Page 39 of Scar

The tension between us is like a vine snaking its way up our crumbling walls.

“Is this why you were insistent on marrying me?” she screams. “So you could grow your kingdom?” Signs of the spitfire emerge as she yells and shakes her head in disbelief.

“Allegra,” I interject gently, trying to diffuse the situation. “Your father is trying to secure a future for us. For you.”

She turns her gaze to me, her eyes searching mine for truth, for reassurance. “And how convenient is it that you just happened to be waiting in the wings for the opportunity to open up.”

Her statement cuts deep, a reminder of the sacrifices she’s made, the burdens she’s shouldered. I stole her away from her family. I took her against her will. Sure, there was the obligation of the blood oath, but to what extent am I lying to myself – and by extension, to her – if I don’t admit that the control the Marone empire would afford me wasn’t a factor in what I did? And why would it be so bad if I took the reins and merged our two families? If it wasn’t me, it would’ve been someone else. Possibly, someone like Scarfone.

“You can’t tell me you’re not happy with the way things turned out,” I argue.

She shakes her head. “That’s irrelevant. The point is you deceived me.You. Deceived. Me. For your own personal gain. How can I ever trust you again?”

“Allegra…”

“She holds up a hand. “Don’t,” she pleads. “Just don’t. Don’t justify your actions as anything other than what they are.”

CHAPTER 35 – ALLEGRA

I move back into my own room, weighed down by the looming conflict between us and our enemies. The tension in our compound is palpable, growing more intense with each passing day as we inch closer to a battle that seems inevitable. Leaving the safety of these walls is not an option; I am aware of the danger lurking outside. My parents are here too, and I could never abandon them, especially my father who requires constant medical attention. Despite my anger and frustration, I am not foolish enough to put his health at risk by leaving. So, I retreat to my own room and wait for the right moment to escape. And escape I will. As much as I have grown attached to Scar Gatti, I know I cannot stay with him. Every time I look at him, the reminder of the lies and betrayal that brought us here stings like a bitch. He tricked me into marrying him under the guise of a blood oath. He could have let me live my life as I pleased, but he couldn't resist having power over me. It would have been so easy for him to do the right thing, but instead he chose to manipulate and control me, ensuring that my life would never be the same again. Sitting on the edge of my bed, the room silent except for the distant hum of activity in the household, memories flood my mind: our first encounter, his dominating presence, the way he made me feel both furious and alive. But now those memories are tainted by the truth of his deception. He orchestratedeverything, pulling strings behind my back until it was too late for me to fight back.

Scar has completely transformed my life. The freedom I once knew is now nothing but a distant memory. My choices, my entire existence, shaped to fit his desires. He believed he was protecting me, but instead he has trapped me, forcing me into a fate that I never wanted. Where is my free will?

Anger bubbles inside of me, a mixture of frustration and betrayal. How could he make decisions for me, taking control of my life as if he had every right to do so? I clench my fists, fighting the urge to scream and lash out. But I hold back, knowing that my time will come. One day, I will find a way to escape and reclaim the life that was taken from me.

And when I do leave, Scar Gatti will no longer have any power over me. He may have coerced me into this marriage and this life, but he cannot force me to stay. Whatever feelings I may have for him are not enough to keep me here. Not when they were built on lies and manipulation.

I rise from my seat and walk to the window, gazing out at the compound. It's more like a prison, despite its grandeur and luxury. A beautiful cage. My fingers trace along the cool glass, a symbol of the barrier between me and the freedom I long for. One day, I will break free. And on that day, Scar Gatti will learn that I am not a woman to be controlled or deceived.

I slowly feed my father spoonfuls of soup, watching as he struggles to swallow. His gaze meets mine, filled with unspoken truths.

“You knew,” I accuse him. “You knew what he wanted from me, and yet you still gave me to him.”

This is a conversation we need to have, regardless of whether my father is ready for it or not. He nods once, a small but deliberate gesture. He can't deny my words. He was aware of Scar's intentions all along. How could he go along with it? Why?

It has been two days since Scar left. After I moved back into my own room, I avoided him at every opportunity. The day after, he and his brothers barricaded themselves in the basement for a meeting and then all left together. They haven't returned since. I can't say I'm not worried because that would be a lie. I am extremely worried. Scar may have left behind soldiers to protect us, but who is protecting him and his brothers?

My mind is filled with conflicting emotions. The weight of Scar's betrayal weighs heavily on my chest, making each breath a struggle. I had trusted him completely, allowing myself to be vulnerable in ways I never thought possible. But now the memory of his touch feels tainted and wrong.

My father lets out a sigh, his breath shaky as he exhales. The drugs that his new nurse has been administering have helped him recover strength and health, and although I worry about their long-term effects, I’m glad to see some improvement in his condition after what he’s been through.

After asking the right questions, Scar found out that my father’s doctor and the nurse were having an affair. That is how she was hired in the first place, and she’s the one who’d been pumping my father full of drugs on the orders of Alfredo Scarfone. The doctor had been too blinded by love to see through her lies.

“It wasn't about giving him control,” my mother interjects as she enters the room. My father's eyes light up at the sight of her, a warmth in his gaze that is rare these days. He may be recovering, but he still struggles with speech and shortness of breath.

My mother takes a seat by my father's bedside. She tucks her hands under her thighs and leans forward in her chair, as if preparing for a long night.

“Scar Gatti wasn't the only one interested in marrying you,” she reveals. My father follows her gaze as she looks away wistfully. “We never wanted you to marry into this life, but your father believed it was necessary because of the history between our families. And despite his desire for revenge, Scar was the most suitable man to lead the Marone family into the future.”

“The lesser of two evils,” my father mutters.

“Your father thought...thinks that Scar is the best choice for you,” my mother explains. “None of the other options were even remotely suitable, Allegra.”

“What about what I wanted?” I argue.

“My dear, in this world, a woman's desires are irrelevant.”

“You can't possibly believe what you're saying, mother.”

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