CHAPTER 3

"Hey imposter, I know who you really are. And soon I will make sure he does too."

Blood drains from my entire body as I re-read the message over and over again.

Who the hell is this? And how did they know about me? Oh my god, what the heck am I going to do? I can't have Dermos find out about this.

No, it must be a prank. Without letting in too much thought, I press the delete button, and the message wipes off.

I press my hand forward, dragging myself off the floor where I stumbled. I quickly change into my nightwear, crawling into the pink, hideous bed to try and get some sleep.

The keyword being try. Sleep refuses to find me as I toss and turn around the sheets that won't stop itching me.

Thoughts fill my head with question upon question. Who sent me that message? Why did they send me such?

It didn't say anything about wanting something in return, so what was the purpose of the message? To scare me?

No, I don't think so.

If they wanted Dermos to know, then they would have just told him straight, so why send me that message?

And so the torture continued till about two am before I was finally able to fall asleep.

~~

The sound of heavy knocking has me jolting up from sleep.

What the heck?

I pry my eyes open before quickly slamming them shut to prevent the assault of the unholy pink covers everywhere.

Why the hell is everything pink? I hate pink. I love dim, dark colours. I am about to grumble when the events of yesterday come crashing down.

Shit!!

I am Ariella.

"Excuse me, Mrs Salvatore, you have to wake up now. Mr Salvatore requests your presence in the dining room for breakfast." Someone calls from outside the door, banging harder.

Damn, what time is it? I reach forward to my bedside table for my phone.

6:50 am

What the heck? Breakfast at this time? Why? Are they chimpanzees or what?

I push my palm over my lips to stifle a yawn when, once again, a hard bang has me jolting.

"I AM COMING!! WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU? GET AWAY FROM MY DOOR!" I can't help the scream that tumbles out of my lips.

If there is one thing about me, it is that I hate waking up early; my earliest being ten.

After grumbling and cursing Ariella repeatedly for disappearing and putting me through this, I push my feet over the edge of the bed as I stalk out of the room.

The banging lady is still standing beside my door when I get there.

"I am sorry, Mrs Salvatore, but the don isn't patient." She mumbles, picking nervously at her fingernails.

"It's fine, lead the way." I hiss, using the back of my palm to scrub the last sleep off my eyes.

She nods and scurries off, leaving me to trail behind her. I am really too sleep-deprived to even take in the inside of the mansion, so I just trudge along, hoping for a tour later.

"Here, Mrs Salvatore." She stops in front of a huge door after taking me down a hideous number of stairs.

Urgh! I hate mornings.

I huff as I send my arm forward, pushing the door open.

"Wow!" I can't help the small gasps that tumble out of my lips at the sight of the long table with almost twenty chairs in it.

Did this man literally have a whole freaking room for just eating? Huh, mafia men are weird.

My eyes immediately find him at the head of the dining room, those eyes once again piercing my soul like he can see every hidden part of me.

I squirm under his intense gaze, raising my head high as I strut towards him.

Despite the outrageous time, Dermos is dressed in a grey Armani suit. An expensive watch decorating his wrist, my throat runs dry as I run my eyes over his hair part- Damnit, Ariel, no staring at your sister's husband.

I catch myself quickly, shuffling to sit down as a few heads turn to look at me with wide eyes.

Why, though? I am too sleep-deprived to care anyway.

My eyes scan the table filled with different dishes, but what really draws my attention is the peanut butter bagel that is placed directly in front of me as soon as I sit down.

It wouldn't be bad as it's Ariella's favourite, but I am allergic to it.

Shit! I snap my eyes forward, but he is already looking at me.

"Good morning Ariella, how was your night?" He asks, slowly taking a bite from his toast.

"It was very short." I snap, my irritation from being up so early rushing back.

"Oh well. New home, new rules. Breakfast is by seven or no breakfast at all." He states, barely glancing my way as he continues to eat.

Does he even like Ariella? He has barely looked at me or even spoken to me since we got married, except when he came to my–not mine– her room last night.

Wait? Is he pissed about that? Could he-

"Eat, I gather you love peanut butter," he instructs, interrupting my thoughts, still not looking at me.

A lump forms in my throat. Ariella loved peanut butter; there was certainly no way he hadn't seen her eat it once or twice. What would he think when I begin to turn purple in the face after a single bite?

I haven't touched peanut butter since it landed me in the hospital more than a decade ago. I am not about to start now.

I stare down at my plate for too long, only jolted when he clears his throat.

"You're not eating, Ariella." He is frowning slightly.

I bite my lower lip nervously. My hands start to shake slightly. How do I get out of this?

"Uh..."

I have to eat it. He will know I'm not Ariella if I don't.

But I can't. He will also know that I'm not her if I do.

Is this a setup? Did the unknown texter reach out to him also?

"Ariella?"

I snap back to focus. "I would like to have toast too." The words come flying out of my mouth before I can process them.

He raises a questioning eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yes." I breathe deeply, calming down my frayed nerves. "I've had enough peanut butter bagels to last a lifetime. I won't be eating another one any time soon."

The word pours out so naturally, leaving me amazed.

He nods. "Very well."

I find it hard to tell, but there appears to be a faint smile on his face. I blink, and it vanishes.

"As you wish," he adds.

"I'm grateful," I mutter. I reach forward for an empty plate.

I look up to see his eyes studying me. I'm gripped with anxiety and feel the need to explain.

"I don't know if I've said this, but I switch to a new favourite thing every now and then." I force myself into a smile, but I'm afraid it comes out as a grimace. "My system no longer agrees with peanut butter bagels."

"I don't care, Ariella. Just eat." His voice is almost cold.

I swallow. Am I doing a bad job? How did Ariella act when they had dinner together?

Oh God.

CHAPTER 4

He sets his fork down before speaking again. "The changes are noted and will be made."

He joins his hands together. "Once we finish breakfast, I would love to introduce you to the two most important people in this house."

Something new to talk about. Finally.

"Okay, that's fine. Do I get to work as a part of the household?" I can't help but broach the subject of not wanting to be a housewife.

He is rich, yes. But I have no interest in whiling away my days here doing nothing. I hate it.

"No, you aren't. As a Donna, it's not allowed for you to work, I do the working-"

"So, what am I going to spend my life doing?" I snap, dropping my cutlery as I feel my appetite take a fast dive to Neverland.

He doesn't say anything at first, just sits there, hands placed on the table as he slowly chews on his food like he moves at his own pace, and every other person should go shit themselves.

It's so annoying.

"Listen, Ariella, we have gone over the rules, but you seem to have forgotten, so I will refresh your memory." He starts, his words calm but deadly, every word piercing through me.

Shit! I am going out of character.

"Rule number one, you are not allowed to question your Don, be it in public or private.

Two, no Donna of mine is allowed to work.

Three, do not speak when not spoken to.

Lastly, all you have to do is look pretty and bear me children when the time comes.

Obey all these rules and have a peaceful life here with me." He speaks, every word like a hot knife to my guts.

I know I should shut up; he is the Don, and he will kill me. Besides, Ariella would never complain, so I should just shut up. But I can't help the burst of words that follows.

"Look here, Dermos, this is not 2014, where women's only use is in the kitchen and to bear kids. If that's what you wanted, you should have just bought a stupid robot. I refuse to follow those ridiculous rules." I huff, placing both my arms under my boobs.

"Okay." He smiles slightly, raising his hand to make a gesture.

Okay? Just okay?

"Is that all?" I can't help but ask. I was expecting a full-blown speech.

"I can't force you to obey, so you are free to do whatever, but every disobedience comes with punishment. Ones I won't fail to deliver," he says, shrugging like he didn't just threaten his wife.

A shudder runs down my spine as I shrink back in my seat.

He didn't shout or get angry; he just calmly threatened me like he was talking about the weather, and that freaked the hell out of me more than anything.

"Carlos." He calls.

"Yes, boss?" Carlos suddenly appears from nowhere.

This guy is creepy.

"Introduce Luciana to her." He instructs, gracefully rising to his feet before strolling out like he didn't just cause chaos in me.

"Come," Carlos calls, and a set of heels starts clicking on the tiles.

They sound uncomfortable and annoying. I mean, raise your damn legs, woman, you don't have to screech your feet like an attention banshee just to be noticed.

A deep sigh escapes my lips as I realise it's going to be harder than I thought to be Ariella.

I raise my eyes to look at her when she finally gets closer, and gosh, she is gorgeous.

Killer shape dressed in a tight red gown that shows every dip and curve, her hair is red compared to my black one, his lips coated in blood-red lipstick, topped with a nose so painted it's surreal.

How is she this gorgeous?

"This is Luciana. The Don's bedmate." Carlos calls out, and my eyes widen as I take her in again.

She is his what?

Why the heck would he introduce her to me? Luciana glares at me in a way that is too familiar, yet I can't place my finger on it.

"You aren't much to look at." She says, venom and disgust visibly dripping down her voice.

I shouldn't feel anything; I don't matter to Dermos, but at the same time, it stings. I don't say anything as I rise to my feet, literally racing to my room.

It was at that moment that it dawned on me that Dermos didn't care about my family and me. This marriage was just a contract to him.

I realise that this is exactly what Ariella would have faced also.

I hid out in my room all day, eating lunch and dinner there. I am swamped in the book I am reading on my phone when my eyes suddenly snap to the left, catching a strange thing.

Red blinking light.

It's small, just behind my curtain; I wouldn't notice it normally, but the whole room is dark, so I can.

What the hell?

My heart thuds as I move closer, snapping the curtains open, and there a small camera lies. Without thinking, I sent my foot at it, causing it to shatter.

Who the hell installed a camera here? I am still racking my brain when a message enters my phone.

I shouldn't have looked at it; my whole brain froze as I turned to stare at the message.

The same unknown number.

"You can smash the camera, but I am still watching, and I know."

Who is this person? Does he or she live here?

This is beginning to freak me out. It is enough confirmation that nothing about this is a prank.

I am still contemplating when the door pries open, a lanky figure graces the entrance.

My heart thuds thinking it's Dermos, but once I switch on the lights, I am met with Carlos's buzz cut and cold gaze.

"What the hell!" A loud scream tears out of my lips. I literally fling my phone as my palms snap to my mouth.

"Shhhh!! Just came to tell you to leave while you still can. Leave before it's too late." He says each word cold like a bucket of ice thrown over me.

In the name of what is going on?

Before I can respond, the door snaps open as an angry voice booms.

"What the hell is going on here?"

CHAPTER 5

My head snaps back automatically, causing an unexpected shriek to escape my lips as Dermos stands at the door, gun pointing at me.

"Don, it's nothing. I heard screaming, so I came to check on her." Buzz cut lies through his damned teeth as he turns to glare at me, daring me to say otherwise.

Slowly but surely, he lowers his gun before nodding at Carlos, then they walk out together, leaving me stunned, confused, and alone.

What the hell has Ariella gotten me into? Was she being threatened, too? Was that why she ran? Did she find out how crazy these people were?

Suddenly, I don't really blame her anymore. My legs give out as I slump to the floor, pressing my lids as my lips tremble.

I refuse to cry. I can't cry.

No matter how many times I repeat the mantra, soft tears run down my cheeks as I cry for the life I am now in.

Forced into a world I know nothing of, a world filled with danger.

What the hell am I going to do?

The tears don't stop as I cry my heart out, somehow drifting off at the same time.

~~

My eyes flutter open, and the blinding light penetrating the curtains causes me to shut them back.

A sharp groan leaves my throat as I push the heel of my palm on the hard tiles, using it to get myself off the floor.

I can't believe I slept on that hard ground; the ache I feel in my shoulders and back says I really did sleep there.

Stretching, I reach for my phone, turning it on to see it's after ten in the morning. No maid came to wake me up today.

What happened to eating before the day even broke? But who's complaining?

I am so glad for this. Without thinking, I slump on the bed, rolling to get comfortable before drifting off again.

I finally get out of the room after one pm, rushing to the kitchen to get some food.

After eating to my satisfaction, I decided to take a tour.

The whole mansion is so huge, it should have more than twenty rooms here, if not more.

As I wander around the mansion, staring at everything painted in gold and white, I can't help but wonder about the use of a house this big.

There is literally a cinema, gym, swimming pool, different offices, a dance studio, and literally everything in here.

Who even uses the dance studio? Not my business, though.

The guards and maids keep bowing their heads, calling me Mrs Salvatore as I pass by. It's really weird because I know I am not the real Mrs Salvatore.

"Oh my goodness!!" A screech finds its way out of my lips as a body slams into me.

"Mrs Salvatore! I am so sorry. Please forgive me, it wasn't intentional, I wasn't looking. Please don't punish me, please." The maid who bumped into me did not even stop to breathe.

I turn my head to really look at her, she looks so pale with eye bags that look too evident on her skin. Dressed in a short skirt and a tight top that looks like a small move would cause it to rip apart.

But what really gets to me is the way her eyes are full of so much fear.

"It's okay. What is your name?" I ask, unable to help myself.

"Bella, my name is Isabella, but everyone calls me Bella." She stutters, shuffling on her foot.

"Isabella. You can go." I say, turning to leave.

Her eyes widened as a gasp tears through her lips like that's the last thing she expected me to say. Bella's reaction causes a crease to form between my eyebrows.

What exactly has she been going through here? What exactly do people go through here?

I shake my head, not wanting to think about it, hoping that Ariella had nothing to do with it.

Without a last glance, I turn and head to the backyard I saw before I got bumped into.

I fail at the task. All the while, as I wandered, I couldn't stop thinking about her. There is just something I couldn't pinpoint, and it left me feeling disturbed.

After a while, I decided to ask Dermos to make her my personal maid.

That is, if he would agree to such.

"And what might the almighty Mrs Salvatore be doing here?" That sharp, vile voice causes me to halt my steps.

I raise my head only to meet the cold brown eyes of Luciana, her arms folded under her boobs as she glares hard at me, not caring to hide how much she hates me.

"Oh, my bad. I was just taking a tour." I murmur, moving to the side to bypass her, but what I see has me nearly tumbling to the floor.

Girls. Lots of them, dressed in little to nothing. Just wearing panties with no bras to cover up, they line up in front of a different house, different from the mansion.

This one stood two storeys tall as the girls moved about, strutting about in revealing outfits.

"What in God's name is happening here?" I blurt out, letting my palm slap over my mouth to force the bile rising up my throat back down.

"Oh, you can't take a little beauty, can you?" Luciana taunts, smacking her bloody red lips at me.

The sound resonates in my ears, irritating me to no end. I can't help the bitterness I feel towards her deepen.

"What do you mean by that?" I snap, turning to glare at her.

I can't look at those girls anymore. That's a serious invasion of privacy.

"Oh, don't act like you don't know Dermos has a whore house that I run. Me, not you, it's a job meant for Donna, but he knows you aren't fit for such." She snarls, the venom in her voice spiking.

I shake my head, refusing to believe her. Ariella knew about all this? Is that why she left?

The more I find out, the harder it is to believe. It can't be.

" You will never be good enough for anythi–" She is still speaking when I zone out her words, turning to leave.

I can't hear any more of this. I feel disgusted. My husband owns a whore house.

Did he traffic them? Are they here on their own will– no, it can't be. No woman will freely want this type of life.

I am so in my head when a sharp pain shoots through my skull, causing a scream to tear out of my lips as I plunge forward headfirst into the grass.

I raise my hand to feel the back of my head, only to feel hot, thick liquid spurting out.

My voice cracks as I try to scream, instead another sharp pain pierces through my back.

"Hel–" my voice cracks, a darkness overcomes me.