Chapter 4 A Fate Worse Than Death

Bella staggered back as she couldn't believe her ears. She was standing before the dangerous Mafia lord.

Lorenzo, Loren for short, exuded a dark aura that instilled fear, but it only enhanced his sinful beauty. He looked like a character from a painting. He soon began walking closer to Bella, with each step he took, wealth and luxury screamed. He suddenly stopped in front of Bella, making her fall down to the floor in the moment of fear. Lorenzo further knelt down Infront of Bella, his eyes locked with hers.

"Don't you dare touch me!" Bella yelled as Loren's hand grazed her face, snapping her back to reality.

"You know why you're here? So why do you still have to try to escape?" Loren asked with a smirk as he stood up and walked away from Bella.

He owned a multi-billionaire company, and it was clear that Bella father's debt meant nothing to him. He was heartless, relishing in the torment of others, and Bella couldn't believe she was now one of his victims

"What do you plan to do to me? Will you kill me for attempting to escape?" Bella asked, with her eyebrows raised up in curiousity.

"I had planned to keep you as a hostage for six months and then release you, even if your father didn't repay his debt. But now that you've tried to escape, forgiveness is out of the question," Loren replied coldly.

"I didn't escape, I only tried. And you found me. So you can still keep your promise," Bella said, as she quickly stood from the floor.

"I've changed my mind. You will

be my woman from now on, to pay for your father's debt," Lorenzo declared, shocking even the heavens as a thunderstorm erupted outside.

"His woman? Bella would rather die than become his woman. She would rather never have been born," Bella thought to herself, her face contorted with disgust and hatred.

"Never! I'll rather die than let your firlty hands all over me, Declared Bella, with anger laced in her tone.

"You have no say in this. I make the rules, and you will obey. The moment you attempted to escape my mansion without my permission, you sealed your fate as my woman," Lorenzo replied coldly, he then turned to face the other guy who has been standing beside him."The wedding will take place tomorrow evening, Ronald. Ensure all invitations are sent to every important guest tomorrow morning," Loren said with a sinister grin.

"Yes, my lord," Ronald replied with a bow before leaving the room,now leaving Bella and Loren alone in the room.

"I'm never going to marry you. You almost killed my father and now you want to marry his daughter. What kind of human are you?"

"I've sent a doctor to take care of your father. He shouldn't have shown himself infront of my mansion."

My father would definitely pay back the money he owes you. I can be a maid in your mansion to gather the money.

"You must be exhausted. Rest tonight, as tomorrow is a big day," Loren said, ignoring Bella's words as he rang a bell on his table.

The sound of keys jingling outside made Bella step away from the door. Old Lady Amato and the two maids appeared.

"You called, my lord," Old Lady Amato said, with a bow.

"Tomorrow is my wedding. Kindly escort my wife to her room so she can rest and prepare as tomorrow is a big day for her," Loren commanded.

"W...wedding?" Who and who are getting married tomorrow?" one of the maids exclaimed, her expression filled with confusion.

"How dare you talk when I'm taking? Guards! Drag her out and flog her till she die!" Loren ordered, and two burly men entered the room to carry out his command. Bella couldn't bring herself to say anything further as her body froze and fear filled her heart at Loren's cruelty.

"Please, spare me! Forgive me, master!" the maid pleaded, but her pleas fell on deaf ears as Loren remained cold and unmoved.

Fear filled the faces of Old Lady Amato and the other maid, and they kept their heads bowed, not daring to speak.

"Did I not say something?" Loren asked angrily.

"Yes, my lord," Old Lady Amato replied, signaling the other maid to lead Bella away.

"Take care of my wife!" Loren yelled sternly, his voice sending shivers down Bella's spine.

___

Bella was escorted back to her room, and the door was closed behind her.

She walked with a heavy heart, appearing defeated and as if she had lost everything, before finally settling down on the bed.

Loren was notorious for his cruelty and brutality. Bella knew that he was marrying her to inflict misery upon her; he wanted her to feel utterly wretched about herself.

The mere thought of marrying him caused her heart to ache so intensely that she found herself wishing she could end her own life and escape it all. However, there were no sharp or dangerous objects within reach.

"Should I jump out the window?" she whispered to herself, moving towards the window and peering down to gauge the distance between her room and the ground. The idea of falling from such a great height made her skin crawl and her heart skip a beat.

But she couldn't simply remain still and watch as she was forced into marriage with Loren. She couldn't fathom what each day would be like, living in the prison-like mansion.

The sound of keys jingling at the door suddenly snapped her back to reality.

Old Lady Amato, the long-haired maid, and a man in his late forties stood before her. The man firmly held a brown box and approached Bella as if he had been given specific instructions. He unlocked the box, revealing medical supplies. Bella recognized a syringe, cotton wool, and antiseptic.

"What are you doing?" she asked the man, who held a syringe and cotton wool in his hand, as he positioned her hand on a small pillow, preparing to take her blood.

"Master has ordered me to take your blood for testing, as you will be marrying him tomorrow," the man replied calmly.

"Just do as you're told, there's no need for unnecessary questions," Old Lady Amato warned sternly.

The act of drawing her blood could only mean one thing: she would be forced to consummate the marriage with the Mafia lord after the wedding.

The man finished collecting her blood and soon departed with Old Lady Amato leaving Bella alone once again as the door was locked.

"What am I going to do? I must do something," Bella murmured, tears streaming down her cheeks as she anxiously bit her nails.

She refused to surrender herself to Loren Never! she whispered to herself, making her way back to the window.

Several servants dressed in white gowns with black accents bustled about the mansion, attending to various tasks. The mansion was adorned with flowers and ribbons in preparation for the wedding the following day.

'They have started decorating the Mansiom for the wedding," Bella thought to herself and heaved heavily.

The sound of keys juggling drew Bella's attention away from the window once more. The short, black-haired maid and a man in a black suit entered the toom, accompanied by other unfamiliar maids carrying various tailoring tools: scissors, thread, measuring tape, and more.

"I am the fashion designer, and I am here to take your measurements for the wedding dress," the man dressed in a blue tailored suits said with a bright smile as he approached Bella, assisted by the other maids who held her arms as the man began measuring .

"That's too tight, I can't breathe. Loosen the tape a bit at the waist," Bella requested of the fashion designer.

"It's just right, my lady. Your wedding dress must look impeccable at all costs," the man replied, his focus unwavering as he continued his work.

Once the measurements were complete, the fashion designer and maids exited the room, locking the door behind them, providing Bella with a moment of relief.

She lay down on her bed, her face turned towards the ceiling, lost in her thoughts,

'Am I really going to get married to that monster.' Bella thought to herself but she was glad that her father is already attended to by a doctor, hence she put her mind at ease, and eventually succumb to sleep.