Bound By Power

“Who. Eyed. My. Wife?”

Damien’s voice was low and controlled, but the weight of each word pressed heavily into the room, suffocating the space with unspoken threats. His green eyes, sharp and dangerous, bore into Elena like he was expecting an immediate answer.

Bianca, sitting stiffly on the couch, swallowed hard. Her fingers trembled slightly as she clasped them together in her lap, trying to steady herself under his piercing gaze.

Elena, sensing the storm brewing within him, didn’t waste a second. She rushed to his side, taking his hand in hers and pulling him toward the bed. He let her guide him but didn’t tear his eyes away from Bianca.

"She's Bianca, my friend. I told you about her, remember?" Elena spoke softly, trying to ease the tension.

Damien gave a single nod, acknowledging the girl who now seemed too nervous to meet his gaze.

“H-hi, Mr. Cortelli,” Bianca managed, forcing a polite smile despite the growing pressure in the air.

He didn’t respond, only studied her for a moment before turning his attention back to Elena. His fingers flexed, his body thrumming with restrained energy.

"Will you tell me what's happening?" His voice was deceptively calm, but the subtle clench of his jaw gave away his rising anger. "And did anyone try to misbehave with you?"

The last sentence came out gritted, his teeth grinding against each other in frustration.

Elena hesitated, casting a quick glance at Bianca, who gave her a small nod of encouragement.

Taking a seat next to Damien, Elena began recounting everything—every detail, every unwanted advance, every hushed threat. She spoke cautiously, knowing how easily his temper could ignite. Throughout the entire explanation, Damien remained eerily silent, his expression unreadable. His gaze stayed fixed on her, not once blinking, not once looking away.

It was only when she reached the end of her story that she hesitated. A lump formed in her throat as she forced herself to speak the final part.

“And… Mr. Angelo offered me a deal,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

Damien’s brows lifted slightly, his head tilting ever so slightly. “A deal?” he repeated, his tone dark with intrigue. “And what kind of deal is that?”

Elena opened her mouth, but before she could answer, Bianca quickly jumped in. “Umm… that—”

Damien raised a hand, palm facing her. His expression didn’t change, but the silence that followed spoke volumes.

"I want to hear it from my wife's mouth."

Bianca instantly fell silent, lowering her head as she let Elena take the lead.

Elena took a deep breath, steeling herself. Her hands gripped the fabric of her dress tightly, her nails pressing into her palms. She could feel Damien’s gaze burning into her, demanding an answer.

“He… he wants me to take Bianca’s place after the prom night party,” she finally admitted, barely able to meet his eyes. “In order to protect Bianca’s reputation.”

The room went deathly quiet.

"But Mr. Cortelli… Mr. Angelo is your relative," Bianca blurted out, her voice hesitant. "He's your distant cousin."

The air in the room seemed to shift. A dangerous silence settled over them as Damien's expression turned unreadable. His green eyes, now dark with an emotion neither Elena nor Bianca could place, flickered with something cold—something lethal.