“Marry me!” The man whispered in my ears. He leaned closer, his lips inches away from mine. I tried to avoid his gaze but the warmth of his breath on my skin caused tremors down my spine. How could I be attracted to the devil? __________________________ Mariella reconnects with her worse nightmare, Leonardo Ricci, her former bully who happened to be her student's father. He came with a proposal, which she instantly rejected. But when her mother needed surgery, and her brother was about to be life sentenced, Mariella decides to have a deal with Leonardo– A marriage of convenience. She had brought the idea and he accepted, but Mariella's heart seems to have other plans. Everyday with the enemy was starting to look beautiful. Will he fall for her, or would Mariella feel betrayed and serve him what he feared more than anything, DIVORCE!!!
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CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEW Three years. One thousand and ninety-five days of trying to be the perfect wife, and this was my reward divorce papers on our anniversary. I stared at Stefan's perfect signature on the last page, the ink still fresh. He must have signed them this morning, probably right after I'd left that stupid handmade card on his desk. The one I'd spent hours making, like a fool who still believed in fairy tales. The anniversary card I made for my husband Stefan still sat on the kitchen counter, untouched. Three years of marriage summed up in a handmade gesture he couldn't even bother to open. I'd spent hours on it last night, writing words I thought mattered. My coffee had gone cold. Funny how you notice small things when your world is falling apart. "Sign here. And here." Stefan's voice was distant, businesslike. He'd laid out the divorce papers like contracts at one of his meetings, sticky tabs marking each signature line. "The highlighted sections need initials." My hands wouldn't stop shaking. "You're doing this today? On our anniversary?" "Camille." He sighed, that familiar sound of disappointment I'd heard so many times before. "There's no point dragging this out." The morning sun streamed through our kitchen windows, catching the diamond on my finger. Three carats, princess cut, picked out by his mother. "Not your style, dear, but it's what a Rodriguez wife should wear," she'd said at the time. Like everything else in my life, it had never really been mine. "Is there someone else?" The question hung in the air between us. Stefan straightened his tie, Italian silk, the blue one I'd given him for Christmas. "Yes." One word. That's all it took to erase three years of trying to be perfect. "How long?" "Two months." He wouldn't meet my eyes. "She came back to town and..." "Two months," I repeated. All those late nights at the office. The missed dinners. The way he'd stopped kissing me goodbye in the mornings. "Were you ever going to tell me? Or just keep lying until the papers were ready?" "I didn't want to hurt you." A laugh bubbled up, harsh, unfamiliar. "That's thoughtful of you." My hand knocked against my coffee mug, sending it crashing to the floor. Dark liquid spread across the pristine tiles, staining the grout I'd scrubbed on hands and knees last week because his mother was coming to visit. "Let me get that..." Stefan reached for the paper towels. "Don't." My voice cracked. "Just... don't pretend to care now." I bent to pick up the broken pieces. A photo slipped from between the divorce papers, landing face-up in the spilled coffee. The world stopped. I knew that smile. Those eyes. That perfectly poised expression that had haunted every family photo since I was twelve. "Rose?" My sister's name tasted like poison. "Your first love was Rose?" Stefan's silence said everything. Memories hit like punches to the gut. Rose helping me pick out my wedding dress. Rose giving toasts at our engagement party. Rose calling every week to check on my marriage, to give advice about keeping Stefan happy. My adopted sister. My parents' golden child. The one they'd chosen to love. "She never left town, did she?" The pieces were falling into place. "She's been here the whole time, waiting. Playing the supportive sister while you both laughed at stupid, naive Camille." "It wasn't like that." Stefan ran his hands through his hair, that gesture I used to find endearing. "We tried to fight it. But some people are just meant to..." "If you say 'meant to be' I swear I'll throw this mug at your head." My fingers tightened around the broken ceramic. "How long were you together before? Before me?" He shifted uncomfortably. "Four years. Until she got the job offer in London." Four years. The same time I'd started dating Stefan. The same time Rose had suddenly become my biggest cheerleader, pushing me toward him. "She set this up," I whispered. "All of it. And I fell for every piece." "Camille, you're being dramatic. Rose cares about you." "Like she cared when she told my first boyfriend I was damaged goods? Or when she convinced my parents I was too unstable for college?" The broken mug cut into my palm, but I barely felt it. "She's been sabotaging me my whole life, and I kept making excuses because that's what good sisters do, right?" Blood dripped onto the divorce papers. Stefan reached for my hand but I jerked away. "Don't touch me." I grabbed a dish towel, wrapping it around my palm. "Where is she now? Waiting to comfort me through my divorce? Planning your next wedding?" "She wanted to be here, but I thought it would be better..." "Better?" I laughed again, the sound edged with hysteria. "Yes, you've both been so concerned with what's better for me. Such caring people." I picked up the pen, the Mont Blanc he'd given me on our first anniversary. The one Rose had helped him choose. "Camille, wait. We should talk about this properly." I signed every page, my signature perfectly steady. Let them see I wasn't breaking. Let them think they'd won. "I'm done talking." I gathered my purse, the signed papers, Rose's photo. "Done pretending. Done being the good sister, the perfect wife, the daughter who never complains." "Where are you going?" "Away from you. Away from her. Away from everyone who thinks Camille Lewis is someone they can use and discard." My phone buzzed, Rose's smiling face lit up the screen. Right on cue, coming to play her part. I declined the call and walked to the door. Behind me, Stefan called out, "You can't just leave. We need to discuss arrangements, the house, the accounts..." "You can have it all." I turned to face him one last time. "The house, the cars, the life you built on lies. I don't want anything that reminds me of either of you." "Camille, please..." "Goodbye, Stefan." I smiled, and something in my expression made him step back. "Give Rose my love. Tell her thank you, actually." "For what?" "For finally showing me the truth. About her, about you, about who I need to become." I walked out of that house, out of that life, leaving bloody fingerprints on the door handle. Let them try to erase those as easily as they'd erased me. Three years of pretending to be someone I wasn't. Three years of swallowing pain and making excuses for people who never deserved my loyalty. My phone buzzed again. Rose. Then my mother. Then Stefan. One by one, I blocked them all. Every connection to the life I thought I had to live. In my rearview mirror, I caught a glimpse of my reflection. Tears streaked my makeup, blood stained my dress, my hair had come loose from its perfect twist. I looked nothing like the polished, proper wife Stefan Rodriguez had married.Mariella's Pov As the car drove into Ricci's compound, I couldn't help but panic. My hands clenched at the hem of my dress as I looked out the window.It was too late to go back. I couldn't.Tatty's hands were tightly locked in mine, her cute smile brightening the air but still, I couldn't breathe.I was suffocating.“We are here.” The driver looked behind and smiled at Tatty, “Grab your bag pumpkin and go dear.Tatty grabbed her bag and then turned to me as she asked, “Ain't you getting down?” “Of…course.” I stammered. I got down from the car, and just when I shut the doors, a car drove roughly, parking just right beside me.It was a yellow Lamborghini. I was about to cuss out but then-Leonardo got down from the car.My words hung at the tip of my lips. I could feel the thumping sound of my heartbeat. My feet stumbled backwards, until my butt hit the car behind me.“Mariella??” Leonardo seemed flustered.“What are you doing here?” I didn't even get the chance to respond when Tat
Mariella’s Pov “Allow me…” Leonardo reached under my dress and my heartbeat thumped faster.My whole body was vibrating so much that I was panting.He kissed my neck and his hand moved in between my legs, gently spreading them apart. ‘I couldn't do this…I don't want to…’“Stop!” I pushed him away at arms length, he seemed stunned.“I can't.” “Mariella…I know you want me.” His eyes gleamed, so confidently that he held my chin up and leaned closer to my face.He snaked out his tongue and let it sweep my cheeks.“Leave.” That was the only word that escaped my lips. I turned to the side and a tear instantly stained my features.He didn't utter a word. He stared down at me in silence.It was excruciating. I didn't spare him a glance, I could feel his glare on me, and it only made me feel guilty.Why did I feel guilty? I had no idea.Those few seconds of silence felt brutal. And in no minutes, his footsteps echoed and the sound of the door slamming shut caused my heart to break.I skidd
Mariella's Pov I dressed up in a white dress that I got on my way back from work. I couldn't get Leonardo to back off earlier, he was coming.He insisted. The dress was short, flair and gorgeous. I tied my hair in a ponytail with a blue ribbon. A little bit of lipstick, and not much noticeable make-up. I could see the street lights through the reflection on my mirror. It shone bright, so bright, and beautiful.I turned around, drawn to the beauty of the evening.For some reason, the weather seemed nicer, and even warmer.The sky was faintly blue making everything seem more colorful than usual.But most importantly, it felt as if I was starting to glow.These changes were something I've always looked forward to, but it seemed to be influenced by the sudden change in my heartbeat.My heart was beating again.I halted my thoughts, when I noticed a car that pulled over in front of my building. When the door of the driver's side opened, it was no other than Leonardo, he was holding a bo
Mariella's PovIt was a bright sunny day, and the trees fluttered with the wind.The kids were running around as it was already the close of the day.I arranged the books on my desk preparing to wrap up the day. My ankles hurt from the three inch heel that I decided to wear today.I never thought I would regret it when I left the house this morning, but I sure do now!I had let down my hair but now I couldn't bear the rapid dancing to the wind.It was thwarting my view. Tiredly, I picked up a band and tied it up in a bun, just then I heard a knock on the door. When I turned it was Massimo. My lips curved into a smile, “Massimo.” “Mariella…” His eyes swept my body and a sly smile appeared on his face as he looked at me, “Wow, what a lovely dress.” He complimented, as his gaze locked in mine.The silence that followed brought back the awkwardness from the night that I've long tried to forget.As if it was yesterday, my eyes instantly gathered tears, and I was just as vulnerable as I
Mariella's Pov She left him!The skin of his forehead wrinkled and his eyes squinted at his glass. He kept twirling his glass, he stared at it without breaking his gaze, as if recalling the events of the past. His lips were slightly apart. I could hear the sound of his lips gasping in air to ease this pain.I have never seen Leonardo so emotionally affected that he let his guard down, so much that with just a glance one could tell his heart was betrayed.It was the first time I have been able to read his expression.He stared into space, and his eyes gradually darkened. When he took a sip from his glass I could sense it was to swallow down the old wound that my question seemed to have opened.I suddenly felt shaken and a ting of guilt ran through my body. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…” “It's okay.” He finally looked my way. “It happens.”I grunted out a reply. “Regarding Tatiana, I would need your help, Mariella.” Leonardo said as he emptied his glass.“Marry me,” He blurted out.
Mariella's Pov I let out a sigh of relief, though my gaze remained locked on his. He seemed speechless, as his eyes bore into mine.For a split second, his expression softened, almost hinting at regret - but then he looked away.“I hope you are not still disturbed by the past. We were teenagers Mari.” He didn't spare me another glance, as he turned his back to me.Teenagers? That's his excuse? He turned to me, taking a few steps closer as he said, “Mari, listen…”“Mari? As in mousy Mari?” I scoffed lightly and he paused.Just as the atmosphere between us mellowed, his voice wrestled through the air as he said-“I will spend some time with my daughter as you've asked, if anything happens, do reach out.” That was all he said, as he walked through the door.Why did I expect an apology?……….As I walked through the halls of the school, I paused when I saw some children gathered in the distance. “Tatiana, give it back.” A child screamed at Tatty.The other child tried to grab a little t
Mariella’s PovTime passed by in a blink of an eye, after a four hour long teachers and parents meeting. I stood from the chair just right after the meeting hall was empty only to notice my waist was stiff like that of an old woman.A sigh escaped my lips. I instantly spread my legs apart and then placed my hands on both sides of my hips. I bent backwards, trying to relieve the tension. Everything was now upside down, even my hair was few inches above the ground.My breath caught, and the bones around my waist tightened as I slightly moved my waist in circular motion to regain flexibility, until-The door creaked open and sturdy steps echoed in the hall. The smell of expensive perfume filled the air.My eyes peeled open and that's when I saw him- He was tall even by werewolf standards. His broad shoulders made his perfectly tailored sweat shirt and cashmere black pants fit perfectly. His ripped muscles were quite visible from his shirt and his elegance was charming, causing a cert
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