Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

THEIR CONVERSATION was cut short when the doctor and Ezio’s therapist arrived. Gabriel and Luigi, and sometimes Victor, were in-charged on checking if no one followed the people entering and leaving their house.

That includes checking their cars or any vehicles, scanning them and the vehicles for trackers and any suspicious devices, confiscating any communication devices, and many more. The machineries and tools that sometimes they need to enter and use for the therapy sessions are also subjected for scanning and checking.

They were checking very vigorously, which Chiara thinks that came to fruition because Giovanni hasn’t found Ezio even until now that he is awake.

Chiara kissed her husband before he was transferred to the room that is intended only for his check-ups and therapy. She has to be away from her husband during that time because she knew that Ezio will focus on her instead on the therapy.

“Do you have any news about Giovanni?” Chiara asked when Ezio and the doctors, together with her parents amd a few guards, entered the other room.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“I was told he was spotted entering his mall in Guidonia, ” he replied and showed a photo from his phone. “My men said he did nothing much inside aside from shopping. He went back to his house after that.”

“When was this taken?” she asked. Chiara remembered that Nick said Giovanni was there when he was abducted. She assumed he left after her friend escaped.

What’s bothering Chiara is that Giovanni is suspecting her of working with Nick about Ariti’s case. His suspicion is true, and Chiara couldn’t let him attack them first.

Chiara knows that Giovanni is linked on Ariti’s death, maybe to pave the way so that Monika will marry him. However, she lacked evidence. The video she has from Elisa doesn’t show any other person aside from Ariti himself.

“Just four days ago. He wasn’t seen after that, ” Dante replied. “It’s either he did not leave his house, or he is good at escaping.”

“I have my bet on the second one,” Chiara answered while shaking her head.

Dante chuckled and put his phone back to his pocket. It was more believable after all.

“By the way,” Chiara spoke when she thought of something. “Do you know anything about Chief Pessi?”

“Are you reading my mind?” Dante asked out of nowhere which earned a glare frum his bestfriend’s wife. “Just kidding, ” he made a peace sign. “I was about to tell you something about him. Another reason why I visited.”

“So there’s something bad about him, ” Chiara spoke as Fara entered with the pitcher of juice and glasses in her hands. “You wouldn’t go here if it is not bad.”

Dante clicked his fingers. “You got it, signora,” he responded.

“What’s up with him?”

“Well, aside from the fact that our evidences against Giovanni went missing under his care, I dig through records and found out that it was Giovanni’s parents who funded his education in the police academy,” he laid down the papers he got from his bag.

Chiara picked up a paper and read the contents. It is a record of scholarship for Chief Pessi and the benefactors were really the older Giordanos.

“Do they have any more beneficiaries for this scholarship?” she asked.

“Yes, signora, ” he pointed another paper which Chiara picked up. “Some were the current workers in their company. Rocco Ossani’s daughter was also a beneficiary before she became an accountant. Five beneficiaries became lawyers under Bonetti Law Firm, which includes the one who’s assigned to Sigmund Russo.”

Chiara nodded, recognizing what he said. From the looks of it, she has suspicions that the Giordano family used the scholarship program go plant professionals in various fields who will work for them and will follow they sway of their hands.

“Chief Pessi was on the top of their class back in the days, which was the reason why the Giordano family chose him for that program,” he added.

“Or maybe they chose him because they don’t want anyone questioning once they put him in a higher position. If you have the skills, no one will doubt your promotion, ” Chiara replied.

Dante nodded because he thought of the same thing. “Actually, he was promoted to being a Chief from a new policeman just after three years.”

“You mean from being a constable, he jumped up to being a Chief Sergeant?” she asked with a shocked voice. “But I thought one would need five years of service for that?”

“Not just five years, signora, ” Dante replied. “You cannot jump from one rank to anothee without having the previous one. It’s like a prerequisite. That’s why a lot of people questioned his ranking.”

“However, ” he took a deep sigh. “His skills were superb. A lot of Director Officers recognized his efficient job and they didn’t dare question his credibility.”

“I know he has mad skills. I watched him in the television a lot of times, ” she stated as remembered her encounter with him in the police station. “But I have a bad feeling he is not just meddling with my husband’s attempted murder case against Giovanni. I have a hunch he will do the same thing to Marco’s case as well.”

She turned her head to Dante. “Have you checked the belongings Marco left in that warehouse you mentioned?”

“Yes, signora. We followed what you said, ” he replied and motioned his hand to another paper. “We had it tested overseas and left some of it here in Italy. The result will come within a month.”

“I hope we can find something that can be linked to Giovanni,” she massaged her temple. “That guy’s good at hiding his traces. I can’t catch him.”

It’s getting her frustrated. Everytime Chiara will do the offensive side and corner Giovanni, he can find a way to cut ties to those he worked with. They went back to zero everytime this happens.

Chiara hoped that things will go smoothly now that Ezio is near recovery. Her husband might know a lot about Giovanni. They will work together to bring him down.

“Go home, Dante, ” Ezio’s voice echoed in the living room. The two looked to him and they Ezio walking towards them with Chiara’s parents and the doctors at their back.

“It’s my time with my wife. Shoo,” he pushed his friend away before hugging his wife, craving for attention.

When everyone left aside from them, they transferred to their bedroom for more privacy. Ezio doesn’t want anyone to ruin his quality with his beloved.

“Tesoro,” Chiara spoke while she was running her fingers through Ezio’s hair. They were laying down in the bed, Ezio’s head resting on Chiara’s chest.

Ezio was humming and making circular movements on Chiara’s skin. “Hmm?”

“Your mother,” she said, not knowing how to start telling him what his mother did for him.

“I don’t want to talk about mamma,” he felt him pout. “Our mood usually turned sour when we talked about her.”

She kissed his hair before responding. “I’m sure your mood will lighten once you heard me.”

Ezio looked up at his wife with questioning eyes. “Did something happen?”

“Your mother helped me when you were still unconscious,” she spoke, remembering how worried Elisa was on her one and only son. “She gave me information about Giovanni and helped me transferring you here when they almost found you in the hospital.”

Ezio was stunned when he heard that. He didn’t even notice that his eyes are starting to worry, which made Chiara worried.

“Tesoro? Are you okay? Why are you crying?” she cupped his face before looking at his head to see if something hurts.

Ezio buried his face on Chiara’s face and she felt the warm tears wetting her shirt. It wasn’t too much, but enough to know that Ezio is crying.

“Mamma still cares for me,” he whispered, as Chiara felt him smile against her skin.

She caressed his back, comforting him. “I even doubted her at first, but she was really worried about you. Sometimes she will sneak in the hospital just to take care of you.”

Ezio seemed please to hear that. He felt like he want to ran to his mother and hug him after these years of longing for a mother’s love

“However,” Chiara’s tone became sad. “We can’t go near her right now. Giovanni still thought that you two are not in good terms, and you must keep it that way until he is punished.”

“But don’t worry, Mamma Elisa is also moving secretly against him. We just have to work on our own to make things easier,” she added.

Ezio nodded at his wife. “I will recover quickly so that I can help you, ” he said before kissing her lips.

“By the way, tesoro. I have a bad news,” she spoke after their short kiss. “I’m sorry I have to spoil the moment but I don’t think I can wait for the right time to tell you about it.”

“It’s fine, cara, ” his hand went to his wife’s arm while looking up at her. “Tell me.”

Chiara took a deep breath before speaking. “Marco Leon’s dead.”

She explained to her husband what happened, from the start to end. The more Chiara explained the situation, the wider Ezio’s eyes become. Each information was too heavy to be consumed.

“I’m worried of Sophia,” she spoke, thinking of her friend. “The whole family’s still mourning. I’m not even sure if she has someone by her side.”

“Can we visit her tomorrow?” she asked. “If ever you think you can go to long distances.”

Ezio smiled and nodded. “Of course. We have to be there to her. That’s the least thing we could do for her and Marco.”

Chiara was pleased on her husband’s response. She thanked him before pulling him close, cuddling him. It is the limit of what they can do for now, but she knew that they will go to the higher level as soon as he recovered.

And she is excited to fully consummate their marriage.