Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

CHIARA SAVORED the delicious flavor of the Fettuccine al Pomodoro in her plate. It was late afternoon, and she is just having her lunch.

“It’s not good for your health to skip meals,” Ms. Coppola stated with concern after sipping in her grape juice. She visited Chiara in the office to catch up and to see how the stocks are going. When she found out that Chiara will take her lunch outside, she accompanied her despite having lunch a few hours earlier.

“I can’t help it, ” Chiara responded after swallowing the last piece of her food. “I have a lot of things to finish in the office today. I forgot that it’s been nine hours since I ate. ”

“If you didn’t visit, I must still be working until now, ” she added while shaking her head.

Ms. Coppola couldn’t help but to sigh. “Haven’t you felt anything? If it was me, I would have pass out. I need to fill my stomach every six hours. ”

Chiara shook her head. “I was too focused on my work. I didn’t feel my stomach growling until you mentioned it to me. ”

The two women were engrossed in their conversation. The talk went smoothly and they tackled several things. First, it was health. Next, they talked about fashion. Until the topic became business and gossips.

“I heard that Mr. Vitali is now on your office. Is he already fully recovered?” Ms. Coppola asked. She had heard that news when a business associate told her while she was travelling in Japan.

Chiara nodded. “He is now going back to work. Although my husband is not really fully recovered, the doctor said it will be better for him to go back to his usual routine.”

A lump was stuck on Chiara’s throat. Although they have just met for a short time, she can consider Ms. Coppola as a friend. Lying to her about her husband’s situation makes her feel guilty.

But it can’t be help. She needed to lie to everyond in order to keep her husband safe. Once a word about Ezio’s condition was out, everything might crumble.

Victor will also be affected. People already know that her husband went back to work, and it has to be kept that way.

“I see, ” Ms. Coppola nodded her head repeatedly. “I’m glad to hear that. Now, he can help you with the business matters so you won’t have to tire yourself to work. ”

“Besides, I’m sure Mr. Vitali will not like it if he finds out that you are not eating on time!” she added.

“I can already imagine his face if he will find that out, ” Chiara chuckled. She was about to speak when her phone rang.

She looked at the caller and excused herself from Ms. Coppola. She walked towards the restroom and answered the call.

“Dante, is there any update?” she asked. Just a few days ago, she sent the names of the people that interacted with Marco the day he went missing. Aside from that, she also told him her suspicion about the brand Armano Darte.

“Yes, signora,” Dante replied. “I have talked and investigated those people in the list you provided. Only three of them has no strong alibi but all of them doesn’t have the motive for doing so.”

Chiara nodded. “How about the brand I told you?”

“Armando Darte is not owned by Giovanni, but it was owned by his mistress, Isabella, ” he responded.

Chiara’s left eyebrow rose when she heard the name. “The bitch who dared to attack me in my own building? Does she even have the capability to run a business?” she spoke, mocking the mistress in her tone.

Dante agreed with her. “From the report, Isabella is the owner but it was Giovanni who did all the work inside the brand,” he answered. “However, we cannot find the person from Armano Darte who attended that contract signing.”

“The cameras were empty. The staffs we interviewed didn’t see anyone that presenting themselves as a representative of that brand. We’re still looking on it, signora.”

Chiara hummed as a response. “It’s fine. At least we have a progress. Make sure to check those three people you told me. I’ll inform you if Sophia can remember something.”

The two ended the call and Chiara let the restroom. However, just as she took a step outside, she can already hear the commotion inside the restaurant.

“Stay away!” a big manly voice shouted. “I’ll stab this woman if you dare to attack me!”

Chiara hid on the wall that separates the main floor to the rest room. From her position, she can see a bulky man standing with his back facing her. She cannot see who is the person in front, but she can see a pair of legs with a black stiletto.

“You!” the man shouted to the waiter standing on the right side. “Where’s the money? Give it to me!”

The waiter shook his head, refusing to give the money to the intruder. The man’s face turned red in anger and Chiara can see the man moving his right arm.

A deafening scream from a woman echoed in the while restaurant. Seconds later, droplets of bright red blood fell on the floor.

“Give me the money, or I’ll slit this woman’s throat!” the intruder shouted at the staffs of the restaurant. “Hurry up! Don’t make me wait!”

The staffs scrambled upon seeing the intruder nearly killing the hostage. No one dared to stop the man, fearing that the hostage might be in more danger than she already is.

When the manager walked out of the authorized room with plastic that has bills sneeking on a hole, the intruder’s face turned into a grin. “Hurry up! Give that to me!”

Just a few centimeters before the intruder can reach the bag full of money, a huge shock of electricity covered his whole body. In just a snap, the bulky body of the man fell on the floor, and metal sound of the knife falling is heard.

Chiara put her taser on the side and watched the intruder fell unconscious. Her eyes landed on the woman, the hostage, who’s neck is bleeding lightly.

Her face looks familiar but she ignored it and said, “Miss, we should bring you to the hospital.”

Ms. Coppola walked near to them and put a gauze on the hostage’s neck. She wrapped it in a way that’s tight enough to stop the bleeding but not too tight that it will choke her.

The hostage nodded slowly. Chiara and Ms. Coppola, as well as two staffs of the restaurant accompanied her. Fortunately, the hospital is just a few blocks away from their place.

The authorities arrived shortly after that. When the hostage was already taken care of, the restaurant offered to pay for the hospital expenses, but the woman decline.

“It’s fine. This is just a small cut, ” the woman spoke with a soft voice. Thankfully, the cut is not long and not deep. It doesn’t have a threat to her life.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

The staffs proceeds to offer financial help, but the woman decline them repeatedly. In the end, they settled on paying fifty percent each.

“Do you feel fine?” Ms. Coppola asked when the staffs and the authorities who interviewed the hostage alreadt left.

She nodded before looking at Chiara. “Thank you so much for saving me,” she spoke while touching the gauze on her neck. “How can I repay you?”

Chiara shook her head. “There’s no need for that. I just did what I know is right.”

The woman smiled and offered her hand to Chiara. “I’m Monika,” she introduced.

“I’m Chiara, ” they shook hands before Monika introduced herself to Ms. Coppola.

Upon hearing her name, Chiara now recognized who the woman is. While she was reading Nick’s and Dante’s report about Giovanni, she saw the same name Monika and her picture.

The woman in front of her is Giovanni’s wife. Monika is the wife of the man who almost killed her husband.

“Do you have any family members to contact?” Chiara asked her. As far as she knows, Monika and Giovanni are under a divorce procedure. However, she cannot say if they still have the communication or intimate relationship between them.

If Monika will have Giovanni fetch her in the hospital, then the two might still be in good terms, and it is not a good thing for her to be close to the rival’s wife.

Unexpectedly, Monika shook her head. “I have no family. My parents are dead and I’m an only child.”

“Don’t you have a boyfriend? A husband?” Ms. Coppola asked out of nowhere. “You seem to be just a few years younger than me.”

“I have a husband,” her voice sounded firm, like she doesn’t want to talk about it or hate covered her upon saying that. “But we’re going to divorce. I don’t even want to see his face.”

“Oh, ” Ms. Coppola reacted. “I’m just worried who will accompany you to home now that you’re injured.”

Monika just smiled lightly. “Don’t worry about me. This is just a minor cut. I can go home on my own.”

The two woman didn’t push her further. They just talked about random things from food to health. They even exchanged numbers.

When the doctor announced that Monika can be discharged, they all left and accompanied her to ride a taxi.

“Thank you so much for taking care of me,” Monika spoke while standing beside the taxi she will use. “Let’s meet some other time.”

The street lamp was shining on Monika’s face, and when she turned around to enter the taxi, her short hair that reached only the bottom of her ears didn’t cover her nape. And Chiara can clearly see the words tattoed on it.

Ariti.