Chapter 69Tamara took a deep sigh and clutched the edges of her dress to calm her nerves.She was in front of the restaurant, her eyes straining to see beyond the glass door where Mrs Rosa Donatelli sat at a table with her son waiting for Tamara’s presence.Tamara felt a hand at the back of her waist and jerked in shock.“Relax,” Francesca smiled. “She’s not going to eat you,”“Isn't she?” Tamara cracked a smile and visibly relaxed as she turned back to stare through the door. “She’s nicknamed Drago Donatelli for a reason. And she doesn't even like me so I’m confused why she's here to attend my engagement ceremony,”Francesca chuckled. “True. Let's hope her fire doesn't burn so hot when Marco and I tell her about the breakup,”“No,” Tamara held Francesca’s hand and shook her head. “I know Rosa. She’ll find some way to pin the blame on me, can you maybe not tell her tonight?”“Tamara,” Francesca sighed. “She’s going to blame you anyway because that’s what she does. Even if I told her
Chapter 71“And yes, we think the strawberry one is better,” Tamara heard David say as he dropped his fork and gave the cake woman a nod.“Babe?-“They were supposed to be trying and picking desserts for their wedding but Tamara wasn’t focused. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was feeling watched.“Babe?—-““What?!” Tamara snapped as she jerked and turned to David in irritation.He froze and his eyes widened in shock as the cake woman stared in surprise.“I… I “Tamara stuttered with a sigh and gently massaged her temple. “I’m sorry just feeling a bit jittery,”David swallowed and gave a nod. “I can pick out the rest if you want so you take a break and rest.”“No, no,” Tamara shook her head. “I want to be a part of it,”David cocked his head like he didn't believe her but thankfully didn't push.“Here, taste this. I picked the strawberry one,”Tamara blinked as he brought a strawberry spoon towards her.She shook her head and stopped his hand. “No. I don’t like strawberries,”Ag
Chapter 72Tamara staggered and dropped back into a chair as her head rang. Marco’s grip on her waist loosened and he held her hand tightly as she shut her eyes and struggled to breathe.Pregnant?! Chelsea was pregnant?Flashbacks of Tamara’s own pregnancy dawn before her eyes. The doctor, the intense feeling of joy, and then it changed, to David returning his wedding ring.Tamara having sex with David. Evangelyn’s car accident.The paper threat in front of the restaurant.“Are you okay? Stay with me. Breathe,” Marco’s voice seemed to come from far away as Tamara swallowed the air and tried her best to breathe.Respira She could almost hear Evangelyn’s voice in her head urging her to breathe. Tears leaked from the sides of her eyes and her hands shook.“Breathe. Tammy, look at me and breathe,” Francisca had joined Marco. Holding on to Tamara’s second hand.With a deep breath. Tamara’s lungs forced open and she opened her eyes wide at Marco.“What was that?” Her voice rasped as a lo
Tamara stood in front of the mirror, taking in small breaths. She rubbed her hand down the front of her dress and sighed.She should be happy or at least try her best to look happy. The makeup artist has done a wonderful job, dusting her cheekbones with blush and artfully bringing out her beauty.But most noticeable were her eyes. For some reason, Tamara had been unable to stop herself. She had requested the girl highlight the only feature that originally belonged to her.“Are you ready?” Francisca pushed open the bedroom door and came to a stop as her footsteps faltered.“Hmm?” Tamara turned back to look at Francesca.“Yes, yes I’m ready,” she gave a nod.“Wow,” Tamara grew a little self conscious as Francesca’s eyes sweeper over her. “You look amazing,”“Thank you,” Tamara gave her a grateful smile. “I’m just so nervous about tonight. The letter clearly said—““The letter said you should back out before the engagement,” Francesca finished as she looped her elbow through Tamara’s. “T
Chapter 74Tamara’s hands shook as she tightened her grip on her glass. The slightly sweet smell of the strawberry infused champagne, turned her stomach.“Are you okay?” David asked from beside her and tightened his grip on her waist.“Yeah. Yes, I am,” Tamara gave him a nod and turned back to the crowd.From where she stood on the stage, Tammy should see Marco’s eyes trained on her intently, his direct gaze bringing her a bit of comfort.“Thank you!” She called out in a loud voice to her guests. “Thank you all for honoring our invitation and coming to celebrate with us. We say thank you. So let’s all raise a toast,” Tamara lifted her glass to scattered applause.“A toast to life! Marriage and of course, Partnership,” David cheered and clinched his glass with hers.Tamara gave a nervous smile, careful not to let her fear show. She raised her glass to her lips and tipped her head, emptying the entire thing.Applause rang out in the hall as people began to congratulate them.“Restroom,”
“Sign it!” Chelsea hissed and pushed the pen into Tamara’s hands again.She chuckled humorlessly. It seemed they had taken her threat a little too seriously because for the last thirty minutes, Chelsea had been trying to get Tamara to sign share transfer documents but of course she refused.And surprisingly Marcel hadn’t hit her. Not even once.“This isn’t working!” Chelsea groaned in frustration and turned to Marcel.“She won’t do it. She won’t sign over the shares and we can’t let her get married to David. Not when those shares could go back to him easily,”“Give me,”Tamara’s heart began to race as Marcel pushed from the wall he had been leaning on and took the pen from Chelsea’s hand.“You see,” he smiled maniacally as he walked and paused in front of Tamara. “I’m not like my sister,”“That’s where you’re wrong.” Tamara swallowed. “The both of you are exactly alike. Spawns of the devil,”A loud crack filled the room as Marcel sloped her face with so much force, Tamara’s head spun
Chapter 76“What?! When,” Francesca swore under her breath,Tamara pushed to a seating position as she felt her breath catch.She was so stupid! How could she sign over everything to him?“I I…I Just—he…” Tamara’s tears threatened to choke her as she gasped for breath.“Breathe,” She heard Marco’s voice by her ear and felt his palm on her lower back. Slowly rubbing and consoling her. “Come on baby, take a deep breath for me,”Tamara clutched the hospital sheets and tried to follow Marco’s instructions.In Out. In Out.Slowly, the room stopped spinning and she could see properly. Her fingers had stopped trembling but the fear in her stomach and the deep crippling feeling hadn’t disappeared.“We’ll get him to sign them back,” Marco stood back to his full height and shoved his hands in his pants pocket.Tamara blinked in confusion. “How? It’s not like we can just kidnap him,”“True. We can’t but the whole world knows about you now. He’ll meet with lawyers. Try to get instated as CEO, a
Chapter 77“David,” Tamara gasped and weakly tried to slap his hand away from her.He fisted his hand in her hair again and slammed her head against the side of the car.Tamara screamed out in pain as David lost control of the car and it swerved dangerously to the side.“Fucking bitch,” David swore as he returned his attention to the road and tried to control the steering wheel.Tamara could barely see well with the blood trickling down her face and the pain in her brain.This was a bad idea. Why the hell hadn’t she listened to Marco?Her hands made quick business releasing her seatbelt as David turned the steering and the car swerved again.A car horned loudly as it narrowly avoided hitting them.“You just had to ruin it! We had big plans and you just had to ruin it like you always do!” David growled angrily and lunged for Tamara’s throat with one hand.Tamara swiped at her face to clear the blood on her face and reached for her door handle.“Let go!” She gasped as David’s hand close