Three days.
For three full days, Lorenzo De Luca hadn’t seen her once. These past few days, Evelyn had felt a sense of peace. At least she no longer had to hear the screams or the sound of objects being smashed—acts deliberately carried out by that cruel man whenever his servants made a mistake.
Evelyn could only tell the man was there by the sound of the guards’ footsteps, which suddenly became more disciplined whenever Lorenzo was in the mansion.
Sometimes she heard the sound of a car arriving just before dawn. Sometimes the sound of gunshots could be heard from the distance. Sometimes the entire mansion would fall silent, as if everyone were holding their breath whenever anyone mentioned him.
However, Lorenzo never appeared before her again. Perhaps he was very busy. Evelyn felt relieved. Even though she felt she was just a girl who had been bought to be a temporary plaything.
Until that morning, when two servants entered her room.
“Miss Evelyn.”
“Someone wants to see you.”
Evelyn’s heart beat slowly. “Who?” she asked curiously.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t told; I was just told to take you there immediately.”
Without saying much, they led her to a very spacious room. There, Evelyn caught the scent of cedar wood, expensive cigars, and still-warm black coffee.
The room felt so quiet. Evelyn’s heart began to race again as she sat down in the chair that had been set out for her in the room.
“Look at the last page.”
Lorenzo’s voice finally rang out—so cold and authoritative.
“Lawyer."
“Yes, sir.”
A man cleared his throat before beginning to read the document aloud.
“This document is an agreement...”
Evelyn clutched the hem of her dress.
“…a contract marriage between Lorenzo De Luca and Evelyn Moretti.”
Her body froze instantly.
“What?”
“The contract term is one year.”
“After one year, both parties are free to end the marriage.”
“During the term of the contract, the second party is required to reside at the De Luca family’s main residence.”
“Leaving the mansion without permission is not permitted.”
“Disclosing the De Luca family’s activities is not permitted.”
“All of the second part’s needs will be fully covered.”
Evelyn shook her head quickly. “No,” she protested.
The lawyer stopped reading.
“I refuse.”
Lorenzo said nothing.
“I’m not going to marry a man I’ve never even seen,” Evelyn protested.
“You don’t need to see me. Can’t you see?” Lorenzo’s reply was so calm. Yet, it made Evelyn’s heart race even faster.
“You just need to sign the contract. After that, you’ll do whatever I want.”
“I said no!” Evelyn refused firmly.
For the first time since arriving at the mansion, Evelyn raised her voice. Her outburst made Lorenzo smile cynically at her.
“I’ve already lost both my eyes, my family, and my self-respect.”
“But I still have the right to choose my own life.”
The room fell silent again.
Then Lorenzo walked toward Evelyn.
He stopped right in front of her.
“Richard Moretti has received the full payment. His debt is paid off. You are now under my responsibility.”
Evelyn clenched her fists.
“I’m not a thing."
“You’re not.”
Lorenzo replied without emotion.
“A purchased item cannot refuse its buyer.”
Those words made Evelyn’s chest tighten.
“I won’t sign anything.”
“Fine.”
Lorenzo’s response sounded almost too easy.
“I’ll never force you again.”
Evelyn felt a little relieved.
But a few seconds later, Lorenzo’s voice rang out again.
“Erick.”
“Yes, Boss.”
“Get the team ready!”
“For what?”
“Tomorrow morning. We’re going to exhume Celeste Moretti’s grave.”
Evelyn’s whole body tensed up.
“What did you say?”
Lorenzo continued speaking as if he were discussing the weather.
“I want to make sure there’s nothing left in there.”
“No!” Evelyn protested.
For the first time, Evelyn completely lost control.
Tears immediately streamed down her face.
“Don’t touch my mother’s grave!”
“It’s the only place I have left,” Evelyn explained.
Lorenzo didn’t answer. He knew that. Now, he had found Evelyn’s weakest spot.
“Please,” Evelyn pleaded. Her voice grew soft.
“I beg you. Don’t disturb my mother’s grave.”
“In that case,” Lorenzo slid the contract toward the lawyer. “Sign the contract.”
Evelyn bit her lip until it bled. She knew Lorenzo was forcing her. She hated that cunning man with a passion. But she couldn’t bear the thought of her mother’s grave being desecrated by that cruel man.
“What are you waiting for, Evelyn? Do you want me to take action right away?” Lorenzo pressed, leaving Evelyn with no other choice.
Her hand trembled as she held the pen. A single tear fell onto the contract.
With a breath that was almost gone, she wrote her name, Evelyn Moretti, in the presence of the lawyer.
The room fell silent again. The lawyer handed the document to Lorenzo.
“Congratulations. The contract is now valid,” said the lawyer as he shook hands with Lorenzo and Evelyn.
Evelyn slowly lowered the pen. Her whole body felt weak.
“Why did it have to come to this?” she lamented.
Her voice was barely audible.
“Why me?”
Lorenzo gazed at the girl’s face for a long time.
His expression was hard to read.
Then he said softly, “Because you’re the only one who meets the requirements.”
Silence enveloped the room. For the first time, Evelyn began to wonder.
“Requirements for what?”
Evelyn froze. Her fingers still clutched the pen, which felt heavier and heavier.
“He said I was the only one who qualified?” she repeated softly. “What does that mean?”
There was no answer that could explain Evelyn’s question.
The silence that enveloped the room felt even more suffocating than Lorenzo’s threat a few minutes earlier.
“I really don’t understand.” Evelyn was still in complete shock.
Lorenzo closed the black folder containing the contract without the slightest change in his expression.
“You don’t need to understand right now.”
His tone remained flat.
“We’ll be getting married soon. You’ll become Mrs. De Luca. Get ready, because there will be a huge number of guests attending our wedding,” Lorenzo warned.
Those words made Evelyn shake her head vigorously.
“No,” she whispered. “This doesn’t make any sense.”
“I’m just a blind woman. I don’t even know you. Why me?”
Lorenzo stepped closer to her, until he was only a few steps away.
Evelyn could feel the man’s cold aura filling the room.
“There are plenty of women who are prettier. Smarter. More useful than me.” Evelyn tried to persuade Lorenzo to change his mind.
“Of course there are.”
Lorenzo’s reply was so quick it made Evelyn’s chest tighten.
“Then why?” Evelyn asked desperately.
“Because they’re not you,” Lorenzo replied.
Evelyn froze. Before she could process what he meant, Lorenzo turned and left the room.
“Get the wedding ready.”
His order was directed at everyone in the room.
“One week from now.”
“Yes, Boss.”
The sound of Lorenzo’s footsteps grew fainter.
Just before the door closed, he stopped without looking back.
“Starting today, no one is allowed to treat her like a prisoner.”
Evelyn lifted her head.
“But remember!” Lorenzo continued in a much colder tone.
“She’s also not allowed to leave this mansion.”
The door closed.
Evelyn stood frozen in place. Free, yet still confined.
For the first time since arriving at the De Luca mansion, she realized that the gilded cage was still a prison to her.