He looked at me for a moment, then hugged me again very tightly, and we separated to position ourselves at the entrance. Could I say no? No, Mom had told me he was in serious trouble, that if I didn't marry Luis, he would go bankrupt. Come on Isabella, it's just three years of sacrifice to save your beloved dad.
I didn't hear from Luis until the next day; he arrived an hour before the flight departure. After arriving late and angrily storing the hand luggage overhead, slamming the compartment doors and making everyone stare at us, he sat down furiously beside me. "Is something wrong?" I asked. "Bella, could you do me a favor?" he asked, looking at me annoyed. "Yes, just tell me what it is," I said obligingly. "Move to economy class!" he almost shouted and added when he saw my questioning look. "I want to sit here with my girl." I looked at him bewildered, I couldn't believe he was asking me that! But seeing he wI entered my new house, a gift from my grandparents. It's beautiful and, most importantly, very bright just as I like it. Upon entering, the first thing that catches your eye is a huge mirror with trailing plants on either side. There's a small table with drawers and on top of it, the enormous vase I've always admired at my grandparents' house. I smile, seeing my grandmother's touch in this. The living room that follows is really spacious, with a beautiful floral furniture set - I can't believe she remembered what I said when I saw it while shopping with her. I liked it back then because it looked like a flowering garden, and I still do.As I continue my tour, a beautiful white marble staircase leads me to the second floor. Wow, why did they make so many bedrooms? I wonder. There are really many, and I open them all as I walk. They're very spacious, with huge beds beautifully dressed, each with its own bathroom including bathtubs, just as I always told my grandfathe
I smile happily at what's in front of me. It's a huge room with all my things and a sign in the middle of the bed that says:"I knew you wouldn't want to live on the second floor, because of what you confided in me on the wedding day, so I prepared this room here as your refuge" Congratulations, my granddaughter, and remember, if you need me, I'll be there in a second.Love, your Grandpa.I took my phone, happy and grateful, especially seeing the strong locks he had put on the door. I picked it up right away."You're the best grandfather in the world!" I shouted. "Thank you grandpa, I love you with all my heart too.""Do you like the house?" he asks immediately."Yes, very much. Especially this secure room you made for me," I tell him while sitting on the bed."Did everything go well with that good-for-nothing husband of yours in Paris?" I knew he couldn't help asking."Yes, yes grandpa, don't worry," I respond smiling, and to calm him
Luis said, staring at me intently. Since he hadn't been coming to the house and it was very hot that day, I had put on a shorts set that highlighted my femininity. And I think he was surprised and looked at me for the first time in his life as a woman. I'm sure of it, his eyes roamed my body with surprise, he couldn't hide it and it made me feel uncomfortable. I shouldn't have dressed like this!I reproached myself as I saw him running his tongue over his lips. Why didn't I think about the possibility that he might return? Until now he had considered me ugly, and I prefer he continues thinking that way. The last thing I want is for this brute to demand that I fulfill my wifely duties, and by the way he's looking at me, I think he'll do it at any moment, he'll force me to sleep with him. The deal we made was just words, if he breaks it, I can't claim anything.That's why before he could continue looking at my body like a piece of meat he could devour whenever he wante
I take a step back at the terrified look he gives me. It's as if I were to blame for all the annoyance and discomfort our parents caused him. He snorts when he sees I'm not saying anything. Then he yells at the top of his lungs: "Because the food isn't the problem! We have to share common stories about our honeymoon and we don't have any! What are we going to do, huh? Damn! Our mothers are a bloody headache!" "What are we going to do, Luis?" I ask frightened, realizing that it is indeed a problem. We don't have a single story together, since we spent the so-called honeymoon separately, and in my zero travel experience, the furthest my courage took me alone was to a library. If only he had taken me out for just one day, I think. Now we wouldn't be in this mess. But I don't say anything to him, that won't fix the problem. Fighting won't help us at all, we must be practical, so I release all my air thinking what to do. "We don't have an
Never mind, I have to do it because if they discover we don't share a room, there will surely be trouble. I take a suitcase and fill it with my clothes of all types and run up the stairs as best I can, enter his room and put them in the closet along with his, arrange the shoes and my underwear in a drawer. I go back to my room and bring makeup, toothbrush, and everything else."As soon as they leave, get all this junk out of here!" Luis tells me as he watches me fill his room with my things."I think we should leave them here just in case, I'm sure mom will come by often. Don't look at me like that, the ones I put aren't ones I use, it's just for show, I won't be hanging around in your room if that's what worries you. I love mine and hate climbing stairs, in case you forgot.""Fine, just finish and leave, I'm having a video call with my girl!" He still speaks rudely, as if my presence there irritates him."This is important Luis, I'm sure they're coming to check
Everyone is watching me as if they were waiting for me to say what he is asking. Especially mom who looks at me as if she wants to kill me. My father-in-law smiles waiting for me to do it, at my mother-in-law who turns red and lowers her gaze. But above all my eyes meet those of my dad who looks at me longingly."Ha, ha, ha..." I laugh nervously, I don't like this man at all. "Thank you, father-in-law," I say, while looking at dad, and I think I saw him half-smile when he heard me call him that."Bravo, how was the trip, did you like it?" My father-in-law continues to ask without taking his eyes off me."Everything was very nice, dad," Luis saves me by coming to join us, he's certainly keeping his promise not to leave me alone with them, for which I'm very grateful, they really make me nervous with their questions and insinuations, "but now let's eat, dinner will get cold. We'll chat later.""Dad, are you coming?" I ask, stopping to wait for him.Yes,
Nonetheless, Dad continued to scrutinise him intently until Luis shifted his gaze and placed his arm around my shoulders as though he were afraid of something. Dad finally finished his farewells and left, followed by Mum who was still fussing over him. What happened with him?We waved them off from the doorway, and as soon as they were gone, I shrugged off Luis's hold. He looked at me pensively when we were alone.“Bella, you were brilliant. I thought it would be tougher to convince them that we're a genuine married couple,” he said, his gaze still fixed on me.“You too, Luis. Thank you for keeping your promise not to leave me alone with them for a moment; I really was very nervous,” I said and started walking back into the house, where the servants were finishing tidying up. “Really, have you visited all those places?”“Yes, I did— with my girl!” he replied arrogantly.And that marked the end
Luis stops for a moment to observe me. His look at that moment I think is one of condescension, and I even seemed to perceive a flash of pity before he continued."Your dad initially didn't accept this marriage when it was proposed to him, he flatly refused to let you marry me. It was something I was counting on to avoid doing it. That he would keep refusing until the end, but he didn't," he finished with anger and disappointment in his voice.I can't believe what he's confessing to me. What does that mean? Dad really doesn't want this marriage? Could I get divorced if I tell him what's really happening? Grandfather says he's not as ill as mom claims. But hearing what Luis continues to say fills me with doubts."He didn't, and look at us here, married!" He says, both disappointed and annoyed. "Your dad finally gave in and handed you over to me because of what Eva did to him!"He tells me and I believe him, I don't think dad wanted to leave me in his h
Christian lay on his bed after emerging from the bathroom, where he had indulged in fantasies about Isabella. He was seriously considering visiting his psychologist, as he believed his current state wasn't normal. Could he truly not live without her? It had all seemed so real-her body in his hands, how he had plunged into her repeatedly. Was Isabella actually visiting him, remaining silent so he wouldn't realise it was her? Did she know he was blind and accept him as he was?At that moment, the bedroom lights switched on as his mother entered. He sat up abruptly."Mum, I think... I think I saw the light when you turned it on. You did turn it on, didn't you?""Yes, son, I just did. Are you regaining your sight as the doctor said? David... David... come and see Chris, David!""What is it, Mother-in-law? I'm here," David said, rushing into Christian's room, followed by his wife Christie and Mr Thomson, who had come in response to Mrs Thomps
After all the commotion surrounding Marta and Rodrigo's relationship, everyone in the house is delighted that they are a couple. They hold the young man in high regard and know he is very responsible. They are particularly pleased that he respected her throughout and that, had Marta not essentially won his heart, he wouldn't have pursued the relationship.The following day, Mrs Tania invited Augusto, her lifelong bodyguard, and his wife Leila for lunch. She wanted to quickly formalise Rodrigo and Marta's relationship, as the couple couldn't stop gazing at each other happily. Since Marta's arrival with Isabella, she had initially remained very quiet, and although everyone loved her and made her feel like family, they could sense that she felt inhibited in many ways.Now she is brimming with happiness, constantly smiling and allowing others to embrace her, something she didn't commonly do before. This is especially true after managing to have Rodrigo assigned as her bo
Santiago and his father stared intently at the girls, who were at a loss for what to do or say. Despite her earlier words, Marta had quickly released Rodrigo's hand, and he too seemed unable to react. Isabella looked at her father and, seeing his reproachful head shake, hugged her grandmother, hiding behind her."Seriously, Bella? Are you going to pass your sister off as Rodrigo's girlfriend?" Santiago asked, trying to coax Isabella out from behind her grandmother."Dad, it's not what you think!" Marta stepped forward, attempting to defend Isabella, who was silently pleading for help. "Dad, it's not Bella who's with Rodrigo... it's me!""This is the limit, Isabella," he said, to the astonishment of all three women. "Now you want to pass Marta off as your lover's girlfriend to deceive me?""Dad!" Isabella exclaimed, emerging from behind her grandmother, who was chuckling at the mess unfolding before her. "Dad, I swear on everything sacred that I have nothing to do
He didn't know that I couldn't cash the check here. Although, about Eva's money, I think you're right. I remember hearing my father saying that Santiago's company is frozen, because it's going bankrupt. If the Sardino patriarch doesn't step in, he'll be left with nothing. So it's true what you're saying. Where's Eva going to get money from? Although, she might have her own stash hidden away."Now I understand why Eva is so agitated, although it seemed she didn't know. She says she has a good plan, it might suit us, what do you think?""Do you trust her, Luis? I don't like Eva one bit. When have you ever heard of a mother plotting to kidnap her own daughter's children? I don't like that woman, I don't. Let's hear what she's planned. But if we don't like it, we're leaving, agreed?""I don't trust her either, but she's still someone we can get money from, and right now I'm going to cash this cheque Santiago gave me to pay for Luisito's hospital bill, we can't get him out
After rescuing Adele, they had decided to leave the country for good, but to their surprise, upon returning to the house that belonged to Luis' maternal grandparents, they found a surprise. Upon opening the door, there was Vivian and her mother with the child."Mum! Vivian! What are you doing here?" Luis asked, genuinely surprised."We're so sorry, son, but the little one didn't take to the climate and had been unwell since we arrived. The doctor advised us to return to a warmer one. As we had no idea where to go, we came to stay here for a few days, so you could help us find another place. And by the way, as we couldn't send money, we collected them to come with us.""Mum, you shouldn't have done that. Dad found out about everything and he's fuming. You should have called me and explained, I would have sorted everything out from here.""Luis, it's just for a few days. Besides, I need to sort something out with my account, it won't let me withdraw the money Santi
Marta didn't respond immediately, savouring Rodrigo's warm embrace as he held her tighter and tighter, his heart beating rapidly. In that moment, she said,"It doesn't matter that you did that, I'll talk to Dad, alright?" she assured, pulling away slightly to look at him."I'd rather do it myself, man to man," Rodrigo said, holding her gaze."No!" Marta hurried to say, and added, "Daughters know best. I'll tell Mum to help me, you'll see, she'll convince them. And Bella must have realised by now and she'll help me, do you really want to do this?""Yes," Rodrigo responded firmly, "If you want it too.""Of course I do. And don't worry, if they fire you, I'll hire you, hee, hee, hee... I'll just have to pay you in a different way," and as she spoke, Marta couldn't stop running her hands over the man's well-formed torso. "I've always wanted to do this," she says without stopping caressing him, he takes her by the waist and pulls her close."And I've wanted
They quickly put on their diving suits and dive off the other side, which is impossible for those on the boat to see. Rodrigo has tied Marta to him, who follows him sinking as he indicates. The water in this area is murky, so they can't see very well, so they swim close to each other until they reach the shore. They emerge slowly, releasing the oxygen tanks, and that's when Marta runs and hugs Rodrigo and kisses him. At first, he doesn't respond, but then he returns the kiss. When they separate, she is very flushed and says,"Sorry about that, I was really scared," she says, looking down blushing.Rodrigo just looks at her, then takes her by the hand and they run along the shore, until they reach the road, while he calls Santiago."Yes, sir, we escaped, we're on the road, come for us," he asks without stopping running with her hand in his.They continue walking hand in hand in silence. Marta holds on tightly, not letting Rodrigo let go of her hand the times he ha
On the other hand, Marta is sitting across from Christie, in the office that used to be Christian's."Is it necessary for you to do this, Marta?" Christie asks very seriously."Yes, I'm going to work with dad, I can't stand being here anymore, where no one talks to me and they whisper when they see me pass," Marta states firmly. "Besides, it's for my safety.""Your safety?" Christie asks, intrigued."Yes, I have a madman chasing me," Marta confesses, knowing she can trust Christie as she stands up. "Thanks for everything, Christie. When I finish writing the story of my sister and your brother, I'll bring it to you to publish. Say hello to Chris for me, a kiss, if you need my help with anything, just call. You know my number."And she turns her back, leaving to meet the security guard Rodrigo, who is waiting for her with two other men."Let's go to my office, so you can help me pack my things to leave," Marta asks, and walks past them towards the l
There's a brief silence as he listens to the employee moving away into the stables, only to emerge later with a horse."Noel, have you seen my wife around the farm in the last few days?" he repeats his question."No, no, lad, it's just a figure of speech," the man hurries to clarify. "You seem like a lost soul, it must be because of her, even though the children come every day. You've got her under your skin, you should go back to her. Mrs Isabella is a good person. Think about it, she's still waiting for you, don't delay too much or when you want her back, someone else might have taken her.""You too, Noel?" he asks, disappointed."What do you mean?" the old man asks as he prepares the horse Christian requested."Elmira keeps saying that someone's going to steal her away. I hope she finds a healthy man who loves her like I do and makes her happy! You're right about what you say, Isabella is a good woman, that's why she doesn't deserve to be tied to a blind