Ezabella Viper...I don't know for how long I was locked in the bathroom, I just knew I needed time away from the man I was madly in love with.My entire world felt like it was crumbling around me. I sat on the edge of the bathtub, just balling my eyes out, trying my best to keep my sobs silent.The amount of defeat that was crushing my shoulders wanted to make me scream.I had fallen for the same cruel trick twice. I had fallen in love with a man who had no other intentions towards me but to hurt me.I should have learned my lesson after what Eliot Williamson did to me. I should. I learned to keep my guard up and not let Jacopo into my stupid heart. I should have been more cautious around him. I should have never let myself get too comfortable with the false idea of someone ever loving me.I should have known better.Beating myself up only managed to make things much worse, my tears flowing down my cheeks uncontrollably.My heart painfully squeezed in my chest, and I could do no
I've been trying to keep my distance for the next two weeks, trying to sort my feelings out.I had planned to confront Jacopo the day after the birthday party, but each time I tried to face him and bring up the topic that was killing me from inside out, the words would get stuck in my throat and refuse to get out. The main reason for that, I believe was because I was scared to find out that Jacopo's motive to confessing his feeling for me, to holding my hands and sharing kisses in our home, and to sharing our bodies with each other was for the reason of getting me pregnant and leaving right away.The thought made me feel sick each time to the point that I would have to rush to my bathroom to empty my stomach, to the point that I could barely eat any food.This hardboiled eggs I used to love to share with my husband now make me sick at the mere smell of it, and so did anything I would share with Jacopo.So, I started avoiding him even more, running away from our problems and trying to
I stood in front of the sink, looking at my reflection in the mirror above it after I had thrown my guts up on the toilet, not more than two minutes ago.I looked pale, paler than usual, my hair greasy and tangles from the lack of washing and brushing on my part. My eyes were slightly sunken and surrounded by dark circles. My cheek bones were showing more, evident that I had lost some weight in the last two weeks since I found out the horrible truth about Jacopo and I.No wonder Jacopo looked worried. I looked like I was an hour away from knocking at the door of death.I let out a sigh, feeling my entire body ache, the small action almost making me vomit again.I turned the water on and cupped my hands together, letting it fill with water before I splashed it on my face, I repeated the action a few more times until I felt wide away despite the ache in my body. It amazed me how I could feel awake and sleepy all at the same time.I glanced around for a towel and remembered that I had dr
I lower myself on the edge of the bathtub, my heart pounding in my chest and my vision swimming.A soft knock on the door pulled me out of my train of thoughts."Ezabella? Are you done?" Dalinda called out in a whisper, making sure no one else listened to her."Yeah." I replied, triggering her mext action, which was to push open the door and step into the bathroom.She closed the door behind her as she looked at me."Well?" She asked."How... How accurate do you think these tests are?" I asked, looking down at the three positive tests."They are pretty accurate." Daoinda replied, to which I nodded my head."If that is true, then I guess... I'm pregnant." I replied.Dalinda nodded her head before she walked over to me and sat down next to me."From the look on your face, I can tell that this was not the result you wanted to see..." She commented. "You and Nicolo... were you two active or... or did he force..."I quickly shook my head."No. He didn't force me into doing anything if that
The silence in the apartment was deafening. Jacopo closes his eyes after I demand to know everything, looking pained to even have this conversation with me.I already had tears in my eyes, ones I was trying to blink away and fight from falling down my cheeks. I was not ready to cry yet, but it was proving to me more difficult with each passing second."It really meant nothing..." He started."I don't care what it meant. I want to know the truth, Jacopo." I cut him off.He looked down at me with defeat. "Okay." He nodded his head."I..." A sigh escaped his lips before he continued. "Dante made me the offer a day after we got married because I was telling him I didn't want the marriage to continue and that it was a big mistake to let the Vipers in like that. He made me the offer, and I refused. At first..."He hesitated, and I had to wait a few more seconds to hear him continue."I ended up accepting the offer when I realized that this marriage was not going to work for either one of u
I woke up early the next day with a massive headache. It was bad to the point that I was having trouble seeing for a few minutes after I woke up.I sat in bed for about an hour, refusing to leave the comfort it provided, while I thought over the conversation I had with Jacopo the previous night.The more I thought about it, the worse it got. Him being so dismissive about it was what scared me more. What else had it thought did not matter when it clearly mattered to me?What else did he keep from me?Was he truly in love with me?Was it even possible from someone with his past to love someone with my past?Was this marriage doomed before it even began?All the questions that ran through my head only made me want to cry even more. I wanted to see Jacopo desperately and not see him yet all at the same time. I love him but also slightly hated him for what he had done.At time, I felt like I was over reacting to everything, but when I remember Eliot Williamson and how he used to manipulat
I had about thirty minutes to prepare the things I needed to go away. I wasn't planning on leaving forever, but who knows how things would turn out?If Jacopo was truly talking like that about me, speaking about how he was going to kill me and would need assistance with the body, then I sure as heck was not coming back. But if it was a misunderstanding, then I would eventually return after sorting myself out and was sure that this baby would be safe in this city. But until then, I was going to try to find some comfort in my old room and have a check-up to see if my baby was healthy.I'd been distracted a few times while I was filling a small bag with some of my clothes, standing in front of the mirror with my hoody pulled up to my chest, looking at my belly to see if there were any changes and evidence of a baby in there. There were none. At least, I didn't think there were any differences. It just looked like I was slightly bloated. Despite being distracted one too many times, I
The rest of the ride was awfully quiet. Connor didn't bother to push me for answers since he already knew what was wrong and why I chose to leave for a few days, so there was no reason in constantly asking me how I was feeling.I kept my eyes out the window, trying to distract myself by looking at the buildings and cars we were passing by, trying to stop myself from constantly thinking about Jacopo and the sticky situation we were in.Despite what I had heard him say in his walk-in closet, despite him tricking me into trusting him and giving him my heart, I already miss him. I miss him so much that it hurt.I miss the deep connection we had built with each other, the deep conversations we would share, the small moments that would make my day, the sweet times we share under the covers... I miss all of it.I miss him.Damn you, Jacopo.A few more hours went by before we finally drove out of the city boarders and returned to the city I was so familiar with, the one run by my father.This
"I think I saw someone." I commented after Jacopo and I hopped into the car.The appointment went well. Jacopo had held on to my hand the entire time, not leaving my side as he bounced his eyes between the ultrasound and I.He watched intently as the lady Doctor told me to pull my hoody up to expose my belly. The cold gel made me slightly shiver as she spread it over my abdomen, making Jacopo tighten his fingers around my hand.I've had three check ups so far, but none of them felt as special as this one, and I knew deep down that it was because my husband is here with me.I'd mostly watched his reaction to the ultrasound. His eyes narrowed as the doctor pointed out our baby. I'd seen a certain light within his gaze, and I felt joy expand in my chest.He'd looked down at me, and I'd seen a content in him that I hadn't seen in a while."That's our baby." He'd whispered, and that acknowledgment had made me want to cry. The way he said our baby, the way he looked at the ultrasound, it w
"How did it go?" I asked.Jacopo and I had shared dinner alone after Dante, Elijah, and Ella, along with the twins, left. The day turned out a lot different than I thought it would be. The men spent most of the day behind the doors of Jacopo's home office, coming up with a plan to take their enemies down, while Ella and I caught up, ordered food, made sure the men were fed, and played with the kids when they woke up.It was nice to forget about everything bad and surround ourselves in the bubble of joy the twins provided, and I didn't want it to end. But of course, the sky was starting the darken, and the men were leaving the home office.After saying fairwell to our unexpected guests, Jacopo and I settled for some leftovers from lunch from earlier and retired to our bedroom to call it a day, where I couldn't help but start to ask him questions about the conversation he had with the men in his office."It was... fine." He replied, settling down under the covers next to me."Did you g
Ella and I left the twins to sleep some more in the bedroom and found ourselves in the open kitchen.She was telling me how her and the other ladies of the web missed my company, and it reminded me that it has been a long time since I joined the gatherings. To be totally honest, I did miss hanging out with some of the ladies of the web as well. I don't mean the mean mother-in-laws and constant glares of the younger women. I mean the women who went to those gatherings to genuinely have fun, to talk with one another, and had a good time outside of their houses."I do miss you guys too." I replied."Well, you can always come on the next gathering." Ella said. "I know things aren't great right now, but it would be good if you give yourself some time too.""That would be nice. Bit, I don't think it would be appropriate for me to show up at your gatherings when Jacopo wants nothing to do with the web." I replied.Ella and I were talking about having something to eat before we came to the ki
Ezabella Viper...I watched as Ella lovingly looked down at her two daughters, her fingers gently brushing their thick hairs off of their faces.I look at her, and I see a loving mother looking at her children. It was a beautiful sight, and I wondered if I could ever be the mother that she is.My hand was pressed against my lower abdomen as I stared at her."Is it hard?" I whispered, trying to keep my voice high enough just for Ella to hear me, and low enough not to disturb the sleeping twins."What is?" Ella asked, tearing her eyes away from daughters to look at me."Being a mother... being a mother in a place like this. Being the wife of a dangerous man working for a dangerous organization. Is it hard?"Ella let out a soft sigh, looking away from me as she thought through her answer. "I wouldn't say it is easy. What I can tell you is that I wake up every single day next to the man I am madly in love with. I have two amazing daughters who I would give my life for. I have a fami
Jacopo Nicolo...Elijah, Dante, Victor, and I sat in a circle, our focus on Victor as he restarted his explanation on how he was looking into Elizabeth while he stayed here to keep Eza safeEza and Ella were in our bedroom with the twins as Elijah had refused to talk about killing a bunch of people in front of his two daughters, and while both Eza and Ella wanted to stay and listen to our plans, they didn't protest against Elijah's request."As I was saying before, I was rudely interrupted by your unwanted appearance..." Victore said as he pointed at Dante and Elijah at the same time with two of his left fingers. "I've found out that Elizabeth is staying two towns over with a small mafia wannabe, boys. All we have to do is march ourselves there and wipe them off the face of the earth.""We need to be careful." Elijah commented."Of course, we need to be careful. That doesn't mean we should waste any more time than we already had." Victor countered. "It's been two whole months sin
A short silence fell in the home office as Dante and Jacopo stared each other down.Jacopo crossed his arms over his chest, refusing to make a single comment and forcing Dante to continue."Like Elijah said, I am sorry for what happened that night, but I, too, had someone I needed to save. And as much as it pains me to sat this, your mother was not my priority that night."My goodness... I get what Dante was saying, but damn it, he didn't have to say it like that."And what? I'm supposed to just believe you and be happy with your decision? I'm supposed to clap my hands for you and just move on?" Jacopo asked, hurt still evident in his voice."That is not what I am saying. What I'm saying is that the night was not easy for any one of us. We were all isolated and were forced to choose to save those we loved the most. Elijah had to choose his family and you had to choose your wife..." "Then what about you?" My father jumped in. "Who were you forced to choose?" He asked.All eyes turned
Ezabella Viper...I sat tense in Jacopo's home office, my back to the window, and my face turned towards the unexpected guests sitting in front of my husband.Dante, Elijah, Ella, and their twins. One look at Jacopo and I could tell that he was trying his best to control his anger, to stay come and hear them out before he can kick them out without Dante threatening to burn us all down along with the apartment building."This is very awkward." My father leaned in to whisper to me, shaking his head in disappointment for getting caught up in between the affairs of the people of the web."It sure is." I replied, keeping my voice hushed enough only for my father to hear."Are you sure you want to say with this man, Bella? Because if I were you, I would not handle this well." He added."Well, it's a very good thing that you are not me, then." I replied, glancing at him and seeing the face he was making at me."Are we going to sit here and stare at each other all day... or are you going
I was in the middle of preparing breakfast for Eza when the panel lit up with a notification. I pulled my phone out of my pocket to look at what had set it off.Victor was standing in the elevator, aggressively punching the button that would take him to my floor.Goodness.I pushed the pass code in through my phone and watched as he shoved his hands in his pocket and looked up at the camera.I returned my attention back to the breakfast I was preparing for Eza, which did not need the stove to be turned on. Thank goodness.I ignored the noise of the elevator door opening as I started plating the fruits and cookies."Is that why you eat? Or is that what you feed my daughter?" He asked as he stopped in front of the kitchen counter."Mind your own business." I mumbled."My daughter is my business." He replied."Dad?"My eyes are drawn to the hall at the sound of my wife's soft voice."What are you doing here this early?" She asked. "Did we make plans for today?""Good morning to you too,
I stood in front of the mirror, pulling a black t-shirt over my head, wincing as I felt the slowly healing gunshot wound on my shoulder.Eza was still asleep in bed when I got up to get ready. The previous night, after Eza and I had spent the day together forgetting the horror we were living, we'd returned home and spent a few more hours in each other's arms, talking about this and that until she fell asleep.After tucking her in bed, I'd returned to the living room to retrieve my phone, charge it, and make a phone call even though I knew it was past midnight.I knew I wouldn't be able to fall asleep if I didn't call Victor right that second and make plans. I just couldn't wait a few more hours until the sun went up.I was sitting at my desk in my home office, one I have not been in since the day I lost my mother, and almost lost my wife for the rest of my life.I expected to call Victor a few times before he picked up, but to my surprise, the phone didn't even ring three times befor