Rayhana woke up to a faint light seeping through the thick velvet curtains. It was her first morning in this strange, luxurious Italian mansion. She slowly rose from the large bed, unsure where to go in the midst of all this velvet emptiness.
She gazed around the room that resembled a fairytale hall. Everything was meticulously arranged… yet she felt no comfort. It was as if the walls were watching her, or as if the excessive luxury weighed on her breath.
She put on her abaya and cautiously opened the door, slipping into the long marble hallway.
Downstairs, Maria greeted her with a warm, though slightly formal, smile.
"Good morning, dear. We're waiting for you for breakfast."
Rayhana nodded quietly and followed her in silence.
In the grand hall, several servants stood neatly in line. When Maria entered with Rayhana, she politely said:
"This is Miss Rayhana… Mr. Leonardo's wife."
Some of them bowed respectfully, while others showed signs of surprise.
Rayhana blushed from the attention and said nothing.
At a long table covered with an ivory tablecloth sat Leonardo. He didn't look at her directly when she sat down—he merely gestured for her to begin eating.
Breakfast began in a heavy silence, until Rayhana broke the wall with soft words:
"Where is Matteo..?"
He looked up at her, and for a moment, his eyes sparkled.
"He's sleeping."
Silence crept back once more, and they both finished their meal in a hurry.
Afterwards, Rayhana stepped out into the back garden, searching for a breeze to restore her balance.
She sat on a wooden bench beneath the shade of a large olive tree, closing her eyes—until she heard his voice calling:
"Raaay... hana!"
She opened her eyes to find Matteo running toward her and hugging her tightly.
She laughed, running her fingers through his hair:
"I missed you!"
Leonardo was watching from afar, standing behind the glass window, unmoving.
His eyes followed how the boy clung to her… and how she laughed for him.
He felt something he couldn't understand… the kind of attraction that has no explanation, and no room for confession.
That evening, he sat in his father's old office when Maria quietly entered, carrying a cup of coffee.
She placed it on the desk and said:
"She's smart… and gentle. Didn't you notice that?"
Leonardo sighed, averting his gaze.
"I noticed… more than I should. And that confuses me."
Maria nodded with a mysterious smile and left the room without another word.
At night, Rayhana stood on the balcony, wearing a delicate crystal-pink nightgown, gazing up at the Italian sky in search of stars.
A gentle breeze moved a strand of her hair, and she softly lifted her hand to tuck it back in place.
Leonardo stood in the hallway, watching her from a distance—unnoticed.
He whispered to himself:
"Why can't I hate her?"
And in that very moment, she suddenly turned… and their eyes met for a fleeting second—
But it was enough to ignite something inside both of them.