"You're right to get out of that. I'll give the order right away. And what are we going to do about Reginaldo?"
"Leave him for now. Let's see what those two are planning.""The way he left, I don't think he's going to help her this time. I clearly heard him threatening her. Eva was shouting for him, and he didn't turn back. From what I heard, he seems to know a lot of your wife's secrets. Maybe we'll finally find out where Susan is. I can't shake the feeling that it was Eva who kidnapped her, perhaps with Thompson's help.""We've been searching for her for so long without any results that I've lost all hope. I just want to know if she's happy. If she's alive, if she wasn't killed because of me. And look at what happened now unexpectedly. Christian is Thompson's son, he married Isabella and they had two children.""That's true, but that boy takes after his grandfather, not his father. He's a degenerate and hasn't changed yet. I did some digging on him, and hIsabella embraces Santiago once again, who returns the hug feeling immense happiness. How could he have deprived himself of this for twenty-three years? He wonders as he discreetly wipes away a tear. Then he separates from his daughter, who responds with a smile and a huge expression of joy that satisfies him, and says to him."Okay, Dad, I'll come and help you, but don't get used to it. Ha, ha, ha... You know very well that I don't like numbers," she then looks at him intently as if pondering what she wants to say, he smiles at her, and it is then that she decides to speak. "Can I ask you something in private?""Of course, my daughter, come with me to the bridge, to take that turn and anchor. Then we will talk about anything you want."Isabella does as he asks, follows him to the bridge, stops by his side to observe him. She hears the commotion of her children approaching with Christian, she receives them excitedly and goes to meet them. Everyone watches the an
Everyone thinks that being the heiress of a wealthy family makes you happy. In their minds, they create a wonderful fantasy life that, in my case, is far from reality. Despite being the sole heiress of one of the most powerful families in my country—not only to my parents but also to my grandfather Santiago Sardino, a feared mafia millionaire—I am the most miserable person imaginable since I can remember.In the numerous novels I've read, rich children like me are always portrayed as petulant, conceited, and doing whatever they want without caring about anything. They face their parents without fear. I assure you that's not my case; I'm quite the opposite. My mother made sure of that, and now I find myself trapped in this miserable life they've imposed on me.It's been over six months since I've been living this arranged marriage charade. So far, I have no complaints. My fake husband, Luis, barely spends time at home. I'm immersed in my studies and visit my grandparents every day afte
I look at him with hatred, feeling a lump in my throat from the helplessness of the situation and my inability to act. He turns around and heads for the stairs, leaving me alone and in pain on the floor. Tears of frustration run down my cheeks, but I try to pull myself together and stand up. Suddenly, he turns and shouts at me from above."Bella, you're not a woman, you're too ugly! You have terrible taste in clothes! You're horrible! Your body is pathetic! It's embarrassing for me to walk arm in arm with you and introduce you as my wife! You know why I married you!" he spits out all that venom with rage.I can't believe what just happened. Luis hasn't just hurt me with his words; he's hit me. Although I try to stay strong, it deeply hurts to know that he doesn't value me as a person. This situation has opened my eyes to a reality I've been avoiding for a long time.Since childhood, I've always felt the pressure to please my parents and maintain the appearance of a perfect family. But
With my head resting on the steering wheel, I cry until a memory comes to mind, as if God had enlightened me. I remember the apartment my grandfather gave me in the city center many years ago, I think when I turned sixteen; it was my birthday present. I remember it as if it were yesterday: he took me secretly from home and led me there with such mystery to give it to me. "Nobody knows about its existence, just you and me," he told me.The happiness that fills me is enormous. I search through my purse and find the address and, on my keyring, the key that opens it. I look up the location on my phone, which immediately plots the route; it's not that far. I drive there. Upon arrival, I have to show my ID at the entrance because the doorman is new and doesn't know me. Well, I suppose the previous one wouldn't have known me either; I only came that one time when Grandfather brought me. I could never come back because they wouldn't let me out.The doorman keeps glancing at me. I've let my ha
She observes me with satisfaction and leaves. I open the bag reluctantly to find an extremely short dress that barely covers my thighs. I try it on; it's beautiful, but my breasts almost spill out of the neckline.I'll never wear something like this! What was Mom thinking buying me clothes that look more suitable for a woman of the night? No, I definitely won't wear such a garment, even if she gets furious!After my mother leaves, and having seen how the dress fits, I search through my wardrobe until I find an outfit my grandmother gave me for my birthday. It's pale pink; I try it on. It fits perfectly! Above all, I feel comfortable in it: nothing to be ashamed of or worried about men's leering looks throughout dinner.Dressed like this, I stay in my room until they're all in the car honking and calling for me. I run out and quickly get in. Since they're running late, they don't make me go back to change. My mother spends the entire journey berating me. I put my headphones on and focu
I look at the smiling lady in front of me, her image comes to my mind for an instant from when they used to visit my house before I was sent to school."I..." I don't know what to say, the words catch in my throat. "I... I..." I stammer. What are they doing here?"Don't pretend you don't remember Luisito, darling," my mother says in her fake voice. I look at her but say nothing. "You haven't stopped talking about him all these years."What? Why is my mother telling such a lie? I had never remembered him until today, I hate him!"Isabella," Dad speaks, "you said a moment ago that you remembered him."I look at Dad, not understanding what he's saying. Was that what I said yes to? Of course I remember Luis well! He was that hateful boy who always made me cry, forcing me to do things I didn't want to do. I've hated him all my life; he used to follow me everywhere and hit me when no one was watching. Then he'd manage to make me take the blame for everything he did. How could I forget? I th
I remain paralyzed, staring at them, unable to believe what they are saying. I look at Luis, who smiles like an angel, accepting everyone's congratulations while holding one of my hands in his and kissing me from time to time. And suddenly, he kneels before me and shows me, with his cynical smile, an engagement ring."Bella, since we were children, you have been a fascination to me, and you still are. As you promised me back then when you confessed your love, I have waited all these years for you. Because I have also loved you all my life and I intend to continue doing so. Thank you for accepting me as the man who will make you happy for all eternity," Luis says while placing the ring on my finger, amid everyone's applause. He doesn't even ask if I accept him, he takes it for granted. I feel trapped, unable to react or say a word. I can't find words to express my desperation; I remain frozen and at a loss for what to say. I know I can't voice my opinion; it has always been this way.
Luis stares at me with an expression of mockery and contempt that I did not understand, but I waited for him to finish speaking in the hope that somehow I would escape this torture."Did you really think I was in love with you? No, Bella, I'll never fall in love with someone like you," he said cynically. "So take it well, we'll both win. You'll have your freedom, and I'll have my inheritance. We'll be married for three years, and each go our separate ways. We'll only appear to be married. Now you have to pretend you like me, that we've truly been in love since childhood; if we do it well, we'll be free sooner.""Sounds good to me; I don't like you either. We'll divorce in three years, and that's it," I replied happily, feeling a great weight lifted from my shoulders. I felt God existed and had come to save me."Yes, but I want to make something clear. During that time, you can't have any relationships," he said very seriously while looking out the window."Fine by me. And you?" I ask
Isabella embraces Santiago once again, who returns the hug feeling immense happiness. How could he have deprived himself of this for twenty-three years? He wonders as he discreetly wipes away a tear. Then he separates from his daughter, who responds with a smile and a huge expression of joy that satisfies him, and says to him."Okay, Dad, I'll come and help you, but don't get used to it. Ha, ha, ha... You know very well that I don't like numbers," she then looks at him intently as if pondering what she wants to say, he smiles at her, and it is then that she decides to speak. "Can I ask you something in private?""Of course, my daughter, come with me to the bridge, to take that turn and anchor. Then we will talk about anything you want."Isabella does as he asks, follows him to the bridge, stops by his side to observe him. She hears the commotion of her children approaching with Christian, she receives them excitedly and goes to meet them. Everyone watches the an
"You're right to get out of that. I'll give the order right away. And what are we going to do about Reginaldo?""Leave him for now. Let's see what those two are planning.""The way he left, I don't think he's going to help her this time. I clearly heard him threatening her. Eva was shouting for him, and he didn't turn back. From what I heard, he seems to know a lot of your wife's secrets. Maybe we'll finally find out where Susan is. I can't shake the feeling that it was Eva who kidnapped her, perhaps with Thompson's help.""We've been searching for her for so long without any results that I've lost all hope. I just want to know if she's happy. If she's alive, if she wasn't killed because of me. And look at what happened now unexpectedly. Christian is Thompson's son, he married Isabella and they had two children.""That's true, but that boy takes after his grandfather, not his father. He's a degenerate and hasn't changed yet. I did some digging on him, and h
Christian hurried to help Marta with the box full of files, then placed it on a table. Isabella looked at him, not understanding what he wanted. His sister-in-law, Christie, also helped to arrange everything."Didn't we say we were going to organise everything?" Isabella asked, still working."We did, darling, but now my treatment is more important," Christian replied with a smile."What treatment?""What do you think, Bella? The happiness treatment," Christie said, laughing at her sister-in-law's surprised expression. "The company is ours, and we can do things whenever we want. Especially what you're doing now, we can take it home and do it together.""Not a bad idea," Christian agreed. "Let's do it as my sister says. Now leave everything as it is and let's go. We're all going on a family trip.""What do you mean by all?" Isabella asked."Exactly that, the whole family is going for a walk.""The whole, whole family?" Isabella asked again.
"Because even though you don't remember me, I, on the other hand, could not forget your beautiful hair. I promised myself to come for you when I became an adult. I have just turned eighteen, and I have come for you.""I'm sorry to tell you that you made a trip in vain. My only love has always been Santiago, and it will continue to be for the rest of my life. Santi, I came to find you so you can accompany me to ask my parents for permission, for what you asked me. Shall we go?"I hadn't missed Thompson's look of hatred directed towards me. Nor his desire-filled gaze on Susan. I was sure I would have serious problems with him because of my girlfriend. As we were leaving, I heard him say,"I'm not giving up, I came for you and I won't leave empty-handed.""Stop the jokes Thompson, I think you should know that Susan is my fiancée, the woman I'm going to marry, so show some respect," I reprimanded him sternly."Let's go Santi," Susan pleaded. "You know I o
I am very happy to have reunited the shipping companies. They complement each other. Dad was right about that when he told me. Thank goodness I am feeling much better. Doctor Alfonso was right in everything he explained to me. I don't understand how Eva was able to do that to me, it's true that I didn't love her, but I always treated her very well. I gave her all the money she wanted, bought her everything she wanted to buy. And still, it wasn't enough for her, she had to sell our daughter.I knew Bella couldn't be in love with that guy. If Luis thinks she's going to slip through my fingers because of what he did to my daughter, he's very wrong. He will pay dearly for what he dared to do. It seems like everyone has forgotten who I am. I have to remind them all. It's enough for me to lament losing Susan. Many years have passed since then. And even though I don't believe what Eva told me, I know something happened to my Susan, my heart tells me so, she wouldn't abandon me like sh
I've been in the warehouse for over three hours organising the files with Marta for the new projects. We also want to input all the information into the computers. Suddenly, my phone rings."Hello?""Bella, it's me, Mum.""Mum?" I ask, unable to believe it. "What do you want?""Nothing, aren't you happy to hear from me? Don't you even care about your mother?""Mum, I know you're doing well on your cruise. I ask Dad about you every day. So, tell me why you called, I'm busy.""No, I just wanted to know how you were, my daughter, that's all.""I'm fine, thanks.""Do you know anything about your father?"I realise that's the real reason she called. She wants to know what's going on with Dad. Thankfully, he warned me about this. I know he cut off all the money from the cards. I'm sure she's calling to find out what's happening. Dad told me what to say, so I focused on telling her our plan."Dad moved in with us because he's ba
He is sitting in his office, smiling as he looks at the photos of Lucas and Luci that Marta just brought him in a frame that he proudly places on his desk. He can't help but smile, they look happy. He still remembers when he took that picture of them, it was on their birthday, which by the way, he still doesn't know the result of the investigation. He picks up his phone and dials Grandpa Sardino, who answers right away, and asks for a meeting to meet up."Can I come to your office, Grandpa? I don't want to talk about it at home.""If it's about what happened at the birthday, leave that to me and your father-in-law. Focus on getting better, let's see if you keep recovering your memory.""But Grandpa...""Christian, listen to me son. Santiago and I will handle it and when we have the results we will let you know. You need to be very happy so you can remember how much you loved your wife. I trust you, okay? Don't come, we'll talk at home. Oh, the yacht is free if yo
When he realised she would be useful for something, he took her out of school. But once again, things had not gone as expected. Luis, in his stupidity, had ruined the job that had cost him so much to accomplish. And Isabella, instead of calling her father, making it possible for her to find out in time and prevent her from escaping.Isabella had asked for help from her grandfather, who annulled her marriage and disappeared her from the country, thwarting his plans to acquire the old man's fortune. Not even her husband had helped in his effort to find his daughter. It seemed more like he was glad she had gone with her parents. And now that she had returned, she thought she could sell her to a higher bidder. She was married, no less, to the most sought-after heir in high society. Christian Thompson. And not only that, she had two children with him!How did the foolish Isabella manage to catch him? That, for sure, had been the work of the old Sardino. She remembered he
Eva picked up her phone and called her husband Santiago, but he didn't answer. She was worried, it was the first time this had happened. She would have to go back home again, she thought. She only had a few thousand in a bank account in her name. She didn't want to spend that money. Damn it! I have to delay everything now. She continued towards her room when she received a call."Hello.""Hello, Mrs. Eva, it's Luis.""Luis? What do you want?""I was wondering if you have time to meet with me and Adele, I came up with another plan that you might be interested in.""Luis, I can't right now, I have something else in mind. I'll call you later, let me know when you're going to do what you told me.""Don't do something like what Adele did, we have to be very well coordinated. We are facing a very powerful enemy.""Alright, I'll let you go now, I have something to figure out."She continued moving towards the room, still thinking about and anal