Isabella POVMy eyes scanned the crowded room, I had just seen Dominic leave with Grace again, it was like any time we had any breakthrough, she would appear and we would take ten steps backward.I made my way through the crowded room again finding my seat, now empty, as everyone had finished eating and lingering around and being social now.My phone pings in my phone and I frown, is it Bianca? I really need to speak to someone on my side at this point, someone who could advise me on what to do.I pull my phone out of my bag, and a notification from a gossip blog pops up, confused and interested, I click the link, and the page comes out with headlines; “The Mariano family, on the brink of bankruptcy? Is that the reason for the rushed marriage to the Deluca’s? Is Isabella Mariano as innocent as she looks to be or she's just a Gold digger who steals men from other women?”My heart pumps fast in my chest, this can't be, who would publish such, I can almost feel eyes on me, phones start t
Isabella POVThe next morning, I'm worried about Dominic, “I mean he hasn't picked up my call in days” I say into the phone Bianca making noises from the other side“Yeah not since he left with Grace, I think you should chill, head to work and we can see later during the day, I came bearing gifts from Egypt” she giggles into the phone.“Alright, I’ll see you later,” I say ending the call, I turn to the mirror the blue suit I wore today wrapping around my body.My phone dings again and I see a message from my mother-in-law“Go to Dominic office and personally pick up the auction documents for the charity event” I read the message to myself rolling my eyes, the auction is in a few days and I've been doing everything myself, with no help from her or Dominic. The sun reflects on my seat when I push the door of my office open, on the couch seated lazily is Raffaelle.“Raffaelle” I call out his name “What are you doing here?” I turn to look at the time, “And so early in the morning?” I dr
Isabella POV“Hello girls” she crosses the table, standing beside us “Such a coincidence catching you guys here, I would say it's a pleasure, but it's not” She rolls her eyes crossing her arms over her chest.“Leave Grace, I think we've had enough of Slut for the day” Bianca raises a brow at her, downing her drink.She rolls her eyes turning to me, her mini skirt wrapping around her lower body, “Have you seen Dominic lately? He's been such a darling to me these few days” She smirks turning away, her hair swishing on her back with each step“I want to put a knife through her eyes” Hannah grabs the table knife in anger“Thank you guys,” I say to them, my heart sinking in my chest, I knew he left with Grace but he had actually been with her for two days. Totally ignoring me, my lips start to quiver and my eyes prick with tears “I have to go” I stand up picking up my bag urgently, i don't want them to see me cry, to see what I've been going through since I got married to Dominic.“Isa” Bi
ISABELLA POVThe documents in my hand feel heavy as I stand up ready to question his assistant about them, but she probably knows nothing about it.I grab the auction document, quickly leaving the room in a rush, “I heard she seduced him and stole him from Grace” one of the personal assistants says her back turned to me“I heard her family is broke and that's why she married him” the second one concludes adding to their gossip“I heard she got pregnant and trapped him,” another says her eyes looking between both her friends and they land on me“Hmph” I cough out loud prompting them to turn to me.“How about instead of gossiping about how I married my husband you should focus on your job” I roll my eyes walking back towards the elevator.*****“This is a lot,” I yawn to myself, I've been up all night correcting The Deluca finances, and finding all the mistakes I could.I close the document looking around the dark office, Dominic had made for me, it's been three days and he is still no
Dominic POV“You know what I'm talking about don't act like you don’t” she spits out turning her head away and tucking herself into the bed.“Isabella” I call out her name, barely a whisper“I do not want to speak about this anymore with you Dominic, goodnight” she stretch her hand turning off the lamp.I turn it back on “No you have to explain what you meant by that, you are accusing me of something, I know nothing about” She groans sinking deeper into the mattress and ignoring me.I'm left confused as I head to bed.The next morning just as worse as she disappears quickly before I can wake up and usually I’m the one who does that.“Sir, Don't forget the auction in a few days,” Thelma says next to me as she serves me breakfast.“Who has been planning this auction? My mother? Tell her I won't be making it” I turn back to the news picking on my food and wondering why my wife is ignoring me and why she hates my guts so much“No sir, it's not your mother,” she says pulling me out of my
ISABELLA POV“Call the sales representatives, I want to have a conversation with them about their numbers, they are quite concerning,” I tell my assistant when I notice shock on everyone's face outside of the office, I raise a brow at that, what's happening? Soon a figure appears behind my doors, a bouquet of like and daisies over his arm, his crisp black suit holding his body, “Mr Deluca” my assistant is quick, pulling the door open to reveal his form.My eyes remain on his, unshattering, “You may leave us” he turns to my assistant She lets out a squeal walking past him, he steps in closing the door behind him, “No privacy?” he raises a brow at me.“I have blinds,” I say in a clipped tone, turning down to the documents on my table, my forehead scrunching in a frown, confusion rolling through me, what are you doing here anyways?” I turn my head back up to him.He sighs, the words feeling heavy on his lips.“Well?” I raise a brow at him.“Can I be offered a seat at least?” he raises
ISABELLA POV“I can't believe you did that” I yell as he shoves me in the back of his car.“You should believe, after all, I forced you to marry me right?” he raises a brow at me pulling himself into the car, “Move,” he tells the driver.“Where are you taking me? Same places you took Grace?” I spit out turning my head to the window and watching buildings move far away from me as the car speeds up.“There will be no speaking about the past or Grace on this trip, relax and enjoy it” his deep voice calls from beside meI fold my hands across my chest like a stubborn child turning to him with confusion, “Trip? We are traveling somewhere? I didn't pack anything” I complain He raises a brow at me, his lips fighting for a kicking smile, “Isabella you are married to one of the most powerful me. In the world, do you think clothes for a trip will be an issue to me?” he moves closer making my heart pump wildly in my chest, he places his hand on my right softly“Don't worry Cara Mia, I got you”
ISABELLA POV So today was not going to be that day, we were in the sky for so long, that Dominic stops tormenting me for once and sleeps through the entire flight.Without my phone to at least tell Bianca about this new development, I can't gossip, all I can do it watch the TV screen over and over again.“We will be landing soon, please fasten your seat belt” I hear the captains voice over the intercom “Finally I whisper turning I go to Dominic seat by my side, his unbuckled, his eyes closed and his breathing slow, it's the most peaceful and innocent I've seen him, I decide not to disturb him, and buckle him myself.Slowly I reach for the seat belt but he is quicker, his fingers clutch over my neck by reflex and the other pulls out a dagger I've never seen before.My eyes go wide as I grab his arm clawing at them, it takes a while for his vision to close in on me and release me easily.“I’m sorry,” he says immediately, panic in his eyes, “I didn't mean to,”I cough in my seat, turn
ISABELLA POVI gaze out through the port hole, still strapped to the bed when my stomach grumbles in pain.I sigh, “Don’t worry Baby, we will be fine” I rub my tummy my eyes meeting with the doorBang... It opens with a push, Rafaelle following through the doors.“Breakfast will be served outside, but only if you respect yourself,” he says softly, his eyes following mine “You have to do as I say. You can't run or escape. We are in the middle of the sea, so there is no escape,” he smirks, moving closer to the room.“I hate you, Rafaelle. No matter what you do, I can never pity you,” I spit, my voice filled with anger.He laughs, “You will learn to love me and live with me, we will be a happy family soon, I know it,” he says sitting on the bed, his fingers moving through the ropes slowly“You are delusional Rafaelle,” I say my voice cracking in pain.“Let us go, I will introduce you to my team, the people who made everything possible, hid me away, and made sure, you or that bastard Dom
ISABELLA POV My eyes turn to Rafaelle as he yells at Grace, “This is not the time for this Grace” he says his eyes wide “What do you mean? This was the plan, to torture her and kill her!!” she yells her eyes still blazing with anger “We can't go ahead with the plan,” he says his voice filled with urgency, “we have to leave here immediately” he turns around heading towards the boxes quickly filling them up with everything he bought “What do you mean?” she frowns, her eyes filled with concern as she watches him I laugh, my voice vibrating in the room as they both pause turning to me, “He caught you, he knows his best friend betrayed him” I continue as they watch me “And he is coming for you, he will kill you Rafaelle, he will hunt you, and you won't find any escape” I laugh deeply Grace's face scrunched in anger, fear, and anxiety on her features, “You have got to be kidding me, you can't be serious right now Rafaelle” She turns to him “Is this true? Is Dominic coming h
ISABELLA POV Rafaelle's face twists into anger, his eyes lighting up as his fingers slam sharply across my cheek leaving a stinging burn My eyes open in shock as I look across to him, taken aback by the slap He takes a deep breath, panting as his eyes meet with my shocked and terrified ones “I’m so sorry Bella” he whispers his eyes immediately filling with tears, “You just make me so angry!!” he yells his eyes wide like a crazed man My lips quiver as I watch him lose his mind, “You know I love you, I will never hurt you Bella” he moves closer to me, his fingers cupping my face in his softly I feel disgust wash over me as his sweat-stained face moves closer to me, “I didn't mean to hurt you my love” he says his voice shaking as he looks at me He pulls back panting hard, “Don’t say things like that again my love” he gulps turning to me. “It hurts me so much, I am not crazy, I am only crazily in love with you” he narrows his eyes at me, pulling me closer, his voice desp
ISABELLA POV I struggle against the ropes as they dig into my skin, I take in a deep breath, cement and chemicals filling my nostrils and I cough as a reaction I shake in fear as I hear the truck pull up again, my heart pounds in my chest at the thought of that man returning, and my mind reels back to the thought I had. Is this really Rafaelle? Why would he do this to me? It's even more suspicious as the man is silent, moving around me like a mime. “Please just let me go, I will pay anything, my husband is Dominic Deluca, he will give you anything, just please” I cry out taking in deep breaths, my heart pounding against my ribcage. He laughs, his deep voice echoing around what I think is a warehouse. “If I wanted your money, I would have kidnapped you long ago” he laughs his voice again seeming familiar I frown deeply, “who are you? What do you want with me?” I yell out fear in my voice as I move my head around nervously, my neck and face covered in heavy sweat. He ch
RAFAELLE POV I slam the truck shut after dumping Bella’s unconscious body on the metal. My eyes scan the area carefully for cameras before pulling off my mask, I slide into the front seat, starting the drive to the warehouse. A few minutes pass by and we end up at the warehouse, the smell of cement and chemicals filtering into my nose. My phone rings in my pocket, and I pull it out filled with adrenaline. “Grace, what??” I yell driving the truck directly into the warehouse and shutting it close aggressively “Have you done it? Is she there with you?” her voice calls out filled with anticipation I open the back of the truck, Bella rousing from her sleep, “Yes I did, I am at the warehouse now, I will turn off the phone and dispose of it now, I don’t need anyone tracing me” I say ending the call I grip the phone tightly in my grasp throwing it to the floor, it shatters into a hundred pieces, the sound waking up Bella “Dom? Dominic?” she cries out her voice slurry, but h
DOMINIC POV I walk into the upscale jewelry store the bright light blinding me, the manager in a deep blue suit, immediately moving to me. “Mr. Deluca welcome, your customized neckpiece will be out in a minute” he smiles widely pointing to the couch for me to wait. I nod, filled with excitement, I planned to get Bella and our unborn baby new presents, something to make her smile and remind her of Bianca “Here sir, they are ready” he walks towards me, the velvet boxes in hand. He pulls the box open, my eyes on the neckpiece, right in the middle is a diamond and silver pendant shaped in a lock shape with a silver clip connecting It to the other side. The clip has Bianca's name and her death date and the lock has Bella’s name and the expected date of delivery for our baby. I nod smiling down at the marvelous piece, “I will take it” I hand him my black card completing the payments The bag in hand and my cheeks hurting from smiling so much as I slip into the car, taking me
ISABELLA POV A wave of emotions overflow in me, tears following as I stare down at the test results in happiness, tears of joy streaming down my face. I take a deep breath trying to calm my excited heart, I have to tell Dominic, I spin around but I halt myself I can't afford anyone or the press to find out, I have to tell Dominic in private first. I walk out of the bathroom after touching up my makeup, moving back to the backyard as the sun sets. “You missed my speech, where were you?” Dominic turns to me his hands going behind me, resting on the top of my waist. “I had to use the toilet real quick” I whisper looking up at the sky as they start the fireworks. “Are you okay?” he turns to me a worried look on his face. I smile widely, “More than you know,” I say looking back at the fireworks. He lifts a brow at me and I shake my head. “Later when we get home,” I say my body filled with excitement. I’m a few hours we return home and I can barely contain my excitemen
ISABELLA POV After our impromptu date at my office, Dominic guides me home. Since we returned, Dominic has been like this, trying his possible best to be around me at all times. “What a gentleman” I whisper my voice low and husky, slightly drunk from the bottle of wine we shared. “I'm only your gentleman, Bella,” he says, his voice deep and laced with honey. His eyes meet mine in the dark foyer, my arms around his neck, and our gazes are locked in on each other. “Dom” I whisper while his lips meet with mine, they merge in a sweet hold, his finger moving through the strands of my blonde hair. His arms around my waist pull me closer to him, feeling him harden at my touch around his neck. He carries me to the bedroom, my legs locked around his waist, he doesn't bother with the lights laying me softly on the bed, his gaze meeting mine as I pant underneath him He kisses me softly on my neck his fingers unbuttoning my top, his lips trail to my neck revealing the purple bra I
DOMINIC POV The car drives into my mansion and I step out, the car and charity organization leave my head as I think about only one person.“Bella” I whisper her name as I enter the bedroom.I breathe out a sigh of relief at the sight of her comfortably sitting on the bed, since the threats I have been on high alert, and leaving her alone, even for a moment makes me lose my cool.“My love, did you miss me this much?” she giggles as I climb on the bed cuddling up against herMy heart expands at the sound of her laughter, “Yes I admit I missed you, there's nothing wrong with a grown man missing his wife” I leave a kiss on her cheek, and then her lips sliding off the bed to pull off my clothes “There is definitely nothing wrong with that” she stands helping me with my tie, “How was your day?” she lifts a brow in my direction helping me with my jacket next.I sigh, I dont know if I should tell her about my new discoveries, give her hope where there is nothing.“Nothing much, I visited o