Accepting his proposal. What!

Chapter 3

Camilla sat on the bed, pondering the marriage proposal. Vincenzo had left the room a while ago, with the aim of giving her space to think about it.

Vincenzo hadn't told her his purpose for the marriage, but hers was clear. She needed someone as powerful as Vincenzo if she really wanted her revenge on Ryder and Sophia.

She stood up from the bed, then started pacing round the room. Agreeing to this marriage had a lot of benefits for her — like Vincenzo had told her, she'd have to bear him an heir, so her child's future would be secured. But what about her family's reaction?

They never liked Ryder, that was one thing. But what would their reaction be if she told them she was married? They would freak out. But whatever their reaction, she knew she had to face it. She needed this marriage, 'cause it would benefit her in many ways.

Nevertheless, she walked back to the bed and picked up her phone. She dialed her father's number. At each ring, her heart rate increased by a hundred percent.

"Camilla," her father, Harrison, called the second he answered.

"Father," she replied. She inhaled deeply and exhaled. "Father, I—"

"Where are you, Camilla? You're divorcing Ryder, really?" came Vivian's voice from over the phone.

She rolled her eyes, knowing Ryder must have blown some big lie to them.

"Vivian, give me back my phone," Harrison ordered from the background.

"Hey sis, I'm happy with your decision. I told you that punk wasn't worth it," it was her brother, Ethan.

"Shut up, Ethan. Camilla, can you explain to us why you're divorcing Ryder? I mean, he's a good man, he takes good care of you and all, so why are you leaving him for another man? I never raised you like that."

"Mom, give the phone to Dad," Camilla cut in, trying as hard as she could not to raise her voice at Vivian.

Ryder was really a dickhead. Had the nerve to call her parents and play the victim? What an idiot.

"Talk to me," Harrison said. He'd taken the phone from Vivian. She let out a sigh of relief.

"Father. I caught Ryder cheating on me with my coworker, and it wasn't even the first time they'd done it," she said, her voice shaky, tears gathering in her eyes, ready to fall.

"I don't believe you, how can Ryder, a sweet man like him, cheat on you?" Vivian questioned. Camilla folded her palm into a fist, her chest rising and falling as a result of how hard she was trying to control her anger.

"Vivian, that's enough," Harrison groaned, his voice cutting through the moment.

There was silence from Camilla's end. This was the reason she never told her mom anything — she would always go against her. Sometimes she'd sit wondering if Vivian was really her biological mother. Sometimes, when she craved to speak with her mother, she'd hold back because she knew her response was never supportive.

"Camilla, Camilla darling, are you there? Camilla, can you hear me?"

"I'm married," she cut in on Harrison.

"What!"

Came from Harrison, Vivian, and Ethan. Even she herself was surprised by her sudden confession.

"You're married, to whom? Ryder? I thought you were finally getting rid of him," Ethan's voice came from the phone; he sounded disappointed.

"No, not him. The man I'm getting married to is far better than Ryder. A man who would never cheat on me with my colleague. Look, this is my life, and I've made my decision. Mom, I don't care whatever you think, but I'm not going back to Ryder. Bye." With that said, she ended the call and exhaled before falling onto the bed.

The amount of confidence she'd shown this past day, and today, was shocking her to the bone.

She stared up at the ceiling. Now that she'd stood up to her family, nothing was going to stop her from having her revenge on Ryder and Sophia. She was going to make them pay for making her cry.

She sat up on the bed. At that instant, she knew nothing was going to stop her from doing what she wanted.

****

In a beautiful study room, decorated with flowers and a big three-foot glass window, two men sat.

Vincenzo sat on the couch opposite Giovanni, his grandfather, his leg resting on the other, sitting lazily on the couch, sharing a never-ending eye contact with Giovanni.

"Nonno, time is a luxury. You know I have responsibilities, and you can't just call me anytime you want just to stare at me," Vincenzo spoke, his voice cutting through the silence.

"You promised to come with the girl you would marry."

"And I did," Vincenzo answered, cutting Giovanni off.

"Vincenzo, what do you take me for? A kid? You brought your secretary here to play the role of your girlfriend. How much did you pay her? What is even wrong with you, Vincenzo?" Giovanni barked, breathing heavily.

Vincenzo raised an eyebrow. "Keep spying on me, Nonno. The next spy you send... I won't hesitate to snap his neck," Vincenzo said, and took a roll of weed from his pocket, along with a lighter. He lit it and took a drag before puffing it out.

"I hate how relaxed you are. Out of all my grandchildren, you and your sister are the ones giving me stress. You're both always difficult to control."

Vincenzo chuckled. "That's what makes us different. Unlike some who would kill to take over the family business," Vincenzo said.

"I'm giving you from now till tomorrow. If you don't get married, I'll take the family business from you and give it to your cousin Gabriel," Giovanni threatened, and that only made Vincenzo chuckle.

Just then his phone beeped. He took it out and saw it was a message from Camilla — she'd accepted the deal. A small smile crept at the side of his lip.

Little by little, he would win back her heart. The love that bastard Ryder stole from him, he would have it back. Even if she didn't remember him, he would bring back the memories Ryder had erased, and he would make him pay dearly.

"Who are you thinking of, that's making you smile that much?" Giovanni's voice cut into his head. Vincenzo rolled his eyes before standing to his feet and starting to walk away.

"Seems like my fake bride needs me," he said. With that, he walked out of the study room. A smile appeared on Giovanni's face.

****

At a dark corner of a deserted street was a man dressed all in black, with a black hoodie over his head.

He brought out his phone and looked sideways before dialing a number. The phone rang, but the person didn't pick up.

"Pick up, bitch," the hooded person muttered. He dialed the number again, and this time the person picked up almost immediately.

"What took you so long to pick up, bitch," the person scolded.

"Don't talk to me like that. I am far older than you, and I warned you not to call — only I do the calling, or do you want my family to find out?" a feminine voice spoke.

"Whatever, how did it go?" the hooded person asked.

"I couldn't convince her not to proceed with the divorce, and there's something you should know," the feminine voice said.

"Fuck. What?" the hooded person spat.

"She's getting married."

"What!"