Chapter 2 Betrayed
Bella's POV
I don't know how long I stood in that particular spot just staring at the write up.
It all felt like a huge joke to me and I was hoping Lucas would come back into the hall and tell me that it was all just a prank but that never happened.
I finally got a hold of myself and walked out of the hotel, I noticed there was no car waiting for me.
I struggled to hold my breath as I walked into the cold night. I had to walk for quite a distance from the hotel before I could get a taxi.
“Where to ma'am?” the driver asked as he stopped in front of me.
“Ricci Estate” I said as I swiftly got into the backseat.
I refused to continue crying as it won't solve anything. I needed to know the source of the picture and the motive behind it.
I knew there was no way something like that would happen in my father’s mansion and no one would be aware of it.
He immediately started the car and I noticed that he kept stealing glances of me from the rear view mirror.
I wasn’t surprised though, I was literally wearing a customized million dollars dress and diamonds.
The drive took less than an hour and the taxi had to stop at the security office at the entrance of the estate, as taxis were not allowed inside.
“Here” I said as I handed one of my diamond bracelets to the driver.
He looked at me in shock and didn't take it.
“Take it, I don't have cash on me” I said before tossing it at him and walking away.
“Miss, welcome” the security guard greeted me as he opened the gate.
I just walked in without bothering to reply to him, I wasn’t in the mood to exchange pleasantries.
I headed straight for the huge mansion at the center of the estate.
“Young Miss, boss is resting” my father's personal assistant, Evans, blocked my way as I was about to enter the mansion.
“What's the meaning of this?” I asked him coldly but he just continued to block my way without saying anything.
I wasn’t in the mood to deal with any useless and irrelevant person, so I swiftly grabbed the gun of one of the man beside him and before they could react, I was already holding the gun to Evan's head.
“Miss Bella, you shouldn't be so rash, drop the gun before someone gets hurt” he said to me with a frown and his tone sounded like he was talking to some clueless little girl.
BANG!
I immediately pressed the trigger and shot him on his knee, he groaned in shock and while they were distracted, I entered the mansion.
I was stunned by the scene that greeted me on getting inside.
My father was leisurely sipping wine while my mother was on the side, enjoying a head massage from her personal maid.
“Haha..You are always so sweet”
I turned to the direction of the voice and saw my brother and his wife being all lovey dovey at the corner.
My father was the first to see me but he just averted his gaze and continued sipping his wine.
“Miss…” My mother's personal maid finally noticed my presence and she immediately stopped the massage, causing my mother to glare at her angrily.
“Oh..Who do we have here?” she asked while looking at me, after glaring at the assistant to her heart's content.
“Bella, you look terrible,” my brother’s wife, Diana, said with a mocking voice.
I glared at her and slowly walked up to my father. He immediately frowned when I stood in front of him.
“What is the meaning of this?” he asked me with a stern expression.
“Why didn't you come?” I asked him and he frowned even deeper.
“We were busy” My mother replied instead.
“Do you have something to do with the pictures?” I asked her angrily.
“Don't use that tone with me, Bella” she said angrily while glaring at me.
Nothing was making sense right now, I was here two days ago and they were all so sweet and caring towards me.
What changed?
“You don't need to get so worked up, Bella. I will make sure you are well compensated” My father finally spoke to me but his words made me even more confused.
Compensate me?
“What do you mean by compensation?” I asked him with a frown as my hand trembled.
Everything was starting to make sense but I didn't want to believe that they would treat me like that.
“What's so hard for you to understand huh?” My brother, Magnus, asked me angrily.
He walked up to me with Diana trailing behind him.
“Finally, we can stop pretending. I was getting sick of acting every time you come around” he said to me with a smirk.
“You were probably abroad for too long and have forgotten how things work over here. So let me refresh your mind, little sister.
In the Aristocratic families in Country M, there is something called marriage of benefits” he paused to enjoy my shocked expression.
I took two steps back in shock as I shook my head.
That wasn't possible… Lucas would never!
“It is true sis” he said with a hint of amusement.
“No… It is not! Marriage of Benefits are arranged by the two families and the two people involved always don't know each other. And Lucas and I met abroad, so it can't be” I said with a frown while observing their expressions.
“What if, it was already arranged before you met him abroad. We all know how stubborn you are, so the only way for you to willingly agree is for you to fall in love with him” he said with a smirk and his wife laughed as well.
Was there a different Lucas from the one that I know?
The man I married will never do such a thing to me….. Never!
“Lucky for you, instead of the usual five years contract, he reduced it to three years and he fulfilled his part of the contract so well.
Other families are now envious of us because of the benefits the contract brought us” My mother added with a proud expression.
She was proud because our family was being envied, completely neglecting the fact that my life has been ruined in the process.
Before I could say anything, my father tossed something at me and I quickly caught it before it could hit my face.
When I looked at the item, I saw that it was my passport, which is supposed to be in Lucas' mansion with a flight ticket inside.
“ Your things have been moved over, your flight is by 9AM tomorrow morning” he said coldly, without showing any emotion.