One afternoon, Mariella arrived at Giordano mansion after school. She stares at the mansion for a moment feeling a bit uncomfortable since she felt living in a strange house. Noise from the field not so far from the entrance caught her attention. Mariella's cousins are playing around with guns and other dangerous equipment. Mariella's day was disturbed when one of them saw her. "Hey, b*tch! Come here!" Mariella ignored."I said, come here!"She walked faster."Get her!"The man in black grabs Mariella's arms and drags her until they reach the open field. "Let me go!" Mariella tries to free herself from their grip but what can a twelve-year-old girl do against those strong muscled men? Nothing.They throw Mariella in front of the five young Giordanos who are older than her. She's the youngest among their generation. "You," Elio, the eldest and Elmo's older brother, grabs Mariella's collar and pulls her to stand. "Don't look at me like that."Mariella does not notice how her eyes
The night is deep and it is time for Mariella to sleep but she first ensures that the door and windows are locked. Even if she uttered words like she’s ready to die, as a twelve-year-old girl, fear still seeps throughout her well-being that someone might enter her room and hurt her or at worst assassinate her. Mariella heard heavy and in a rush footsteps, and also muffled voices on the ground floor. Seems like they are having a chaos. When she looks through her window, many men in black, probably Giordano's men are going inside the vans. Despite the curiosity, Mariella just let it slide because it is definitely none of her business.The next day came, Mariella’s ready to attend her classes when she heard two of the family servants talking in the hallway.“Are they dead?”“I heard they are in a critical condition but still alive.”“For sure, the family will be thrilled and threatened. It’s an uproar to the Giordanos.”“You’re right. We might get involved if something worse happened.”
CHAPTER 24“Then… You’re hired.” “Hired?” Mariella asks in disbelief. “I haven’t agreed yet. No, scratch that, I already refused so…” Mariella grabs the box of her half-empty Cannoli, and is about to leave when Leo talks again.“What do you want for you to accept being Luna’s tutor?”“I don’t want anything.” Mariella firmly uttered.“Money? Own a car? A piece of land? A renovation of your villa? Name your price.” Leo starts negotiating. He does not want to let this opportunity slip away from his grasp.When Leo mentioned the villa, Mariella was tempted. She misses the old times, especially her mother. She sighed heavily, her thoughts were fighting whether to accept the offer or be firm on her first decision, ignore it. “I will… think about it.” Mariella said before leaving the bread shop. Leo, on the other hand, followed her using his gaze. He doesn’t know if there is a higher chance that Mariella will accept the offer because her back was on them when she answered.“I really hope t
"Mariella!""Mirabella, what on earth are you doing here?" It surprises her to see her twin sister tied in the basement. No one's around so she easily gets inside the room."Your husband! He... He will kill me. Please... Help me!""W-What? He'll never do it. He has principles. He will never hurt women or children." She knows her husband, his principles were proven and tested."Have you already forgotten what he had done to our mother? He killed her! He killed her in front of you!" Fear... the expression shows on Mariella's face. "Untie me! Faster!"With trembling hands, and with fear that Leo, her husband, will kill her sister like he did to her mom, she immediately unties the rope around Mirabella’s wrists and makes her free."What the fuck are you doing here?" Leo's baritone voice echoes inside the room that makes shivers down her spine. Mariella hides her sister on her back and fiercely faces her husband."I am the one who should ask! Why is my sister here? What has she done for you
"I'm excited!" Marcella gently touches her belly. "Oh! The baby kicked. Feel it." She holds her husband's hand and puts it on her belly. His face brightens as he feels that the baby kicked again."I'm happy to see you happy." He smiles and kisses Marcella's palm. "Thank you for enduring everything, mia amata.""I'm really excited to know our baby's gender." Enrico carefully guides his wife to go downstairs. Her pregnancy is quite sensitive so he gives her extra care and attention especially that she is carrying his heir."I hope it's a girl." The curve on her lips is constant and her eyes are twinkling as she imagines herself carrying her little one."I want a boy." Enrico utters unconsciously that makes Marcella stop."But I want a girl." Her eyes become teary and emotional."Don't... Don't cry, mia amata." He is used to her sudden changes of emotion since she conceived their first child. "I would gladly accept our little one no matter what gender he or she is.""Really?""Yes. Shh."
Five years later..."Mariella? Mariella?" Marcella just enters a small villa, meters away from the mansion. "Where are you, piccolina?""Mamma!" A little one behind hugs Marcella's legs."Piccolina!" Marcella lifts her four-year-old daughter who is giggling. They faces each other and lightly hit their noses."Good morning, mamma!""Good morning! How's your sleep, hm?" Marcella sweetly asks her daughter who is still wearing her pajamas."I'm good. I dreamed about fireflies, mamma!" Her little eyes are twinkling while talking about her favorite. "They're so beautiful, and I want to see many, many fireflies!""Aw... There are no fireflies here, piccolina." Marcella lightly pinches her daughter’s cheek."Hm..." The little one's face saddens. "I will find one."Marcella just smiles and looks at the servant who has just arrived to serve breakfast."Let's eat.""Okay!" Mariella goes down and runs toward the dining table where the food is served."Mamma, when will I see, pàpa? Can't he visit
Everything’s not okay in the first place. Mariella turns her back to them and just walks away as if nothing happened.“I’ll accompany her—”“Don’t Elmo. Just let her.” Enrico said before turning his back too.“But…”“Elmo.”“Yes, uncle.” Elmo sighs in defeat while watching Mariella go. He can’t understand but the first time he saw Mariella, there’s a strange feeling inside him. He wants to know her.Marcella wants to watch her daughter until she reaches the borders but her husband calls immediately. She can’t disobey him or else they will argue again. Mariella, on the other hand, looks back when she steps outside the borders.Little Mirabella is looking at Mariella while her arms are wrapped around her father’s neck. It is their first encounter, Mirabella’s shocked and confused because of her young age. ‘I don’t like her.’ Words pop in Mirabella’s mind before looking away and tightens her grip on Enrico.+++“You promised that she will never step inside the borders no matter what!”
To protect oneself is to first know how to fight."Focus on the target." Marcella positions herself and closes her left eye to focus the other one on the red dot at the center of the target board. "Hold the trigger and once you're sure, pull it."Marcella pulls the trigger, without sweat, she smirks while looking at the hole she made. Mariella looks at her mother with amusement in her eyes before diverting her gaze into the target board."Wow…" Mariella runs toward the board and checks on the hole. "You're amazing, mamma." She smiles at her mother."Do you want to try?""Of course. Of course!" Marcella is about to hand her the gun but she withdraws before Mariella could even touch the dangerous thing. "Careful, okay?"Mariella nods, looking at the gun in front of her. "Look at me, piccolina." Marcella wants to see the eagerness in Mariella's eyes. She wans to know if she really wanted the thing Marcella loved the most. "Piccolina…""Yes, mamma. I will be careful." She said with hon