An hour later the black car rolled through the iron gates of Virelli Mansion.
Maria removes Adrian's coat in the car,to keep off any misunderstanding.
The servants standing in the grand hall turned their heads the moment Maria stepped inside.
Their eyes followed her.
Cold.
Judging.
Unwelcoming.
They all believed the same thing.
That she didn't belong here.
Maria ignored them.
She walked quickly up the grand staircase toward her room, her wet heels echoing softly against the marble.
She reached the door.
Opened it.
Stepped inside.
And switched on the light.
Smoke curled slowly toward the ceiling.
Maria froze.
A man sat in the chair beside her bed.
Head tilted back.
A cigarette burning between his fingers.
Rafael Virelli.
The feared head of the Virelli family.
When he finally lifted his head, the dim light revealed sharp blue eyes beneath dark brows, the color striking against his jet-black hair that fell slightly over his forehead.
His presence alone seemed to fill the room.
He didn't look at her immediately.
He simply exhaled smoke and spoke.
"So you finally decided to come home."
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
Maria's heartbeat faltered.
Rafael continued lazily.
"Was yesterday's treatment not enough for you?"
A pause.
"Or did you come back hoping for more?"
Maria's voice trembled.
"I—"
Rafael tapped ash into the tray beside him.
"Where were you?"
Silence.
"Answer me."
Maria swallowed.
"A–Adrian's house."
Rafael didn't move.
"Oh."
Another slow drag of the cigarette.
"Your old lover."
His tone turned mocking.
"Did he treat you well tonight?"
Maria's fear suddenly snapped.
"Adrian is like a brother to me!"
Her voice rang sharply through the room.
"Stop accusing us of disgusting things!"
The sudden defiance surprised even Rafael.
Slowly—
Very slowly—
He lowered his head.
And finally looked at her.
His gaze stopped.
Maria stood there completely drenched.
Rain had soaked through the thin white fabric of her dress, clinging to her body.
Almost transparent.
Rafael's eyes darkened instantly.
A thought crossed his mind.
Everyone in the house saw her like this.
The servants.
The guards.
And Adrian.
Rafael crushed the cigarette slowly into the ashtray.
Then he stood up.
The room suddenly felt much smaller.
His voice dropped into something far more dangerous.
"You walked through my house like this?"