Chapter 5: Mrs. Moretti

Calysta woke to the sound of someone knocking on the bedroom door. For several seconds, she remained still, staring at the ceiling as she tried to remember where she was and what had happened the night before. The memories slowly returned, and her expression hardened when she remembered Damien taking her away from her wedding.

The door opened, and a woman carrying a breakfast tray entered the room. She appeared to be one of the household staff, judging by her uniform. She carefully placed the tray on the nearby table before looking at Calysta with cautious respect.

“Good morning, Mrs. Moretti.”

Calysta immediately sat upright. “Don’t call me that.”

The woman lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”

“Where is Damien?”

“Mr. Moretti is downstairs. He asked me to bring you breakfast.”

Calysta glanced at the tray but made no effort to touch it. “Tell him I don’t want it.”

The woman hesitated before continuing, “Mr. Moretti also assigned me as your personal staff. He asked me to remind you about the marriage and inform you that your father has already approved it.”

Calysta stared at her. “My father?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Calysta got out of bed and walked toward the mirror. Someone had changed her into a simple black dress while she was asleep, and she had no memory of giving anyone permission to do so. Then she noticed the gold wedding ring on her finger.

She immediately pulled it off and stared at it. “What is this?”

“Your wedding ring, ma’am.”

Calysta looked at the woman in disbelief. “I don’t remember consenting to anyone changing my clothes, let alone putting a fucking ring on my finger." Her voice grew sharper as she looked between the ring and the woman. “Whose wedding ring is this?"

The woman swallowed. “It belongs to you, ma’am.”

“I am not married yet. Don't think I'm a fool.”

“But the ceremony already happened, ma’am.”

Calysta slowly turned toward her. “What ceremony?”

“The wedding ceremony.”

“What wedding ceremony?” Calysta demanded, her voice rising. “Tell me exactly what the hell you're talking about.”

The woman lowered her head. “The ceremony last night, ma’am.”

“Last night?” Calysta stared at her. “I was asleep!”

“Mr. Moretti handled everything personally, ma’am.”

Calysta's disbelief turned into anger. “Did he just fucking marry a sleeping bride? Is that man a psycho? A lunatic?”

The woman's expression tightened with nervousness. “Please save your questions for Mr. Moretti, ma’am.”

Calysta forced herself to breathe and tried to think clearly.

She had expected Damien to threaten her. She had expected him to manipulate her father, keep her imprisoned, or force her to eventually surrender. What she hadn't expected was to wake up and be told that he had somehow arranged a wedding while she was unconscious.

“Who attended the ceremony?” she demanded.

“Mr. Moretti, the priest, and several witnesses, ma’am.”

“And my father?”

“No, ma’am.”

Calysta's eyes narrowed. “Then how can this possibly be official?”

The woman hesitated. “Mr. Moretti said everything was legally arranged between him and your father, ma’am.”

Calysta looked at the ring again before putting it back on her finger. She hated the thought of wearing it, but she refused to let Damien think she was afraid of him or that putting a ring on her finger meant she had accepted the marriage.

“Tell him I’m coming downstairs.”

The woman nodded and left.

Calysta followed shortly afterward and made her way to the dining room, where Damien was waiting beside the table. Several documents were arranged in front of him. The moment he saw her, his attention went directly to the ring on her finger.

He already knew how she would react. He had heard her shouting upstairs the moment she woke up, but he had deliberately stayed downstairs and waited for her to come to him.

“Good morning, wife.”

Calysta stopped across from him. “Don't call me that, psycho.”

Damien remained composed. “Why? You are my wife.”

“Because you kidnapped me and forced me into this.” Calysta raised her hand, displaying the ring on her finger. “And what the hell is this?”

“Your father agreed to the marriage, honey.”

“Do not call me honey, Damien. I am not your wife.” She stepped closer to the table. “And yes, my father would agree to anything if you threatened him. Don't stand there pretending this was some peaceful agreement.”

Damien remained calm. “What's wrong? You are my wife.”

“Because you kidnapped me and forced me into this.” Calysta raised her hand, displaying the ring on her finger. “And what the hell is this?”

“Your father agreed to the marriage. I gave him a choice, Calysta.”

“Don't pretend this was some peaceful agreement.” She glared at him. “Don't fucking lie to me because I'm not buying your story or whatever game you're playing.”

Damien pulled out a chair for her. “Sit down.”

Calysta didn't move.

“You're acting hysterically,” Damien said calmly. “Why don't you sit first and call your father? Ask him yourself.”

“I don't need to sit down.” Her voice grew sharper as she continued. “You destroyed my wedding. You took me away from my family. You forced me into a marriage I never wanted, and now you're sitting there as though none of it matters. You're worse than everything I've heard about you.”

For the first time, Damien's expression changed. Her words clearly affected him, but he quickly composed himself.

“Think whatever you want to think,” he said. “Arrangement, deal, threat—call it whatever you want. But I am telling you that this is meant to protect our families. To protect you. To protect your father. To protect the De Luca empire.”

Damien closed the document in front of him and looked directly at her. “You don't have to believe me. You don't have to trust me. But everything I'm doing is for a reason.”

“Oh, fuck you, Damien.” Calysta's restraint finally snapped. “Do not patronize me. Why should I believe a single word you say? You're talking about my life, Damien. My life! If none of you are willing to take my choices seriously, then at least have enough respect to admit what you're doing.”

She pointed toward herself. “You arranged a marriage while I was asleep. You kidnapped me from my own wedding. You forced me into your house, and now you're sitting there calling me your wife as if I agreed to any of this.”

“That was for you, Calysta.”

“Bullshit!” she shot back. “I am a human being, Damien. I'm not some pawn you can move around on a fucking chessboard whenever it suits you.”

“Then say that to your beloved Marco.” Damien reached for one of the documents lying on the table and held it out to her. “Read it.”

Calysta hesitated before taking the papers from his hand. Her eyes moved across the first page, and within seconds, the anger on her face began to change.

“Now,” he said quietly, “tell me again that I'm the only one making you fool all your life.”