I Married the Man Who Planned My Rape

That night at our blood oath wedding, every guest at the Coleone estate whispered about my "shame."

"Luca's still willing to take her - what devotion."

"Accepting a tainted woman - how generous of him."

I stood there in my wedding dress, listening to their undisguised gossip, my heart bleeding with every word.

Yet when Luca slipped the obsidian ring bearing the family crest onto my finger, he made his solemn vow, "In this lifetime, I will marry no one but Avelina."

But after the wedding, Luca began staying out all night. I couldn't even lift my head in front of the servants.

I told myself this was my deserved punishment. But my insomnia worsened - I'd toss and turn on the empty bed every night.

I tried convincing myself that maybe he just needed time to accept imperfect me.

At 2 AM, I went downstairs to the wine cellar for my medicinal wine. Just as I filled my glass, footsteps echoed from the stairs.

"Let's see what treasures your wine cellar holds."

That familiar yet terrifying voice made my heart skip. Instinctively, I clutched my wine glass and hid behind the oak barrels.

"Tony, don't touch that side - those are Avelina's medicinal wines," Luca said.

I stared at the St. John's wort wine in my hand.

Luca had specially prepared this wine after learning of my insomnia, following Dr. Martinez's recommendation.

He still cared about me. That was enough.

I was about to drink when I heard another voice laugh, "Which vintage should we pick to celebrate our 'masterpiece' from six months ago?"

Masterpiece? What masterpiece? My hand froze, gripping the glass edge tightly.

"Luca, your wife was fucking incredible that night," Tony laughed crudely. "Crying and begging, but wet as a faucet down there. She was soaked before we even got inside - born slut."

No... these voices... why do they sound so familiar? The wine glass trembled violently in my hands, red wine nearly spilling over.

"I ripped her dress right off - those big tits bounced right out, so soft and perky." Another voice laughed lewdly. "She was scared shitless, but the way she writhed looked like she was begging for it. I almost came right on her face."

Stop talking... Luca, make them stop... I screamed silently, but no sound came out.

"When we took turns on her, she tried to play innocent," a third voice joined in. "By the end she stopped pretending - moaning louder than any whore. Just thinking about those sounds gets me hard."

Then Luca's voice cut through, dripping with disgust, "Don't fucking gross me out. That slut still lives in my house - seeing her makes me want to puke."

So this is how he sees me? My legs went weak, barely able to stand, leaning against the oak barrel for support.

"The footage came out pretty good though," Tony said. "That close-up - her climaxing while crying in despair, like a timid rabbit. Pure art."

I collapsed to the floor, the whole world spinning. Images flashed, camera flashes, leering grins, tearing pain. They'd been humiliating me like this in private.

"Luca, your 'hero to the rescue' act was Oscar-worthy," Tony said admiringly. "Perfect timing."

Luca sounded smug. "A minute early and we'd be busted. A minute late and you bastards would've actually killed her."

"'Don't be afraid, I'm here,'" Tony mimicked the tone from that night. "Even I believed that expression, let alone that stupid bitch."

Those words had been my only light in the darkness. It was all staged. Only I didn't know. I thought I'd found true love like an idiot.

The wine glass slipped from my hands, red wine splashing on my white nightgown like bloodstains from that night.

"How else could I make her desperate enough to marry me?" Luca sneered. "My dad threatened me with a blood oath before he died - marry the Ross girl or forfeit full inheritance rights. I had to make sure everything went perfectly."

I looked down at the ring on my finger. All that love... just to gain power? Even the wedding vows were lies.

"She's grateful as hell now, right?" someone asked.

"Of course. That's why I moved Isabella in, and she doesn't dare say shit. The godmother's gotta be clean."

"Luca," Tony asked lewdly, "you fucked her on your wedding night, right? How was it? Just like we said?"

"She's a natural slut, isn't she?" another voice got excited. "A woman we've trained should know how to please a man."

"Does she take initiative? Or does she still play innocent like that night?"

I held my breath waiting for Luca's answer.

"Fuck her?" Luca's voice was full of disgust. "I can't even stand to look at her. She reeks of you bastards - makes me sick."

My heart tore apart.

"How do you maintain the marriage then?" Tony was curious. "Doesn't she suspect?"

"I fake it." Luca sneered. "Hug her occasionally, let her think I'm accepting her. Truth is, I'd rather screw a street whore than touch that used-up slag."

"She still thinks you love her deeply. Your wedding vows have become a template for many newlyweds." Someone laughed loudly.

"The more she believes it, the easier she is to control. I want that little bitch completely devoted to me - keep her on her knees so she never dares to stand. A thoroughly broken woman is the most obedient."

In this ultimate humiliation, something inside me died completely.

At the same time, a terrifying calm began to crystallize in my heart. No longer fear and despair, but a bone-chilling clarity.

"You've put up with her for six months now. When will the inheritance paperwork be done?"

"We'll make her wear the wedding dress again for a full-length film," another suggested.

Roars of laughter erupted.

"Once the port contract is signed, she's useless. You all can play with her however you want."

"Let's drink this bottle tonight. Come on, let me show you other 'goods.'"

So from beginning to end, I was just a plaything in their eyes... Even my pain became their entertainment... Even my self-blame was their expected reaction...

The laughter faded away. I slowly stood up, stepping in the spilled red wine on the floor.

I dialed the family lawyer's number, my voice eerily calm.

"This is Avelina Ross. I want to initiate the blood oath clause execution procedure."

"Also, prepare divorce papers for me. Immediately."