CHAPTER SIX – SILENT QUESTIONS
747 Words
The halls of the Gold estate were quiet, their footsteps the only sound echoing between marble walls and high ceilings. Elena kept her hand in his, not because she had to—but because somehow, it felt safer that way.
He led her in silence, and he didn’t let go of her hands either.
She followed him like a sheep following its shepherd. She only knew the quiet meant something.
Reaching a small sitting room and Leonardo opened the door and stepped aside, to let her in first. The room was warm, and it was filled with bookshelves, soft lighting, and two leather armchairs by a fireplace that wasn’t lit. A far cry from the cold formality of the dinner.
“Have a seat,” he said .
She did as she was told and folded her hands in her lap as she usually does.
Sitting across from her, and resting his elbows on his knees, he watched her intensely as if studying her—slow and careful, waiting for something, just anything.
Elena gathered her courage. “They were talking about the Russians.”
He didn’t look surprised. “You heard that?”
She nodded. “I know it wasn’t meant for me, but I heard.”
He leaned back slowly. “Marco tends to test boundaries. I apologized on his behalf. It was wrong of him to do that in front of you.”
“But it wasn’t just him”. It was a statement, not a question.
Leonardo paused. Her voice was soft, but there was something honest in it. Not accusing. Just… searching.
“No,” he admitted. “It wasn’t.”
“Why does marrying me make people think you’re weak?”
That caught him off guard.
Not because of the question, but because of the way she asked it. Not bitter. Not ashamed.
Just… curious.
He stood and walked towards the fireplace, he picked up a match and lit the logs. It crackled to life slowly, casting shadows on his sharp features.
“You were given to me as a sign of peace,” he said finally. “People assume peace means surrender.”
She blinked. “But you didn’t surrender.”
Leonardo turned to face her, hands in his pockets. “No. I chose you.”
Something in Elena’s chest fluttered, but she wasn’t sure why.
“Then… why haven’t we talked?” she asked. “ We didn’t even meet until the wedding.”
His gaze held hers. “Because I wanted you to walk into this on your own terms. Not because someone prepared you, not because I sweet-talked you. I wanted to see you—exactly as you are.”
“See.” She scoffed. “And what do you see?”
The question came from her lips before she could stop it.
He walked back to his seat slowly and sat again, leaning a little bit closer than before. His voice was low, but sure.
“I see someone the world dismissed too quickly.”
Elena’s breath caught.
“I see a girl who’s scared—but still watching. Still listening. Still here.”
She looked down, unable to meet his eyes.
“And I see the kind of strength people mistake for weakness.”
Once again, silence hung between them, but this time, it didn’t feel heavy. It felt like something unspoken had been acknowledged.
Then Leonardo stood again. “You’ll meet Sofia in the morning. She runs the household. You can trust her.”
Elena nodded slowly.
He walked toward the door, then stopped, his hand on the door knob like he was thinking.
“If you ever feel unsafe here… with anyone. Tell me.” he said
“I will.” She replied.
He hesitated again, then added quietly, “You matter here, Elena. Even if no one told you that before.”
And then he left.
**
When he was alone in the hallway, he leaned his back on the door, and closed his eyes for a moment.
She was different he thought , nothing like the women in his world, nothing like his mother had been—she may be obedient but she wasn't stupid.
Elena Bellini was soft but not a fool.
But she made something inside him ache.
Marco’s words echoed in his mind again.
“She might be the one thing that breaks you, Leo.”
He wasn’t sure if that was a warning—or a prophecy.
- Writer
