Chapter 1 Papa's Ultimatum

A Month. That's how long it's been since my husband left me after our first night together. After taking my virginity, he left without a word, and he still hasn't returned.

I stared at the tea cup on the table, my sighs incessant.

I live in my father's house now. Initially, I managed to stay in our house with Leandro for the first three days, but since I had no one there except the guards and the house staff, I decided to come back here.

I still remember the fury in Papa's eyes when he found out what happened on our first night. He said I wasn't worth being a wife, so Leandro left me. I let it slide because I was used to receiving hurtful words from him. He had always been like that to me, even when I was still a child.

"Bella, do you need anything? Maybe you're hungry," Lara, our househelper, appeared.

I smiled at her and shook my head. "No, I'm fine. I'm not hungry."

After saying those few words, I was left alone again.

Papa isn't here now; he's at the company. Our company's status has improved since news spread that I married Leandro David De Angelis. Our stocks have risen, and more investors are interested.

Originally, it wasn't supposed to be Leandro I married. I was destined to marry Ethan Thompson, Papa's friend's son. But due to unforeseen events, Papa wanted me to marry someone who could uplift our business, not drag it down. That's when the De Angelis marriage offer came, which Papa quickly accepted. Initially, he wanted Izzy to marry one of the De Angelis, but it seemed they wanted the eldest child, which is me. So, even though it went against Papa's wishes, he agreed.

"Bella..."

My thoughts were interrupted by Izzy calling me, my younger half-sister. She's Papa's daughter from his second marriage after my mother passed away. I was too young to remember how my biological mother died; all I knew was that she died from a severe illness.

"What is it, Izzy?" I asked her.

She smiled faintly at me, sadness evident in her eyes. "Do you want to come with me? My friends and I are going to the mall; maybe you'd like to join us? Papa has been scolding you a lot lately. Shopping might help lighten your mood," Izzy suggested.

I shook my head. "No, I'm fine. Go ahead and meet your friends. Don't worry about me."

Despite being only half-sisterss through our father, Izzy and I were close. Aunt Lorena, my stepmother, also treated me kindly, so I consider myself lucky, even though Papa could be harsh.

Izzy nodded, though it seemed like she didn't want to leave me alone.

After a while, I decided to enter my room. I glanced out of the window as my sister left, and when she disappeared from sight, I chose to lie down on the bed and rest. I always felt tired, even though I didn't do anything.

"Issabella!"

I tightly shut my eyes upon hearing my father's angry voice again. I thought he was at the office today, but it seems he made a detour to come home and scold me. I could feel he was about to throw something new at me. I'm really not his favorite child. To him, I'm foolish, and Izzy is the perfect child.

"Noah, just let Bella be!" Aunt Lorena intervened, trying to restrain him.

The door to my room forcefully swung open. I didn't even need to look to know who had entered. It was obviously Papa.

I got up to speak with him, but Papa slapped some photos onto my bed, and I saw Leandro in them.

"Look at these pictures! Someone sent these to us earlier. It probably hasn't made it to the media yet because Leandro's family is likely trying to contain it. Your husband supposedly has another woman."

I wearily examined the photos and let out a sigh. It was Leandro with a woman I didn't recognize, seemingly at a grand party in another country.

"I don't know, Pa. I haven't heard any news from him—"

"If you had been a good wife to him, he wouldn't have left you here and taken you with him out of the country! You're not even a useful daughter, let alone a good wife!" Papa retorted.

I could still hear Aunt Lorena trying to calm Papa down, but he seemed unwilling to be stopped.

"Why do I have to be blamed because of his infidelity, Papa? I'm not the one who cheated, am I? I'm not the one who left on the first night. Why am I the one you blame? Shouldn't it be Le—"

I stopped abruptly, almost getting slapped by my father if it wasn’t for Aunt Lorena who stopped his hand mid way.

"And you dare talk back like a child! You haven't contributed anything to this family except being a burden! You can't even be a decent wife!"

"That's enough! Let Bella rest. She's tired of everything you've been saying to her, Noah. Have some mercy on your daughter," Aunt Lorena continued trying to stop Papa, but she seemed quite angry with me now.

"If that man comes back and divorces you, Bella, you'll be in real trouble with me!" Papa left after uttering those hurtful words.

This was the usual scene in our house ever since I decided to live here temporarily because my husband was gone. I always received criticism from my father, and it was always Aunt Lorena, my stepmother, or Izzy who defended me.

"Please forgive your father," Aunt Lorena said, approaching me and gently caressing my arm. "He's stressed because of the company. Some are speculating that your husband might leave you, and others want to withdraw their investments. Noah is venting his stress on you."

I knew that Papa valued every investment and Leandro greatly. Because of them, our company was recovering from the brink of collapse. Now, with rumors spreading that my husband had another woman or might seek a divorce, those who invested in our company due to the De Angelis influence might pull out their shares.

Since I was accustomed to Papa's outbursts and hurtful words, I just let it slide. I was used to Papa berating me; it hardly affected me anymore.

The next day, I was shaken by the news that Leandro was reportedly returning to the country. I didn't know how to feel about that. Papa continued to give me lectures, warning me that Leandro might return and seek a divorce. I remained silent.

After a month of abruptly leaving me, now he wanted to show up? If he really intended to divorce me, that was fine with me. What I probably couldn't handle was the harsh punishment from my own father.

I wanted to run away. I had tried that several times but failed in my attempts. When Papa caught me trying to escape, he would lock me in the attic for weeks. He would bring me food, but it was still a terrifying experience. Maybe that's why I grew up afraid of dark places.

"When Leandro David De Angelis divorces you, I don't know what I'll do to you! Your mother should have taken you with her when she died!"

I gritted my teeth. If I had no appetite earlier, I had even less now.

Perhaps the most painful thing was hearing your own father pray for you to be gone from his life.

"I really wanted him to marry Izzy! Because I know she would be a better wife for Leandro, but she's still too young, so it had to be the eldest! It's all so wrong!"

I tried to block out what I was hearing. Izzy here, Izzy there. Sometimes, no matter how much I loved my sister, I couldn't help but envy the attention Papa gave her. Maybe if Izzy had been the one to marry, I wouldn't inherit anything from him. Now, the company would belong to me alone because I was the one married to the man who claimed to save it.

"If Leandro decided to annul your marriage, you won't get a single cent from me, Bella. Remember that!"

There were many grounds for annulment, and I knew our marriage wouldn't easily be voided. But with the influence of the De Angelis family, perhaps he can accomplish difficult tasks in the eyes of others.