"My sister," Bella says again and she taps her feet on the floor repeatedly. She was going to explode anytime soon.
"Yes dear, your twin sister. I didn't get to see her at your wedding. Was she in town that day?" Lorenzo replied. Heck, the man even smiled when she repeats what she say and that was looking very, VERY odd.
Nausea in her throat and the constant panic attack she was having is giving her an urge to vomit. If Lorenzo ever knows about her twin switch, her whole family could be screwed.
Oh God, does Dante knows that too?
Hopefully, when he indeed meets her sister at Abaztoz, he wouldn't notice Bea's tattoos and lean figure. Spotting their differences was not hard.
Did Lorenzo know about this too?
Calm down, Bella, she says to herself internally.
Relax. He might just be talking about Beatrice so don't overreact.
She smiled awkwardly. "Ugh yeah, out of town, papa. The country she's in has strict Covid-19 travel restrictions so she can't really come home. It's not allowed yet."
"How strange. When did she go there if that country does not allow people to visit? What country is that?"
It feels like the devil was dancing on her chest. Would it be weird if she cry right now?
"I forgot, papa. I'll ask her next time "
Lorenzo sighed as he nodded. "That's too bad, you know? Would love to see both of your hands in hand. I find twins are just... interesting. Same faces and I know there are ones with a different face but... how about you two, Piccolina? Identical or .."
A sudden voice booms from the hallways and both Lorenzo and Bella turn to the source of that sound. "Papa! You're here? Why didn't you tell me earlier?"
Dante basically marches toward them. Loosening his tie as he walks up to his father with a bright smile. He opens his arms and bends down to hug his father.
Thank you so much, God, Bella prayed from the inside. A wave of relief wash over her and she told herself she will never forget this moment.
More so, she wishes to avoid it the next time.
"I could've been here to receive you. How have you been, Papa?"
Odessa approach him from behind and Dante pointed to the food on the table. Dragging another chair nearby, Dante later sat beside his father. Lorenzo leans back on his chair as he spoke to his son while the maids pour them some drinks.
"I'm fine, son. It's only a week since the last time I meet you. What bothers me is that you have been leaving your beautiful bride all by herself while you drown yourself in paperwork. Am I of no use anymore that you couldn't come to me for help, Dante?"
Dante chuckled. "Of course, not. I have things under control and as for my wife, she understands that taking care of the Messina Empire is no 9 to 5 job." His eyes shift towards Bella and Lorenzo a few times.
"Middle of the month is no time to rest. Making you and the company proud is my number one priority for now.
Bella just remain silent and ate her beef.
"That's not right." Lorenzo sounds offended.
"I mean... still a son. If your precious mother is still alive, she would be very disappointed. Matters of the family must be your number one priority. Not work. God knows I work all my life to make sure we will all be having a better life than before...*sigh* No matter. Finish whatever matters you have at hand and don't take on new projects after this. Leave them to me and enjoy your honeymoon. Do you understand? Your wife deserves better"
Dante nodded. "Yes, pops."
Lorenzo begins to stand up and grab his cane to stand up straight. Tio and other guards stand beside him so they can assist Lorenzo to stand. Lorenzo wipe his lips with a napkin and threw it on the table. Taking a few sips of his wine, he place the glass down while Bella and Dante too stood up beside him.
"If you'll excuse me, I will leave you two alone for your bonding time. I have a few matters to settle myself by today. I'll see you again Dante. My dearest Piccolina." He turns to Dante first and then Bella hugging her tightly against his chest and she reciprocates with a smile.
"I'll see you again too, papa."
Dante hugged his father goodbye and both watched Lorenzo leave the room with his guards.
Dante later turns to Bella and touches her shoulder. Face a bit annoyed but his tone was calm.
"Why did you not contact me to tell me he's here?"
Bella frowned. She shook her head and raised both hands. She wave her hands insinuating her innocence and replied. "I don't... everything happens so fast and, plus... I don't have your number or know how to contact you."
She didn't mean to make herself sound sad but it must've come out that way for Dante's annoyed gaze to cool down.
Dante stares at her for some time and later sighs. He turns towards the hallways and is ready to leave.
"It's fine. I'll go freshen up first then."
Before he walks away, Bella calls him and he turned around.
"What?"
Bella swallowed. "It's only 5 PM but would you like anything to eat? I can whip you up something quick before dinner."
He smiled shortly and replied.
"No thank you, wife. No dinner for tonight but I'm looking forward to your cooking next time.
Bella's cheeks heat up and she cups them gently. Even though he had already left, she whispered to herself.
"Okay.."
...
It was 7 pm and Bella noticed that her bottle of water was almost empty. She didn't think refilling through the tap waters in her bathroom was hygienic so she decides to wear her thin cardigan over her light, purple, spaghetti straps dress and goes to the kitchen which is around 3 minutes from her room.
Arriving and before Bella could ever touch the door handle of the kitchen, she hears a familiar voice speaking loudly inside the room. She kept quiet and lean a little further to hear what the conversation was about.
"Why is she even in this house in the first place?" Odessa asks angrily.
"Shut your mouth, Odessa! That is our mistress you're going on about." Miss Nona says while wiping the island.
"What? You know it's true! He barely spends time with her. I heard her in Dante's office. She's a freakin homosexual! No wonder he tries to avoid her at all cost" Odessa chuckled as she says that.
"You must've misheard then, Odessa. Or else why would he marry her?" Another young maid spoke beside Bella and she leans towards Odessa with questions swarming her face.
Odessa smirked. "These are rich people. Arranged marriage happens all the time but I can assure you, their relationship won't last long and, I'll make sure to pick up the pieces." The young maids giggled.
Miss Nona was not having it so she explodes on the two. She threw a dirty rag on the stove and pulls Odessa down from sitting on the island. She almost fell and Bella almost burst into laughter.
Small but still good karma. Her angry groan was a great addition.
"Enough you two! If I hear those stupid things out of your mouth again, I will tell young master Dante. You hear me! I will not listen to any more of your bullshit! No matter what you hear you do not disrespect the mistress and the master of the house. It is a very ungrateful thing you both had done. Go before I lose my patience and report you to the boss."
Odessa rolled her eyes while the young maid nodded.
Bella didn't want to stay there any longer either. What these girls were doing is just another form of mental bullying and hearing more of it would definitely affect her emotions and mental states later on. Being forced into that marriage is already a mind-wreck situation enough.
She returns to her room and decides to wait for the girls to leave the kitchen before heading down again.
...
Bella accidentally slept at some point when the wait was too long. She never would've woken up from her slumber if it wasn't for the damn lightning bursting in the night sky and almost giving her a heart attack.
She got up with a scream. It was blaring but the lighting has to mask it before coming up with a less heart-wrenching thunder next.
Bella could not sleep Not anymore. She was panting as she had just finished a marathon.
Looking around her, she see Juju tucked in the corner of her own small bed and unlike Bella, Juju was sleeping soundly despite the sound of heavy rain and thunder keeping her awake. Even producing a cute snore like nothing was going on at that time and Bella can't help but giggled as she shook her head in disbelief.
"Cute."
Bella got off of her bed and decides to go to the kitchen again. It was already 2 AM so she would be alone this time.
There was only one thing that can help her sleep after all the rumbling.
A hot cup of milk.
Going there, she finally sees the kitchen is now empty and Bella smiled at the freedom she has in one of her favorite rooms in this mansion.
Bella likes to cook all the time and as much as she has a personal cook for that in her old home, planning, and cooking for herself or for anyone is one of the most fulfilling things she has ever done in her life. This includes baking and she can see now how those gifts of hers could work in her new marriage.
Bella walks to the huge fridge and took out a box of a full-cream milk cartons. Putting the drink aside, Bella pulls out a small pot and pours a cup of the milk into the pot. Twisting the fire to a smaller setting, she took out a mug and stand aside to watch the magic happens.
"What are you doing here at this hour?" A voice coming from the hallway on her left made her almost jump. She turns around and sees that it was Dante.
She was on the urge of passing out seeing the hallway was super dark before Dante came out of it. Nevertheless, there were other reasons why she had gasped from seeing him right now too.
The one and only Dante Messina was not wearing a shirt but, he did use long, black and white stripes, and silk pajama that looks good on his olive tone skin.
His pecs were huge and his abs were tight and toned. Hard work from his time spent in the gym no doubt. She has seen the room and she was impressed. He can even open it to the public if he wants.
Eight packs of his actually almost made Bella drool and she slapped herself mentally before replying to him.
"I was craving for some... milk."
Dante chuckled. "Milk? Isn't that a child's thing? Drinking milk before sleep?"
Bella shook her head. " Kinda but, it's actually something my nanny used to make for me when me and my... I mean, when I couldn't sleep."
Dante crossed his arms when he replied. "The thunder keeping you awake, wife?"
She looks down to not look blushed from basking in his gorgeous body. She nods her head, up and down. "Honestly? Yeah. Milk... helps"
She hears her milk is almost bubbling so she quickly twists the switch off and pours the hot milk into a mug.
Dante smiled. "My mother used to do that for me. Not of lightning but ... because of bad dreams."
Bella frowned.
"You have bad dreams?"
Dante nodded. " As a child? Yes. I've seen much violence in my life that contributes to it. One of the drawbacks of being a Messina in the 90s."
Dante saw how his statement actually made Bella's expression change so he cleared his throat and gave her a reassuring smile.
"There's no need for you to be concerned anymore too. All that is behind us. Papa has made it so. Tis' why my family is doing well now. Comfort living is not easy when one comes directly from Italy but it has to be done. I am the product of my father's hard work and I am proud of it every second of my life."
"I'm glad to hear that, then," Bella replied. She looks calmer now.
"How is your day today, by the way?"
"I've done a bit of traveling to Chicago. We have had businesses there for quite some time. I took a high-rise building project there even before we were married so I had to settle it as soon as possible. Look, papa was right. You are my wife and I have left you alone for weeks after our wedding that was not right."
Bella shook her head as she smile. "It's alright, Dante. You were busy and I do not hold any grudges over it. Plus, we are not really..."
"Didn't matter," Dante replied. " Our feelings may not be real but our marriage is."
He chuckled and smirked at her. "You did tell me how you wish to give this a try and how you are a bisexual. This means my presence won't be a much bother to you now, right? I'll make sure to salvage that once I'm done with my current project. Just give me a couple of days and I'll set some holiday time for us."
Oh, she has no issues with his body a thousand percent. When she thinks about it, she welcomes his body very much actually but, of course, she was too shy to say it. The only giveaway to her acceptance was the reddening of her cheek.
Bella sighed. "I appreciate that Dante but, really. it is alright. I mean it. I'm not even in a rush right now. I actually had a good time here while you weren't around. I was familiarizing myself with your home since it will also be my home for a long time. Juju likes it here as well."
Dante chuckled and sat beside her though she was just standing the whole time.
"I'm glad. Even Louis looks more excited than ever. By the way, you've met everyone so far?"
Bella nodded. "Yup. I did."
Dante smiled almost sarcastically as he repeatedly talk about, "So you've met Odessa too?"
Bella scored. "Very much. I can see that she doesn't like me."
"And how do you know that?"
"Gut feeling."
"You do know that you are the mistress of this mansion. Whatever you say goes. That includes excusing employees who do not show you any respect. Believe me, I hear complaints from her a few times but matters of the maid are not my responsibility. It's yours."
Bella shook her head "Nah, it's fine. She's young and she probably has a crush on you. It doesn't really matter and.. "
"And? " Dante replied. An annoyed facial expression which Bella didn't know why. She nodded both her shoulders and chugged down her milk. She then goes to the sink to wash her glass and the small pot.
"Nothing." She said and finally, all alone. Bella also continued to say " I ugh, I think I have to get to my room ASAP. Juju would be frantic if I'm gone for too long."
She walk past Dante but didn't notice a puddle of water on the floor she was responsible for earlier. When her shoulder collided with Dantes' and she almost falls, Dante quickly catches her in his arms. Her eyes were closed the entire time but when she had felt his hands once again wrapped around hers protectively, she opens her eyes to see him smirking.
"My wife is a very clumsy woman. Do you do this on purpose knowing I will always catch you in time?"
Bella blinked twice. Her cheeks heats up and she also wondered whether he was right because frankly, falling into his arms isn't really a bad thing at all.
She was beginning to like it.