"You're easy to read, what is it that you don't want your wife to find out?" Thompson looks at him nervously. He had thought about telling the grandfather the whole truth, not Santiago, because he knows that will reopen old wounds, so he nervously looks at the grandfather, who although understands, doesn't ask his son to leave. On the contrary, he wants this matter between them to be resolved, and this is a great opportunity to get him talking.
"Is it about the issue between you guys that I see?" the grandfather asks to start the conversation straight to the point."What issue?" Santiago asks looking at his father who whispers Susan's name to him. "Susan? What does she have to do with this? Do you know where she is?" he turns to Thompson very seriously."I swear to you once again that I don't have her, Santiago! I don't have her! I have no idea where they took her!""What do you mean by that? Who took her? What really happened to her? Because that story about herLuis paces impatiently back and forth. He has been feeling like he's being followed for days, and he doesn't know why, but he has a hunch it's his ex-father-in-law, Santiago Sardino. He tells himself he needs to escape this city. Vivian and her mother have already sold almost everything. However, now he's gotten involved with Adele. She has promised to give him a lot of money. And so far, she's delivering on that promise.Every evening after work, he visits her. They have established a somewhat strange relationship. She doesn't let him penetrate her from the front, claiming she's a virgin. However, based on the things she does to him, he's convinced she's not, and even though he doesn't want to complicate his life. He has actually started to like her, and he wants to verify if what she says is true.He has to be very careful; at home, his wife is already suspicious of his late arrivals. He managed to calm her down by giving her money. Saying he's working overtime to
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
Luis paces impatiently back and forth. He has been feeling like he's being followed for days, and he doesn't know why, but he has a hunch it's his ex-father-in-law, Santiago Sardino. He tells himself he needs to escape this city. Vivian and her mother have already sold almost everything. However, now he's gotten involved with Adele. She has promised to give him a lot of money. And so far, she's delivering on that promise.Every evening after work, he visits her. They have established a somewhat strange relationship. She doesn't let him penetrate her from the front, claiming she's a virgin. However, based on the things she does to him, he's convinced she's not, and even though he doesn't want to complicate his life. He has actually started to like her, and he wants to verify if what she says is true.He has to be very careful; at home, his wife is already suspicious of his late arrivals. He managed to calm her down by giving her money. Saying he's working overtime to
"You're easy to read, what is it that you don't want your wife to find out?" Thompson looks at him nervously. He had thought about telling the grandfather the whole truth, not Santiago, because he knows that will reopen old wounds, so he nervously looks at the grandfather, who although understands, doesn't ask his son to leave. On the contrary, he wants this matter between them to be resolved, and this is a great opportunity to get him talking."Is it about the issue between you guys that I see?" the grandfather asks to start the conversation straight to the point."What issue?" Santiago asks looking at his father who whispers Susan's name to him. "Susan? What does she have to do with this? Do you know where she is?" he turns to Thompson very seriously."I swear to you once again that I don't have her, Santiago! I don't have her! I have no idea where they took her!""What do you mean by that? Who took her? What really happened to her? Because that story about her
The doctor looks smilingly at the three people sitting in front of him. Two older individuals and a younger one who smiles, holding her parents' hands."And you say that from today I only have to take those pills when I need them?" she asks excitedly."Yes, but you have to remain very calm, no strong emotions, until we get the results of the tests we did on your heart. Okay?" the doctor responds."Okay, doctor," she replies with a sweet and melodious voice, smiling happily. "You have no idea how good I feel, even my appearance has changed.""Of course you had to change, by stopping all the medications that kept you asleep, your body woke up and recovered," the doctor explains and then advises her. "Well done, but don't overdo it.""Very well, doctor, I will do everything you say. Let's go mum and dad, we'll celebrate the three of us, let's go eat somewhere beautiful," the youngest suggests standing up and making them do the same."Beautiful?" her dad as
I haven't experienced much, nor do I have experience, only what he has taught me, but what he makes me feel, I have never experienced before. I wish I could scream without fear of being heard, but I can't. So I do it while holding back." Oh, yes, love, more..., don't stop..., love... yes..., yes...! Oh, Heavens...!He turns me around, placing me underneath, and continues moving slowly while kissing my mouth in the same way. It's gentle and pleasurable but at the same time maddening. My body fills with pleasure, my mind clouds over, it takes me to heaven and brings me back; I don't want him to stop, I want this guy for myself, I don't care, I want him! I hug him tightly as if I want to merge with his body." I'm coming darling..., I'm coming..., now stronger, oh, oh...!”A great tremor shakes my whole body, the contractions of my core become violent; I cling to his body with hands and feet, biting him, sucking him, burying my nails in his skin. While he con
After putting the children to sleep, who insisted on sleeping with their aunt Christie, we head back up to the bar. We're not sleepy, we're alone. Christian puts on some soft music and invites me to dance, I look at him in disbelief." Really?" Come on " he says, extending his hand." Ha, ha, ha... I can't believe it.He gently pulls me towards him, catching me by the waist, and holds me tight. He buries his head in my neck, sending shivers down my spine, causing me to let out a sigh." You're so beautiful, you've made me fall completely in love with you. It doesn't matter that I don't remember my past love Bella. I love you so much now, I don't need anything else. I love you, my lovely wife, thank you for accepting me " and he separates from my body to look into my eyes while asking me. " Are you happy?" Very much so, Chris, I love you too much as well and I'm afraid that something might happen and separate us " I reply, hugging him tightly again.
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