Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

TWO OF EZIO’S MEN, who are now under Chiara’s command, entered his hospital room while carrying a huge cabinet. One other man has a mini fridge on his hand, while the others has sealed boxes.

“Are these enough, signora?” Fara asked while the men are entering the room one by one. “I only packed seven of each clothes that you have.”

Chiara nodded. “Yes. That will do for now,” she responded while watching the workers put the things in place.

“Move it to the right,” Chiara spoke while motioning her hand to the said direction.

The men carrying the cabinet followed her instruction. When their signora nodded, they slowly out the cabinet down.

“That fridge,” Chiara spoke to the man holding it. “Put it here,” she said while pointing the space beside the small table.

Chiara turned her head to the men who has boxes in their hands. “Put those boxes beside the cabinet. I’ll arrange the contents later.”

Once the work is done, the men headed to leave. Chiara sat down beside her unconscious husband and stared down at him.

“Shall I put your clothes on the cabinet, signora?” Fara asked when Chiara didn’t move to do it.

She just nodded without looking at her. Chiara’s eyes were focused on her husband.

It’s been weeks and there was no improvement on hid condition. He didn’t do any small movement. Even his mismatched eyes are not responding.

Chiara took a deep sigh and washed her hands on her face. On those weeks that her husband is comatose, a lot of problems emerged in his companies.

There were missing funds. Some company partners were pulling out after knowing that it is Ezio who will lead his company. They even threatened Chiara that they will not go back for the partnership if she will not show Ezio to them.

His condition is still kept secret from the public. The only information given to them is that he was shot and now recovering in the hospital.

After Fara finished her task, she left the room for the privacy of the couple. She stayed outside with the guards.

“I’m having a hard time, tesoro,” Chiara whispered to her husband. “A lot of them doesn’t want me to lead the company. They’re pulling out. I don’t know what to do.”

Small tears fell down from her eyes. “I’m sure that someone’s taking advantage of the situation. They’re stealing our funds and profits.”

Her hand massaged her temple while closing her eyes. It’s been weeks since she had a good sleep.

Aside from taking care of his companies, Chiara also spent her days taking care of her husband and investigating what happened.

Nick called last week to update her, but he didn’t give the report. He reasoned that he found out more information about Giovanni and he wanted to give everything.

Chiara is still waiting for his call. The police didn’t even find a lead. They said they can’t find the culprit. Cameras from that day were suddenly corrupted. The culprit moves fast.

“I’m trying to be strong. I know you will wake up,” she spoke lovingly to Ezio and caressed his cheek. “I have a lot of plans for us. I will wait for you, tesoro.”

Chiara didn’t noticed the time and fell asleep while staring at her husband. If not for her phone ringing, she wouldn’t slept the whole day while sleeping.

“Hello?” Chiara’s sleepy voice said on the line after answering the phone.

“Mi figlia,” her mother, Celine spoke on the other line that wake Chiara’s senses up.

She hurriedly sat straight after hearing that. “Mommy! You called. Is there a problem?” she asked.

“Nothing, mi figlia,” Fabio’s voice echoed in the phone. “We just want to ask if you’re doing well. We’ve been calling for the past weeks and your maid always tells us that you are busy.”

“Oh,” relief washed on her body. “I’m sorry, mommy, daddy. There are just lots of work in Ezio’s company and I can’t leave them alone.”

Her parents felt worried, hearing the exhaustion on their daughter’s voice. “Are you eating well, mi figlia? You can’t abandon your health. Your husband will be devastated if you didn’t work on your health.”

“I’m still eating on time, mommy,” she answered. “My problem is sleep. I only had an average of three hours of sleep per day. The longest is five.”

“You should sleep well, mi figlia. It’s important for your health. Less sleep means less energy,” her mother retorted.

“I know, mommy. It’s just that, there are a lot of things on my plate right now,” Chiara answered. Twenty four hours is not enough to finish all of the papers works that she needs to do.

“Well, me and your daddy will visit you and Ezio today. Is it a good time?” Celine asked.

Chiara’s eyes glistened with excitement. “Yes, mommy! You can visit us now,” she responded before giving the hospital address and the room number. “I’ll wait for you.”

When they bid goodbye, the room fell silent. Chiara walked to the door and looked for Fara.

“My parents are going to visit. Please bring some snacks and drinks for them,” she told her maid which Fara immediately followed.

IT JUST TOOK a couple of minutes for her parents to arrive. Fabio is carrying a basket of fruits, mainly oranges and grapes. On the other hand, Celine has Chiara’s favorite biscuits and juice.

“Mommy, daddy,” she greeted and hugged them when they entered. “You arrived fast.”

“Well, we were very excited to see you,” Celine spoke while her husband is placing their things on the table. “How are you, mi figlia?”

Chiara took a deep breath before answering. “Tired,” she said honestly. “Especially on work. People don’t like me leading them. There are a lot of issues within the company, too.”

Fabio touched her daughter’s back with assurance. “It’s really difficult at first, mi figlia. Don’t mind them and just do your best in your job! Time will pass and they will accept you.”

“What if they don’t?” she asked with doubt.

“Then it’s their lost,” Celine spoke. “You’re intelligent and talented! You’re flexible! You can learn and do almost anything! You will be a great businesswoman.”

“I’m that if Ezio’s awake by now, he will be very proud of you,” Celine added while smiling at her daughter.

Chiara can’t help but to cry on her parents’ arms. It’s been a long time since she showed her feelings on someone she trusts.

“There’s still no improvement in his condition,” she spoke between her sobs. “I don’t know what to do to wake him up.”

Fabio’s shirt was soaked with his daughter’s tears, but he didn’t mind. “Ezio’s a strong man, mi figlia. He will be awaken in no time.”

Chiara didn’t respond and continued on crying. The sadness she’s been penting up for weeks suddenly bursted.

She heard a lot of hurtful words from the people in the company. It worsen because of the old Rocco who kept on bombarding her and looking for allies inside.

But none of them can be compared to the pain of seeing her husband’s unconscious state. Every day that she will woke up or went to the hospital, she’s praying that his eyes were opened, but nothing happened.

She missed his raspy, but sweet voice. She missed his loving words. She missed how he hugged him in any time of the day. She missed the feeling of him kissing her forehead. She missed him greeting her in the morning. She missed his open arms whenever he went home from work. She missed those expressive, mismatched yet unique eyes that darted through her soul.

She missed everything about him.

She missed him.

So much.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“You know what, mi figlia,” Fabio spoke when Chiara’s breathing became steady. “When Ezio asked you to marry him, I didn’t get shocked.”

Chiara looked at her father with surprised eyes. “What do you mean, daddy?”

“Well,” he looked at his left, trying to remember something. “I’m not naive from the fact that he has feelings for you.”

“Huh?” she asked confused before looking at her mother. “Do you know this, mommy?”

Celine just shrugged and looked at Fabio, signaling him to continue.

“I’m a businessman, mi figlia, and so is he. We were in the same circle so I always see him,” Fabio started explaining with a small and genuine small on his lips. “When we first talked to each other, I was surprised by the fact that he knew about you!”

“He seems very interested in you. I saw how his eyes glistened whenever I will say your name and when we were talking about you,” Fabio added. He looked like a very proud father.

“And when I go to him to borrow money, he didn’t hesitate even if it was a lot,” he rested his back on the chair and put his arm behind his wife.

“Ezio is a calculated and cautious man. I’m aware how tedious and strict his process is when it comes to borrowing money. But when I told him that it is for your education, he didn’t asked for any documents and gave me the money immediately,” he explained, looking at his unconscious son-in-law.

“I remember, when your nonno is still alive. He told me that he wanted Ezio to marry you,” Fabio spoke and gave her a wide smile. He touched the strands of hair infront of Chiara face and put them aside. He tapped his daughter’s shoulder.

“He said that Ezio looks at you the way I look at your mother, but deeper, and intense.”

Chiara hasn’t even processed what her father said, but her hand that’s holding her husband’s hand, suddenly felt a movement.

Her eyes looked down at their intertwining hands. Her world suddenly move. Hope filled her chest. Light shone on her way.

Ezio’s pinky finger moved.