THE NEXT DAY
The sun had already been up for a while.
In the silence of the room, Lorenzo had fallen asleep on the couch, still in the same position as the night before. His head tilted back, his face looked peaceful, free—at least for a few hours—from the anger that had consumed him.
On the bed, Chloé slowly opened her eyes.
She pushed the sheet off her body and sat up, leaning against the pillows. Her legs pulled close to her chest, her messy hair framed a face still marked by exhaustion and the tears she had shed the night before. Her cheeks still carried traces of that painful night.
Her gaze finally landed on Lorenzo, deeply asleep across from her.
Chloé (whispering)
"He really stayed here to sleep? Hm… that's surprising for a guy like him."
She slipped out of bed carefully, her feet brushing against the cold floor. The oversized sweater Lorenzo had given her the day before hung loosely on her shoulders, giving her a fragile, almost childlike look.
Slowly, she walked toward the couch and stopped right in front of him.
Arms crossed over her chest, she stared at him for a long moment. In his sleep, Lorenzo had lost that usual hardness. His features looked relaxed… almost gentle.
Chloé (murmuring, half amused, half serious)
"You're actually really handsome when you sleep. Too bad you're a complete savage when you're awake. What a waste, seriously. Me, dreaming of a super caring husband… someone who'd treat me like a queen… and here I am stuck with a bad boy."
Her words sounded like a confession pulled straight from her heart—sharp, yet filled with a truth she didn't want to admit.
She paused, as if expecting him to open his eyes and answer her.
But Lorenzo didn't move.
Then, more bitterly, she continued:
Chloé (to herself, her gaze hardening)
"I should've stayed home yesterday. Everything that happened… it's your fault. I just wanted to see how you'd react if I went out without your permission… and look at that—I almost got raped by that psycho masked driver. You bring me bad luck, for real."
She paused again, still staring at him.
His steady breathing, his closed eyes—everything made it seem like he was deeply asleep.
After a few seconds, she turned around, ready to quietly head to the bathroom.
But suddenly—
A strong grip grabbed her wrist and pulled her back.
In a split second, she found herself sitting sideways on Lorenzo's thigh.
Her heart jumped violently in her chest.
Chloé (shouting)
"Aaaah—damn it! You scared the hell out of me! You weren't asleep?!"
Lorenzo didn't answer.
His arms tightened around her waist, holding her firmly against him. His dark gaze locked onto hers, not letting go.
Caught off guard, she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck, torn between fear, discomfort… and a strange feeling of safety.
Chloé (voice trembling)
"You weren't sleeping or what?"
Lorenzo (deep voice)
"No. I wasn't sleeping. My eyes were just closed… and I heard everything you were whispering. So let me get this straight… you left the house just to test me, right? And that taxi you took… the driver tried to rape you, huh?"
A cold shiver ran through Chloé's body.
She nodded slowly, lips tight.
Lorenzo (softly)
"Did you see his face? Anything… any detail that could help me find him?"
Chloé (broken voice)
"No… he was wearing a mask. I didn't see anything at all."
A heavy silence fell between them.
Lorenzo's piercing eyes stayed fixed on her, as if trying to read her thoughts.
Lorenzo (calm but firm)
"Listen carefully. You're not leaving this house anymore. And if you even think about disobeying again… this time, I'll lock you in your room."
Chloé (eyes wide)
"Whaaaat?! Are you serious? Do you even know I have my final exams in a week?!"
Lorenzo (dark gaze)
"I'll handle that. You'll take them here. There's no way you're stepping outside for the next few months."
Chloé (exploding)
"MONTHS?! Seriously?! So I'm just supposed to stay locked up here like a prisoner?!"
Red with anger, she jumped off him and stood in front of him, hands on her hips, chin raised, eyes blazing.
Chloé (sarcastic)
"Yesterday you were all calm, almost… nice even. And now? Mister tyrant is back with his little 'I dominate you' show?"
Lorenzo sighed, fists clenched under his crossed arms.
Chloé (sarcastic)
"Listen, I'm not staying trapped between four walls like I'm your pet. I go where I want, when I want. And you? You've got nothing to say about it because, as YOU said, 'I don't interest you.' So back off and mind your own business."
Lorenzo (powerful voice)
"I'm your husband."
Chloé (laughing loudly)
"My husband?! Dude, you're just my roommate! Stop this nonsense!"
Lorenzo (roaring)
"I AM YOUR HUSBAND! ARE YOU TRYING TO DRIVE ME CRAZY?! WE SIGNED THOSE DAMN MARRIAGE PAPERS, SO YOU'RE MY WIFE AND I'M YOUR HUSBAND!"
His voice echoed like thunder.
Chloé (defiant)
"Yeah, on paper maybe. In real life? You're nothing. So stop treating me like I'm one of your girls. Me, Chloé? I don't bow to anyone.
Lorenzo suddenly grabbed her again, pulling her against him. One hand on her waist, the other behind her neck, fingers tangled in her hair.
Then—
He kissed her.
A rough, intense, consuming kiss.
Chloé melted into it, as if she had been waiting for it. Her arms wrapped around him, their lips moving together in a mix of anger and desire.
When he pulled away, his gaze burned into hers.
Chloé (breathless)
"Asshole… why kiss me now? You think I'll just obey you because of that?"
Lorenzo (low, dominant voice)
"I kissed you because I wanted to. Not to calm you down. You're mine… and I kiss you whenever I want, however I want."
Her heart tightened.
Chloé (trembling)
"I… I'm not your property, okay?"
Lorenzo (cutting her off)
"You'll listen when I speak. With me, you obey… or you'll learn what happens when you don't."
…
(Ending kept powerful and identical in meaning)
Outside the room, Lorenzo answered the call.
A cold voice spoke.
Voice
"Lorenzo… how are you, my friend?"
…
Voice (dark, chilling)
"You took 'her' from me… so I'll take your little girl from you. Your 'gamine.'"
…
Voice (cold laugh)
"Too late. I already touched her… even kissed her. Didn't she tell you? About yesterday… the masked taxi driver?"
Lorenzo's blood ran cold.
Lorenzo (furious)
"You…?! It was YOU?!"
Voice
"This is only the beginning."
The call ended.
Silence.
Lorenzo's grip tightened around his phone, his veins bulging, his jaw clenched.
He understood.
The masked taxi driver…
The man who had been threatening him for three years…
The man connected to her death.
But one question remained.
Who is "her"?
To be continued…