BELLA.
"A letter? In Italian?" I was taken aback because as far as I know, Nancy was American.
I hurried inside and unfolded the letter, it had blood patches and a signature of someone I knew. Surprisingly only a few words were written on it which sent goosebumps all over my body.
'My love, Bella, how have you been? It's been a long time and I will finally meet you. "
My face turned pale as I repeated the contents of the letter in my mind. My hands started shaking as I tore the paper into pieces.
"What's wrong?" My brother panicked, holding my shaking hands. "What was written in there? Bella, say something. Do not make me worried, Bella. "
My brother panicked because for a few minutes, my brain couldn't process any thoughts. Blank! He jolted my body and finally I screamed, "Brother... ''
"Yes, what was written in there?"
"Nothing specific. Theodore Roosevelt wants to meet me... No," I hesitated before completing my sentence, "He will meet me."
"Don't tell me you are talking about him, his grandfather was adopted by our great-grandfather but later on his father separated and returned to Italy," Olivier said. "He's technically our distant brother, Bella, don't tell me you are talking about him."
Oh I wished I could explain everything to my brother. But I was too embarrassed to confess my dirty past, the truth that Theodore Roosevelt was my ex and I had dated him for years before breaking up.
At first I wasn't aware that his ancestors had connections with the Dior family and that he was my distant brother. But that was not the only reason for my breakup with him. He was abnormally obsessed with me, and very possessive.
I loved it during my youth however as I started taking on tasks and responsibilities as heir of Dior, he became crazily possessive. He would suspect me of having affairs with my clients and many more. To the point where I felt like he was harassing me.
And even after the breakup, he would lurk around me. Beating the guys I would talk to. He literally almost killed one of the guys in the club because he touched my hand. I reported this to dad and he was called back by his father to take the responsibility as heir of the Roosevelt family.
'That crazy man still kept sending gifts on my birthday. I even caught him fucking another girl during our relationship,' I recalled one of the events from the past.
'And when I asked why he did that? He said he was only releasing his stress and the whole time he thought of me while fucking another woman. Psychopath!'
"You dated him?" My soul left my body for a second when my brother dropped the bomb at my face. I wished that the ground would swallow me inside, it's so embarrassing.
"Was he your first boyfriend? I'm guessing he was otherwise why would you remember his signature," Olivier continued talking, and my face turned red in shame.
Ducking my face down, I murmured, "I wasn't aware that he was our distant family. When I found out, I broke up with him immediately."
He became quiet and for a few seconds he stared at me with very aloof eyes. I realized Olivier was angry and disappointed in me. I couldn't continue looking into his eyes so I ducked my face, avoiding his fierce glances.
"How could you not know such an important thing, Bella? Are you fucking kidding me right now?" His thunderous voice echoed through the basement Jail, gathering the attention of the soldiers who were cleaning up the place.
I flinched instinctively, and thought to myself why the hell I was shivering and scared of my brother? I have faced the bad temper of Caspar with heads up, what the fuck was wrong with me in front of Olivier.
'So the age gap really matters?' I thought to myself as I mustered up my courage and raised my face, "Brother, could please be respectful towards me? I know I made a mistake and everyone does make one during their teenage years!"
"I was just a spoiled brat," I said and turned back to leave. I don't want to stay in place where I'm not valued.
How could he just shout at me in front of everyone? I was experiencing trauma when I read the damn letter and instead of comforting me he chose to remind me of my mistake.
"Bella," he called my name, but I didn't turn back.
My steps fastened as I angrily left the basement. Grabbing my purse from the table, I stuffed my gun in it and proceeded to leave. I decided to meet my parents when the current affairs are solved. If Olivier refuses to keep them safe, I'll ask Caspar's help for that.
With all that thoughts I was a cat walking through the huge hallways of the Hawkins headquarters.
"Damn, how long is the hallway? Gosh, my blood is running like fire in my veins," I cursed as I stomped my heels while walking.
"Bella, stop," Olivier shouted my name, ordering me to stop, like the hell I would be stopping after getting publicly humiliated.
"Listen to me, Bella. My sister, stop. I'm sorry, I lost my temper," he pulled my hand and stopped me.
I glanced at him then at my right hand being grasped by his. Titling my head I coldly replied, "I lost my fucking temper as well, dear brother. I would not endure the dominance of yours even if you're older than me."
"Yes, I understand," he loosened his grip on my wrist. Looking away he awkwardly apologized again and said, "I didn't know you had a short temper situation too. From now onwards I'll keep in mind not to raise my voice for you."
He turned my face to the other side and rolled my eyes in annoyance, "Alright, I'm leaving. I'll tell Caspar about that psychopath Theodore Roosevelt!"
"I don't think he will do such a thing. It's definitely chairman Alden Mcadam's new plan," Olivier pointed out. "Like how he made us believe that the culprits are our parents when they're innocent. He's trying to create fights within the family relations!"
I nodded because his words made sense. No matter how crazy Theodore is, he would never want a woman who is now a mother. I was not beautiful and young like how I was during my high school times. There's no way he's still obsessed with me.
Otherwise why wouldn't it come for me as soon as the news of Caspar's death reached the world? It's clear that he's over with me and engaging with other women.
"Maybe you are right," I agreed with my brother's thoughts. "So put him aside and focus on the investigation of the Mcadam family. We will definitely find something that will help us sue them legally!"
I then turned back to go when Olivier offered to escort me to the Angel Shot company's building. I accepted since I was too scared to go anywhere alone. I don't know why I had a feeling erupting in my heart that something bad was going to happen.
Yet I paid no heed and got the car upon arriving at the premise of Angel Shot, brother offered to take me inside however I asked him to leave. He already has enough on his plate and I, too, wanted alone time with Caspar.
I showed my identity to the security guard before entering and taking the elevator, I arrived at the top floor where the company's president's office was.
KNOCK, KNOCK.
"Come in," I heard Caspar's voice and without any hesitation walked inside only to find out a group of employees having some discussion with him.
He was busy reading the documents and didn't even look at me. I stood there awkwardly until one of the employees asked, "Did you see you before? Are you new to the company? Which department are you from?"
"Oh actually—"
"She's my wife. Stay away," Caspar abruptly warned and called to his chair. I hesitated and he understood, he extended the documents to the employees and said, "I have read it. You can go on according to these ones. Now if you guys can take your leave, so that I can talk with my wife."
They all gasped in shock and the one who was talking to me got secondhand embarrassment. Taking their files, they replied, "Yes, boss."
They bowed in respect and one by one left. Before leaving they greeted me formally.
As soon as they left, I walked to Caspar and reached out tracing his jawline with my slender fingers. He flinched and his eyes gazed at me in excitement and anticipation for what was to happen next.
I leaned close and pressed my lips on his. It was a small peck I did and mumbled, "I'm very sad, angry, depressed. What should I do? I'm really confused!"
His eyebrows tensed as if he worried about what exactly happened to me. Getting up from his chair, he with a firm grip on my waist made me sit on his office desk. And then cupping my face, he gently asked, "What's wrong, my wife? Did your meeting with your parents not go well?"
Oh my god, how could I lie to him when he is like that? How could I bring myself to tell him that his father is the one behind all my assassination? It was getting heavy on my heart, I could imagine his hurt face when he would think about his father trying to kill his daughter!
I closed my eyes as tears welled up, and he panicked, "Y-You are crying? Why? What happened, my wife? Please say something."
"Did anybody try to insult you? Harass you?”
I turned my head and right in no and mumbled, "Please, kiss me. I will feel better after that…"