She was watching the television screen, which showed Christian's car pulling into his driveway with a woman by his side, as the announcer spoke of her.
"My dear friends, at long last, we have unveiled the identity of the lucky lady to be wed to the most sought-after heir of our times, Christian Thompson. It is none other than the equally coveted heiress of the Sardinos empire, Isabella Sardino. I understand she was previously married to Luis Ibáñez, but that marriage was annulled shortly before their nuptials.According to sources very close to the couple, they have been in a relationship for many years, although no one can attest to this. At this moment, everything has come to light because his wife, it is said, has joined him in his company to assist him. Others suggest it's due to another young woman who has emerged claiming to be Christian Thompson's fiancée…"She turned off the television in annoyance. How could Christian know this gir"The worst thing I could have done. You know, Bella is the kindest person you could meet; I've known her since we were children. Eva, her mother, abused her from a young age—I've never seen a woman do such things. As a spoiled child, when I saw that she didn't defend Bella, I mistreated her too, and she grew to fear me.""And she agreed to marry you?""Don't think it was all arranged by our parents—well, more precisely, her mother and my father. Because my mother never took part in any of it, and her father, Santiago Sardino, agreed because Eva convinced him that I was Isabella's true love. And you know, if I had set my mind to it, I could have been," he said with a sigh."What did you do to her?" Adele persisted."I've already told you I was infatuated with Vivian, my current wife. On the day of our engagement, I suggested to Bella that we stay married for three years, in name only. I would lead my life and she hers. She agreed on the c
"We'll try. I've just been informed that the journalists have left my grandparents' house and I came to find you so we could go there. Grandma just told me that she stored a lot of stuff in the attic, things that you and I made together when we were children.""Really?""Yes, and perhaps, who knows, one of them might be the trigger that brings your memory back. Shall we go now?""What about the children?""Aunt Eugenia will look after them. Shall we go?"I spring to my feet, put away my laptop, grab my phone, and circle the bureau. I take her hand and gently pull, guiding her to walk beside me. Today, I won't take the chauffeur. We need to become very familiar and friendly, so I enter the garage and take Grandpa's old car that no one recognises. And off we go slowly, slipping past the journalists who don't even realise we're there, and continue on to our grandparents' house."It's good that the journalists have left," Bella says, looking a
"I'll give it to Dad's friend at a lab he always uses for everything. If he confirms it, Dad will believe him blindly. It won't just be my word.""Do you really want to pass yourself off as the father of my children, Christian? Won't you regret it one day? What if you regain your memory and are madly in love with that Adele you said was going to be your fiancée? What will happen to my children then?""Nothing, I give you my word. They will still be mine. Accept me as their father, please Isabella. One day I'll tell you why I insist on this so much. If you allow me, I will be their dad for life.""And what if you have your own children?""That's not going to happen, Bella. So, if you agree, let's go ahead and get those tests done and while we're at it, stop by the company to pick up some things we need. We'll take all these boxes and go through them little by little. And we'll visit all the places we went to when we were kids. We'll do the sam
He explains to me, looking very serious. I understand; they have no reason to trust me, I contacted him over the internet. That's why I thought about writing him a check, but then realise that might not be the best idea."Do you know where there's a cash machine or a bank? I'll go and withdraw the money now. I was going to give you a check, but I think cash would be better. Am I wrong?" I ask the detective, who nods in agreement."There's both just around the corner," he replies."Let's go right now to settle your fee. Your services have been invaluable, and I want you to continue the investigation until we find out what she did. Agreed?"I stood up without waiting for an answer. They exchange glances and then follow me, pointing out the way."Wait here," I say, indicating a café next to the bank. "What operation does your wife need?""She has a tumour in her head." The detective answers, looking at me questioningly.I look at him with
We're at the company, entering without any trouble. What Christian says is true; Grandfather's car doesn't let anyone see who is inside. Nor does anyone recognise it, so we go straight to the lift and up to the top floor without stopping. Just like that, no one in the company realises either. We laugh because we look like two thieves hiding from everyone."Ha, ha, ha... I haven't had this much fun or laughed so much in a long time," Christian says when we reach the top."Ha, ha, ha... nor have I. This is new to me, ha, ha, ha... What do we do? I'm sure they'll see us when we leave.""It doesn't matter, by the time they realise, we'll be long gone. This week, I want us to work first on the speech I have to give for the company's anniversary, and second, on these new programmes. I've noticed that both Marta and you have done this before. Am I wrong?""No, it's with that style of programmes we worked with in France. Your phone is ringing.""My phone?" &nb
She was astonished to hear it and immediately asked him. "Didn't you say we could trust your sister? Are we going to deceive her about this?" I ask, stopping to look at him squarely."Never!" he says quickly, emphatically. "I trust my sister blindly; we'll tell her the truth about our relationship; she'll help us, you'll see. She also doesn't want me to marry Adele; she despises her because she says Adele used her to make me fall in love. And she was thrilled when the idea of marrying you came to me. Thank you for thinking of me to help you.""Are you thanking me for getting you into this mess?" I ask as I resume my work."Yes, it hadn't occurred to me when you asked me to pretend to be your husband; I immediately accepted and then realised it was the solution to stop my parents from wanting to marry me off to Adele. But there's something else I haven't told you, Bella."Isabella, intrigued by the seriousness with which he spoke to her, asked. "What's that?"
We were seated opposite each other, and it was apparent that David still harboured doubts about me, in spite of the numerous proofs I'd furnished. He scrutinised me intently as though attempting to decipher my thoughts. With a smile, I endeavoured to put him at ease and win his confidence."Could we draw up a contract?" inquired David once more."Indeed, that poses no issue, but I have a stipulation for you, David."Should he presume that I'll capitulate easily, he's gravely mistaken. I shan't depart without ascertaining my desires. If he is distrustful, then I am doubly so. It's becoming increasingly clear that our joint travel is no mere happenstance."A stipulation for me?" he queries with a hint of suspicion."Yes. Do you reckon receiving a substantial amount of money today would enable you to uncover that information?" Holding his gaze with a direct look, he swallows hard. "I assure you, it would suffice to secure your aunt's surgery with the preeminent
"Could you arrange it to be merely an informative consultation? And you'll stay with me? Invent any story about me that you like; I'll follow your lead. Say we travelled on the same flight, that you... well... you know. But make it clear that I'm engaged and must remain untarnished for my wedding, do you grasp what I'm saying?" I implore him because the idea of being alone with a gynaecologist terrifies me."Christie, this is your reputation we're talking about. Aren't you scared it might leak out once they discover who you are? That sort of news could fetch a fortune," he cautions me with what looks like sincere worry in his gaze."If that happens... if that happens..." I stammer, realising the risk involved, but my determination is unwavering. So staring him straight in the eye, I declare boldly, "If that happens, you'll have to marry me!" And then I laugh to ease the tension building inside me. "Ha! Ha! Ha!""Don't laugh; this is no laughing matter," he retorts as
She had remained a single mother until they returned to the city, which was when they met again. Four years had passed, and he remembered it well, as he had been in constant contact with her via messages, yet she never told him. Neither Isabella nor her parents ever revealed the truth to him. What kind of father was he that no one trusted him to care for his daughter? And now this, when he had personally arranged for his daughter's security guards. He exhaled deeply before asking again:"Are you saying my daughter is pregnant?""Yes, the tests and ultrasounds don't lie.""And does my son-in-law Christian know about this? What did he say?""He asked us to investigate everything confidentially and not to tell anyone. He said that if she had indeed been assaulted and hadn't been with a man during the time they were separated before the accident, he would raise the child as his own."Santiago stared intently at the doctor, feeling a surge of gratitude towards hi
Christian stared at him intently, with a huge lump in his throat that was almost choking him, with a sharp pain in his heart knowing that his lovely wife had been violated in the hospital. That was the only explanation that existed now for the state Isabella was in. For this reason, he decided not to tell either of them anything and told them that the whole family had decided to move to the estate for a while, so they could stay in Marta's old room.They left and he remained in the office with the lights off, feeling his world fading away as he felt guilty for everything that had happened to Isabella in her life. At that moment, he didn't know if it was the best or the worst thing that had happened to her, because he had first gotten her pregnant and left her alone all that time because of his amnesia. And now that he had recovered his memory, he found that because he hadn't been constantly looking after her, someone had abused his lovely wife."How come such terrible thin
Marta looked at Rodrigo, who was waiting expectantly for her to explain, but without pressuring her. She took his hands and looked him in the eye as she said, crying:"It's nothing like that, love. I changed my phone number when I came here and I never contacted him again. How can you think I would tell him that you were about to pick him up?" she asked, wiping away her tears, which continued to flow from her eyes uncontrollably. "I simply suspect that he is also involved in the attack and what they did to us on the yachts. In addition to this now with the cars. I feel like I've betrayed Isabella's family by not telling them about this guy, Dad could have easily kept an eye on him.""I don't think you should feel guilty about that, Isa. You were a child and I'm sure you didn't know exactly what they were talking about when you heard them talking about the bomb." Rodrigo said sympathetically, wiping away her tears. "It was normal for you to pro
But Christian stormed out, slamming the office door shut in a rage, and sprinted towards where Isabella was. However, when he reached the lift, he stopped and bent over, burying his head in his hands, and burst into tears."Poor Bella, poor Bella," Christian repeated over and over as they moved away. "It's all my fault, I'm to blame for everything that's happened to her.""Calm down, Chris, we don't know for sure if that's what happened," David urged, placing a hand on his back, trying to soothe him. "Maybe it's not what you think, she might have been with another man, or maybe even with you.""No, she hasn't been with me! Didn't you hear that I can't impregnate women?" he asked, almost shouting, and added with a deep ache in his chest. "She was raped, David, my Bella was raped when she was alone!"He punched the wall furiously, over and over, until his hands bled, and David stopped him, pulling him into a tight embrace, letting him vent on his shoulder, not know
Christian sat in the doctor's office, waiting for news on Isabella's condition. His brother-in-law, Dr. David, sat beside him, having already prepared their home for Isabella's return. David would be personally taking care of her.Finally, the doctor emerged, accompanied by the hospital director. They greeted Christian and David, settling down with serious expressions."Well, doctor, can I take my wife home or not?" Christian asked impatiently."Before I answer that, Christian, I need to ask you some questions. There's something about your wife that we can't understand," the doctor said, looking at the hospital director who was shifting nervously."What do you mean, doctor? Is something wrong with Bella?" Christian asked, visibly frightened."Her vital signs are all normal," the doctor began, nervously shuffling some papers in his hands. "However, in the latest test results we ran to clear her for discharge, we found something we don't know how to analyse."
They instinctively approach Susan and surround her as if protecting her from the world, while Susan looks at Santiago very scared. Mrs. Tania looks at her son and hurries to say."And your parents too, Susi, would come with you, that mansion is huge. Maybe if Bella hears us all around her, she'll be encouraged to wake up.""It's a good idea, Susi!" her father chimes in. "That way we can see our great-grandchildren all the time and you'll form a relationship with them. We'll go with you and Santiago will be by your side all the time, nothing will happen to you, darling, and you'll take care of your daughter, she needs you by her side.""Yes, Susi, Bella will surely be happy when she finds out you're her mum." Santiago says, excited to be able to live with her."Do you really think so, Santi? Do you think my daughter won't blame me for not knowing how to look after her and letting Eva steal her from me?" Susan asks anxiously.On the other hand, Rodrigo
Marta observes Susan who looks at her excitedly as if she were really her biological daughter as Bella is, from whom she feels she is stealing all those moments. So she feels disconcerted."Oh, God!" exclaims Susan, excited, and steps forward to hug and kiss her. "This is miraculous, I have another daughter. When Santi told me he had adopted you, I was filled with joy and I'd love it if you called me Mum if you don't mind. If not, that's fine, I'll treat you like a daughter, and look, these would be your grandparents. Mum, Dad, don't you think she looks like Santi and me too?""That's right, daughter, that's right. Nice to meet you, Martita, this one here is your maternal grandmother from today onwards," Susan's mother steps forward. "Here, I brought you a gift, I'm a bit confused, are you Isabel or Marta?""Isabel was the name my parents gave me, but then I changed it to Marta. Dad, he's the only one, well, and now my boyfriend Rodrigo, who calls me Isa," explains Ma
Yes, you saved me, Bella. You insisted that I go to work at your apartment, and that's when I realised how well you were looked after, that you had visible and hidden bodyguards, that if I stayed by your side, nothing would happen to me. Forgive me for taking advantage of you in that way and putting you in danger.That's why I stayed to live with you, and you can't imagine how happy I was when your grandparents accepted me and did everything for me. I don't know how Grandpa realised they were following me, but do you know what he did? He put security guards on me too! Can you believe it? Me, an orphan he'd just met, just because you wanted me by your side, he started looking after me!You wouldn't believe how much I hated those rich girls who thought they were better than everyone else, but you weren't like that. You're so different, Bella, that I started to love you from that moment on because it wasn't just a whim of yours. You truly loved me. I was hea
Adele looks at her mother really surprised by what she has just told her, she never imagined that Christie Thompson would help her in this way."She won't want you near her brother because of what you did, but she also doesn't want you to suffer the fate your father had imposed on you by selling you to that guy who was surely going to put you in his harem or auction you off in a brothel in his country. I'm truly grateful that she called me to save you," her mother said very seriously. Then, with a smile, she asked, "How are you feeling? Does it hurt much?""A bit when I move. How long has it been?" she asked, looking at her healed wounds.Her mother looked at her with pity and told her that she had been in that situation for almost two months. They had kept her asleep the whole time because they were travelling from one place to another, hiding her. Besides, there was something she had to tell her, and now that she knew she had a son, she thought it was the right time