Chapter 2

Luisa

Saturday started with that slow, lazy pace weekends always seem to carry, as if time had decided to drag its feet just to test us. Arthur was still asleep when I got up, and I stood beside the bed for a few seconds watching him breathe, easy and undisturbed. There was something comforting about knowing the day was ours — even with the unavoidable commitment waiting for us.

Veronica's house.

I made coffee and tried to shake off the unease that always crept in whenever I thought about her. Arthur appeared a little while later in a simple t-shirt, his hair still a mess.

"Good morning, my love," he said, kissing my cheek.

"Good morning, babe," I answered, pouring the coffee.

He caught my silence. "You're thinking about the lunch, aren't you?"

"A little," I admitted. "Your stepmother has a special talent for making everything uncomfortable."

Arthur sighed. "Alice is going to be there today too."

I looked up. "Seriously?"

"Yeah. She got back from her trip yesterday. I think it'll lighten things up a bit."

I gave a small smile and said nothing. I only knew Alice in passing — polite, reserved, always very proper. Never rude to me, but never close either. It was hard to know what she actually thought.

We got ready without rushing and headed to Veronica's house around noon. The drive was quiet, but not heavy. Arthur held my hand every so often, as if he needed to reassure me of something that didn't need to be said. The house was exactly as it always was. Imposing, too silent, too immaculate. Veronica met us at the door, dressed as elegantly as if she were going to a social event.

"Arthur, sweetheart," she said, kissing his cheek. "You finally made it."

Then she looked at me. "Luisa," she said flatly, not bothering to greet me properly.

"Good morning, Veronica," I replied, politely.

We went in, and that's when I saw Alice sitting in the living room, leafing through a magazine. She stood as soon as she saw us.

"Hi, Arthur," she said with a measured smile. "Luisa."

"Hello, Alice," I replied.

She seemed different from how I remembered. More serious, maybe. Or maybe I was just paying closer attention.

"You look lovely," she said, glancing at my dress.

"Thank you," I replied.

Veronica watched the whole exchange in silence, as if she were analyzing every gesture. We sat in the living room for a few minutes before lunch. Arthur chatted with Alice about her trip while I responded to Veronica's occasional remarks.

"Arthur told me about your business trip," she said, crossing her legs. "I imagine Luisa is used to being alone by now."

"I adjust to whatever needs to be done," I replied.

"Of course..." she said, with a thin smile. "Some women handle independence more easily than others."

I didn't answer. Arthur shot me a quick glance, but I stayed calm. Lunch was served shortly after. The long table was immaculate, the dishes arranged with care. Veronica sat at the head. Arthur to her right. Alice to her left. I sat beside Arthur.

"I've been hearing you've been very busy lately, Luisa," Veronica remarked as they served the main course.

"I have my commitments," I replied.

"I imagine managing a large house isn't simple," she continued. "Especially when you marry into something that was already well organized."

"I don't manage it alone," I replied, glancing briefly at Arthur. "We do it together."

Arthur smiled. "Luisa's very practical," he said. "She makes everything easier."

Veronica tilted her head slightly. "Practicality is important. But so is tradition."

Alice stayed quiet, eating slowly, her eyes down.

"Arthur was always raised with certain responsibilities in mind," Veronica continued. "We always thought carefully about who would be at his side."

I took a slow breath before I answered. "And he chose," I said, calmly.

The silence that followed was brief but heavy. Alice looked up for a moment, glancing from her aunt to me, then returned to her plate. Throughout the meal, Veronica kept at it with those subtle remarks, always walking the line between courtesy and provocation.

"You didn't come from a very traditional family, did you, Luisa?"

"Not in the sense you mean," I replied. "My family isn't from high society, and we certainly weren't wealthy like yours, but I was raised with strong values."

"Of course..." she said. "Values are relative."

Arthur cleared his throat. "Mom, Luisa —"

"I'm just making conversation," she cut him off. "There's no need to get defensive."

After the main course, Arthur got a call from the company and stepped away to take it. It was just the three of us at the table.

Veronica set down her utensils. "Alice has always been a part of Arthur's life," she said, out of nowhere. "Since they were children."

Alice shifted in her chair. "Auntie..."

"It's true," Veronica continued. "They practically grew up together."

I looked at Alice. "I imagine you have a lot of stories," I said.

Alice smiled, restrained.

"Some," she replied. "But we're more like family."

"Family is important," Veronica said, looking directly at me. "Not everyone understands that the same way."

I held her gaze. "I understand it perfectly," I replied.

Arthur came back a few minutes later, ending his call. "Everything okay?" he asked, sensing the odd atmosphere.

"Of course," Veronica answered before anyone else could. "We were just reminiscing."

The rest of the lunch moved along with more neutral conversation. Alice said little, but always graciously. She was never rude to me, though she seemed uncomfortable whenever Veronica said too much. When we finally got up from the table, I felt an immediate sense of relief. We said our goodbyes in the living room.

"Come back more often," Veronica said. "Family should stay close, after all."

"Of course," Arthur replied.

Alice came over to me before we left. "It was good to see you, Luisa," she said, and she meant it.

"It was," I replied.

On the way home, Arthur was quiet for a few minutes. "She was hard on you, wasn't she?" he asked.

"She was herself. Nothing's changed," I replied.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be," I said. "I can handle it."

He squeezed my hand. "You shouldn't have to."

I looked at him and smiled. "But I chose to be here."

When we got home, I took off my shoes and breathed deep, as if only then I could finally relax.

"You were incredible today," Arthur said. "Truly."

"I just don't let anyone make me feel small," I replied.

He pulled me into a hug. That night, lying beside him, I thought about Veronica, about Alice, about that silent game that seemed to be playing out just beneath the surface. There was nothing concrete yet — only feelings, small discomforts I kept trying to push aside. I closed my eyes, convinced it was just another ordinary challenge of married life. I didn't know yet that some people never accept losing control. And that for them, love is just another battlefield.

This is my husband, Arthur Valente — the love of my life. He's a very powerful CEO, wealthy, and incredibly loving toward me. He loves me unconditionally.

And this is Veronica Valente, Arthur's stepmother — though she's like a real mother to him. Even though she's against our marriage and doesn't like me very much, she treats him well, and that's what matters to me.

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