AllFreeNovel
Share Us
When I stayed silent, he released me with a harsh shove that sent me sprawling to the floor. "What did I do to deserve such a deceitful daughter?" he bellowed. "I offer you everything, and this is how you repay me?"
I cowered as Father loomed over me, chest heaving in rage. But suddenly Enzo was there, pulling me protectively behind him to face our incensed father.
"Dad, please calm down. Nothing's been proven," Enzo said evenly, though I could feel his coiled tension. "Let's just talk this through."
Father rounded on him. "You think I don't know when I'm being deceived?" He jabbed an accusatory finger at Enzo. "You're covering for her too! I won't have lies and treachery under my roof!"
Sensing the situation escalating dangerously, I touched Enzo's arm pleadingly. "It's okay, don't anger him more on my behalf." I was resigned to accept Father's wrath to protect my brother and Leonardo.
But Enzo stood firmly between us. "No, it's not okay," he shot back over his shoulder. Turning to Father again, he said "I'm sure we can resolve this peacefully. Just let emotions settle before-"
Father cut him off with a sharp crack of his hand against Enzo's face. I cried out in dismay as Enzo lifted a palm to his reddening cheek, eyes wide with shock.
"Do not presume to tell me how to discipline my children," Father spat out coldly. He grabbed my arm in a bruising grip, ignoring my whimper. "Come Natalia. It's time you told me exactly what shameful acts you've been engaged in."
He dragged me forcibly from the room as I cast an anguished glance back at Enzo. But my brother's face was already an emotionless mask again, hiding his pain. There was nothing either of us could do now except weather this storm as best we could.
Downstairs in Father's office, he demanded the security footage from the previous night, intent on confirming my deception. I wrapped my arms around myself, steeling my nerves as the damning images appeared on screen.
There I was, hurrying across the lawn in last night's cocktail dress just before dawn, meeting Enzo at the side gate. Father made a small, fury-filled noise at seeing Enzo's complicity.
"Where were you?" Father bit out sharply, eyes still fixed on the footage. When I stayed silent, he backhanded me hard across the face. "Tell me!"
"Where were you?" Father bit out sharply, eyes fixed on the damning security footage.
When I stayed stubbornly silent, he backhanded me hard across the face. I gasped more from the shock than the pain, hand flying to my stinging cheek.
"Tell me!" Father thundered.
But I held my tongue, refusing to confess anything further. Enraged, Father grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently.
"Talk, you insolent girl! Who is he?"
At my continued silence, he shoved me down into a chair and began pacing like a caged panther. "It's a man, isn't it? You're whoring around with some worthless boy!"
I wanted to scream it was not like that, that Leonardo was kind and gentle unlike his ruthless mafia reputation. But I knew it was useless. Father's mind was twisted by possessive fury.
So I sat mutely, cradling my throbbing cheek as Father continued his tirade. He seemed beyond all reason, spitting curses and vowing violent retribution on the unnamed man who had "poisoned" his daughter against her own family.
After what felt like hours of enduring Father's venomous outrage, he finally seemed to regain a measure of icy control. He stopped directly in front of me, eyes hard as flint.
"You will fix this dishonor, Natalia," he pronounced coldly. "Confess the name of the snake who has slithered into your bed, then watch as he pays the price."
I forced myself to meet Father's cruel gaze steadily, defiance blazing in my eyes. "I will not help you hurt someone who has shown me happiness." My voice did not waver.
Father's fury reignited at my continued disobedience. But I refused to bend, bracing myself as his temper exploded once more. I would withstand anything to protect my darling Leonardo.
Let Father do his worst. He could beat me, berate me, strip everything away. But not even hell's fiercest flames could compel me to relinquish the man who had awakened light and life within me. For that, I would endure all...
After another blistering tirade failed to break my resolve, Father's expression turned deadly calm. A dangerous quiet signifying the storm was far from over.
"Since you continue to defy me, more persuasive measures will clearly be required," he said softly. His quiet menace was somehow worse than shouted threats.
I suppressed a shudder but refused to drop my defiant gaze. Seeing my stubbornness, Father's eyes hardened like ice.
"You seem to think you're untouchable now, Natalia," he said, nearly spitting out my name. "But you'll learn obedience again soon enough. By whatever means necessary."
He turned on his heel, pausing at the door to look back at me. "Consider yourself under house arrest until I determine otherwise."
