Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

IT’S BEEN ALMOST A MONTH SINCE the last time Chiara talked to her mother-in-law. Elisa hasn’t reached out to her since they transfered Ezio to the safe house.

“Do you have any updates regarding Mamma Elisa?” she asked Luigi who was currently helping Victor and Fara in cleaning their room.

Luigi put zipped the pillowcase cover before answering. “Yes, signora, ” he stood up and walked towards his phone resting on the table.

“She was last seen yesterday in her late husband’s company, ” he showed Chiara a few photos of Elisa going inside a building. “Staffs inside said that she had a meeting with some lawyers from the De Santi Law Firm. The agenda of the meeting wasn’t released.”

“Lawyers? De Santi Law Firm?” Chiara asked. She has ni idea what’s going on in Elisa’s mind. If she is really their ally, then she assumes that what Elisa did is for Ezio’s welfare. Besides, she believed that Elisa is doing something good as she is talking with a law firm with great reputation.

“Let’s not dig into her business, ” she added as she checked the IV tube connected to her unconscious husband. “I think she’s doing something. I just don’t know what it is, but I hope it’s for the good of us, especially Ezio.”

Chiara gently touched her husband’s face and caressed it slowly. Last time, she was woken up by her husband making small noises. It occured for a few seconds that didn’t even last half a minute, but it was enough to brought her to tears.

When she had checked everything in her husband, she stood up and walked towards Victor who is now fully recovered from the ambush incident.

“Does your wound hurt?” she asked while watching him arrange the pillows from smallest to biggest.

Victor shook his head. “I feel fine, signora, ” he answered. “The wound is not really deep. It’s actually just a little bit deeper graze.”

Chiara smiled upon hearing that. Because of the incident, they decreased Victor’s appearance as Ezio from twice to thrice a week, to only once a week. They made sure that a lot of people will see him on those days.

“Signora, ” Fara called her from behind. The maid was clutching a huge pillow in front of her and it almost covered her whole top body.

“What happened to the pregnant woman?” she asked while pouting her lips. “I haven’t heard about her since that day.”

Chiara knew that Fara felt guilty on what happened to Alessandra days ago. She bled that day, mostly because of stress from her husband. However, Chiara assured her that it is not Fara’s fault.

She just did what is right, and that is to protect her signora. The root of the problem is Simone, who kept on doing unacceptable things behind his wife, even going to the extent of turning the blame to Chiara.

Chiara was thankful that she decided to record her interactions with her ex-boyfriend. If the recording wasn’t done in the first place, she’s sure that Alessandra won’t stop bombarding her and making false accusations.

“I also don’t have any updates about her, ” Chiara answered with no care to the people who are their current topic. “Actually, I don’t think we must involve ourselves to them. We don’t have any liabilities on what happened. It’s their problem to solve.”

Fara nodded and turned her attention back to her task. Luigi on the other hand, showed a sheets that had Chiara’s schedule for the day.

“Signora, you have a short meeting with the marketing department on eleven in the morning, ” he spoke while checking the document. “After that, you don’t have any work related tasks. You just have a meet-up with Ma’am Monika at three in the afternoon.”

Chiara nodded after listening to him. It’s a good thing that she doesn’t have to do much today. She needs to focus on finding more about Giovanni, as well as looking for Marco.

The former hasn’t shown himself in public since his release, but Chiara’s men reported that he went back on his business. It’s also a wonder for Chiara why he hasn’t bailed Isabella yet.

Chiara was in deep thought when someone knocked on the door. Fara walked towards it and opened it up. Celine, together with Dante is waiting for them outside.

“Mi figlia,” Celine spoke. “Ezio’s friend is here. He said he has a report for you. ”

Chiara thanked her mother and gave a meaningful look to the three other people inside the room. The three bowed a little before walking outside, leaving only Chiara, her husband, and Dante inside.

“The man finally spoke, signora, ” Dante stated when the door was closed.

It’s been days since they captured the man who is supposed to bail Sigmund out of prison. That man is also determined not to give any information to them.

“I’m surpised he didn’t kill himself, ” Chiara commented while remembering what happened to the first man they captured.

“We made sure that he can’t hurt himself, signora, ” he answered with a smug smile as if he’s proud of what they did. “Only us can hurt them.”

Chiara shook her head upon hearing that response. “So, what did he say?”

Dante gave a flash drive to her. “The voice recordings of his confession is inside that thing, ” he replied. “He didn’t confess anything about Giovanni, but he told us that he was working for the Bonetti Law Firm. He said that it was the law firm who is fighting for Sigmund’s case and they also gave him the bail money.”

“Bonetti Law Firm?” she asked as she remembered something. “Isn’t that the greatest rival of De Santis Law Firm?”

“Yes, signora.”

“Did you find anything about the Bonetti Law Firm?” she asked again.

“They’re biggest investor is Giovanni. Also, most of the cases they have is connected to Giovanni. It’s either he is the perpetrator or an accessory to the crime.”

Chiara picked up the pieces of the puzzle. Elisa was talking to the rival of the law firm that Giovanni has a connection to.

It seems like Elisa is now starting to move.

HOURS PASSED AND CHIARA ARRIVED at Luminosa’s branch in Garbatella. Monika was already waiting for her inside the restaurant that they booked.

“Too bad Ms. Coppola cannot join us today,” Monika spoke while they were having their coffee.

Chiara took a small sip before responding. “She was really busy these past few days. I heard she was opening a flower business.”

“Really?” Monika’s eyes lit up upon hearing that. “So that’s why she’s been asking me about flowers and plants! I would love to visit it!”

“As far as I know, she will open it by the end of the year,” Chiara spilled the details. “Personally, I would love to buy camellias from her. I have been suggesting that since she told me about her business.”

“Camellia is a great flower. The design of it’s petals is almost perfect,” Monika replied. “My mother used to have camellias in our old house, too.”

Chiara smiled, knowing that she has something common with the woman in front of her. “How about you? What’s your favorite flower?”Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

“Lilies,” she replied with a smile on her lips but longing look in her eyes.

“Why lilies? The last time I smelled that, it smelled like pee, ” Chiara spoke with a disgusting face as she remembered how it smells like.

Monika laugh at her reaction. “It really does, but Ariti used to cut the pollens so it will smell sweet, ” she replied. “He used to give me lilies every week. At first, they were real flowers. But when he learned how to crochet, he made me a bouquet of it.”

Chiara can see how happy Monika is while talking about Ariti. She just wonders, if Giovanni didn’t came in the picture, will both of them be happy?

“Monika, I don’t know if I should ask this, ” she spoke slowly. “But you told us that Ariti died because of suicide, right?”

The woman nodded with a sad and upside down smile. “He was found on a cliff and a note was found that was written by him,” she answered. “It was too sudden.”

“Do you believe that he really committed killed himself?” Chiara asked again, pushing Monika closer to the edge.

Monika’s eyes widen upon hearing that. “How can you say that?”

“I do not mean to dig in your business, ” she spoke with a formal but gentle smile. “Base on your stories of Ariti, both of you are happy. I just don’t think he will do something like that if both of you are fine, ” she explained. “Also, I have a friend who is a detective. I saw a lot of suicide cases that were really murder.”

Monika looked down and sighed. They were quiet for a while, only the noises of other people can be heard. Chiara gave her time to think.

“My current husband was the first to tell me that Ariti died,” she spoke after a moment of silence, earning a surprised look from Chiara.

“They were business partners, and they were supposed to have a conference that day in Milan. But it was only Giovanni who came back.”

Finally, Monika was able to mention her husband’s name. Chiara is now a hundred percent sure of Monika’s relationship with Giovanni.

“I didn’t trust him at that time. I blamed him on what happened to my fiance, ” she confessed. “But I had to marry him.”

“Why?” Chiara asked. “Why would you want to marry the person you suspected who has a connection to your fiance’s death?”

Monika let out a sarcastic chuckle. “He saved my father before. He was able to save him from being shot. My father taught he has to return the favor, so he forced me to marry him.”

Monika sniffed and wiped the little tears that fell from her eyes. “It was hell. Giovanni is just using our family for wealth and connection. Everytime I will speak against him, he will bring up the moment he saved my father. It was exhausting.”

“I don’t trust him. I never trusted him. He also feels the same way as mine. He never included me in his business. I was blinded on what he’s doing, but I know they are not morally right, ” she explained. “But how can I fight? He has my father’s blessing. He always sided on Giovanni instead of his own daughter.”

Monika’s body was shaking, so Chiara stood up and went to her side to hug and comfort her. “I understand what you’re going through. You are so strong, Monika.”

The two women were hugging each other. One is sobbing and letting herself out, while the other one is giving support and comfort.

Chiara doesn’t know how long she have been comforting her friend. But she was interrupted because of a loud gasp from behind them.

A woman is watching a news live stream on her phone, and the words written on it sent shivers to Chiara’s bones.

Marco Leon’s body was found inside a drum.