[ Arielle ]I groaned and tried to open my eyes as my head felt heavy. The softness beneath me made me wonder if I was already in heaven. I tried to blink my eyes and familiar walls appeared in front of my eyes.It was my room, same walls, same windows and same bed.Am I dreaming?I tried to sat straight and looked around carefully. Yes, it was my room but how did I end up here? I had different clothes on my body and my bruises and wounds were bandaged. I threw the blankets aside and stepped down from the bed. I winced as pain shot through my numb legs, I cried and searched for any form of communication but there was none.I remembered gunshots and Faolan running out of the room. Some men with masks on their faces rushed into the room and released me. I tried to run but they caught me and during the resistance, I hit my head on the broken glass on the floor. I passed out and didn’t remember anything after that.The room door opened, I snapped my head toward the visitor.“Mom?” I excla
[ Arielle ]A week has passed, I locked myself in the closed confinement of my room, I didn’t want to face anyone or talk with anyone except Alexander who comes to check upon me during the night. Even with him, I exchange minimal words. I can’t sleep at nights, mostly cry remembering those moments I spent at the estate as Vincent’s wife and miss my husband.I have nothing to hold as a reminder of him except my wedding ring and my baby. Those grey eyes, deep and low voice, sometimes giving me jitters and sometimes scaring me.I never thought I will fall in love like this. I couldn’t escape either because my baby’s life is at stake and I don’t want any harm to my baby. Praying the God is my only hope.I was staring out of my room’s window at the snow white scenery outside, the winter felt gloomy. I heard the door creaking open but I didn’t bother to look at the intruder, it could be either my mother or Alexander because no third person is allowed near me.“Arielle, I hope you are comfor
[ Vincent ] “Capo, it won’t work like this. You have to eat and take care of yourself if you don’t want to go off track and allow your enemies to take an upper hand on you. The news of Signora’s abduction spread like a wild fire. This isn’t a good news. They are raising fingers on your capability to run the De Niro syndicate. I can’t see this.” Marcello said but I kept staring at the painting that she painted on the vineyard. I hung it on the wall in my office so it could remind me to keep calm and focus instead of losing my patience and temper.“I want to be alone, Marcello. Please, leave.” I said without looking at him and gulped more whiskey from the bottle. He snatched it out of my hand and threw it in the trash bin.“Enough, Capo. I can’t let you destroy yourself. You need to stay strong for Signora. She’s safe and alive. Faolan is waiting for you to make a move so you’ll be ridiculed in front of the world.” He said and cleaned the mess I created on the floor.My head felt dizz
[ Vincent ]My heart was leaping as the car moved on the snow-covered streets of Wellington. Marcello received exact location of Faolan from Anton and this time I was with double men power that I’d be needing to deal with the devil of my life.“How much more time, Marcello? We’re roaming around the city for last an hour.” I was losing my patience, each second was having a toll over me.“We’re almost there. Actually, he rented an apartment near a school building, he’s a smart rat. He knows that we won’t do violence at such place in a foreign country. We have to keep our men on standby.” He said and I rubbed my temples to keep myself controlled.“Alright, I’ll go by the book.” I said but inwardly, I am visualizing every possible way to torture him before I send him to the hell.I was feeling a mix of emotions, I’ll see my wife after many days and only I know how I survived. I won’t allow her to disappear from my sight again.He stopped the car behind a residential apartment building of
[ Arielle ]“Hey, baby?” I stroked my still flat tummy with a sad smile, “I know you can listen to me now because Mumma can feel you moving. You are four months old inside Mumma.” I talked to my unborn baby. It is the only good thing in my barren life in this prison. I spend everyday either remembering and crying for Vincent to come and save me or talking to my baby.I rested my head on the wall and stared at the dull, gloomy sky. Father didn’t allow me to even go for a checkup, he arranged the doctors to examine me at home and now, it feels like I have to spend my rest of life here. He has threatened me with the life of my unborn.I have learnt one thing from Vincent; wait for the right time to take an action because impulsiveness pushes us deeper into our doom. I can’t risk my baby’s life until Vincent reaches to us. I read the agreement, according to the agreement, Vincent may lose his rights over me and our marriage will be annulled because father has enough proofs to prove that V
[ Vincent ]Four months has passed since Arielle disappeared into thin air, I was there, to witness how someone stole her away and I couldn’t do anything.Four months has passed since Faolan was killed. His dead face reminds of me of my failures every day. I am living my life like a dead corpse, there’s no zeal to it because Arielle has taken it with her. I don’t if she’s alive or dead.This is the greatest pain someone can feel, suffer in its agony in every breath I take. This is the worst kind of punishment when you don’t know if the person you love is alive somewhere or long dead. Not having the closer, living in hope to see them one day is similar to a living hell.“I regret everything I should have done for you, Ari. I regret the time we would have spent together. I regret not telling you how I feel about you, Mi Amore. Please, come back to me. I can’t do this anymore. It is killing me every day that I spend without you.” I whispered staring at her photos in my phone. I regret no
[ Arielle ]“You’re looking nervous, Miss Wilson.” My doctor smiled at me while she prepared for my scan.“Yes, doctor. I am nervous. My husband isn’t here and I don’t know how’s the baby. My last scan was done two months ago.” I said and didn’t miss the chance to make my mother hear me.“Doctor, please, perform the necessary steps carefully but don’t take much time because Mr. Wilson has given you thirty minutes to do the thorough checkup. So, don’t waste time.” Mother instructed the doctor, she was smarter than me to keep a close eye on the doctor.“Doctor, you can proceed now.” I gave her a nod.“Sure, please, lay down and don’t be afraid when I apply this gel on your stomach, it’s a bit cold.” She guided me and with nervous and heavy heart, I laid down on the couch and she applied the gel on my stomach, then she started moving a wand. I tried to focus on the black and white screen but I couldn’t see a clear picture until a soft beating sound echoed through the machine.“The heartb
[ Vincent ]“Have you started taking meth, cousin?” I laughed.“No, I do not but by judging your appearance, a child can tell that you’re a lost shit.” He smirked but despite feeling agitated or angered, I stayed calm.“Dream on, Cassio. I will never give my position to a rat like you. Do you think it’s a toy that you’re demanding like a spoiled kid?” I ridiculed him.His smirked died and his face turned blank, “Both you and I know that you’re no more fit to rule as the Capo De Capi of this famiglia. Everyone’s talking behind your back and the time has come for a change. I am their top choice. They remember how my brother Cassius efficiently carried out his duties as the capo after Capo Antonio but an ambitious leech like you and Stefano transpired against him and killed him. I don’t dwell in the past. I have a futuristic approach. I want to be the leader. Isn’t it good for you? You can start a new life with your wife, a fresh beginning just like Stefano, I am proposing you a fair dea
[ Ella ]“So, this is the end of the story. The prince married the princess in the end. They lived happily ever after with their little daughter who was just like you, my princess.” I closed the fairytale book that I was reading to the young girl who looked sleepy but she was still awake.“This is your and Uncle Marcello’s story, right?” She asked me cuddling into my lap.“Yes, our story is like a fairytale you can say. There were demons in our story too but your uncle fought with them bravely and we are together.” I said with a smile. She blinked her big blue eyes at me.“When will uncle return. I miss him.” the little girl pouted and I started tickling her to lift up her mood.“Your uncle is very busy in his work but he will come soon. I am also missing him but I think he doesn’t miss us or he’d come home early.” I pouted with her.“I heard you both.”Marcello’s voice drew our attention on the door where he was standing. He looked tired but his smile was radiant.“Uncle Mars!” Lila
[ Ella ]I tried to open my eyes but a banging headache forced me to groan in pain. I tried to move but I couldn’t because I felt my hands and feet tied up. I shot my eyes open and found myself in a ramshackle building, the plaster was gone, I could see iron rods on the ceiling and the smell was putrid. I was tied on a chair with no source of light except a small window.“Help!” I cried but I could hear my own voice resonating in the empty walls.I cried recalling the moment when Molly sprayed something on my face and I fainted, and now I am in a shabby place. Someone kidnapped me.“Who are you and why are you keeping me here?” I shouted and cried. I knew my kidnappers were there. They could hear me.A few moments later, I heard footsteps approaching and a man appeared first, behind them entered Molly. She was smirking. Anger rushed through my veins when I saw her. She deceived Lucy.“You bitch! I am gonna kill you.” I shouted and wiggled in the ropes.“I fear you won’t be alive by th
[ Marcello ]“Fuck! Why did I let her leave without security?” I punched the wall as there was no sign of Ella. we searched the whole area where the bar was located but the kidnappers left no clues behind.“I am asking you for one last time, tell me if you are involved with the enemies. Ella was with you two when she went missing.” Massimo pointed his finger at Ella’s friends. The girls were shaking with fear and also crying silently.I rubbed my temple and breathed deeply.“Massimo, don’t blame them. They have nothing to do with her disappearance. Just look at them.” I said and approached them calmly.“I swear, Capo. We don’t know where that girl took her. We were in the bar. Ella went to the restroom and Lucy’s girlfriend followed her. We had no idea that she was a spy who was with Lucy just to track Ella.” Rita cried and pointed her finger at a really heartbroken Lucy.She was dealing with heartbreak. She was betrayed by someone she truly loved and trusted so I had to talk to her v
[ Marcello ]The life seemed meaningless without her. I thought pushing her away from me will help me to clear my mind but I failed miserably. I still find it hard to accept that my brother and my fiancée had a past and he still harbours feelings for her.Does she also feel something for him?I don’t want to go down that lane. I love Ella and seeing her with another man makes my heart go restless. She left the estate with her family. I didn’t stop her because then it’d be impossible for me to keep my distance from her but my mind goes to her when I don’t have work.I haven’t talked to Massimo as well. I don’t know if our equation is changed or he is still my younger brother. He hides such an important truth from me.“Capo, Mr. Whitford is on the call. He says Billy is in Sicily. Why didn’t we see him?” Vincenzo’s voice broke the chain of my thoughts.I snapped my head in his direction. My senses got alert.“How can he be so sure?” I asked him.“Many informers confirmed it. We must be
[ Ella ]“Ella, let’s go for shopping. We know that you’re going to the city of fashion but we want us to hang out together before you leave or we don’t know when next we’ll get a chance to hang out, just three of us.” Rita said.After talking to Mama who encouraged me to keep faith in my love and prepare to leave for Paris because she doesn’t want me to give up on my dreams. Marcello wouldn’t want me to quit them either so the next morning, I woke up early and packed my stuffs.I decided to resume working in the café to fight the ache of heartbreak. I would go mad if I stay home any longer because with passing time, I am missing him more and more.“The café was closed for two days and now we have bulk of orders, flooding customers and no Enzo to manage the café with us. Sorry, girls but I don’t think we can leave the café today or we’ll be fired. Actually, you two because I am leaving tomorrow.” I answered her and put the fresh set of buns into the oven.“I don’t agree with Rita usua
[ Ella ]“Ella, my baby, please eat something. It’s been two days since you have touched a grain or left this room. I am worried about you. Life doesn’t go on like this.” My aunt rubbed my back.I was laying on my bed like a motionless vegetable for past two day, my tears have dried up. I didn’t expect Marcello to learn about my past in this way. In fact, I decided to tell him everything after our wedding and ask for his forgiveness. He didn’t try to stop me nor he said a word to me when I left his house with my family.Massimo Romano, you ruined my happiness. I didn’t hate you before but now, I surely do.“Ella, please... Mrs. Romano also called in the morning. She is worried about you. Why aren’t you telling me what exactly happened between you and Marcello. Did you two fight? Please, say something.“I want be alone, Aunt.” I said in a barely audible whisper. My strength had given up. I don’t want to live any longer.She sighed and gave me a helpless look.“I am putting the food her
[ Marcello ]“Why are you doing this, Ella? Can’t you see how much I love you?”Blood boiled in my veins. I felt betrayed by two people I loved the most. They were standing too close. She was wearing her bridal dress, she’s going to be my bride but she was in my brother’s arms. I could feel the pang in my heart. My vision became hazy. I didn’t want to believe on my eyes but they weren’t deceiving me but my bride and my brother.But must give the answer this time. I took long strands towards them and pulled Ella out of his embrace harshly. They were taken aback by the sudden interruption. Ella yelped but when she saw me, her eyes dilated in horror.My brother’s face was indifferent though.“What the hell is going on in here? Do not dare to lie or make an excuse because I have seen everything with my own eyes.” I dangerously whispered to them.“Marcello, I am telling you the truth. I haven’t done anything wrong. Please, trust me. I was asking him about you when you didn’t pick up my ca
[ Marcello ]“Why did you do it?” I asked quietly from the man tied in front of me.“I don’t know what you are talking about, Mr. Romano. You abducted me, forcefully keeping me here and you expect me to surrender and confess something I didn’t do.” Enzo Bianchi sneered, his eyes were red due to anger.I exhaled deeply and rose from my chair, I was treating him patiently but I was reaching to my limit.“Enzo, I do not want to hurt you. In fact, I will spare your life, today is the most important day of my life. I and Ella are getting married in a few hours. Ella and your family will be worried if you don’t join us soon. So, speak up. We won’t hurt you, I promise. Ella is too precious for me to lose and I don’t think I will harm her brother but you are leaving me with no choice.” I said and picked my gun.“You claim to love my sister but I think you are nothing but a vile and despicable man like other mafias. I wish my sister could see your true face.” Enzo spitted but it didn’t reach t
[ Ella ]“You’re getting married?” Uncle Rio frowned and looked at us.Marcello invited my family to the estate to break the news personally to them early in the morning. Except Enzo, uncle, aunt and my two cousins came.“Yes, Uncle. I am leaving for Paris in three days, it’ll be a long stay so I thought marrying Marcello is what I want. His name will give me protection if he has hidden enemies or your enemies there. I will no longer be an ordinary girl.” I said as Marcello taught me.It was necessary to lure my uncle since he can’t be trusted after he sneaked behind us to borrow money twice.“Honey, but why all of a sudden? You could do it earlier or give us some time to prepare for the wedding. After your parents, it’s our responsibility to act like your guardian.” Aunt said.“Don’t worry about the preparations, Mrs. Bianchi. We’re taking care of everything. Moreover, it’ll be a private ceremony. Only our families and Ella’s friends. It’s not in our favour to throw a big wedding in