I wasn't even up to a day in the country and I was already being threatened. Aside from my parents already talking about getting married, I thought things couldn't get worse.
I wasn't going to show them this. It would make everything unbearable. They would just have a fleet of bodyguards following me around the city. I was already complaining about the number of bodyguards I had, with the gunshot that just happened if I showed them this message, I would be selling my freedom. I had to keep this a secret at the same time I had to be careful, I don't know who the message was from but it was obvious the mastermind of the attack sent it. Could it be my archenemy Emilia? I couldn't be so sure, what if someone else was behind this? It was clear as day that my return to this country didn't sit well with someone, Emilia was one of those people but I don't think she's bold enough to do this when everyone in the family knows of our rival. She could easily get into trouble. Then who could it be? Italy wasn't for me but my parents just wouldn't leave me in America. I had the best time of my life there. I sighed as I rose from the bed and made my way to the window. It had been a long time indeed. I remember when I used to sit by this window and wish my life could be better and I could travel the world without my parents calling me every second like I was a child. Funny how time flies. I leaned towards the window looking outside, it was already dark. I guess my family members would have all gone to their various rooms or gathered somewhere arguing, I didn't care. I just wanted to be alone. From the corner of my eyes, something caught my attention like something moving in the bushes. There was a garden by my window, I tried to focus my vision because I usually found it hard to see at night and I hated glasses. When my eyes caught sight of what was hidden in the bushes I quickly covered my mouth to prevent myself from making any sound but I had already been sighted. I watched as something or rather someone came from behind the bushes, the person had a mask covering his or her face I couldn't see properly. And the person pointed two fingers at me as if it was a gun, then made a shooting gesture and blew on the fingers before the person disappeared, running off. I was too stunned to speak, did they even have security here? How the hell was all this happening when my father claims he does everything the best? Without even thinking I rushed downstairs. " Mum!! Dad!! Mum!! " " Honey, what is wrong?" My mum's worried voice came as she rushed to me. " What is wrong?" My father asked as he took my hand and led me to sit down. " I need to go back to America, I need to leave." " Hallelujah!!" It was Emilia. I didn't even know who invited her into this. When and why did they all come here? I called for my parents, not them. The look my mom gave her shut her instantly. " This isn't about what we discussed right?" " Mum, I haven't even been in this country for a day and someone wants me dead, I should return back to the States because there I had peace and nobody was up for my head. How do you want me to sleep well or stay in this country?" I wasn't being a coward, I didn't even want to return to Italy in the first place if not because of my parents. So I'll jump on any opportunity to return back to America. " That is the very reason we want you to get married to someone from a reputable family, someone who can protect you." " That can be avoided if you just let me return back to the States." " I agree with her on this." It was Emilia again. " Can you just shut up!!" My mom and I said at the same time and she raised her hands in surrender. This was between my parents. Nobody invited any of them here. They all excused us returning back to their rooms and I couldn't be more glad. " Honey just forget about this, you should be resting, don't let this bother you too much, your father and I wouldn't let anything happen to you." My mom said as she rubbed my chin affectionately, she didn't know what I had seen down my window. They wouldn't understand, they were not the ones receiving threats just one day after returning home. " Go take a rest. We'll talk more tomorrow." That's it? Not wanting to argue any further, I returned back to my room. I made sure the window was securely shut in such a way that no one could get in. I hope I didn't get any uninvited visitors. I couldn't sleep, my mind was telling me someone would be watching me if I closed my eyes. I was being paranoid, but I couldn't help it. Whoever was responsible for that shoot-out would be so happy about the effect it had on me, it took my sleep away. Since I couldn't sleep I stood up from my bed to get a drink. It was late but I didn't mind. I checked my phone to see some messages from my friends. They had not stopped their teasing. I opened the bottle of whiskey but just couldn't bring myself to drink. It wasn't going to change anything, my problems would still be there. Just one day in Italy, just one day, this was a clear sign that I wasn't welcome here. But come to think of it, this is my father's land, and nobody could decide where I should or should not be, as much as I didn't want to be in Italy at the same time I wasn't going to let anyone scare me. They could do what they want but I would never cower like they want me to, I am not a coward. With that thought I returned back to bed, to fight I need strength and that means getting enough sleep. Tomorrow is another day to fight. Lillian Camilla Vincent doesn't back down." Thank you all for your warm welcome yesterday although I'm sorry for the unexpected attack, it wasn't like any of us saw it coming," I said to my family as we all had breakfast, I couldn't wait for them to be on their way. Especially Emilia " Oh dear, it wasn't your fault." My uncle's wife, who I know spends all his money on plastic surgery spoke and I smiled at her, mind you it was forced. " So what's your plan?" My closest cousin asked and all I could manage was a shrug. " What plan could she have? She has everything planned out for her, you know being a spoilt princess and all." The sooner they leave my house, the better chance I have of avoiding prison on my second day in Italy. Emilia was getting on my nerves. " Emilia, stop!" Someone said but I didn't care, I was channeling all my energy and calling all the gods of calm so I wouldn't kill her. " Thank you for the breakfast, I'll be leaving first. And thank you all once again for the welcome." I said as I stood up from my
" What's wrong?" Rodrigo asked as he picked up the envelope that fell from my hand and looked into it. " Fuck, girl, they've been tailing you, who could it be? Doesn't this person have something else to do than following you around?" The pictures were of me leaving the house this morning, and all other places I've visited. Who could be so desperate to wipe me off the face of the earth that they had to be everywhere I go? Could it be the lady who bumped into me earlier? " We should report this to the police," Rodrigo said as he held my hand and we both started walking out of the restaurant. " We can't," " Why is that?" He asked, surprise evident in his voice. " We just can't, whoever is doing this just wants me to be scared, and involving the police would just put me more in the spotlight and soon enough it would be all over the media, I don't want that to happen," " Then what do we do?" Rodrigo asked as he opened the car door for me but instead of getting in, I took the envelo
" Isn't it nice to meet the love of your life here?" I heard Rodrigo teasingly ask as I came out of my thoughts. " You wish," Rodrigo had always mocked me about having hidden feelings for this freak but he was so wrong. I could feel eyes on me and I knew just who they belonged to but I didn't give two shits about it, he could stare at me all he wanted. " Mr. Ferdinand, so nice to see you here," I guess one of Rodrigo's business associates said as he shook hands with Rodrigo, and then turned to me. " And who is this lovely lady with you?" I smiled at him as I took his hand that was stretched towards me for a handshake. " This is my best friend, Lilian Vincent," Rodrigo said as the man raised his brows at Rodrigo seeming not to believe him. " Well, this is something different from the usual types you bring here," " I agree with you on that," Rodrigo said as they got to talking about whatever it was businessmen talked about while I just sipped on my wine. One thing I was proud o
The room grew silent as I stared at the man in front of me, if this was some kind of joke it was too expensive. I didn't want to jump to conclusions even though the smirk the bastard had on his face told me whatever assumptions I had might just be true. " What are you doing here?" I asked with spite, surprising my parents. " What are you doing Lilian? Is that the way to talk to a man you'll be getting married to soon?" If I wasn't sure before now, the confirmation was right before my eyes, it was him, they wanted me to marry him, they wanted me to go to prison. " There would be no wedding," I said with so much confidence like nobody could utter my decision. " Stop this madness, Lilian," My father said in anger, not liking the fact that I was disrespecting his soon-to-be son-in-law or rather business partner. " What madness Dad? That I don't want to marry a man I don't love, that you're forcing me to do something I don't want to? Seriously, you're the one that needs to stop this m
" How are we gonna do that?" Rodrigo asked looking quite confused, I was confused too. My parents always got what they wanted and I knew that if I didn't act fast I would soon become the wife of an enemy. I couldn't let that happen, my life would become hell. A thought suddenly came to me, I didn't think it through, it was just an idea but it was worth the shot. " I've got a plan, I don't know if it will work but it's something," I said as I started opening the pizza box that Rodrigo brought. Now I felt better knowing I had a plan even if it wasn't a thoroughly thought-through plan. " What plan?" I beckoned him to come over and he looked at me like I was crazy, walls have ears they say, and I wouldn't want anyone to hear what plan I had in mind. I whispered what I wanted him to do and he gasped looking at me with an evil smirk. " You my friend, you're very dangerous, how did you come up with such a plan? That's going to work and I know just the right person to help us with that
" Have you been smoking lately?" I asked Rodrigo as I looked at him. " I'm serious, if this plan doesn't work, you marry me, if we have a fake marriage and tell them we're married, they will be off your neck," Rodrigo said, sounding so serious and I tried to process his words. Thinking about it, it was actually a good plan, we could stage a marriage, fake loving each other. " Oh my god Rodrigo you're a genius, this is brilliant, if this doesn't work, we'll get married, it's going to be so funny if things turn out like that, they'll be so shocked," " You can say that again," My mood immediately lifted, but we have to work with our plan A first before going with B if A doesn't work. Brilliant. Rodrigo dropped me home and I was no longer worried about meeting my parents. I entered the house with a broad smile on my face. Let's see how they make me marry that man. " Lilly," I heard my mom call just as I stepped foot on the first stairs leading to my room. " Yes Mom," I turned to her
"That bastard, he wants my clients now he also wants my woman," I heard Scott say. " What do you mean by that?" I asked him, feeling like a character in a book that didn't know what role she was playing. " There's nothing to worry about, you wouldn't be marrying that man, I'll make sure of it," He said with so much confidence that it shocked me. " There's something you're not telling me, and I need to know," Scott took my hand and led me to the couch then he sat down and made me sit on his lap. " I just want you to know that you won't marry that man, Antonio is one sick bastard who doesn't care about anyone but himself, someone like him doesn't deserve you, you deserve someone who will treat you like a queen, I might not be a perfect man but I know Antonio is not that man to take care of you, God I even hate to say his name." Scott groaned as he rubbed his eyes in annoyance. " Then let's not talk about him, let's talk about something else, what about you getting me pregnant to avo
"He was in my room last night Rodrigo, I swear it took everything in me not to pull the trigger and bury his goddamn body,” I said in anger. " I would have helped you, what was he even doing in your room?” Rodrigo asked. " Exactly, exactly the question I asked him and the bastard mocked me in the face, in my own room, we really need to go ahead with our plan A real quick Rodrigo, I can't stand the thought of that man not to talk of marrying him, I'll go crazy,” I said with a sigh as I fell on my chair.Today was my first day in the office and Rodrigo came to give me flowers. His way of cheering me up.My father made me the manager of one of his hotels and I know he's going to expect so much from me. It's going to be tough.“ Rosabella said she's still thinking of a way to enter his life without looking suspicious,” Rodrigo said and I couldn't help but sigh as I rested my head on the edge of the table." Cheer up bestie, you're not going to marry him, fate isn't going to be that crue
“By the power vested in me by God, I now pronounce you husband and wife…again,” the priest said and the congregation burst into laughter."You may kiss your bride,” the priest didn't even need to say it twice. Antonio leaned down as he claimed my lips in a hot kiss.I could hear Rodrigo and Leo whistling as Antonio hand held my waist pulling me closer but I had to quickly pull away although he didn't want to leave me.“People are watching babe," I said and he chuckled against my lips before pulling away.“I love you, I love you so much," he whispered as I looked into his eyes wondering how I got so lucky.I turned to the congregation and threw my bouquet and it fell on Rodrigo's lap. I couldn't help but laugh.“I don't even have a girlfriend," Rodrigo said with a groan and everyone burst into laughter. I felt so good and happy compared to the last time I and Antonio got married, I didn't even want to think about it. I turned my attention to my husband as I wrapped my arms around him
I woke up with an unbearable pain shooting up my shoulder and I groaned before trying to sit up but firm hands held me softly preventing me from standing up.“Hey, hey, there's no need to stress yourself, just rest,” I couldn't help but smile as I opened my eyes to see my husband's eyes staring at me with concern,"Am I in heaven?” I whispered, my voice barely above a whisper, and he chuckled but quickly stopped himself as a frown took over his face."Why are you so stubborn?” he said with a sigh as he took my hand and dropped a kiss. “I couldn't just hide and let you face them alone, I needed to be there for you, remember we have to do everything together," I said as I tried to raise my hand to touch his face but I couldn't.“Stop trying to do anything, just rest, okay?” he said as he brushed his fingers through my hair."What about…" my chest tightened as I thought about how everything that had been happening to me has been my mother's doing, and no matter what she did a part of me
'NO!! Lilly!!'Time froze as I heard the sound of the trigger being pulled. My heart stopped, waiting for the deafening bang that would end everything. But... nothing. There was no shot.Lilly stood there trembling, her breath shallow, but alive."How? Why the fuck is there no bullet in my gun?!" Veronica Lilly's mother screamed, frantically checking the weapon in her hands.That was the moment my wife snapped back to her senses. With strength I hadn't seen in her before. Lilly pushed her mother with a force so fierce it sent Veronica sprawling to the ground. But there was no time to celebrate her bravery.The man holding Rodrigo down reacted instantly, lifting his gun and firing at Lilly. She ducked just in time, the bullet narrowly missing her.Everything descended into chaos.The door burst open, and the reinforcements I had been waiting for finally stormed in.“Get down!" one of the officers shouted, his gun trained on Adrian.Adrian froze for a moment, his wild eyes darting aroun
The room became dead silent and it was like everyone held their breath as I turned to Lilly before turning to Rodrigo..“Stay here," I said and was about to stand up but Lilly held my hand shaking her head.“I heard that there was a party here and I brought friends," a familiar voice said from outside and I turned to Lilly who had her eyes wide in shock,“She followed you," she mouthed as she stood up before turning around in confusion and I held her hand stopping her. I knew I was going to be followed but I didn't know who was going to follow me. I didn't know that Lilly's mother was the mastermind behind everything but I knew that someone might have been watching me in case my wife was alive so I had everything planned out.“Do you trust me Lilly?" I said as I held her shoulders trying to calm her down from how panicked she looked. “She's out there Antonio, there's no way out of this, she's going to kill us," she said as her eyes welled up in tears but I shook my head.“Rodrigo do
Thank God she was alive. My wife was alive. The thought of it made me smile but I had to remind myself that I made a promise. I couldn't let anyone know that she was alive, if she was telling me to keep it a secret there must be a reason. I took a breath trying to calm myself down before I opened a room door and walked out of the room, closing the door behind me.The house was quiet as everyone was sleeping. I quietly climbed down the stairs not wanting to make any noise as I made my way to the door but just as I was about to walk out the house, I heard a noise and stopped. I slowly turn only to be met with Lilly's mother. She yawned as she looked at me with half asleep half awake eyes.“Why are you still up son?” she asked, her voice filled with concern."I just wanted to go out for a drive, I don't feel good being in here without my wife, this house reminds me of her so much," I said with a sigh and she moved close to me and then without warning she hugged me. “I know how you fee
Sleep felt foreign to me, I couldn't sleep, couldn't bring myself close to my eyes. The hollowness in my chest was one that could only be filled by my wife's presence. I turned from the balcony to the bed wishing that I would see her sitting on the bed and everything was just a terrible nightmare. But it wasn't, she wasn't on the bed nor did I know where she was. I have long silenced the voice that was telling me to just give up that my wife was dead. I couldn't give up, I had to keep hoping, praying that she was alright, that I'll find her. I closed my eyes as I did a silent prayer hoping that God would be merciful to me and bring me my wife. I wasn't the best person, yet I still wasn't the worst. I turned away from the balcony as I walked into the room towards the bed. My eyes were heavy but sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford. Sleep had cost me my wife. I rubbed my head burying my face in my hands. “Lilly, why would you do this to me? Why would you walk into danger? Didn't
Sleep felt foreign to me, I couldn't sleep, couldn't bring myself close to my eyes. The hollowness in my chest was one that could only be filled by my wife's presence.I turned from the balcony to the bed wishing that I would see her sitting on the bed and everything was just a terrible nightmare. But it wasn't, she wasn't on the bed nor did I know where she was.I have long silenced the voice that was telling me to just give up that my wife was dead. I couldn't give up, I had to keep hoping, praying that she was alright, that I'll find her.I closed my eyes as I did a silent prayer hoping that God would be merciful to me and bring me my wife. I wasn't the best person, yet I still wasn't the worst. I turned away from the balcony as I walked into the room towards the bed. My eyes were heavy but sleep was a luxury I couldn't afford. Sleep had cost me my wife.I rubbed my head burying my face in my hands.“Lilly, why would you do this to me? Why would you walk into danger? Didn't you kn
It's been two days—two days without my wife and I didn't want to believe what they told me, I didn't want to believe that my wife could be dead.I felt hollow, lifeless—like a man whose soul has been ripped out of him. She couldn't be gone. I didn't want to accept that I'll never see her face again.But the words of the officers kept ringing in my head and it was horrifying to think she might have died in the explosion. But there was no corpse. She was alive somewhere out there, maybe she was even scared and alone. I don't know.I rubbed my face with a sigh. This is all my fault, if I had been awake like a caring husband should, I would have noticed when she left, but instead I was sleeping while my wife would have been out there fighting for her life. The police were still looking for the person who might have sent that message to my wife. They were able to get a hold of her phone and she had left because her best friend's life was in danger. I don't know if I should be jealous that
I stood up as a silent determination filled me, my wife could be in there and they were stopping me from going to get her, I didn't care that I was going to get hurt—I didn't care that I was going to die, all I wanted was to see her.I looked to my left to see one of the officers looking distracted as they searched around. Leo seemed to be in shock, it was the perfect opportunity.I bolted, running towards the side of the building that the fire hadn't reached, I wasn't thinking, but I didn't care.“Antonio!" Leo called, his voice filled with fear as he ran after me, but I didn't stop. But just before I could throw myself into the building, I was pushed once again to the ground and right in time before the flame falling from the burning house could fall on us.“Why are you fucking stopping me?! Let me go! If they can't go in there, I can! My wife…my wife!” I choked out as Leo dragged me away from the building. “Listen Antonio, I know how you feel, but going into that fire isn't going