I can't believe it's finally going to happen, something I've longed for so desperately. It seems Grandpa has agreed to negotiate, and I have to rise to the occasion to ensure this opportunity doesn't slip through my fingers. The idea of emerging from this negotiation marriage is a dream come true, and I am determined not to let this unique opportunity slip away. My heart pounds as I rush out of my office, even though night has already fallen. Without wasting any time, I head straight to my car and drive towards Isabella's house.
On the way, I make a brief stop at a market and fill the cart with all the toys and things the kids asked for. These are small details, but I know they could make a difference in the course of this negotiation. It is clear to me that the outcome of what I achieve today will have a significant impact on my future, as well as Isabella's, even if she is not yet aware of it.The thought of her two young children, who could become part of my life, fills"That bastard doesn't count, Bella!" shouts Marta. "For sure there's a nice man who loves you for being you, and he's going to love the boys as if they were his own. For example, your handsome boss, Christian. Look what he did today; he told them he was their daddy so as not to shatter their illusions. I was really surprised; I didn't expect him to do that. The kids didn't want to walk fast, I told them that, and they ran away. I didn't know you were here with your boss. Forgive me for playing with the children's feelings like that," says Marta, her tone laced with sorrow."I'm not reproaching you, Marta. We didn't imagine Christian would say that either. And not only that, didn't you see? He behaved with them as if he were his dad. Looking at them together for a moment, I thought he might be their father. Did you notice the resemblance they have to him? Same hair and eye colour. And Lucas? He even has that unruly lock of hair that always falls on his forehead."
Isabella and Marta made their way to the garage where Grandpa was engrossed in his work, perpetually tending to the boat, as her grandmother often remarked, a task without end. He didn't notice their approach. Isabella reached out and tapped him on the shoulder, causing him to turn off the machine and remove his mask, looking at them with curiosity.No one needed to tell him anything; he was certain they had something on their minds to seek him out there, and it was likely something they didn't want his wife to overhear. Even if he didn't inquire, they'd spill it on their own, he surmised."Grandpa, we need to have a serious talk with you," Isabella spoke, advancing towards him alongside Marta, as they approached the intrigued grandfather by the boat he was repairing in the garage.He pondered what had prompted them to come together to speak to him. Surely, it had to do with his granddaughter, and she had brought her friend along for supp
"Oh, I see, it's not a simple little problem, Bella. Christian is right! And I just told you, Bella, that lies have short legs!" He insists on that so he can create his plan without her objecting or suspecting anything. And because what Christian says is true. Both his parents and Isabella's parents won't believe it unless they see the marriage certificate. And that's precisely what he wants to accomplish – to get him to marry Isabella, even if it's pretend."But we don't have anyone else who can play that role!" He hears Isabella say desperately. He knows she wants to please her grandmother above all else, and that's in his favour. He just has to get Christian to accept everything. Which might not be so hard for him to do. It didn't escape him how his eyes sparkled when he looked at her and how he smiled happily with the children on his lap. He spent the whole afternoon with them, carried away. He may be wishing he had a family, and he can't."And we just saw
"That means it was the same year I made that exit!" Isabella says, increasingly amazed. "So, that's very good!" exclaims Grandpa. "The two of you were in the same place, on the same day and year! We can say you were married, and spent the night there. Then you had the accident that Bella didn't know about; she thought you had deserted her and went to Paris." "Grandfather, you've created quite a novel! But remember... I was still married to Luis!" "Right! So what do they come up with?" "Well, we were in love since we were kids. The night Luis hit me, I called Christian, and he came for me. We spent the night in that hotel. Afterwards, I didn't hear anything about his accident, because I left that same day for Paris." "I don't like the sound of it, but I think we can't do better. What do you think, Christian?" "I agree. I had an accident, I forgot everything, and when Bella came into my company, when we saw the photos, we realized who we wer
I walked away, happy and in disbelief that it had all been so easy. I accomplished my task with hardly any effort. Grandpa Sardino had the same goal as me. So now I have to strive to make Isabella fall in love, or at least make her accept this deal for a long time. Ha ha ha ha... I can't believe I got rid of Adele's harpy! Ha ha ha ha...Isabella is very beautiful; I like her, and maybe I'll make it. I'm not bad looking. Yes, I will make an effort to make my marriage real, and that's it. She's not doing it for my money; she has plenty of that. This way, I got my parents off my back. I should have done this a long time ago. I can't say anything to them yet, though. I'm sure they'll be screaming their heads off, and I can't let them scare Bella. I could tell she didn't want to do it, and she's still hesitating.I better wait until we are closer. Ha ha ha ha... I have a cute millionaire wife and two amazing kids that look like they are mi
I offer my arm to Mum to get as far away from Adele as possible. But when I get to the table, Dad has arranged it in such a way that Adele is next to me. Not minding, I sit down and talk about the company with Dad, who is very excited about the accomplishments I am having. I completely ignore the person sitting next to me. Mum catches my eye and asks me."Chris, do you think you can take Adele home when you leave?" Mum's question feels like a trap, but I've come prepared for all her tricks."Sorry, Mum, I rented a room here at the hotel to stay longer with you. Seriously, I need my parents on a day like today, no one else, except my sister," I reply in a distressed voice, staring fixedly into her eyes. I add, so as not to seem rude, "I'll ask my driver to take Adele. But today I really need your company.""No need, Christian. I can call mine to pick me up. I don't know if you heard that Dad left me working in his company's office here," Adele says, a bit upset.
After Christian left, I entered the house and went to see where my children were. I find them playing happily with Marta, who upon seeing me, immediately comes to meet me."Tell me what happened, where did it end up?""My grandfather just married me off to Christian for real," I tell her. "I told you at lunch! I thought it was all going to be a simple deal a few times, but I seem to have fallen into a trap. My grandfather colluded with my boss to trap me!""Ha ha ha ha..., you don't change, Bella. Don't start with your insecurities, it's just a deal so Mima can see your daddy!"She tells me firmly, and she might be right, I don't know. It's just that I saw a weird glow in their eyes, as if they were communicating without speaking. It's something I can't explain, and the way he kissed me when he left, it was different. I don't want to imagine anything, but I hope it's a mistake."So stop seeing ghosts where there are none
"So if you noticed at dinner, they weren't my ideas?" I ask as I hear what she tells me. "She was very happy watching us together. You said I was paranoid. Well, maybe I am a little bit, and I'm imagining all this stuff I'm telling you. Now tell me how you think I should behave tomorrow at work?""You just play along with Christian; he looks like he knows how to treat women. He's already started by kissing you on the face, hee, hee, hee...""Don't make fun, Marta. You created the script, but I'm the one who has to carry out the action. And I don't like being an actress!" I yell at her as I throw a pillow at her, seeing how amused she is. "Now how do you think I should dress? Because I'm not just going to be the new editor who just started. I'm going to be the wife of the owner of the company! I'm sure my nerves will get the best of me, and I'll mess everything up.""I'll find you some clothes, and I'm sure Mima will help me. You just concentrate on going
I watch him leave and I'm left feeling scared. I keep looking at the news in the newspapers and what they're saying about me is horrible, surely Dad will come when he sees this. What was I thinking? And my father-in-law? Will he be upset because I involved him in this plan? I just asked him to accompany me, I knew he would find them, he had them checked. He must know where Christian is, he has something to locate both of them."I won't stay here waiting for the police to come, I'll go to their room, I have to put on a good show, because if they implicate me in Christian's kidnapping, I'm finished. That must be Dad. I take my phone, and yes, it's him. He must have found out everything by now. What the hell was I thinking when I did that?! I take a deep breath and answer."Hello.""Can you tell me what on earth was going through your head to commit such a stupid act?!""Dad, let me explain, I didn't do anything, I just accompanied my father-in-law. The rest happened on its own.""Do you
As she speaks, she takes out everything she has. They reach the room where Christian is still asleep, having a very restless sleep. Doctor David immediately begins examining him; he has dealt with many cases like this in the association he works for. Santiago informs him of the type of drug Christian was given. At that Munent, Doctor Alfonso also arrives with the results of all the tests he conducted."We need to start him on a drip right away; we also have to give him all his medications. I managed to find out some but not all," Doctor Alfonso says."I have them here, doctor," Christie shows them again. "These are all the medications my brother takes, along with the dosages and how he takes them.""That's very helpful; pass me the information. I think you should all leave now and let the doctors take care of him."Everyone rushes out of the room, leaving the doctors engrossed in attending to Christian. Isabella is very scared, along with her sister. Marta starts making tea in the kit
At this moment, they are interrupted by Grandma Tania, who asks them to come for tea. Grandpa follows them immediately, inviting them to the living room. The children's laughter makes them turn their heads to see them running towards them. They arrive and throw themselves into their arms, kissing them happily."Grandpa, you came to see me!" exclaims Lucia excitedly."Yes, my girl, I came to see both of you. We came because your grandma also came to see you.""Does Grandma love us too?" asks Lucas."I have always loved you," replies Grandma as she leans in to kiss him. "You look just like your dad when he was your age.""Really, Grandma? Do I look like my dad?" asks Lucas excitedly."And me, Grandma, who do I look like?" Lucy asks in turn."You look a lot like your aunt, you even have dimples on your cheeks," Mrs. Thompson replies excitedly."Really, Grandma? Why are you crying?" Lucy asks."I'm not crying, I'm just excited and happy to see you.""Mun and Dad aren't here," says Lucas.
"Dad, I have to tell you something now that you said that.""What thing?" he asks as we walk towards the room where Chris sleeps."Yesterday afternoon, when we went to the market to buy clothes to go to the club, we ran into his parents, and my father-in-law..., my father-in-law...""What about your father-in-law, Bella? What did that heartless man do to you?"Upon hearing him shout furiously and seeing the terrible expression of hatred on his face, I become frightened and no longer think it's a good idea to tell him. However, I've already started and can't stop now. I will continue to trust my father as I did my secret friend. I won't hide anything from him; he seems to know Mr. Thompson very well."He was looking at me in a strange way, I thought he was comparing me to Adele, but... but... you know I don't have much experience with men, dad. But I think he was looking at me as a woman; I even saw him licking his lips while looking at my breasts.""Heartless womaniser! He hasn't chan
I don't know what to think or say right now. I told him so many things, shared my fears, talked about him, about Mum. Now I understand why my secret friend knew how I thought and understood perfectly without much explanation of what I told him, and gave me such good advice. I run towards him and hug him again, happy that he shows me in that way how much he loves me."Are you not upset?""No, I'm not.""Can I now be your best friend instead of your secret friend?""Yes, yes, Dad, I would really like that!" "Then answer me honestly all those questions I asked you." I pause, right now I want to tell him the whole truth, but I'm ashamed of what I did, going to the club, not knowing who the father of my children is, and above all, that Christian is not. I promised not to tell anyone, but Dad is no one; he's my dad! I slump into a chair not knowing what to do or say. It's not just my secret; I need to discuss it with Christian and even with Grandpa. For now, I'll tell him only what I can
Standing before my father, who observes me in silence, I patiently wait for him to speak. What does it mean that Christian is here in his house, and what did the doctor mean by that? He gestures for me to follow him into the study, and I do so quietly. He sits at his desk and switches on the computer."I want you to see this, Bella. Before I tell you anything, and for you to understand why your husband did what he did."I approach slowly, feeling like I'm about to witness something unpleasant, but I need to know. As I arrive, I see a video of a young man stumbling around a house, his gaze vacant as if he doesn't recognise anyone. I focus and realise it's not our house; it's another one. When the man turns, I see that it's my father when he was young. There's another person being taken away whom I can't recognise because their face is blurred."What does this mean, Dad?""That drug they gave your husband yesterday. That day, my girlfriend was supposed to meet me and disappeared; I neve
I catch Christian's face and kiss him, making him forget about them. I keep doing it for the rest of the night, even when we get into the limousine, I don't let go of him. We are all a bit drunk. But Christian instructs the driver to stop."Christie, take this key and go with David and Marta to the hotel where my company's party will be held.""Why my brother?" she protests. "I'm very tired! Whatever it is can wait until tomorrow.""I want to check something. Please, Chris, do as I ask," he turns when he sees she is really drunk. "Take care of them, David. Let's go, Bella."We get out of the limousine, which drives away, leaving us in the complete darkness of the street. Another car approaches, and we get in; it's one of the security guards' cars."Where to, boss?" the driver asks. I am also a bit drunk, so I just follow my husband without knowing what he wants to do."Take us to the estate," he orders very seriously, and I still don't understand. "I di
I jump to my feet and we head to the dance floor. He wraps me in his arms and we dance non-stop for over an hour, laughing and completely happy with my husband, who also seems to be enjoying himself. We return to our table to rest for a bit. The girls are lost, but we're not worried, they're well taken care of. I see Christian furrow his brow and follow his gaze, and I can't believe it. Adele is a little further away, with a woman I can't quite identify, but she seems familiar!"Bella, by any chance are you wearing something my parents gave you?" Christian asks suspiciously as he inspects me."No, my love, why do you ask? You know I don't like jewellery, I only have these earrings that are gifts from my mum and the ring you gave me, nothing else.""I'm starting to suspect that one of us has a follower who tells them where we are," he says as he takes another sip of his drink, still looking towards where she is. "You're ruled out, I don't have anyth
I go to Marta's room, who is clad in very tight black trousers that accentuate her beautiful body. Her hair is tousled and adorned with garments, reminding me of the wild girl I met in France."Marta! I almost didn't recognise you!" I exclaim, truly astonished to see her."Why haven't you dressed yet?" she asks, ignoring my exclamation as if it were nothing."I came to see what you were going to wear to match. I've never been to a nightclub, you know," I explain, unable to stop looking at her; she is truly beautiful. "Marta, you've really surprised me. You're very beautiful and you were hiding it.""Stop exaggerating, I just fixed up a bit. What do you mean you don't know what to wear? Bella, we bought you the clothes you should wear, put them on.""Don't you think it's too tight?""No!"At that moment, both she and Christie, who appears dressed almost the same as Marta but in gold trousers, say simultaneously. Mine are dark blu