"Marry me." Stefano demanded, catching me off guard.My face scrunched, trying to understand. "Why?""Marry me and you'll be compensated handsomely while I give you a job at my charity owned hospital." Stefano proposed, no hint of playfulness in his tone. I thought of his words for a minute, my heart pounding. "And what do you stand to gain?""My father's happiness, and maybe his respect. He's been on my neck to get a wife and the marriage could be my ticket to a position I've been vying for." Stefano shrugged, the buzziness of the city filtrating into my ears. I hoped we could get to the venue soon. There was no escaping this conversation, I had to give him an answer soon."Are you offering me a contract marriage?" I enquired, the words feeling foreign in my mouth.Stefano paused for a minute, as if considering my words. "You could call it that. Our marriage is expected to last for two years and after which, we'll go our separate ways."This seemed like a deal I could handle. I didn
"Things are no longer the same, Robin." I whispered, moving backwards."What changed?" He moved closer to me, holding my hands.I wanted to say I had gotten married in his absence but my tongue was tied."I just can't explain it." I shook my head, the unsaid words placing a weight in my chest.Robin cupped my cheeks, his expression sad. He licked his lips, I used to find that very attractive, but now I just wanted to be away from him."Bella, make me understand."I understand he reasons for wanting to be aware of my thoughts. I mean, we were planned on getting marriage. Life was truly unpredictable, why was I finding Robin in the weirdest places and today of all days?"You shouldn't have left, Robin," I sighed, hitting his chest. My heart was splintering into tiny different prices right before my eyes.I had hoped to be content with knowing Robin was fine, even though the relationship doesn't work as planned. But now, Robin wanted the relationship more than any other thing and I could
My whole body froze when my eyes met his cold gaze. I wonder how much Stefano had seen. As he took powerful strides towards us, my heart pounded loudly in my ears.Suddenly, his firm grip pulled me in his direction. We stood opposite Robin who had an awkward smile plastered on his face."Glad to see you, I guess." Robin chuckled, stretching his hands towards Stefano as though they were old friends."You might not be glad to see me next time." Stefano's firm tone matched the cold gaze his eyes held.Robin chuckled, unfazed by his words. I didn't understand what exactly was going on, but I could tell that there was a quiet battle between them. I was torn between screaming and keeping mute. Before I could make any decision, Stefano's hard grip tightened around my wrist and pulled towards the direction of his car."What the hell is wrong with you?" I yelled, pain shooting through my hand."Protecting you! You can't afford to spend one more minute with him." Stefano spat, still not freei
Stefano CarloLuca Manno didn't know that he was biting more than he could chew. For some reason, the old fucker was pushing me to the wall. Why was he choosing to fuck intercept my goods and then disrupt our distribution?How dare he fucking take hostage of the goods and attacking my men? I couldn't wrap my head around the audacity. He had his territory and he had never trespassed before even though we were not exactly on good terms, so why did he suddenly grow the balls to walk into the lion's den?My jaw twitched as my fingers glazed over my moustache. I regarded Matteo with a dark look, then in a fit of anger, I slammed my fist on the desk. "How dare he?"Matteo flinched a little before taking his stand. "I don't know, the last time I heard anything from him, he was sick so I don't know why he's trying to war against us."Matteo was right. Me and my father had been running Sicily and UK borders for so long and no one had ever dared to interrupt our dealings. Or do I say the last p
The fucker didn't pick his call.I watched it ring until it went to voicemail. I pressed my hands together, attempting to keep my cool as my thoughts roamed.I shook my head. One fact remains the same: I had to treat Luca Manno as urgent. If not, he'd spiral out of control, and chopping him off would become impossible. I leaned into my chair, closing my eyes. All I saw was trouble, and then I rose, sliding into my car within a few minutes. As I drove on the road, I got certain information that made the whole situation interesting. I knew I was going to look at that later, but for now, I was heading home.As I got into my penthouse, my maid, Marianna, was standing next to the door. She had worked with my family for years and had eventually assigned her to work for me when I moved into my own apartment. Her services were well needed; I couldn't even do anything domestically for the life of me. Also, I didn't trust other people enough to let them into my space. All the other workers I'v
Now I knew he was definitely taking me for a fool. If he had an issue with my father, why didn't he just go all out for him? Why did he have to tamper with the territories that I had inherited?The worst part of this was that my father saw all of this as a joke. But I won't treat this as such; I won't let that happen. I didn't even need his approval to fight for what was mine. When I become victorious, he would applaud me himself. But for now, I couldn't just sit down doing nothing."Luca Manno would not stop at this; the fool will keep going at this shit if we don't fucking put this to an end." I spat, pacing around."So what are we suggesting we do?" Matteo asked. Usually, I brought the ideas, and he gathered the rest of the men to execute them."I'll inform you when I finalise.""We have to act quickly.""I don't need anyone to say that to me. I know." I snapped, anger coursing through the veins. This is what I hated the most about the mafia. There were too many inherited fights an
While I thought of a perfect way to get through to Luca Manno, seeing that I could kill Tomasso, he gave a perfect suggestion."Take a picture of me looking dead and then send it to him; he'll probably respond since none of his men have been killed since he started fighting with y'all." He suggested, then shrugged. "I don't know, just trying to help since we're now a team."He held Matteo's hand, giving a childish smile. "Right?"Matteo pulled back. "Kid, I don't know if anyone has told you this, but when adults are talking, fucking shut up." "I'm freaking 19, adult." Tomasso snapped."Enough!" I scolded, hitting my desk. We were all in a meeting planning our next moves, and to be very honest, Tomasso has been bringing good ideas. I don't know why Matteo has been bringing about the fact that I chose to spare his life. He had been snapping at him at every given second. Like, hey, redirect that useless anger towards me instead, but he wouldn't, and he couldn't. That was what made me th
"You've got a problem with that?" I asked Matteo."Uhm.. no." He replied. I knew he had a problem with my decision but it was just one of the numerous things he couldn't say to my face. And frankly, I appreciated that."Good, so get to work," I ordered. Given the fact that we hadn't settled our differences, I bit the urge to say a few things about my personal life, like how for a while I had been thinking about my high school girlfriend. Her thoughts had haunted me these past few days. I found myself wondering if she was okay, where she was, and what she was doing. But I decided to shove the voice away. To give voice to my thoughts is to make the feeling more solid."Sure." Matteo ended the call.I blinked my eyes, unbelieving. He rarely did it, I was the one who mostly ended the call. Wow, my little brother was growing some fucking wings. I shook my head and mapped out strategies regarding work for the next few days.-Matteo did exactly as I said and they booked the flight for all
As I left Doctor John at the ward, my phone rang. It was a call from Stefano. I rolled my eyes as I picked it up."Hey Bella," he greeted."Stefano, I'm busy." I replied."Doctor John said you just the ward and you're settling in fine so I thought to check up on you." He sighed."But I am busy." I responded, tired. I wasn't going to argue with him though."I don't know why you're still mad at me. I thought we were okay for just a brief second." He asked, clearly exhausted by our feud.I liked the feel of it. "If you'd please excuse me, I have better things to do, Stefano. I now have a job.""Wait, how do I make it up to you?"Excuse me? Was I supposed to teach him a basic apology? Like I should teaching him how to apologize to me after he offended me by leaving me in the dark with many issues. He was sincerely joking. "If you can't figure that out yourself, then that's your business." I responded, then ended the call. But I knew I couldn't escape him. He'd be back again to pick me up
After my conversation with Lucy, I got a message notification. I sighed, already guessing it was Stefano. Most of our conversations revolved around asking necessary questions and bants. Nothing lovey dovey yet. A lot has happened these few days, thinking about it made my legs feel weak. Either way, I retrieved my phone from my pocket. My eyes widened at the text, it had Robins handwriting all over it. That was the unmistakable nature of Robin's texts so even though the number was unsaved, I knew he was the one.hey bella, was hoping we cud hang out 2day.Without a second thought, I replied. Sure.I didn't know how I would see him today but I was going to make it work. I needed answers from him, but most importantly, In had missed him alot.will come pick u up. Another text came in.I didn't really know many places in Italy and I would have appreciated him picking me up but my husband would never allow for that.Just let me know the location and time, I'll meet you up there.ok. He re
BellaAfter Stefano drove me to the hospital, I still didn't feel the excitement I thought I'd feel after getting a real nursing job after months of joblessness. I just felt relieved for being able to check off a goal after long months of feeling unproductive in my own books. Arriving at the hospital, I was introduced to Doctor John who seemed eager to work with me probably because of what Stefano had said about me. Soon, he talked about calling a nurse to come assist me in showing me around. A sense of anxiety crept over me, I didn't know what working here would bring. But I hoped for the best while giving my best here tooo.Soon, a knock came at the door while the doctor and Stefano discussed restocking work supplies."Come in," Doctor John replied.I couldn't even turn my head to take a look at the nurse around to help me settle in. I was just scared of the unknown."Doctor Lucy you're here." Doctor John acknowledged, "I thought I sent for nurse Theresa.""She's busy so I thought
As we drove to the hospital, we drove in silence. I took glances at her while she simply ignored me. I didn't know how else to pacify her nor start a conversation with her. We were almost heading to the hospital and I wouldn't like to us to go in there still tensed with the conversation that happened last night."Are you still mad at me?" I asked, extending one hand to touch her lap.The way she glared at her, I knew what I had to do. I removed my hands from her lap.I fixed my eyes on the road. "What more do you want from me? I can't go on with this energy from you.""There you have it, you let me be, Stefano." She responded dryly."And if I don't?" I asked, my eyes still on the road."Then you find out?""Find out what? You have to stop all of this." I pulled to a stop, punctuating my sentence by hitting the hands on the steering wheel.She looked taken aback and then she looked away. I came down from the car and waited for her to catch up with me. I didn't attempt to hold her hands
Stefano (present day)Now she was here with me, throwing tantrums wanting to know so much that I couldn't tell."Everything?" I asked again, unsure of how to give an answer and how I could cut the answer short."Just say the damn words." She grabbed the bottle of alcohol and gulped a little before I could take it from her.Bella held up a finger at me. "Just let me be, please."I nodded. "I don't know exactly what you want to hear but Robin's father and my father are enemies so I don't want you near him." At least that was not a lie.Bella rolled her eyes. "You can't tell me who not to be friends with, you can't. I don't care about whatever dispute y'all have going on but I will not stop talking to Robin." She challenged."You have to, that's why we're a family now.""You didn't tell me about all of this, I would never have accepted the contract marriage. Too deceitful of you," she hissed, gulping the alcohol again. I fear she would get so drunk in a matter of hours. I had never seen
When I got to the hospital, my father was lying on the bed, face scrunched with tiredness and eyes as red as the colour red. I told the doctor to excuse us.I sat next to him, holding his face. "Father, what happened?"He regarded me slowly, his lips moving, before the words came out. "I think someone poisoned him at the last party."Anger shot through me. "Who dares to poison my father?" Maybe that person was tired of living. Isn't that right?"We've been making investigations." He groaned, touching his stomach. "It hurts, the doctors said the poison was meant to kill me.""Who could do such a thing? What are the investigations saying or do you have any idea of why this happened?""I made a deal with someone and he's been saying he wants the larger percent of everything when I clearly called him, trying to help him and strengthen our bond " my father explained, enunciating his words one at a time.I shook my head. "And who could this person be?" I asked, eager to ruin the life of the
"Bella." He replied.The moment Matteo told me it was Bella, I had to claim her instantly, if not our relationship would be threatened by him. I couldn't afford to lose her again, she was mine. And that was final.The next morning, I wanted to ask Bella about Robin but I figured that I had to leave that early. Instead, I stared at her small figure frame nestled on the sofa, her puckered lips parted slightly. I traced my thumb around her lips, and I pulled away when a soft moan escaped her lips. She was hellbent on getting a job, I knew there had to be a reason why she needed the job so badly. I wanted to help her but I just didn't know how to do it yet so I left a wad of cash and a note that would bring a smile to her face. I took a glance at her one more time before leaving with a resolution in my heart: I will come back for her.-"So how are you?" Matteo asked immediately I got into the car as it sped off."Good I'd say? I don't know." I replied, still thinking about Bella. I hones
With the way her eyes lit up, I knew she recognised me. Bella could never forget about me, after what she did. If she pretended not to know me then I'll know I never meant anything to her all these while. I would let her be instantly and carry on with my scarred heart but no. Bella's eyes flashed with something I'd call guilt, then it morphed into a neutral expression. She attempted to put away the past while she was treating me in front of Matteo but there was no way she could ignore me now, seeing that I had told Matteo to leave me here. I was more than elated to disrupt her life. I know I was the last person she was expecting to see, or even treat.All the while we lived together, I let her know my heart still bleeds at her betrayal. Sometimes I would want to let go, but it was hard. For a moment, I thought the only way I could heal was to inflict the pain she caused me with my sharp words and nasty attitude. But I just couldn't stop myself from showing her the care she deserved.
"I am not your son," I firmly responded to him.He chuckled, revealing his dirty tobacco-stained teeth. "Okay, if you say so. You could never be my son anyway." He ended his statement with a full-fledged chortle and his stupid henchmen equally laughed like they were high on something I didn't know about."Let's go straight to the point, what is the attack all about?" I asked, losing my patience already. Are we fucking to argue about blood ties?He gave a dry laugh. "About that," he started, taking off his hat. His bald hair shone, catching the car's headlight."Like I said to you son, every question about my attack should be directed at your snake of a father. "I flared up. "Don't ever talk about my father in that man." The sound of a trigger alerted me to the two guns which were now directed at me.Matteo brought out his gun as well, and glared at me which that eyes could be interpreted as "I told you so." He was pissed off."Alright, guns down!" Luca manno rasped in Italian languag