. Again.”
She knew she’d won. They both did.
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