Love In Disguise: Rebirth of the Heiress
Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Chapter 122

A soft knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts. "Isabella, are you ready?" a man spoke, voice was muffled but unmistakable. The impatience in his tone sent a shiver down my spine.

"One minute," I called back, forcing the tremor out of my voice. I capped the bottle and hid it back in the bag, stuffing it behind the sink. The mirror above the basin reflected a face that still looked too pale, eyes wide and uncertain. I splashed water over my wrists and took one last steadying breath before pushing the door open.

He stood there, arms crossed, his sharp eyes taking in my appearance. If he noticed my hesitation or the way I clutched the frame for balance, he didn’t show it. "Alessio is waiting," he said, stepping aside for me to pass.

8- The Price Of Pride

I straightened my spine, ignoring the tremor in my legs as I walked past the muscular man whose face was scarred and eyes were filled with no emotions.

I was scared. I have no idea what wait me within these walls.

The hallway seemed to stretch on forever, every step echoing with the sharp clack of my heels. My heart thudded harder, a relentless reminder of my fragility. The edges of my vision blurred for a moment, but I forced myself to focus on the ornate double doors ahead.

They swung open as we approached, revealing the main hall bathed in the morning’s light. Alessio stood at the far end, back to me as he spoke to one of his men. He was dressed in a black suit that clung to his frame with tailored perfection, exuding power that made the air feel heavy.

I took a shaky step forward, and his head turned, dark eyes locking onto mine. They narrowed slightly as he took in the dress, the barely masked tension in my posture. The room seemed to hum with the weight of his silence before he finally spoke.

"Come here," he said, voice smooth but edged with something unreadable. I walked forward, each step measured, careful. The eyes of the gathered men flickered between us, curiosity laced with something more.

I stopped a few paces from him, meeting his gaze head-on even as my heart pounded in protest. "You wanted to see me," I said, keeping my voice steady, defiant even.

A shadow of a smirk touched the corner of his mouth. "Yes," he said, taking a step closer, his eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to see past the mask I wore. "And you’ll find out why soon enough."

The silence stretched out, the room watching, waiting for the next move in a game I didn’t know how to play. My heart still drummed in my chest, too fast, too loud. I lifted my chin, determined not to let him see the cracks beneath my polished surface.

"Why all this?" I gestured to the dress, the heels that made standing a precarious task, the makeup that felt like a thin disguise. "What am I meant to do, Alessio? Be a mannequin on display?"

His eyes hardened, the flicker of amusement replaced by cold precision. "You are here to learn, Isabella. To see the world you’ve been thrust into and understand your place in it."

"My place," I echoed, unable to keep the edge out of my voice. "And what place is that? Your... trophy? Your debt?"

His jaw tightened, and he took another step closer, so close I could see the faint scar cutting through his left eyebrow. "Watch your tone," he warned, the low rasp of his voice making the hairs on my neck stand on end. "You’re not in a position to challenge me."

A bitter laugh escaped before I could stop it. "And yet here I am."

The silence that followed was suffocating. I could feel the eyes of the room on me, watching, judging. Whispers stirred at the edges of the hall, quiet enough that I couldn’t make out the words but loud enough to feel their weight. I glanced sideways, catching the way some of the staff looked at me—pity mingled with suspicion, as if trying to decide whether I was an inconvenience or an opportunity.

Alessio’s gaze didn’t falter. He stepped back, creating a sliver of space that felt like a reprieve. "Dante," he called, and the muscular man appeared from where he had been lurking, his presence silent and lethal. "Show Isabella around. She needs to know who works under this roof and where."

"Yes, sir," Dante replied, his expression as unreadable as ever. He inclined his head towards me. "This way."

I hesitated, feeling the sting of Alessio’s dismissal, but Dante’s expectant stare left me no choice. I turned on my heel, holding my head high as I walked out of the hall. The whispers grew louder as I passed, some voices tinged with curiosity, others with disdain.

"Is she the new one?"

"Does she even know what she’s getting into?"

I kept my eyes forward, refusing to show the cracks that were forming inside me. We walked through the dimly lit corridors, past portraits of men with severe expressions and the kind of eyes that followed you. The silence between Dante and me was thick, unspoken questions hanging in the air.

"Why are they looking at me like that?" I finally asked, breaking the silence.

He didn’t turn to look at me, but his voice was clear. "They’re loyal to Alessio. Anyone who enters his world is scrutinized, and you are no exception."

"And what do they think I am?"

Dante’s steps paused, and he glanced at me over his shoulder, dark eyes assessing. "They don’t know yet. Neither do you. You could be an obsession he would abandon or you could be his toy that he woikd end up killing."

The hairs on my skin stood as I clenched my fists trying my best not to show the fear that was running within my body show on my face.

The hallway we entered was wider, filled with more staff moving in and out of rooms, carrying trays, linens, and polished silver that gleamed under the chandelier light. Conversations halted as we passed, eyes darting to me before flicking away. A maid whispered to another, both of them staring until I met their gaze. They quickly busied themselves, but the curiosity remained, thick and palpable.

"It’ll pass," Dante said suddenly, as if reading my thoughts.

"What will?"

"The staring. The whispers. It’s how things go here."

I forced out a breath, glancing at the closed doors that lined the corridor, each hiding another part of the life I had stepped into. "And if it doesn’t?"

Dante’s expression softened just enough for me to notice. "Then you learn to bear it or break under it."

I swallowed hard. The truth of his words settled heavy in my chest. Bear it or break. I squared my shoulders. "I won’t break."

He nodded, a hint of respect flashing in his eyes before disappearing. "We’ll see."

We turned a corner, and the room we entered next was grander, filled with staff meticulously arranging what looked like an opulent dining table. The head butler, an older man with silver hair, paused mid-command, eyes narrowing at the sight of me.

"Miss," he said, voice carefully neutral. The title felt like it carried more weight than intended, almost as if he was daring me to prove I was worth it.

I nodded back, forcing a polite smile. "Hello."

The air around us felt strained. The staff continued their work but at a more reserved pace, their eyes flicking between me and the dishes they polished.

"This is Matteo," Dante said, nodding to the head butler. "He’s been with Alessio since... well, longer than most."

Matteo’s mouth twitched, not quite a smile. "Yes, and I’ll be here long after many are gone."

The implication was clear, and I met his eyes, refusing to flinch. "I’m sure you will be."

Dante shifted beside me, a silent signal to move on. We stepped into another room, this one a smaller sitting area lined with bookshelves and an enormous clock that ticked with a steady, almost ominous rhythm.

"You’ll need to spend time here," Dante said, gesturing at the room. "Alessio wants you familiar with more than just the walls. This is his world now, and it has rules."

"I’m beginning to understand that," I muttered.

A maid carrying a tray of tea passed by, hesitating as she glanced at me. She quickly looked away, cheeks coloring, but not before I caught the flicker of pity in her expression.

"Why do they look at me like I’m doomed?" I asked Dante, the question raw and unfiltered.

He exhaled, finally meeting my eyes. "Because in this world, attachments are dangerous. And you, Isabella, are an unknown variable."

I looked away, the weight of it settling in the pit of my stomach. Attachments.

Dangerous. I silently vowed that whatever game this was, I would play it on my terms.

I wasn’t here to be pitied or feared. And no matter how much they whispered or stared, I wouldn’t be broken.