Page 66 of The Alpha's Forbidden Heir

Vittorio strides in, his tailored suit immaculate, his presence dominating the room. The maids instantly step back, heads bowed in deference.

“Well,” he says, clapping his hands together. “I have good news.”

I look up at him, my eyes hollow. “What now?”

“The engagement is happening today.”

My stomach plummets. “What?”

“You heard me,” he says, his tone casual, as if he were announcing a dinner party. “Why wait? The arrangements have been made. The marriage will take place in a week.”

“No...” I whisper, shaking my head. “No, that’s not possible. You can’t—”

“I can,” he interrupts, his voice cold and final. “And I already have. This isn’t up for discussion, Aria.”

Tears well up in my eyes, and I blink furiously to hold them back. “This wasn’t the deal. You said—”

“I said what I needed to say to get you here,” Vittorio snaps, his patience thinning. “Do you think you’re in any position to negotiate? You should be grateful I’ve found someone willing to accept you and your bastard child.”

The words hit me like a slap, and I flinch, my throat tightening. “You don’t care about me,” I whisper, my voice trembling. “You never did.”

Vittorio smirks, stepping closer until he’s towering over me. “Care? No, Aria. Love is a luxury I can’t afford. What I care about is maintaining our family’s legacy, and you’ve done everything in your power to destroy it.”

“That’s not true!” I shout, my voice cracking.

“Isn’t it?” he counters, his tone icy. “You ran off with a pack of mongrels. You bore a child out of wedlock. You’ve tarnished everything I built, and now I have to clean up your mess.”

Tears spill down my cheeks despite my best efforts. “I didn’t choose this,” I choke out. “I didn’t ask for any of this!”

“And yet, here we are,” Vittorio says, his voice softening into something almost condescending. He reaches out, cupping my face with a hand that feels like ice. “Look at you, crying like a child. This is your fault, Aria. All of it.”

I try to pull away, but his grip tightens, forcing me to meet his gaze. “You brought this on yourself,” he says, his voice a cruel whisper. “And now you’ll fix it. Do you understand me?”

I nod weakly.

“Good,” he says, releasing me. “The maids will finish preparing you. You’ll meet your fiancé shortly.”

I can’t speak. I can’t even look at him as he turns to leave. At the door, he pauses, glancing back over his shoulder. “Try not to embarrass me any more than you already have.”

The door clicks shut behind him, and the dam breaks. Sobs wrack my body as I collapse onto the bed, burying my face in my hands. The maids exchange uneasy glances, but they don’t move to comfort me.

For the first time, I feel completely and utterly alone.

The maids finish their work in silence, their hands trembling as they adjust the intricate folds of the dress Vittorio had chosen for me. It’s beautiful, of course.

“Miss, we’re done,” one of them murmurs.

I stand on shaky legs, avoiding my reflection in the gilded mirror. I don’t want to see the stranger staring back at me.

“Thank you,” I say hollowly, my voice barely audible.

They curtsy and leave, the door closing softly behind them. The room is silent now, save for the erratic rhythm of my breathing.

I glance at the window again, the same thought creeping into my mind. Could I make it?

But even as I entertain the idea, I know it’s futile. The guards would catch me before I made it to the tree line. And then Vittorio would follow through on his threat.

I sink back onto the bed, my hands trembling in my lap. This is my life now.

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