I get a few hours of sleep before I'm woken up by Enzo, who lets me know we've arrived. We pass through immigration, and then we're out of the gates and heading toward a black SUV waiting for us.
It's almost evening by the time we pull up in front of a large, opulent mansion. Enzo guides me inside, but I can't help but stare in awe at the architecture—it's like living in art.
"Close that mouth, little tigress. The worst has just begun," Enzo comments as he opens the entrance door and leads me through double doors into a huge marble foyer. It's unlike anything I've ever seen. Even hispalazzoin Gozo pales incomparison. Every corner of the house is intricately constructed in a fashion reminiscent of Baroque art. The gilded statues, as well as the staircase, confirm my thought that the house is decorated in a Baroque style.
"Ana, please call my parents." Enzo's voice startles me, and I try to ground myself.
We sit in the middle of the hall until a middle-aged couple comes down the stairs. I plaster a smile on my face, hoping to make a good impression.
"Enzo, what is the meaning of this?" a woman with a cultured voice asks when they reach the landing. She's dressed in a cream dress that seems entirely too luxurious to be worn at home. One hand holds a glass of alcohol while the other is intertwined with the older gentleman, who I'm guessing is Enzo's father.
The couple's gaze is fixed on my small luggage, and they scowl. They slowly raise their eyes to look at me, their scrutiny a little unsettling.
"Mother, Father, meet my new wife, Allegra Marchesi." Enzo is quick to make the introductions.
"Pleased to meet you," I say, trying my best to answer in English, since that seems to be their preferred language. But since I've never actually spoken the language out loud, my accent is quite simply awful.
For good measure, I widen my smile, hoping they will like me.
"Her?" Enzo's mother asks in disbelief, her tone curt. She swings her gaze back to me, and for a minute she doesn't speak as she looks at me closely. Then she just bursts into laughter. "Her?" she repeats, laughing. Even Enzo's father joins in, chuckling.
"Is this supposed to be a joke, son?"
I turn to Enzo, and even though his face doesn't show it, he's not happy. His fists are clenched, and he forces his words out.
"No. It isn't a joke, Father. Allegra is my official wife. We were wed yesterday in Milena."
His parents stop laughing, seemingly understanding it's not a joke. But the expression they settle on doesn't warm me. No, they look at me as if I'm the most contemptible thing on earth.
"You're married? To her?" his mother asks again, a look of shock on her face. "Good gracious!" she exclaims before turning her back and heading toward the kitchen.
"Rocco." Enzo's father introduces himself with a nod, motioning Enzo toward another area of the house.
"Ana, take Allegra to my room," Enzo says before leaving with his father.
Ana leads me up the stairs to a large bedroom on the second floor. She leaves my meager belongings on the floor before leaving.
I stare at the room, so unfamiliar, and I can't shake this feeling of unease. I didn't expect his parents to welcome me with open arms, but neither did I expect this type of reaction.
Before I lose my courage, I open the door and go back downstairs, turning to the right where I'd seen Rocco and Enzo go. When I'm in a narrow corridor, I just follow the sound of voices until I'm in front of an ajar door. The space is big enough to allow me to snoop, but small enough that they can't see me.
In any other circumstances I might have felt guilty for eavesdropping, but this is my life, and I need to know exactly what I'm dealing with, especially since Enzo has been extremely tight-lipped regarding his parents.
A loud noise resembling a slap brings me to attention. I take a step forward, and I see Enzo's head turned to the side. My eyes widen, and I bring my hand to my mouth.
"Do you fucking understand what you've done?" Rocco yells at him, pacing around the room. "I was due to sign the marriage contract tomorrow. And you went and married some villageslut without my approval. Do you realize what you've done? You've ruined our chances…"
"Father," Enzo starts, interrupting him, "Allegra is not some village slut. She's a Marchesi, and you should respect that."
Rocco scoffs, almost laughing. "Respect a Marchesi? Are you mad, son? Did too much sun addle your brains? How the fuck did you end up shackled with that girl? Did you knock her up? For fuck's sake, you could have paid her to have an abortion; you didn't have to marry her!"
I almost gasp at the way he's talking about me, but I hold myself in check.
They can't know I'm here!
"No, she's not pregnant."
"Then why…"
