16
ALLEGRA
The following morning,I'm told my mother-in-law is waiting for me to have breakfast. A little scared, but mostly determined not to let her walk all over me, I head to the dining room.
Lucia Agosti is sitting at one end of the table, a cup of coffee in her hand. When she hears me step inside, she raises her eyes, and a purely malicious smile spreads across her face. There are a couple of servants in the room, and because of their presence, that malevolence seems to be contained to a forced greeting and a fake laugh as she asks me how I slept.
I take a seat as far away from her as possible, and I try to remain calm.
"Good," I start, and looking up, I see her staring expectantly at me. "I didn't know Enzo would be so…" I pause when I see her eyes narrow at me, "…demanding. Not in his parents' house."
I bring the glass of orange juice to my lips, watching from beneath my lashes as her hands clench in anger. I guess this hit her right where I wanted it to.
If she'd been so concerned about me being pregnant before, then she should continue to stew, thinking I could get pregnantat any point. I don't know what her deal is, aside from the fact that she clearly favored Gianna Guerra as her daughter-in-law, but that doesn't mean I will let her terrorize me.
Her eyes pin me with the intensity of her hate, and she opens her mouth, about to say something, when a server brings over another dish.
I ignore her as I stuff my plate with food and continue to eat in silence.
Just as I'm about to help myself to a second serving, Lucia speaks.
"Ana, please take Allegra's plate. I think she's had enough for today." I stare in awe as the woman takes away my plate, a small frown on her face as she sees my expression. But Lucia is all too happy to see me squirm, so I quickly school my features.
"Yes, thank you, Ana. I must have been ravenous after all that exercise last night," I say, and Lucia's triumphant smile morphs into one of anger, so much so that she stands up from her chair and plops herself in front of me.
"I don't know where Enzo found you or how he can even stand to look at you," she scrunches her nose in disgust as she looks me up and down. I meet her gaze quietly, waiting for the other insults she has probably stashed away.
"But you don't fool me. You're just a greedy little slut trying to take advantage of my son. You're not the first or the last who's tried to take him from me, and you won't succeed. Mark my words," she lowers her head toward me, "you little whore, you won't survive long in this house."
"Is that a threat, Signora Agosti?"
And I thoughtmyparents were awful. What is wrong with this woman?
"No," she smirks, crossing her arms in front of her chest and looking down at me as if I'm beneath her. "It's a promise."
She moves to leave, but I can't let her have the last word, so I say the only thing I can think of.
"You sure care a lot about your son, Signora Agosti. I wonder if you're not just jealous of me…" I trail off suggestively, and her shocked expression tells me I hit the mark. She's quick as she moves in front of me, arm raised, slap ready to go.
But I'm also prepared.
I catch her wrist, my fingers wrapping around it in a painful hold.
"I think you chose the wrong target for your abuse, Signora Agosti. I will neither stay quiet nor tolerate this type of behavior."
"And what can you do? Tell on me?" she laughs, slowly trying to pull her hand from my grip.
"No. I couldn't care less about what your son thinks. But I can defend myself too, and if you start a war, don't come crying when it's too much." I push her aside and go back to my room.
I'm sweating, the mental toll of the confrontation making me gasp for air.
Hell! I'm in hell.
I take a deep breath and go to my luggage. Taking out a few of my belongings, I find my diary ensconced at the bottom. There's a certain type of catharsis to be found in laying down your most intimate thoughts and fears, and my diary is my most trusted confidante, who's been with me for years.
I start jotting down my thoughts, but also plans of attack, because Lucia is wrong if she thinks she can bully me.
I may be in a foreign land and among strange people, but I won't give up.
