Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

A SHOCKING NEWS reached the Vitali household one morning. They’re peaceful morning was ruined as Luigi explained to them the current happenings in the Romano Family.

“Are you sure?” Chiara asked with widened eyes, her hands trembling slightly as she held tighter to her utensils.

They haven’t even finished their breakfast when Luigi and Victor came rushing to the dining room to report such unfortunate news, specifically about Isadora.

“Yes, signora,” Luigi looked bothered while speaking. “The rescue team found out the everyone inside that plane dead, including Isadora.”

Ezio put down his coffee mug before asking. “Did they already check the cause of death? Is it solely because of the plane crash?”

“They just rescued the bodies, boss, and they will conduct an autopsy,” he answered. “However, as of now, nothing looks unusual about their deaths. Aside from Isadora, the pilot, and the co-pilot.”

Luigi gave his boss his phone and showed some pictures that were taken on the scene. The first picture showed the bodies of several people who were the victims of the plane crash. Nothing unusual can be seen as the bodies and the parts of the plane were just scattered around.

On the next picture, the photos of two pilots were seen. “Both the pilot and co-pilot were found with gunshots on their stomach and neck,” Luigi spoke. “However, they found no guns in the scene, not even in the forest where the plane crashed.”

Ezio nodded before turning to the third and last picture. There he saw Isadora’s body, with her eyes still widely opened. For a normal person, the sight is uncomfortable for the eye.

“Isadora was found just a few meters away from the main body of the plane,” Luigi added. “Unfortunately, her body was stabbed by a part of plane wing. She cannot be revived when the rescue them arrived.”

Chiara’s hands flew to her mouth because of shock. Just a few days before, Lucio Romano called them to not to file a case against Isadora, which they complied in exchange for some business benefits.

Lucio promised to send his granddaughter abroad and help them with Giovanni’s case. The flow was smooth, and Ezio suggested to do that as soon as possible so that Kazimir won’t be able to follow them.

Turns out Kazimir was a step ahead.

“Her death was planned,” Ezio spoke. “I’m sure of that. Kazimir must be behind this. When I visited Giovanni, he told me indirectly that Kazimir won’t let them stay alive, as he feared that they will turn him in.”

Chiara was nervous of the recent happenings. She can’t understand how Kazimir found out about Isadora’s departure. Did he infiltrate the Romano Family before to keep an eye on Isadora?

“Giovanni will be the next one,” Chiara added to the statement of her husband. “As much as I hate him, we can’t let him die. He is the only witness we have that can turn against Kazimir. We just need to make him cooperate with us.”

Ezio rested his back on the chair and gave a deep thought. “If Giovanni is still in the right mind, he will cooperate with us. But if he is a loyal dog to Kazimir, then we can’t make him speak,” he said before making a deep sigh.

He turned his head to Luigi and Victor. “Ready the car. I’ll talk to the bastard and hope that he will cooperate with us,” he ordered before dismissing them and turning to his wife with gentle eyes. “Come with me, cara.”

Chiara pursed her lips. She knew that Ezio knew she has something to visit to the De Santis Law Firm, but he still insisted her to come with him.

“I have to go to the law firm. I told you about it yesterday, right?” she asked while raising her eyebrows at him.

Ezio hugged her from the side. “I’ll send you to the law firm first before going to Giovanni,” he responded before kissing her neck. “Wait for me at the law firm, okay? I’ll fetch you. I won’t be long. Besides, the prison is just a few minutes away, just a walking distance.”

Chiara nodded and hummed before going back to eating. The sight of Isadora’s dead body is still fresh in her mind.

She felt sad, mainly because Isadora is still a young woman like her. It’s just that she became connected to the wrong people with no morals and remorse. She was a victim of her wrong choices, and those mistakes came crashing down on her now.

Chiara couldn’t help but to feel bad for Lucio. He is old and Isadora is the only grandchild that was staying with him. His other family members were on the other parts of Italy. Isadora’s death will surely give a huge blow to him.

After an hour, the married couple were inside the car, going to their different errands for that day.

“Tesoro,” Chiara called for her husband while at the back of the car. “Are those cars yours?”

Ezio nodded. “Yep, why?”

She furrowed her eyebrows upon seeing more than five of Ezio’s car following them. “How many cars and guards did you bring?”

“I think eight cars?” he answered, unsure of the specific number. “For the guards, I think I brought 30 plus. ”

Chiara looked at him with awe. “More than 30? Are you trying to build a batallion of guards?”

Ezio pursed his lips before answering. “I just want to make sure of your safety, cara,” he replied as he gently touched her hand. “You were shot before, and I don’t want that to happen again. Putting more guards on you will make sure of your safety.”

She didn’t respond, instead, she looked back to see the cars following them. If she can remember it correctly, there were more or less five guards with her last time. Even with that number of guards, she was still shot in the leg and Chief Bruno was shot fatally.

“Did I go over the line?” Ezio asked, worried that his wife might have felt that he is caging her again, just like what he did last time by locking her up in the mansion.

Chiara shook her head. “I’m just surprised, that’s all,” she assured him. “I also think this will be better. How many will go with me and how many will be with you?”

“Half will be with you while the remaining half is mine,” Ezio spoke and grinned cheekily. “I don’t want to be comatosed again.”

Chiara playfully slapped his arms. “Silly. I won’t let that happen,” she said before resting her head on her husband’s chest.

Ezio immediately ran his fingers on her hair, stroking it gently while humming. The feeling’s so comfortable that Chiara can feel herself getting drowsy.

“Before, Pappa was confident that Kazimir won’t come back, so they lowered down their security,” Ezio spoke out of nowhere. “But one day, Mamma was kidnapped by Kazimir.”

His eyes were mixed with sadness, fear, and hatred as he continued. “It was a good thing that Pappa was quick to act, and he was able to stop Kazimir from doing unlawful things to Mamma,” he took a short pause and sighed. “Kazimir told Pappa to kill himself, and he will let Mamma go. He’s sick, right?”

Chiara gasped upon hearing her husband’s narration. “What happened next?”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“I don’t really know the specifics, I was overseas that time. But Pappa was able to trick Kazimir and Mamma was saved,” he answered before turning his head back to his wife. “I’m afraid Kazimir might use the same trick again. You’re my weakness, cara.”

Chiara squeezed his hands and looked at him straight into the eye. “I will try my best to be safe, and you should do the same thing. Whatever happens, always put yourself first, okay?”

“You’re asking the impossible, cara,” Ezio said while pouting.

AFTER A FEW MINUTES, Chiara is now talking to Attorney Falco about the progress of the case. They were in the receiving lobby of the building. Just beside Chiara is a glass window that extended from the room to the floor.

The guards with Chiara were scattered inside and outside of the building. Five were stationed outside, another five were standing near Chiara and Attorney Falco, while the remaining five were checking the parameters of the buildings.

“We have to get evidences about their testimonies, signora,” Attorney Falco spoke after listening to Chiara’s words. “Although testimonies can be useful, this man we’re talking about must be powerful. We have to gather more to pin him down.”

Chiara nodded at him. “I’ll have my team to investigate about it,” she answered.

“The law firm will do everything we can to find a link to this Kazimir Colombo,” the attorney added. “When it comes to Giovanni’s other cases, the victims will push through the case, as expected. Ms. Monika and Mrs. Leon already expressed their agreement on us. Just a few steps and he can be punished accordingly.”

After their conversation, Attorney Falco left Chiara in the lobby to finish some tasks. Chiara reached for her phone while finishing her orange juice and banana cake.

“How are you?” Chiara asked the person on the other line before sipping a little from her glass.

Nick responded with energy. “Chichi! I was going to call you!” he exclaimed. “And for your question, I’m doing very fine. My body already recovered from the incident, and I have a good news!”

“What good news? For me or for you?” Chiara asked cheekily.

Her friend chuckled on the other line before standind up from his seat. He just finished his work and is ready to go home.

“For you, of course!” he replied. “I’m going to Italy this week! Yey!”

“Really? That’s good. You can help me with something,” Chiara responded.

Nick furrowed his eyebrows. “I’m going to Italy for a vacation, not to work,” he responded, obviously he doesn’t want to get the task his friend will offer.

“You don’t have any choice,” Chiara grinned. “You have to help us or you won’t be able to go home.”

“Hey!” he exclaimed. “Then I’ll just find another country to visit.”

Chiara laughed before biting a small piece from the banana cake. “Just kidding, but I really have a task for you. Can you do it before travelling to Italy?”

“Sure, Chichi. Tell me the details,” he replied.

Chiara told him everything about Kazimie, from his involvement in Ezio’s comatose, to killing Isadora. She asked him to find more information about him and if possible, his coordinates or people who are currently working for him. She also added that it is urgent to investigate about the assistant of Kazimir.

Just after the call was ended, Chiara stood up from her seat and is ready to leave. However, one of the guards shouted.

“Get down!” he screamed before using his body as a shield for Chiara.

She went down on the ground and covered herself using her hands and bag. Three guards surrounded Chiara from the window, which was shattered because of a bullet that came from nowhere.

Some of the glass debris hit the one of the guard’s leg and back, but they didn’t falter and continued on protecting Chiara, while ushering her out of the building.

Another bullet was fired and this time, it almost hit the head of the guard on Chiara’s left side. Thankfully, he was able to put his head down and dodged the bullet. It ended up hitting the wall beside the elevator.

The other guards looked for the source of the bullet, while the other people called for police to rescue them, and medics to treat those who were also affected by the shattered window.

“There were more than one shooters! Escort signora out!” Gabriel’s voice echoed in the lobby while the other guards were rescuing the other people inside the building.

The three guards, including the bleeding one, pulled Chiara towards the back of the building. One of Ezio’s car stopped infront of them and they hurriedly entered.

As the car left the De Santis Law Firm, Chiara saw two snipers in two different places: one in the front building and one in the rooftop of a nearby university.