CHAPTER 5
BELLA MARINO Why my dress is so tight? I can't breathe… I'm standing inside the church and I'm getting married… to the man I haven't seen in ages. I swear I'm going to pass out in a few minutes. “ Breath, Bella!”, Fabio tries to soothe me. “ I can't breathe, Fab. My dress is so tight. I can't feel the air exhale my lungs.”, my voice rising through peaks of panic. “ Don't panic. You're fine. There's no issue with the dress. You're giving yourself a panic attack.” he rubbed his hand on my back, trying to ease my nerves. “Do as I say!” “Breath in!” “Breath out!” “Deep breaths, Bee!!” Fabio instructs me, and I follow his steps. He takes my hand in his and tries to calm me down. The fast, rapid breathing was slowing down, and the dress was not tight anymore. “See!? Just a panic attack!”, he assured me. He is always so good at calming me down. I can't help but smile. “ You look handsome!”, I whisper. “And you look deadly gorgeous, Bee!”, he whispers back. His eyes roamed around the dress and finally resrestedmy face. A smile appears on his face followed by a frown. “ He don't deserve you, Bee!”, he sighed. “ It's no more about who deserves me or not. Let's just go with the flow at this point, Fab. We're under contract to do this.” Tears burn my eyes and I notice a longing in his eyes. “ Barones and Marinos are all about money. At least after this, Marino's are definitely after money.”, he passes a sarcastic smile. “ I can't see my Papa losing everything due to me. He has worked hard all his life, and I can't even think of messing these things up for him. I have to do this whether I like it or not!” I stare down at our intertwined hands. “ Well, I don't like it, Bee!”, Fabio spits. “ Who don't like what?”, my father enters the room and questions. “ Go, take a seat, Fabio. Wedding is about to start.”, he sternly tells him. I watch him open the door and leave the room. I was able to catch a glance at people seated in the church hall. Anxiety reaches its peaks again. “ I don't think I can do this, Papa!” I simply say, turning my eyes to him. “ You can. And you will!”, he sternly says, words uncompromising. I never had a say in any of my doings. He was the disciplinarian. From a very early age, I realised that it did not take long for him to reach his belt and change my no into a yes. He could sense the tension in my nerves. “Bella!” he calls out, facing me. “You have to do this. For your family!”, he reminds me. I nod. Even though I want to scream NO. The song begins in the church hall and doors open. My legs protest, but we're forced to move. “ It's time, Bella!”, he announces and places a light peck on my cheek before pulling down the veil over my face. He orders the ushers to open the doors of the church hall, and immediately, all eyes are carved on me. I can't feel my legs, but they're moving. I feel like I'm flying. Or is it the sheer force of my dad that I'm walking? On the right are the Barones,s and on the left are the The Marinos, who were at war decades and are now sitting across and witnessing a union for peace. All I could remember about Enzo was that he was the sweet boy who sneakily exchanged muffins with me one day. And then, one day, he just pushed me to the ground. I remember going home crying with the bruises and skin cuts I had due to him. And now I'm going to marry him. With all these thoughts, I never realised that I'd reached the altar where my ruthless husband was waiting for me. My father stopped walking, and I stopped. He faced me and pulled my veil over, kissing both my cheeks and forehead, taking the bouquet away and squeezing my hand; he went away. He walks away, leaving me alone. And again, I can't breathe. The dress feels tight again. I hardly take any further steps to the altar and dare not face my future husband, who is standing right by my side. “ Face your future husband…!!” the priest says. And I turn. And I face the boy I've seen in years. I stare into his grey eyes that used to hold innocence and are no less than the devil's grey eyes now. He's tall and brutally handsome. He's so tall that I've to strain my neck to see him. His sharp jawline makes his features more prominent. I'm taken back to the boy I met at the playground. Both are the same persons but with entirely different personalities. He stares at me with his dark grey eyes, which can scare the death away. I snap my eyes shut and look at the priest with a look that screams NO!!! But the priest simply ignores them and starts the vows. “Bella, do you promise to honour and cherish Enzo in sickness and health, till death do you part as your husband?” Blood pulsing through my ears. My lungs are short of breath again. I can feel my heart pounding in my chest. My eyes blurred with tears. I glanced in the room towards my Dad who gave me an imperceptible nod. “Bella?”, the priest speaks again. “I do!?”, which sounds more like a question than an answer. The priest says the same to Enzo and he replies,” I do!” His dark, deep voice pierced through my ears. “ You can exchange the rings now”, the priest commands. And soon after my husband was thrusting a huge diamond ring in my finger. I panic again as I don't have a ring with me. A box appears from my side which contains a simple platinum band. He forwards his large veiny hand forward. Tattoos were peeking through his shirt. As soon as I make him wear the ring he pulls away, like my touch will burn him somehow. The priest explains the importance of rings and commands. “I now pronounce you as husband and wife.” “You may kiss the bride now.” What! Before I can register what the priest just said. Enzo leans in and places a cold, consequential peck on my cheek. He could have slapped me instead because that's what his peck felt like. Normally, after someone gets married, there are cheers and a wave of happiness from all ears in the church. But the church fell silent today. I'm glad Barones and Marino are sitting under one roof, and no one has been shit yet. Not soon enough, Enzo wraps his hand around my arm roughly and takes me down from the altar. I no longer feel like a bride but a prisoner has been taken to jail.I am glad that we came home instead of going to Enzo's home just after the ceremony. Whether it was just to pack the things I was relieved. Fabio and I came to pack my things in the room.
I plopped down on the bed and started to register the events that had just happened moments ago. My stomach was growling because all I could have was a slice of bread before the ceremony. “ Can you please get me something to eat, Fabio? I am starving!”, I request Fabio. “ On your service, Madame!”, he exclaimed and went downstairs to grab something to eat. I will be moving in with Enzo, my husband tonight. The thought of sharing a room with him or a bed gives me chills and makes me nauseous. Fabio came back with a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of milk and handed it to me while moving to the closet to pack my things. “ Only these?”, he questions. “ You know I never had much!” you speak, munching on the sandwich. “ These are merely 5 to 7 shirts and 3 pants? Are you serious?!”Fabio questions. “ You know I never had much!” “Just pack that outfit of my mother's carefully!” gulping on the milk, I instructed him. “ Roughly 5 to 7 shirts with 3 yoga pants and a sweater and a dress of your mother's. Plus 2 pairs of shoes? Is that it?”, again a question appears from his side. “ Yes, Fab. That's it.”, I confirm. “If that's it then we're good to go.” “ You know Fabio, we can spend a lot more time together pretending that we've got huge stuff to pack.”, I said, winking at him mischievously. He glanced towards me and reached me. And in a moment of a second, he was hugging me. This hug felt more than a goodbye. But all I could feel was nice. “ Fuck, Bee. I'm going to miss you.” Tears fill my eyes and I hate to admit that I'm going to miss him terribly. “ Maybe I can talk to your father to be with you?”Fabio whispers in my hair. “ You could be my bodyguard. Because I don't have one … right!?”, I say. “I'll need one..!!” “Bodyguard..I like that. But will your father agree to it?”, he counter questions. “Let me handle it!”, I assure him. After a few hours of pretending to pack things, Fabio and I go downstairs to my Father's office. He was busy with some paperwork and watched me over the rim of his glasses. “Fabio is going with me as my bodyguard when I live with Enzo Barone!”, I announce. “ All right! That's fine.” I expected a fight but it turned out to be easy. “As long as Enzo Barone is okay with him staying, I don't have an issue.”, he simply says. I never thought about Enzo protesting this decision. I'm a thousand percent sure he'll not agree to this, but he has to. I need someone to at least protect me in that house, to be at my side. Maybe even to protect me from my husband.Enzo Barone I was pacing through the corridors, waiting anxiously for my bride at my new mansion or to say , our home. The mansion was gifted by my father to us , according to him, that bachelor pad was way too small for me to start our new family or, according to him, a new family. Starting a family or having a child with a Marino colds my blood; even sharing a roof with her brings the worst beast out of me and having a family…that's impossible. I'm just amazed by my dad how seriously he's taking this marriage contract. Making me shift from the city to a rural area just to have a peaceful and happy marriage life is seriously pissing me off. I've to hire a completely new staff for the house from scratch last minute. A new housekeeper and kitchen staff to keep all the tasks running until I hire some new people for complete maintenance of the house. Standing near the garden, I feel how cold the house is, and Bella's presence won't bring any change to this. I already had her bedroom
BELLA MARINOI wasn't expecting to have my bedroom. I was afraid that Enzo would force me to consummate the marriage on the first night, but I was relieved and confused at the same time. Did he not find me attractive or worthy enough to be his wife, or did he have any other girlfriend or love in his life whom he wanted to marry, and I turned out to be a third-wheeler in their relationship?Ahhh!! A cold sigh escaped from my mouth.I'm thinking too much. Let's take it slow and steady. Mom and Dad never knew each other, but they turned out to be the hottest couple in town. And their love never died. Let's give this relationship your best try, Bella!!I reassured myself. Do I want to fall in love with Enzo all over again?Another question!?His grey eyes made my heart skip a beat, and the way he towered over me, his strong scent went all the way to my brain. I guess if we get to know each other more we'll eventually fall in love.Love??Another question??I should just unpack and settl
“You fucking carry my name now, Bella. You're Mrs Bella Enzo Barine. You no more belong to Marino's.”, Enzo roared. “I'm not a piece of land or some property that you own, Enzo. I'm a human and I breathe. I'm married to you, not sold.” Bella spoke with tears in her eyes as the grip on her arm was getting harder which might leave a bruise later. I will not be dictated by a mandate to marry someone like Enzo De Luca, the sole heir of the Barone Clan. Despite his reputation for ruthlessness and his animosity towards the Marino’s, I refuse to be coerced into a marriage with a man I haven't seen in years. His grey eyes may have been my first love and my first heartbreak, but I will not allow him to break me. As the daughter of his greatest enemy, I am confident that I will not be bent to his will. The real question is not whether love can emerge from violence and hatred, but whether I will allow myself to be controlled in a perpetual struggle.Prologue12 years ago Bella Marino Pe
PRESENT DAYBELLA MARINO I sit quietly in the corner of my Dad's office. My hand clenched in my lap as I listened to the conversation between the two influential and deadly enemies. Blood is pulsing in my ears so loudly that I can barely make out their words. My life is being decided right now, and I can barely spit a word as I've just returned 4 days ago, and all I've heard from my dad's mouth are a bunch of cursory words the entire time. I was just 9 years old when my mother passed away and the postmortem details revealed that she died due to an overdose of sleeping pills in the pudding which was served by me to her. After her death, things changed drastically, and so did my dad. He barely spoke to me as I reminded him of my mom. I was sent to an all-girls boarding school as he couldn't stand my existence anymore in the house. I was kept away for years, and even after graduating from high school, I was sent to live with my grand aunt. I was called back after 10 years, jus
CHAPTER 2 Enzo Barone I woke up early just to eat those double chocolate muffins baked by my mom, the smoked fajita sandwich french fries with extra ranch sauce, and a big hefty glass of Oreo milkshake. All I could think was of food even in my sleep. Mama said I was going through some kind of growth spurt so she makes me a big breakfast before heading to school so that I'm not empty stomach before my lunchtime. After getting changed, I ran down to the kitchen, but I slipped badly on the tiled floor. At first, I thought it was some kind of dirt or water spilt, which made me slip. But as I glanced at my shirt and hands, it was all red.Blood.A lot of blood Everywhere.Only red blood.Why is there so much blood?But as I crawled to the right of the kitchen counter, I saw my mother. Her throat has been slashed three times with a sharp dagger. She's still alive as blood pours out of her.“Mom, mama. Stay with me. Somebody help us!!” As soon as I hugged her she collapsed in my arms. H
CHAPTER 3BELLA MARINOI glance at my reflection in mirror and delicately brush the invisible dirt from the white dress. I look so different… a grown-up.My mother would've looked the same in this dress. She would've hugged me seeing me in a white dress all dolled up for the wedding. “ You look deadly gorgeous!! Oh my God!!”, the shop owner exclaims on seeing me in the dress. She's an old, short lady with frizzy blonde hair with blue eyes. “ I knew this would look good on you!”, she gushes.My eyes were blurry as I glanced towards the empty room. Ohh!! How different today would be if my mother had been here. She made me laugh, she made me happy, and she was the only one to know that I someday wished to marry this little grey-eyed Enzo. But I was naive to think so. My eyes betrayed me and shed the tears I had been trying to hold for a long.“ Oh sweetie, Don't cry!! Weddings are happy occasions!! Let me find a veil for you to complete the look!” she says, rushing out to find the ve
CHAPTER 4 ENZO BARONEI'm not nervous. No, I'm just anxious. I and Bella will be married in no less than two hours. How will this turn out? I haven't seen her in years. I just remember a slight reflection of our last meeting with her in a white frock with sunflowers. Her hair was styled in cute small braids. We don't even have the same taste for muffins; I don't know how we're going to make this work. We're bound by the contract to get married and stay married, but we're two fucking opposites. How we'll manage to live a life.The only thing I know about her present is that she was sent away by her father to keep her aside from the family business and affairs for a long time. She never had a say in any of the doings. She never had blood on her hands, and here I am. She doesn't belong in my world and I certainly don't belong in her strawberry muffins world.Why the fuck am I caring for muffins now?Ahhh!! I was a mess right now, and no one was by my side to coax me. I miss my mother
BELLA MARINOI wasn't expecting to have my bedroom. I was afraid that Enzo would force me to consummate the marriage on the first night, but I was relieved and confused at the same time. Did he not find me attractive or worthy enough to be his wife, or did he have any other girlfriend or love in his life whom he wanted to marry, and I turned out to be a third-wheeler in their relationship?Ahhh!! A cold sigh escaped from my mouth.I'm thinking too much. Let's take it slow and steady. Mom and Dad never knew each other, but they turned out to be the hottest couple in town. And their love never died. Let's give this relationship your best try, Bella!!I reassured myself. Do I want to fall in love with Enzo all over again?Another question!?His grey eyes made my heart skip a beat, and the way he towered over me, his strong scent went all the way to my brain. I guess if we get to know each other more we'll eventually fall in love.Love??Another question??I should just unpack and settl
Enzo Barone I was pacing through the corridors, waiting anxiously for my bride at my new mansion or to say , our home. The mansion was gifted by my father to us , according to him, that bachelor pad was way too small for me to start our new family or, according to him, a new family. Starting a family or having a child with a Marino colds my blood; even sharing a roof with her brings the worst beast out of me and having a family…that's impossible. I'm just amazed by my dad how seriously he's taking this marriage contract. Making me shift from the city to a rural area just to have a peaceful and happy marriage life is seriously pissing me off. I've to hire a completely new staff for the house from scratch last minute. A new housekeeper and kitchen staff to keep all the tasks running until I hire some new people for complete maintenance of the house. Standing near the garden, I feel how cold the house is, and Bella's presence won't bring any change to this. I already had her bedroom
CHAPTER 5 BELLA MARINO Why my dress is so tight? I can't breathe… I'm standing inside the church and I'm getting married… to the man I haven't seen in ages. I swear I'm going to pass out in a few minutes. “ Breath, Bella!”, Fabio tries to soothe me.“ I can't breathe, Fab. My dress is so tight. I can't feel the air exhale my lungs.”, my voice rising through peaks of panic.“ Don't panic. You're fine. There's no issue with the dress. You're giving yourself a panic attack.” he rubbed his hand on my back, trying to ease my nerves.“Do as I say!”“Breath in!”“Breath out!”“Deep breaths, Bee!!” Fabio instructs me, and I follow his steps.He takes my hand in his and tries to calm me down. The fast, rapid breathing was slowing down, and the dress was not tight anymore.“See!? Just a panic attack!”, he assured me.He is always so good at calming me down. I can't help but smile. “ You look handsome!”, I whisper.“And you look deadly gorgeous, Bee!”, he whispers back. His eyes roamed aroun
CHAPTER 4 ENZO BARONEI'm not nervous. No, I'm just anxious. I and Bella will be married in no less than two hours. How will this turn out? I haven't seen her in years. I just remember a slight reflection of our last meeting with her in a white frock with sunflowers. Her hair was styled in cute small braids. We don't even have the same taste for muffins; I don't know how we're going to make this work. We're bound by the contract to get married and stay married, but we're two fucking opposites. How we'll manage to live a life.The only thing I know about her present is that she was sent away by her father to keep her aside from the family business and affairs for a long time. She never had a say in any of the doings. She never had blood on her hands, and here I am. She doesn't belong in my world and I certainly don't belong in her strawberry muffins world.Why the fuck am I caring for muffins now?Ahhh!! I was a mess right now, and no one was by my side to coax me. I miss my mother
CHAPTER 3BELLA MARINOI glance at my reflection in mirror and delicately brush the invisible dirt from the white dress. I look so different… a grown-up.My mother would've looked the same in this dress. She would've hugged me seeing me in a white dress all dolled up for the wedding. “ You look deadly gorgeous!! Oh my God!!”, the shop owner exclaims on seeing me in the dress. She's an old, short lady with frizzy blonde hair with blue eyes. “ I knew this would look good on you!”, she gushes.My eyes were blurry as I glanced towards the empty room. Ohh!! How different today would be if my mother had been here. She made me laugh, she made me happy, and she was the only one to know that I someday wished to marry this little grey-eyed Enzo. But I was naive to think so. My eyes betrayed me and shed the tears I had been trying to hold for a long.“ Oh sweetie, Don't cry!! Weddings are happy occasions!! Let me find a veil for you to complete the look!” she says, rushing out to find the ve
CHAPTER 2 Enzo Barone I woke up early just to eat those double chocolate muffins baked by my mom, the smoked fajita sandwich french fries with extra ranch sauce, and a big hefty glass of Oreo milkshake. All I could think was of food even in my sleep. Mama said I was going through some kind of growth spurt so she makes me a big breakfast before heading to school so that I'm not empty stomach before my lunchtime. After getting changed, I ran down to the kitchen, but I slipped badly on the tiled floor. At first, I thought it was some kind of dirt or water spilt, which made me slip. But as I glanced at my shirt and hands, it was all red.Blood.A lot of blood Everywhere.Only red blood.Why is there so much blood?But as I crawled to the right of the kitchen counter, I saw my mother. Her throat has been slashed three times with a sharp dagger. She's still alive as blood pours out of her.“Mom, mama. Stay with me. Somebody help us!!” As soon as I hugged her she collapsed in my arms. H
PRESENT DAYBELLA MARINO I sit quietly in the corner of my Dad's office. My hand clenched in my lap as I listened to the conversation between the two influential and deadly enemies. Blood is pulsing in my ears so loudly that I can barely make out their words. My life is being decided right now, and I can barely spit a word as I've just returned 4 days ago, and all I've heard from my dad's mouth are a bunch of cursory words the entire time. I was just 9 years old when my mother passed away and the postmortem details revealed that she died due to an overdose of sleeping pills in the pudding which was served by me to her. After her death, things changed drastically, and so did my dad. He barely spoke to me as I reminded him of my mom. I was sent to an all-girls boarding school as he couldn't stand my existence anymore in the house. I was kept away for years, and even after graduating from high school, I was sent to live with my grand aunt. I was called back after 10 years, jus
“You fucking carry my name now, Bella. You're Mrs Bella Enzo Barine. You no more belong to Marino's.”, Enzo roared. “I'm not a piece of land or some property that you own, Enzo. I'm a human and I breathe. I'm married to you, not sold.” Bella spoke with tears in her eyes as the grip on her arm was getting harder which might leave a bruise later. I will not be dictated by a mandate to marry someone like Enzo De Luca, the sole heir of the Barone Clan. Despite his reputation for ruthlessness and his animosity towards the Marino’s, I refuse to be coerced into a marriage with a man I haven't seen in years. His grey eyes may have been my first love and my first heartbreak, but I will not allow him to break me. As the daughter of his greatest enemy, I am confident that I will not be bent to his will. The real question is not whether love can emerge from violence and hatred, but whether I will allow myself to be controlled in a perpetual struggle.Prologue12 years ago Bella Marino Pe