Feeling like utter shit, I walk back to my father's room with a foul taste coating my mouth. It’s almost strong enough to choke on if I let it consume me.Since when did one’s neighbourhood become a health problem or give the medical team a reason to point out the obstacles in your life? 'Disrespectful, arrogant prick.' My inner goddess titters. “Umph!” I walk into a solid wall of muscle, stumbling back, and I lose my footing. Before I can register what's going on, a pair of firm hands, wrap themselves around my waist, preventing me from colliding with the cold hospital floor. Making a right dicking of myself.“Whoa, easy there, cupcake.” A husky voice says against my hair.I peel my eyes open, realising today isn't the day I'll be kissing the ground and I silently thank the heavens. My eyes meet this mystery man with his arms still holding onto my hips for dear life. As I gaze into his honey-brown eyes, a feeling of familiarity niggles at my consciousness. I offer him a faint
“You!” My father cries out in a trembling voice, trying to move himself into an upright position against his pillows. Failing horribly. His eyes dart back and forth between Alessandro and me, and I hang my head in shame, hating that he has to find out this way. “Dad,” I whisper heavily. “I can explain.” Finally finding the courage to raise my gaze, I meet his scolding stare that's filled with disappointment and heartache. He snatches his hand out from under mine, wincing, and turns his head to look in the opposite direction. Refusing to acknowledge our presence in the room. My heart plummets into my stomach, causing my belly to ache, and I recall I've seen this same reaction when he disowned Rose after learning that she was pregnant with a Valentino.“Mr Bishop,” Alessandros’ firm but gentle voice hums in the air, demanding attention. “Your daughter has missed you. She has been through a great deal while you were in a coma, and dismissing her because of me will be your greatest
I burst out laughing, clapping a hand over my mouth, shaking my head. “Yeah, okay.” Sarcasm drowns my words. "I'm serious, Farfalla.”I stare into his clear blue eyes that gleam with rejection and annoyance. My defiance is becoming his undoing, and he is willing to do anything to keep me at his side.But marrying him is just absurd. There is no real love connection between us and I refuse to enter a loveless marriage, trapping myself – binding myself to him for eternity.“So, am I. You cannot just spring a marriage proposal on me out of nowhere, Alessandro.” I shrug out of his hold, stepping around him, and I head for the door. “If you walk out that door, don't expect to see me or Savannah ever again.” He growls, meaning every word that is laced with poison. I spin around and face him with my nostrils flaring. "You wouldn’t!” My voice trembles, knowing full well that he would. Anger seeps deeply into my pores, building a wall around my heart made from ice. He stuffs his hands in
One Week Later.Time seems to have slowed down in the last eight days. True to his word, Alessandro has forbidden me to enter through the villa’s iron gates, refusing to let me see Savannah. He ignores my calls, refuses to see me face to face or acknowledge my existence when he's driven past me standing outside the villa, deep in conversation with his henchmen. It hurts. I didn’t think it would hurt like this to go from sleeping in his bed to him acting like I don't exist.And it doesn't help that the memory of our last kiss haunts me through the night, leaving me breathless when I wake up in a pool of sweat and shivering limbs. ---“Miss Bishop, these are the documents for your father's discharge records, his medication, and his timetable for when he will need to return for checkups or physiotherapy .”I'm pulled out of my current state of self-pity when a nurse enters my father's room, blubbering away. I turn away from the window, meeting her gaze, “thank you.” I say politely
I take my father's favourite meal out of the oven. The cheese is bubbling, and it has charred nicely on top of the cottage pie.Because my father cannot eat red meat, and he's not a massive fan of chicken. I had to use lentils. He is also very critical when it comes to balancing the gravy ingredients correctly, so it has to be homemade rather than store-bought. I tilt my nose upwards and take a long deep breath through my nose, breathing in the fresh aromas wafting through the house. My mouth waters, causing my belly to rumble, and I try to think back to when my last proper meal was. Snacking on dried fruit or drinking multiple cups of coffee isn't highly classified as eating healthy, is it?I placed the baking dish on top of the wooden breadboard next to the Greek salad I had prepared earlier as I waited for the pie to bake. Settling into my chair across from my father, I look at him through eyes that are consumed by grief and exhaustion. He hasn't spoken more than three words to
“Come on, Miss Bishop, open the door.” He yells, banging on the door again, and I watch as it rattles on the fragile hinges. I yank it open.The last thing I need right now is for my father to wake up or the women in the neighbourhood to see him and start gossiping. I poke my head out the door and look up and down the street, until I am confident he has not been seen, at which point I bring him inside and close the door behind him.I turn around, leaning my back against the door, and I glare at him with my arms folded across my chest. “What do you want and why are you here?” I hiss with annoyance as he goes about the living room, taking in his surroundings and most certainly passing judgement on our shabby way of life.“You called, I got worried and decided to come and check on Mr Bishop myself.” He stops walking and stares at me. “It's late.” I cast a glimpse at the clock on the wall. “It's after ten o'clock, he's asleep, I'm tired, and you should leave.” He chuckles, settling u
I stand in front of the full-length mirror, my reflection gazing back at me with uncertainty. In one hand, I delicately hold a black dress, its fabric flowing through my fingers like a dark river. In my other hand, I clutch a white dress, its pristine hue contrasting against my fingertips. A moment of indecision hangs in the air, as I ponder which garment to wear.About an hour ago, I had put my father to bed. I believe that today's events were too much for him to handle, and true to my word, I took him to the hospital with Jax where he accompanied my father to his appointment with Dr. Cameron for a checkup. I wasn't in the mood for his smart-arse personality, and I'm still pretty salty about his undesirable opinion about us being poor like it's a choice. Besides, I didn't get much sleep last night. I tossed and turned as I tried to make sense of what had happened with Alessandro in the middle of the street. I think it's safe to say he is like my human-form kryptonite. He makes me
I fall off the side of my bed with a loud thud as my body hits the carpet. My eyes spring open with tears already trickling down the sides of my cheeks, and I slowly pull myself up on trembling limbs, sitting on the edge of my bed. With my head nestled between my hands, I watch as the delicate droplets of disbelief and suspicion splash across my bare toes. It was a dream… Just a very crazy, awful dream… My mother didn't have a husband and child before she met my father, did she? No, she couldn't have, that’s absurd. My father has told us many stories about my mother being his first love, and my mum always said: “You have always held a place in my heart from when we were younglings.” But it's the name Cameron that sticks with me. And Reece Cameron springs to mind. No. It’s just a coincidence. My mother wouldn't have a child and not raise it. She was always about family, and it's why I was always pestering my father about disowning Rose. It's not what my mother wou
I set the bouquet that little Savannah had gathered from the villa’s lovely rose garden on Roses' grave. I take a step back to where Savannah stands. In her small, delicate hands, she holds the photo frame that contains a picture of her and Rose on their trip to the beach one sunny day. I peer down at her, a sad pout upon her bottom lip, and the tears in her eyes gnaw at the branches of my heart.She is so young and innocent, and she's lost both of her parents. I can't even comprehend what turmoil invades her little body. If anything happens to me or Alessandro, she will be left all alone. Tears pool in my eyes when I imagine her going through life alone, and I nibble on my bottom lip, deep in thought. I wish to give her a sibling. Whether it be blood or through an adoption agency. Conceiving a child is one of my biggest fears after losing our precious child beforehand. But with my tubes being cleaned and two doctors on call at my every whim. The fear that harbours my body isn't
FIVE DAYs LATER.It's been five pleasurable days since I spontaneously married the man whom I love like there is no tomorrow. We finally left the room and joined the rest of civilisation yesterday afternoon. We also took Savannah out to the beach for dinner and an early evening swim in the water. We ate, laughed, sang silly childhood songs from the past and swam. It was a perfect evening to end a perfect wedding and the start of a wonderful life together — as a family. Alessandro hasn't been able to keep his hands off my body either and this morning, I slipped out of the room bright and early to evade his wandering hands. Torturous mouth. And well… I'm sure you get the picture.My body aches in places I never knew it could. My womanly parts have never felt so raw and beautifully used at the same time. But today I'd actually like to sit down without gnawing on the inside of my cheek to mask the hissing wince that escapes my lips. As I descend the stairs, with Viktor not too far
Alessandro lets out a little growl. “You'll be the death of me, woman.” He takes my hand and starts leading us off the dance floor, making a small pit stop when we reach Riccardo and Selena.Riccardo clears his throat, steps away from Selena like her touch suddenly burnt, and he straightens his posture, running a hand through his hair. Selenas’ eyes widen as they dart between Alessandro and Riccardo, placing her hands behind her back. “I think you'll both make one hell of a power couple, and I give you my blessing,” Alessandro says with amusement flickering in his eyes as he thrusts his hand out.Selenas’ head snaps up with a big smile spreading across her face and her mouth agape. Riccardo looks at Alessandro with shock-engulfed irises, and he clears his throat as he takes Alessandros’ hand in his and starts shaking it. “You knew?” “Of course I did,” Alessandro chuckles as he releases Riccardos’ hand and pulls me into his side. “There's not much that goes on in the villa that I
I don't know how many times I have told myself that marrying Alessandro today is crazy.Impulsive.But when I think back to the photos of the stunning Brazilian dancer all over him. Jealousy invades my body like a plague. It's cruel, tormenting, and body crippling. It's a feeling that I wouldn't want to wish upon my greatest enemy.The truth is, I love Alessandro. I want to be his wife. His lifetime companion and I know he feels the same about me. He refers to me as his Farfalla. My glorious, powerful prince charming, who is hell-bent on haunting my nightmares back even though he has demons of his own, lurking in the shadows that I vow to slay on his behalf.Together, we can be unstoppable. We can conquer the impossible and build an indestructible empire.Together as one.We have old wounds that have been opened and exposed, forcing me to face my insecurities as they lured cruel enemies back into our lives from the shadows of hell.We slipped through each other's fingers multipl
MINUTES EARLIER.Walking out of the bathroom, a knock sounds at my bedroom door. “Come in,” I call out, jumping back under the sheets in the bed I share with Alessandro.The door slowly pries open. I glance up and watch as Nic and Selena walk into the room, looking like utter shit. They look how I feel. Pointing to the bottle of painkillers on the bedside table, “help yourself, there's no ice water, so you'll have to go downstairs for that,” I say as I try to stifle a yawn behind my hands.“Babe,” Nic says in her 'I have something to tell you, and you're not going to like it' voice.Shit…The blood drains from my face. “What's wrong?” I ask as I sit upright, pulling the sheet with me.Selena sits down on the bed, followed by Nic, and she opens the laptop she had walked in with and turns it around to face me. “There are some pictures…” Selena says as she glances at Nic.“Of what?” I ask before looking at the screen.If it's about the shitfest that happened last night. I might jus
“Come on, hon,” I say to Nic as I loop our arms together and follow Riccardo out of the club.Nic stumbles across the dance floor muttering, “I seriously like Reece, I mean, I think he's a top-notch bloke, but…” She sighs, leaving her sentence unfinished and I let her be.I just want to get out of here and go home to my big, comfortable bed. As we exit the club, we take a right, following Riccardo and I watch as he catches up with Selena, wrapping his long fingers around her upper arm; she instantly halts her movements, spinning around to face him. “What do you want from me, Cardo?” She cries out as she shrugs him.“What the cazzo’s gotten into you?” He growls incredulously.“Gotten into me?” She snorts as she violently wipes the tears sliding down her cheeks. “Si, you.” He hisses. She laughs bitterly at him as her eyes search his face. “You're unbelievable.” She spits as she walks away from him once again.Nic and I try to keep our distance to give them their privacy, as we lurk
THE FOLLOWING WEEK.As I walk into Alessandros’ office, knowing that his meeting is drawing to an end; I hear his velvet voice fill the vicinity.“Is there still no word from Ryan?” He asks his henchmen with frustration.I trip over my feet, thanking the God's no one saw me, as everyone is distracted with the folios they have in their grasps.“I'll take that as a firm no,” Alessandro mutters under his breath as he types away on his keyboard.Guilt nibbles away at my heart.I desperately want to tell him where Ryan is to prevent him from stressing out any further. Then I consider the consequences of telling him that I sent one of his finest men on a mission without his knowledge.It's undoubtedly safer if I don't tell him. I scan the third row of books at the bottom of the bookcase and halt when my finger lands on Roses' favourite novel. I remove it from the shelf and open it, turning the pages as dust escapes from the spine.Just as I'm about to close it, a scrap of paper falls out
I turn my attention to the large clock on the wall. “Shit!” I mutter, walking out of the kitchen with my stomach twisting in knots. “Viktor?” I call out as I see him talking to one of the other henchmen. He expresses his farewells and jogs towards me. “You called, Miss Bishop?” He responds with a broad grin. “I did.” I chuckle. Viktor is always smiling, and I've noticed whenever he smiles, I smile too, as his is infectious. “I need to go into town. I have a lunch date with the girls and if I don't leave now, I'm going to be super late.” I exhale loudly, wanting nothing more than to curl up in bed and sleep the rest of the week away. “Very well, I'll bring the car around and inform Ryan?” He curtly bows his head and walks away before I can respond. I make my way out of the villa after retrieving my handbag and to where the car awaits, with Ryan behind the wheel and Viktor holding the passenger door wide open. As I slide into the car, I raise my brows at him. “Don't.” He mu
I run my hands through my hair as I exhale. I have no idea what is going on and am completely bewildered. Riccardo tells me this is Alessandros’ method of submitting to me as he drapes an extremely thick coat with weights over Alessandros’ shoulders. His face distorts in anguish as he attempts to maintain his calm and stance. “Tell him what's bothering you and what you expect from him.” Riccardo shares with me. I nod my head, looking around the yard, and I become well aware that we have an audience on our hands. Part of me wants to tell them all to piss right off, but then the other part of me wants them to stay. So they can hear what I've said straight from my mouth, rather than the gossip that spreads through the thin walls like wildfire. I return my attention to Alessandro. His head is bowed as he continues to kneel before me. Swallowing my pride, I lower myself onto my knees. “You hurt me,” I declare in an even tone. “I know you have been driven by wrath to find Mrs D