Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

THE WHOLE PLACE WAS FILLED WITH people wearing black dresses and suits mourning for the loss of one of the biggest businessman and investor in Rome. A black vehicle carrying the casket is on the lead, while the people who shared their condolences is behind it, walking slowly.

The very first people infront is the family, who still hasn’t recovered from their loss. A sunshine of the family was snatched away from them, leaving them stucked in darkness.

They were already walking for minutes, their feet aching from the distance they walked. Somber but melodic music, which were Marco’s favorite, was playing on the background.

The moment they arrived at the burial site, everyone seated down while the priest started the ceremony.

In front of them is a white casket, which is opened on top. The lively picture of Marco Leon is seated on top of it, reminding the mourners of his happy characteristics.

Chiara gently touched and squeezed Sophia’s hand, telling her that she is there to support her no matter what happens.

Sophia gave her a small smile, but Chiara knows that behind those smile, she’s hurting inside. Behind those sunglasses are eyes filled with sadness and longing for her husband.

“You can do this, Sophia, ” she whispered on her friend, cheering her up. “Mourn now and then you can fight for him later.”

Sophia nodded. “I will. I won’t let his death become just like this. I will bring justice to my husband, ” she stated firmly before looking back to the talking priest.

After the ceremony and the eulogy, the people who wanted to see the dead man one last time walked towards the open casket. Several people, including his friends and close businessmen, took one last glance at him.

“I will make sure to punish whoever did this to you,” Chiara spoke at his body. “You were close to my husband, and I like you wife as my friend. She’s great. I will take care of her. Don’t worry and just rest.”

At last, after the crowd of people, Sophia was able to go near her husband’s body. She thought her tears were gone after almost a week of crying, but they still fell as she stared at Marco’s peaceful face.

“You still look handsome, amore mio, ” she spoke while her finger trailed the skin from his forehead, to the tip of his nose, until his chin.

“You are the best husband in the world. You made me happy everyday. You never made me cry, not until now, ” she wiped the tears on her cheeks while chuckling.

She looked like a mess, but she didn’t mind. “I hope you’re resting well, whenever you are. Please watch over me everyday and hug me to sleep, just like what you always do, ” she smiled bitterly. “I will miss you. Te amo, amore mio.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

For the last time, Sophia gave a long kiss to her husband. This kiss, she hoped, will guide her husband in the afterlife.

A DAY AFTER THE FUNERAL, Chiara accompanied Sophia to the police station. The latter wasn’t in a good shape before, thus, she didn’t have the time and strength to know what really happened to her husband.

She was hesitant at first. Sophia is not sure if she can face and hear the truth about her husband’s death, but with Chiara and her mother-in-law in her side, she felt stronger.

“Good morning,” the police officer greeted them as they entered the station. One man, who they assumed is the chief, was sitting behind a desk and waiting for them to sit.

“It’s good to have you here, Mrs. Leon,” the man with the tag ‘Chief Pessi’ spoke to the two women from the Leon family before his eyes landed on Chiara.

“May I ask what are you doing here, ma’am?” Chief Pessi asked with a different tone to Chiara. It didn’t escaped Chiara’s hearing.

Sophia answered for her. “She’s a close friend of mine and my husband. I brought her here with me.”

Chief Pessi didn’t respond and looked at Chiara again, as if he wanted her go leave the station. Chiara invisibly rolled her eyes; she knew this chief doesn’t like her and she wanted to know why.

“It’s fine, Sophia,” she spoke to her friend while tapping her shoulder lightly. “It’s a family matter. I’ll just wait for the both of you in the car.”

Sophia hurriedly stopped her. “No, Chiara. Please stay here,” she pleaded before looking back at Chief Pessi. “Chief, please let my friend stay. I will be responsible for whatever will happen.”

The chief couldn’t disagree again or else he will be in a tight spot, so he just blew a sigh before nodding. “Just make sure that you friend will not release any information without your permission.”

“Don’t worry, Chief, ” Chiara interfered. “I’m not a snitch.”

Chief Pessi ignored it and moved on discussing what happened to Marco. “Based on the autopsy, Mr. Leon was beaten. A lot of parts in his body had bruises and wounds, most likely from wood,” he pointed a part of the autopsy that stated that.

“However, that wasn’t the cause of his death,” his finger moved to another text. “He was poisioned. The autopsy cannot detect what kind of poison it is, but it looks like a new one, maybe synthetic.”

“Did you find any leads that can point the suspect?” the mother asked with hope.

The chief shook his head slowly. “No other DNA in his fingernails or anything can be found. The drum doesn’t have any traces as well,” he responded with a monotone voice. “The truck that the civilian saw was abandoned in an empty lot. It was not registered, so we cannot find the owner.”

“The steering wheel?” Chiara asked. “Did you check the steering wheel for fingerprints? Or the truck doors?”

Chief Pessi seemed annoyed at her question, but he still answered it. “Of course, we checked it,” he spoke with a sarcastic voice. “But we didn’t find anything.”

The meeting was cut short when the chief was called for an operation. They were told go wait for updates through calls and promised that they will look deeper, but Chiara didn’t believe that.

The three walked towards outside of the chief’s office. Suddenly, Chiara whispered in Sophia’s ears.

“My men saw some of Marco’s belongings. They are currently looking for traces,” she said with a voice that is only enough for them to hear.

“Why didn’t you tell the police?” Sophia whispered back.

Chiara smirked while remembering what the authorities did to their evidences before. “Last time I submitted the evidences, all of it vanished.”

Sophia’s eyes widened, realizing what her friend mean. If the police cannot find anything, then her only hope are the belongings her husband left before he died. Those things must have some traces of the suspect, or suspects.

Before they left, Chiara told them that she’s going to visit someone detained in the same jail. Sophia and her mother-in-law decided to go back first to the car, as the mother-in-law is starting feel exhausted.

Chiara walked towards one of the visitation guards and stated the name of person she is going to visit. Unlike on the other prison, this police she talked to knows her, and gave her the access to visit the person in the cell instead of going to a visitation cubicle.

Eyes of female prisoners landed on Chiara as she walked towards the cells. They thought she’s a new inmate, but upon not seeing her in handcuffs, they realized she is an important person.

“01725!” the police shouted on the second to the last cell from the entrance. “You have a visitor!”

When Chiara reached the cell, she saw the face of the person she wanted to visit: Isabella.

The other inmates inside where shooed away by the police so that they can’t ruin the conversation. He also took steps backward to give privacy to the two.

“Hi, Isabella. How are you doing?” Chiara spoke with a version of gentle voice she used when mocking someone.

Isabella gritted her teeth and shook the jail bars. “What are you doing here?!” she looked at the police behind Chiara. “Throw this woman out! I don’t want her here!”

The prisoner woman was about to go back to her bed when Chiara pulled her hair and tied it to the jail bar.

“Don’t leave when I’m still talking to you, okay?” Chiara spoke. Isabella tried to remove her hair from the jail bar, but Chiara yanked the remaining hair towards her.

Isabella reached how Chiara’s hands and face but the guard hit her hands with the bat he’s holding. She immediately backed down knowing that she won’t win.

“I just visited to tell you that your precious Giovanni doesn’t have a plan to get you out,” Chiara said in her face as clearly as possible. She saw how Isabella’s face fell after she said that.

“He was released more than a month ago. He hasn’t visited you, right? Not even once?”

The expression Isabella has is enough for Chiara to know that what she said is right. The reports hse received stated that no one visited Isabella since she was sent in jail, and Chiara was the first.

“Do you want to know why?” Chiara teased. She moved closer to Isabella and whispered. “He already found a new pussy to fuck, and as far as I know, he will bring her to the grand opening of Soleira,” she gave a smug face to her. “That new girl will experience the attention you worked so hard to have for the past years. I can’t believe Giovanni will show off a new woman instead of you, who was his mistress for years.”

Isabella’s eyes started to water. Chiara knew she hit the bull’seye so she decided to stop right pushing further.

“I’m just telling you about it, as a concerned fellow lady,” Chiara spoke before leaving Isabella, who’s mind was clouded with thoughts about what the former said. It was just a short conversation, but Isabella knew that she’s doomed.