Chapter 33
Phoebe Point of View
This is what I feared about.
This is what I didn’t want to happen but it is happening right now, against my will.
“Why the hell are you so bent on getting me killed, Nicco.” I gritted in his ear, so that no one around would not hear.
From all these years of being together with him, there were only handful of times when I got mad at him but this time, I am seething. What is wrong with him?
Why is he doing this to me?
God, what happened to the lovely Niccolo I knew?
“Why, Bella, this is not that horrible. Is it?” He asked me mockingly. He was furious himself but was covering it with a smirk I never saw even once all those years.
He smirked seductively and teasingly but never… devilishly.
He almost look like he is possessed by evil right now.
“Just a signature, Bella. I don’t think it’s that bad.” He said and pushed me forward where the registrar was waiting for us.
“I am not marrying you.” I whisper yelled vehemently and tried to pull my arm away from his grip but damn he is so strong. “Are you crazy, Nicco? You cannot just arrange us to get married secretly without anyone’s notice.” I stated, urgency clear in my voice.
I am not going to marry him. Not like this at least. What has gotten into him to take such a big step? Heck, I was planning to go away from him in a day and he had to do this.
“I don’t care much.” He shrugged and snapped his finger twice. Nicco’s driver came inside the registration office with a small tray containing two simple platinum rings of different sizes.
He can’t be serious, is he? I thought he was just trying to scare me but is he really planning to get through with this?
“Think about your grandma at least, Nicco. You love her so much, don’t you? It is not right to do this in secret without her blessings.” I tried to reason with him.
If it was any other day or if it was in any other case, then I would be jumping and dancing to get married to him. After all he is the best man one can ever get. It would take a great amount of luck to have a person like him as a husband, as a family.
But my situation is not usual. Wedding between us is just not the matter of us two, it involves many factors.
Mainly, I being not suitable to a prestigious family like Russo’s.
“Oh, you have to think about grandma from now onwards.” He smirked again as if he has plans running in his mind. I never knew the sweet Nicco is capable of doing something absurd like this. “Now come on, sign the certificate before I call my Nonna and tell her that you are the one who destroyed me for any other girl.” I looked at him incredulously.
Oh no, I am not destroying his life tying him with me.
I had to bear so much of pain and rejection just so he could move on in his life but look how things turned up. My decision is biting me back.
Four pairs of eyes are staring anxiously at me. The registrar was waiting patiently for my signature on the certificates, while Nicco’s lawyer and his driver are here to give their support as witnesses.
“You have no way out of this, Bella. You either sign those damn papers or I will just call the media and announce you as my Fiancee and trust me, I learn some really good tricks from Leo.” Another new experience. Nicco threatened me seriously for the very first time.
Goodness, what does he want me to do? If I sign them, then I would become his wife and I cannot leave him forever nor can I tell anyone about our relationship. If I don’t sign them, people would come to know me as his fiancé and I will have to face the harsh side of the society for trapping a man like him.
It is as if I am walking on a double edged sword.
“Nicco, just listen to me please.” I begged. “This is not right. Please; what would you tell your grandma and family? I was a prostitute, Nicco. I am nowhere suitable to you. You deserve someone with class and I don’t have that.” I pleaded, breathing heavily.Nôvel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.
It hurts! It hurts to see myself inferior in my own eyes but that is true. I don’t know what fate has in plans for me but I don’t think after spending my life as a woman to give comfort, no one will accept like I do.
Nicco, on the contrary accepted me wholeheartedly but for how long? There would come a day when people’s taunts, their mocking and their gossips effect him. And when that day really comes, then what would happen to us, to him, to me?
Nicco’s eyes hardened at what I said. His hold on my elbow tightened making me yelp in pain. “You will have to sign them no matter what, Bella. You can choose to sign them yourself or I can force your hand to do it and trust me money has enough power to close the mouths of people present here about this small wedding. It’s your choice now. I will give you ten seconds and I want your f***ing sign there. Oh yes, I prefer marrying a prostitute than a woman with class.”
I was scared. Scared of his look, scared of his tone and scared of him. He looked like he is waiting for me to go against him so he can humor himself by forcing me to sign by holding my hand.
A look of impatience and frustration crossed his eyes and seems like he is getting ready to do it his way. I gulped audibly and sighed in defeat. He is serious about this and he is going to get my signature in any way.
I shakily held the pen in my hand but it fell down because of my trembling hands. Looking at Nicco one last time to see if he would stop me but the frown on his face is an answer that he is not going to got through with this today at any cost.
I took the pen again and signed where my name is written. Nicco’s lawyer and driver sighed in relief and clapped while Nicco took less than second to sign. The registrar glanced at the paper for good one minute and handed it over to both the witnesses to sign which they did quite happily.
Everyone is happy expect me. I didn’t want to get married to him this way. I wanted acceptance before any of this happen but seems like acceptance and peace is not a part of my life anymore.
“Now please exchange rings and Mr. Russo you may kiss the bride to the seal the wedding.” The registrar announced, giving the certificate to his subordinate to get it duplicated for us.
Having no other choice, I gruntingly pushed the ring on his finger and he did the same, but this time with a peaceful smile. Once the ring is placed safely on my finger, he pulled me and kissed on my cheek briefly.
“Now you are mine, Bella. You remember you once told me that you value family the most you can do anything for your family.” He whispered softly, running his fingers on my hip. “I am your family now. From this moment you will try your hard to keep me intact with you. I will not tell about this wedding to anyone. To the world, you are still a help in Russo mansion but us, you are my wife and I am your husband. You do whatever you can to win me because just because I married you, I’m not going to comfort you and fight for you like I used to. If you have to fight with the so-called society you so care about then suit yourself. Till now, I tried to protect you from your own derogating thoughts, now you will have to suck it up and find some confidence to accept yourself and get approved by my family. I will not help you in this because I have done much more than I should. Let’s see what you do. Will you accept this marriage or will you just ignore and try to run away!”
I felt like energy was sucked out of me at what he said. He was true though. He has been protecting me from everything and everyone from a very long time. But then again, how can he expect me to get accepted by his family. They will never accept me. In turn, they might disown him too.
What should I do now?
“Oh, by the way Bella, I forgot to tell you, you don’t have a choice like I told you. You should fight for us because you cannot run away now.” I heard him speak from back and jerked back to reality. I looked at him confusingly to which he simpered and shrugged.
“Since I am your husband now and as I have complete rights on you and your possessions, I blocked your bank accounts and other income sources just to make sure you don’t come up with another idea of running from your problems. From now on, I will provide you with your needs but you will not get a penny in your hands until… well, until sometime.” With that, he left the room along with his lawyer and driver, leaving me scared, baffled and helpless.
What is he expecting me to do?
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