Chapter 4 The Plan for Arranged Marriage

Calhoun woke up to a loud ringing noise. He picked up his phone and saw his mother-in-law calling. "Hello, Mom. What's wrong?"

"Calhoun, where the hell are you?" She shouted while dropping insults in the background.

Unable to bear, he hung up, took a quick shower, packed up some breakfast and began heading for the hospital. He knew his family had returned to the capital so he just headed out.

On his way out, Dante offered to drop him off at the hospital to which he agreed.

The car stopped outside hospital, Dante got out and opened the door for Calhoun.

"Thank you, Uncle Dante"

"No problem, Calhoun. Contact me if you need anything. Your dad left you this card and phone." He said while handing him a black card with dragon emblem on it and also a specially customised phone.

He headed into the ward Bella was assigned to. On entering, Lisa Jose had begun to berate him as usual. "Where the hell have you been? Where were you last night? You jinx, you caused my daughter to have an accident and you are out frolicking about with other women."

Calhoun ignored her and spoke to Bella, "Sorry, I stayed at a friend's place last night, I wasn't feeling too well."

Lisa angrily slammed her fist on the table and screamed at him, "You idiot! Do you know the kind of trouble you put us through because of your behaviour? God damn you, I hate you!" She was about to continue hurling insults at him until her phone rang.

She picked it up and immediately hurried out.

"I'm sorry my mom treats you badly." Bella apologised.

Calhoun answered, "It's okay. How are you feeling today?"

Bella smiled and said, "I feel better now. My wounds are getting healed. Thank you for everything."

"Don't mention it. I'm glad you're okay." Calhoun replied.

A nurse came in with a wheelchair and helped her get inside it. "Take care, Ms. Dontonio. Call me if you need anything."

They both walked outside. Calhoun gave her a hug and she held him tightly while seated on the wheel chair.

"Thank you so much for coming into my life. I don't think I could have survived without you." Calhoun said seriously.

"It's nothing. You mean so much to me" Bella Jose replied. Her face getting red as she blushed.

The nurse called out to them, "Mr. Dontonio, please hold on, the doctor wants to see you."

Calhoun wheeled Bella inside and followed the nurse to the doctor's office. Inside, he saw his mother sitting with the doctor. A nurse was standing behind them.

"Hello, Calhoun. Glad you're here." Clarice said.

Calhoun surprised to see his mother answered, "I thought you had gone back "

"I intended to. But since you were here, I decided to stay on for a couple more days and get to know my daughter in law. Besides i have some things to handle here.", she said.

"Mom, i'm not ready to just spring up my identity on her yet" Calhoun said.

"I understand, dear. Just remember, once she gets to know you, she'll accept you completely. Trust me on this one, okay?"

Calhoun nodded and sat down beside his mother.

"Don't worry, I'll be very low key, by the way this is Doctor Carlos and nurse Jane. Nurse Jane will accompany Bella till she gets better." She continued.

After a little talk with Doctor Carlos, his mother rose and left together with Calhoun. On getting outside the hospital. Calhoun introduced his mother to Bella.

"Mom, this is my wife Bella. Bella, this is my mother, Mrs. Dontonio"

Bella smiled shyly and said, "Nice to meet you, ma'am".

"Likewise, dear. But you should call me mother instead of ma'am unless I'm an outsider to you". Clarice said.

"Okay, mother. I'll try." Bella shyly said.

"Good, now let's go home." Clarice replied with a smile.

Bella felt awkward about meeting her mother-in-law. It was now she realised she didn't even know much about her husband. He was always busy with work and taking care of her. He never talked about his family and she never asked. She felt she was a bad wife.

When they reached their house, Calhoun insisted on taking his mother inside.

"Thank you, Calhoun." She replied.

Going inside, they met Lisa who immediately began to insult Calhoun the moment she saw him. Calhoun's mother who was hot tempered shouted at her and threatened Lisa who immediately became quiet.

Lisa Jose was the kind who preyed on the weak feared the strong and hated anyone who stood up for themselves. She was a typical woman from the slums.

Calhoun's mother scolded her.

Inside Bella's room, Calhoun asked his mother to sit with Bella.

She began, "Bella, tomorrow a nurse will be here, she will take care of you till you are recovered. As my daughter in law, you deserve the best."

Bella smiled and said, "Thank you ma'am."

"I told you to call me mother didn't i ?" Clarice said angrily.

"Yes, mother." Bella shyly said again.

"I'll leave you two alone now." Calhoun's mother said.

She got up and left the room.

Bella looked up at Calhoun and asked, "Is your family wealthy?"

"Not really, my mom got a little inheritance recently and she's worried about me. So she came over and wanted to give me some money as well." He lied without hesitation.

"Oh, that's great. Thank you for taking care of me, I'm really grateful." Bella said seriously.

"We are a family, no need to thank me. Now, I'll leave you to rest." Calhoun said standing up.

"Calhoun, I'm scared. Please don't leave me alone"

Calhoun was shocked at how fast Bella changed from the confident, strong and self-assured girl to the timid, needy woman. He tried to reassure her, "Don't worry, I won't leave you alone. I'll be right here."

"Promise?" She asked anxiously.

"I promise."

Bella smiled and closed her eyes. She fell asleep.

Calhoun waited for a few minutes, then he got up and headed to the guest room where his mother was.

"Mom, is something wrong?" He asked as he sat.

She sighed, "The elders want to arrange a marriage for you with the Ling clan eldest daughter."

"Mom, i'm not ready to marry someone else. I already have Bella."

"Calhoun, I know what you mean. But we are a noble family. It won't be easy convincing the elders. I like Bella, she's a nice girl and she has treated you kindly since you married her."

Clarice Dontonio paused and continued, "Your father has argued with them but there is only so much we can do. I believe you might be able to convince them, you've been the brightest amongst the younger generation of the Dontonio family."

Calhoun thought a bit and said, "Will you and dad support any decision I make?"

His mother looked at him and said, "Of course, dear. We love you very much. And if you want to reject the proposal, we'll respect your choice but you know our words are not enough."

Calhoun nodded and said, "I'll talk to them and see what they say." He got up and left.