One Night Mistake… Now I Carry the Mafia Heir

Chapter 53: 53/Obsession Behind Closed Doors

Chapter 53

Stephanie’s Point of View

I placed my trembling hand in his massive one, feeling the strength of his grip as he pulled me toward the center of the hall. The lights were focused on us, and the music flowed like silk threads, trapping me in this fake scene. Alexander wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me to him until I felt the hardness of his chest behind the layers of my dress, while my other hand rested on his broad shoulder.

We began to move slowly to the rhythm of the music. My body was as rigid as a marble statue, my eyes fixed on his shirt collar, completely refusing to look into his blue eyes, which I felt were piercing right through me.

"Relax, Steph... everyone is watching us," Alexander whispered in a deep voice that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Don’t ask me for the impossible," I said with muffled sharpness, feeling his breath dance on my forehead.

"I love you," he said. I closed my eyes; his words made me weak, but I said, "Alex, remember what I said. I will never be your wife."

"I will wait, Steph," he replied. "I will wait until you allow me."

He tightened his grip on my waist, lifting me slightly and drawing me closer. "You will be mine, sooner or later," he said in a tone of clear possession. "You carry my name now, and I will fight for you."

I didn’t respond. Instead, I turned my head slightly to catch a glimpse of Cedric. He was still sitting, but he wasn’t drinking this time; he was staring at us with eyes burning with fire of jealousy and pain as if he were watching his own property being snatched from him before his very eyes. As for Valentina, she was standing in the corner, clutching her glass so hard that the veins in her hand bulged, her eyes overflowing with a venom I had never seen before.

Suddenly, my eye contact with Cedric was broken when Alexander turned me in a swift movement, then pulled me back into his embrace even more forcefully. "Stop looking at him," he whispered near my ear. "You are my wife."

I froze for a moment, feeling a deep sense of insult, as if I had been slapped. His words were a constant reminder of my weakness. Why do I weaken before them? Why? The music ended, and I stopped moving immediately, pulling my hand from his.

"The dance is over... I want to sit down," I said, panting from the constriction of the corset that was nearly suffocating me.

Alexander pulled me toward the table reserved for us, keeping his hand on my lower back with a possessive touch that I couldn’t resist in front of the families. I sat down, feeling my heart pounding in my chest; that cursed corset was pressing against my ribs until I almost lost the ability to breathe.

It wasn’t long before Valentina started to move; she approached us with confident strides, her deep red dress screaming provocation.

She stood directly in front of Alexander, completely ignoring my presence, then leaned toward him and said in an audible tone: "Congratulations, Alexander... I hope you find in this marriage what you were looking for, although we all know that hearts don’t change with a piece of paper."

Alexander’s body stiffened beside me, and I saw his jaw clench in suppressed anger. I looked at her with a coldness I tried hard to feign and said: "Thank you, Valentina... hearts may not change, but positions do, and I am now Mrs. Volkov. Therefore, respecting me is part of respecting my husband."

Her eyes widened in shock at my response, but she laughed mockingly and turned to leave, casting a final, searing glance at Alexander.

"Alex, I’m going upstairs," I said in a choked voice. "I can’t take it anymore."

"Fine, go up," he answered coldly, gesturing with his hand. "Go to the suite on the right."

I nodded and moved with heavy steps, but Kira blocked my path, her hand clutching my shoulder with concern. "Steph, what’s wrong? You’re completely pale."

"I feel an exhaustion eating away at my body," I answered, my voice trembling. "I can’t stand another minute here."

"Should I come up with you?" she asked, about to follow.

But my stepmother’s sharp voice cut through the moment: "Kira, come on, we’re leaving now!"

I looked at her sorrowfully. "Go, Kira, I’m fine... don’t worry."

She embraced me tightly; I felt a warmth engulf me for seconds as she whispered in my ear: "Steph, be strong... I’ll call you."

"Alright, Kira. Goodbye," I whispered with a faint smile.

I climbed the stairs as if dragging mountains behind me. When I opened the door to the suite, I was met with a luxury that only increased my distress: extravagant sofas, a royal bed covered in red rose petals that looked like bloodstains to me, and a cold, gleaming jacuzzi. I felt the corset pressing against my lungs, blocking the air. My fingers began to tremble as they fumbled with the laces of the corset behind my back.

I was gasping, trying to loosen it in desperation, but I failed, and the feeling of suffocation completely took over.

Suddenly, the doorknob turned, and Cedric entered.

My body froze, my eyes widening in shock as I watched him. He was swaying slightly, his hair disheveled, and his gaze was strange dark and unstable. He approached me with heavy steps, and his husky voice fell upon my ears like thunder: "Stephanie... I won’t allow you to belong to my brother."

I took a step back, my heart drumming a rhythm of terror in my chest. "Cedric... please, leave the room immediately."

But he didn’t stop. He came closer, whispering obsessively: "Stephanie, you are mine... understand?"

"I am not anyone’s property! Get out of here!" I shouted sharply, trying to gather my strength.

In a split second, his strong hand reached out to wrap around my waist, pulling me toward him with a force that made my body collide with his hard chest. I felt his hot breath fanning my face, and his lips drew so close to mine that I felt his words emerging from between them as he whispered in a voice trembling with anger and desire:

"You are mine, Steph... only mine."