Lucia instinctively tried to retreat, but her back was already pressed against the seat. There was nowhere to go.

Alessandro suddenly let out a low laugh that was short and rough. He straightened up, adjusted his cuffs with deliberate calm, and grabbed Lucia's ankle to force her legs wide. Then, he lifted them onto his shoulders.

"Alessandro…" 

Lucia panicked and tried to close her legs. This position was unbearably humiliating, especially inside a car.

"Don't move," he ordered.

His voice carried an authority that allowed no disobedience.

Then, under Lucia's shocked gaze, he began to lower his head. His warm breath brushed against the inside of her thigh, sending a violent shiver through her. Her mind went blank.

What was he doing?

The next second, something wet and warm made contact.

"Ah!" Lucia gasped sharply and bit down on her hand, stifling the sounds rising in her throat.


In the few days after that affair, Alessandro never touched Lucia again. Their relationship hit rock bottom.

One night, Lucia woke up from her dreams again.

In her dreams, Elena wore a white silk dress as she sat in the back seat of the car. Meanwhile, Alessandro had buried his head between her legs. His movements were reverent and gentle, just as he had done to Lucia that day. 

When he looked up, there was deep affection in his face, the likes of which Lucia had never seen before.

Lucia shot up in bed. Her forehead was covered in cold sweat as her chest heaved violently. Her stomach was churning.

At breakfast the next day, only the soft clinking of cutlery could be heard at the long dining table. Lucia lowered her head as she sliced the fried egg on her plate. She had no appetite at all.

Alessandro was seated in the main seat. As always, he carried himself with elegance, but there

Lucia didn't say anything. She didn't believe that Alessandro had a heart at all.

As steady footsteps approached, Lucia's back stiffened.

Alessandro asked, "Mamma, what were you two talking about?"

Julia put on an unassuming smile. "We were just chatting. She's a fine lady, Alessandro. Don't push her so hard."

Alessandro walked to Lucia's side and naturally wrapped an arm around her waist. "The banquet is almost over. We should go."

Outside the car windows, waves crashed against the rocks with a dull roar. Nevertheless, the oppressive silence inside the car was louder.

Lucia turned her head toward the window and stayed perfectly still. Her eyes were fixed on the dark night beyond the glass.

Alessandro felt a surge of irritation. What was she thinking about? Was she pondering his mamma's words? Or was she quietly planning how to run away from him?

The feeling of not being in control made him restless.

"Turn around and face me," he ordered, his voice sounding extra grim in the enclosed space.

Lucia froze for a second. Then, she turned her head slowly. Her beautiful eyes remained calm and empty.

"What do you need, Alessandro?" she asked.

It was that tone again.

Alessandro chuckled darkly. Suddenly, he reached out to grab the back of her head and pulled her toward him. Their noses were almost touching, and their breaths tangled together.

He demanded, "What were you looking at? Is the darkness outside more interesting than me?"

Lucia was forced to meet his gaze. 

She blinked a few times as she replied, "No. I was just… spacing out."

"Spacing out?" 

Alessandro's fingers dug into her meticulous updo and yanked hard. A few hairpins clattered to the seat as her long hair unraveled. 

He then questioned, "Or are you thinking about how to provoke me?"

Lucia didn't cry out in pain. "I wouldn't dare. You told me to behave."

"You are behaving," Alessandro said through clenched teeth.

He rubbed her cheek with his thumb. The pressure he put into it almost left a mark. 

He snapped, "Don't think I don't know what you're doing! You're doing this as a form of resistance against me, right? Do you think staying emotionless will deter me? You think I can't do anything if you don't react?"

Lucia lowered her gaze, hiding the brief flash of mockery in her eyes. "You're overthinking it."

The car pulled into the underground garage of Alessandro's villa.

Lucia reached for the door handle, but a warm hand suddenly closed around her wrist. The next second, a powerful force yanked her backward.

The world spun. In the next moment, Lucia was thrown onto the wide backseat.

"Alessandro—" Lucia cried, but her voice became muffled almost instantly.

Alessandro leaned over her and engulfed her in the shadow cast by his tall frame. He crushed his mouth against hers in a kiss that was meant to punish her and vent his anger.

"Mmph…" Lucia's mouth was forced open, and all she could do was endure his devastating assault.

Alessandro reached into the slit of her gown and caressed the smooth insides of her thigh with his rough hand.

Lucia trembled and tried to pull her legs together. But Alesaandro forced himself between them, blocking every path of retreat.

Her pale skin seemed to glow faintly under the dim garage lights. She looked incredibly alluring.

Lucia shrank back, panic finally flickering in her eyes. "Don't do this… This is the garage…"

"So what? You're my wife. It's legal for me to do it with you anywhere," Alessandro murmured, leaving a trail of kiss marks on her neck. 

His rough hands roamed her body as he pleased forcefully. Lucia winced from the pain. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes, but she bit down on her lip and refused to make a sound.

Her silent endurance only fanned the fire in him.

Alessandro's desire for control and conquest grew heavier. He tore her underwear off and tossed it into the front seat.

He was already painfully hard. He lowered his hips as he prepared to take her.

But right before he was about to go into her, Lucia suddenly spoke. "Tell me… Did you do this with Elena too?"

Alessandro froze mid-action. His eyes, which were filled with lust and rage seconds ago, narrowed dangerously. The chilling glint in his eyes could send shivers down one's spine.

Lucia looked up at him with a fragile and almost innocent cruelty. There was even a flash of joy from having retaliated.

The faintest half-smile formed on her lips as she asked softly, "Why did you stop? Is it because this dress looks too much like hers? Or because this car reminds you of the past? Alessandro, when you look at me, do you see her through this face, or…"

"Stai zitta!" Alessandro cut her off sharply and stared at her intently.

She was provoking him, and she was using Elena's name to wound him.

A surge of fury unlike anything he'd felt before burned through him. He chuckled coldly, and his bloodshot eyes were terrifying.

"You want to know? Fine. I'll tell you," he said darkly.

Lucia instinctively tried to retreat, but her back was already pressed against the seat. There was nowhere to go.

Alessandro suddenly let out a low laugh that was short and rough. He straightened up, adjusted his cuffs with deliberate calm, and grabbed Lucia's ankle to force her legs wide. Then, he lifted them onto his shoulders.

"Alessandro…" 

Lucia panicked and tried to close her legs. This position was unbearably humiliating, especially inside a car.

"Don't move," he ordered.

His voice carried an authority that allowed no disobedience.

Then, under Lucia's shocked gaze, he began to lower his head. His warm breath brushed against the inside of her thigh, sending a violent shiver through her. Her mind went blank.

What was he doing?

The next second, something wet and warm made contact.

"Ah!" Lucia gasped sharply and bit down on her hand, stifling the sounds rising in her throat.

Alessandro didn't hurry to go in deep. The tip of his tongue brushed over the sensitive insides of 

Chapter 10 To Stop or to Continue