Bella's POV.
While I was having a conversation with my mother-in-law and father-in-law, I noticed Caspar leaving with Alex and his beautiful secretary. That secretary was definitely being touchy with him and even tried to brush her body against him. Yet Caspar pretended not to notice her and continued chatting with her.
She sat in the back seat with Caspar in the car too. 'Oh god, I'm freaking out with jealousy. Is it normal for wives to get angry when other women flirt with their husbands?' I thought, clenching my fists, hiding my emotions pretty well in front of my in-laws.
"Shall we go to the mansion?" Alden Mcadam, my father-in-law asked in a concerned voice. His hazel eyes looked straight into my soul and I would be lying if I said Alden is not frightening. Now it makes sense why Caspar has an intimidating persona.
"Honey, stop giving death stares to my daughter-in-law," Victoria, my mother-in-law, scolds Alden and then says to me softly," Don't mind my husband and son's rudeness. They just have emotionless personalities. Truthfully, they are men with only one woman."
When Victoria says that, Erick pokes in and sarcastically comments," She's right. My father never had an affair, even though he was every girl's dream husband in his time."
"Oh stop bringing up the past," Alden scolds Erick.
Seeing everyone getting along with everyone made me a little sad. With a disappointed smile on my lips, I looked at them in envy. I don't know if they're showing off their family affection to me or being serious. I just want to be included in their family bickering and affection.
***
Soon we arrived at the High Society of New York City. Erick helps me with getting out of the car while Alden and Victoria walk first, being lovey-dovey together. Erick suddenly leans close to my right ear and whispers," Don't mind my parents. They're always showing off their love in front of others.``
"Oh no. I don't mind at all," I immediately replied.
After walking through the main gate, we entered the inner yard. I can't believe the Mcadam mansion would be this big. The glistening white marble mansion stood tall under the glowing lights of lamp posts. It was giving vintage vibes with the two marble statues of angels decorated either side of the entrance.
As soon as I stepped inside the mansion, my eyes were focused on the interior of it. I couldn't take my eyes off the exotic paintings hanging around the mansion's inner hall. The staircase was of white marble crafted in exquisite designs.
"Erick, show your sister-in-law Caspar's bedroom."
"Ah, yes, Mom," Erick replies and asks me to follow him. I paused and confusingly asked Victoria," Mother, are there no spare rooms?"
She gives me an obvious concern. " Why?"
" I mean Caspar would not like me occupying his room. I don't want to trouble him," I was lying with an innocent face. Ugh! The thing was, I didn't want to face him. I'd be embarrassed every time I saw him.
" Bella, I'll talk to Caspar. He will not give you a hard time," Alden, too, forced me to go back to Caspar's bedroom.
I lowered my face like a defeated warrior and followed Erick upstairs. He opens Caspar's bedroom and says," Welcome to my cold-hearted brother's room. Hope you have a great time together tonight."
"There's nothing romantic going on between us," I murmured, but Erick seemed to have heard me. He shockingly remarks," What do you mean?"
Entering inside the room, I sighed," Aren't you aware that my marriage to your brother is contractual? There are exclusive terms and conditions for me which include not being in, for a physical romantic relationship with each other."
Turning my face back at Erick, I sarcastically asked," You want me to overrule your brother's exclusive terms and conditions?
" Well, maybe I got misled by my cunning brother. He said he needed to return to France and meet his lover. I thought he was talking about you," Erick replied as he turned back to leave the room.
When, suddenly, Bella grabs Erick's right wrist and coldly inquires," Caspar has a lover? In France?"
Erick smirks as he looks down at me pitifully.
"I guess yes, otherwise why would he leave the company for me to handle? I'm not good at business, he knows it well."
I don't know why I started feeling bitter pain in my heart.
'So Caspar already has a lover in France? He was not there for me exclusively! He was there to meet his mistress secretly. Wow.'
"Don't be a sad sister-in-law. You only have to endure my brother for this year. Next year you can get a divorce when the marriage agreement ends officially," saying that Erick leaves.
Closing the door shut, I curled myself inside the blanket and started cursing myself.
' Girl, you are so stupid. How could you confess to a man who already has a lover?' I mumbled, and the scenes of my one-night stand with Caspar flashed in my mind.
'Caspar definitely said it for his first time. He cursed me and forced himself on me afterward, saying that I took his virginity. He was lying all this to humiliate me, and I was stupid enough to believe his lies,' I thought, pulling my hair in frustration.
After two hours of self-reflection on myself, I got up and took a bath. Now I'll not focus on love or anything, I'll complete my father's secret task. I must spy on the Mcadam family's association with the DarZ underworld group. Obviously, I know that the codename Xavier Hill is Caspar Mcadam, but I have to find out if others in Mcadam's family know about his mafia identity.
And if they know, then maybe Alden, Victoria and Erick are part of a Mafia organization using different codenames.
'This time I'll make sure to find out the culprit of my brother's murderer,' I scoffed as I put on the nightgown.
Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I smirked evilly," I wasn't the only child of my parents. I had an elder brother who was actively working as underboss for Xavier Hill but was assassinated. His death is still a mystery as Xavier has never given a proper explanation of why my brother Olivier was murdered."
I was only five years old when I heard of my brother's death. My father left the Mafia world and started his company Dior, but he secretly instructed his men to train me to become a ruthless assassin.
I smirked as I sprayed perfume all over my body. I may look like a playgirl who only knows how to flirt. But the truth is, playgirl is only my fake identity for clout. I'm blessed with tactics and strategies. I know how to kill someone gracefully without leaving evidence. I have assassinated many enemies of the Dior company on the order of my father. Yet nobody knows it's me.
"How very talented I am!" I laughed heartily to console my feelings for my dead brother.
Still, I couldn't stop tears falling from my eyes. It's just if my brother were alive, I wouldn't have to do all these bloody things.
I stepped out of the bathroom and started preparing the bed for sleeping when someone knocked on the door.
" Young Madam, it's about time you should come downstairs for family dinner," one of the maids informed me from outside.
I rolled my eyes and pretended to be tired.
"Pardon my ignorance, but I do not feel like walking all the way. Bring my dinner to my room."
" Oh... okay," she politely replied and left. I thought it would be hard to decline the request. Soon after a few minutes, she arrives with a food tray and placing it on the table she says, "Madam Victoria advises you to take a rest after dinner. Young Master Caspar will be arriving late because he's having company dinner with his secretary and other employees. And about..."
"Stop. Why are you telling me the whereabouts of Caspar?"
" I thought you wanted to know about the young master," the maid replied immediately.
" No. I'm not interested in his routines. You can leave."
The maid left, and I had my dinner while chatting with my mom. The maid returns to take the empty plates and utensils. However, I wasn't able to sleep. I was feeling anxious as the time passed by. It was 12:30 am and Caspar hadn't returned from work.
" Should I just call him?" I anxiously murmured to myself and stared at Caspar's contact number on my phone's screen.
" No, I'd look desperate. But what if he is sleeping with his secretary, that booby wh*re!"
Finally, I stopped texting because I couldn't control my anxious thoughts. And as expected there was no reply. Putting the phone aside, I tried to sleep. I shouldn't bother myself too much with Caspar. I texted him, and he ignored me, as if I was asking him to come and make love with me.
After an hour I was still awake, sleep-deprived and looking out of the window in the cold windy midnight.
I have sent almost twenty texts, all were ignored after I saw them. He didn't even bother to answer a single text and I simply can't figure out why I was being nosy.
" Shouldn't I sleep? Why am I torturing myself on this cold night?" I mumbled annoyingly, but still I couldn't bring myself to bed and sleep.
About a few minutes later, I was jolted out of my thoughts by the loud noise of a car pulling inside the parking lot of the mansion.
" Hm, finally he's back."
Closing the window, I crawled into the blanket and pretended to be asleep. I could hear the room's door opening and then the footsteps of Caspar raced through my heart.
" I'm sorry for not replying to your texts. My phone was with Alexia because I was busy meeting the project managers," he said as soon as he walked inside, but I kept on sleeping.
" I know you're angry. Worry not, I'll not ignore your messages from now onwards."
Why was he being so humble? It's so unusual, and it makes me seem like a heartless wife.
" So your secretary is Alexia and you let her see my desperate messages. Are you happy now? You enjoyed humiliating me in front of a mere employee!" Removing my blanket from my face, I yelled back at him.
He was quiet, and I couldn't see the expressions he was making in the dim light of the room. His tall, muscular silhouette pressed forward on the bed. I could hear his heartbeat. As he closed the distance between us, I saw his hazel eyes glowing under the simmering dim light of the room.
" Alexia is only my secretary. There's nothing romantic or sexual between us, wife," he replied in his heavy hoarse voice that made me helpless.
I crawled forward, wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders. Bringing my face close to his left ear, I whispered, "Even if something was going on between you and Alexia, I wouldn't care much."
" Why?"
Oh god, he sure knows how to make me crazy. "Because I don't have feelings for you anymore. Oh, you already have a mistress in France."
He quickly moved back and panicked, "What mistress? Who told you this nonsense?"
" Erick. You used me as an excuse to meet your mistress."
" There's nothing like that. I never had any romantic relationship with women before you," he answered.
"Then why did you refuse to accept my love?" I asked, which was making me anxious all this time. I wanted an answer to it.