Chapter three

I suddenly stood up when the words hit me “Father wants you and Mr grumpy over there to get married.” I silently walked out of the dining room, deciding not to cause a ruckus with my hands balled into fists to contain my anger.

As soon as I arrived in the living room, tears gathered around the brim of my eyes. He had no right to dictate such an important decision in my life. This was only up to me to decide who I was to spend my life with, but he practically owned me.

That is going to change soon, I assured myself.

“Bella,” I heard my father’s voice and stiffened at his words, “you will have to do this. May I not need to remind you I own you?”

“I can do everything you ask of me, but… not this. You know I cannot marry someone else.” I pleaded in a broken voice. He was asking too much from me and with all that happened, I could not believe that he would try to set me up like this.

“Stop worrying about a dead man.” He said harshly, causing my heart to clench in pain, “He’s gone Bella, never to come back. I’m just giving you a push.”

How dare he! After insulting Scott and my love for him, he thinks he can force me? I shook my head at him.

“I’m not asking you to marry him tomorrow. You’ll just live with him for two months to get to know each other.”

“My son…” I said, my voice drifting off.

“You can bring him along too,” I heard a voice say from behind me. Turning around, I found Leonardo staring at me.

“Are you okay with this?” I asked.

“Do I look like I have a choice?” he countered.

“Well, I do.” I said icily, grabbing my purse and stomping out of the house. The engine roared to life when I turned my key. I angrily drove away to my house.

Leonardo’s POV

I flinched when she slammed the door loudly. Who does she think she is? Walking out on me the way she did made me feel insulted.

“Bro, are you okay?” Alvaro asked, rushing into the living room.

“That woman…” I growled, but my mom cut me.

“Is it lovely right?” she said as she walked in. “She’ll be the perfect mother to—I mean she’ll be a perfect mother and wife.”

“Mmmhhh,” dad mumbled and then looked at me. “Where did she go?”

“She left.” I replied.

“What did you do?” he asked with an edge to his tone.

“Nothing,” I shrugged. “I literally let out one sentence, and she stormed out.”

“Go after her,” he commanded.

“What?” I asked, wondering if my ears were clogged.

“Go. After. Her.” He gritted his eyes, shooting out daggers at me.

“How I’m I supposed to do that? I don’t even know where she stays.” I snapped back.

“Here is her address.” Her brother Damien said, handing me a piece of paper. I glared at him, sending him a murderous look. He just let out a wide, annoying grin before winking at me.

“Now go apologize to her honey,” mom said.

“I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING!” I retorted with frustration. “Mr Perez…” I trailed so he could defend me, but he just shrugged, sipping his whiskey.

“Leo, just go.” Alvaro elbowed me. I glared at him before stomping out of the house.

I entered the address into the GPS and let Siri lead the way. In less than twenty minutes, I arrived at a huge two story white house with burgundy finishes. This included the windows and door frames and the door itself.

I walked over to the door and rang the doorbell. The door opened in a flash and a sophisticated woman dressed in a white blouse and a black pencil skirt greeted me, her hair pulled into a tight ponytail.

Let’s get this done and over with, I thought as I looked at the woman, not knowing that there was more to Bella Perez than what meets the eye.

“Good evening,” she greeted. “How may I help you?”

“I’m here for Bella. Is she around?” I said, looking over her shoulder.

“Miss Perez is in her room. I’ll call her for you.” She said.

“No need for that. Just show me her room.” I blurted.

“O-okay…” she hesitated, “Just go up the stairs, last room on the right.”

“Thank you,” I said before entering the house advancing to the stairs. I jumped the stairs twice at a time and I really did not know why. As I got closer to the room, I heard loud screams and glass breaking simultaneously. This triggered my senses, and I ran into the room to meet an angry Bella.

“You…” she said, pointing her index finger at me. “What are you doing here? Why did you have to come into the picture? I was fine with my life. But you just had to come. Tell my father that you don’t want to marry me!” She demanded.

“Bella, don’t move.” I warned, eyeing the broken pieces of glass on the floor, ignoring whatever she had said.

She let out a broken laugh as she started walking towards me, stepping on the glass. I looked at her face and she did not even let out a tear. Not a single one.

“BELLA!” I reprimanded. When she did not stop, I swooped her in my arms. When I did so, she started punching me and my arm. “Seriously Bella, can you stop!”

With that, Bella sighed and looked at me and said the words I did not want to hear. “Why me?”

I had the answer to that, but I kept quiet.

Because my Angelica needs someone like you, I would have answered. Because I wanted her for my own selfish reasons.

“Answer me!” she demanded as I walked down the stairs, where I met the woman who answered the door.

Totally ignoring Bella, I looked at the woman and demanded, “Get me a first aid kit and towels.”

I rested Bella on one of the white leather sofas. “No…” she groaned, and I raised an eyebrow. “Get me off. My perfect sofa will be ruined, and it’s all your fault.”

I yawned and looked at the woman who was carrying the first aid kit. “Can you hurry!” I snapped, annoyed at Bella’s incessant nagging.

“S-s-sorry, sir.” She said as she handed me the items.

“You can leave.” I dismissed her, flicking my hand.

I took out the tweezers and started taking out the pieces of glass. Luckily, they weren’t as much as I expected and definitely not as deep. Throughout the entire procedure, Bella did not even cry, she only winced once or twice. I wondered, is this woman made of iron or what?

“Why are you here?” she asked in a worn out voice that made me look up to her.