A few months pass before I am able to actually see Isabetta in person again, even though we still live under the same roof.
It's mainly because it was difficult to manage going to medical school and the family business. Sadly it seemed it would only be getting a lot more difficult as time passed.
What, with my Residency at the hospital starting soon, and the business only seems to be growing more and more arduous. I was hardly ever home nowadays, and when I was, I was asleep.
I don't remember exactly when or how but when I finally did get to see her, Isabetta was now cold towards me. It took days before she even acknowledged my presence, and even longer for her to utter a single syllable in my direction.
When I finally did decide to pursue her, she pushed me away.
'Have I done something to her to offend her?' I wondered, feeling confused, scrambling to think back to the last few weeks.
I racked my brain hoping to find out what was bothering her. Sadly, I came up empty handed.
But I did know immediately that something was up with her. Something was wrong.
Having realized that I wasn't going to be home enough when things began to get hectic, I hired two bodyguards, just for her. For her protection and my peace of mind.
Something was going on here. I knew her, she was acting this way because something must have occured, but with who? And when?
In order to find out, I stormed into her room, finding it in utter disarray. Boxes of various sizes lined all the walls and were haphazardly half filled, inside her closet.
Littering everywhere.
"What's going on?" I asked her, confused.
"I'm moving out." She threw over her shoulder as I walked into her room.
"What? Why?" I ask, surprised.
"I just… I feel I need to do this." She says, evasively.
I try to read her, only to come up empty. She is hiding something, I can feel it in my being.
She avoided eye contact, and kept her back to me.
"But why though? Are you not happy here anymore, Isa?" I ask, standing closely behind her.
So, close I feel her body heat radiating from where I stand.
She slowly shakes her head from side to side, before she sighs, and pushes past me as she walks around the room, shoving things into her duffle bag, hurriedly.
"It's not that, Anthony, it's just I don't want to step on anyone's toes here and I feel I have overstayed my welcome..." She says after a moment of silence.
Since when? Had I been gone so long that someone had made her feel so unwelcome here? Who was it?
"Who made you feel that way?" I ask, suspiciously.
Her sigh says it all. "No one... in particular." She continues with her evasive replies.
No, something was definitely wrong here, my family loves Isa. So, it couldn't have been one of them, so it must have been someone else. Maybe one of the people who work around the house, or guards? If it is one of the guards, I will kill them.
I had to find out. So, I deliberately walked up to her, and slowly turned her around to face me, however, she kept her head down, to avoid my gaze.
"Isabetta, who made you feel unwelcome in your own home?" I asked her, trying to keep myself calm, using my forefinger and thumb to pull her chin upward to look at me.
It is then I realize her beautiful face is marred by the dark hues of purple and blue surrounding her left eye, and there is a small cut on her bottom lip.
Overwhelming anger, so suffocating, coursed through my veins as I saw her face.
Who the fuck dared lay a hand her?!
No. Wrong question. Who the fuck surprised her or caught her off guard enough to lay a hand on her?
"Isa-" I cleared my throat, "Isabetta, who did this to you?" I asked, calmly.
"No woh—" she tried.
I shook my head, cutting her off. "Try again." I seeth, dropping my hand and stepping back in effort to calm myself down.
She sighed, obviously annoyed. "Fine, I— I took a tumble down the stairs." She muttered, her voice going up an octave.
I could see her eyes dart around the room as she attempted to lie to my face.
"That is the truth." She firmly said.
Alright. She wasn't going to tell me the truth? I knew what I had to do.
I sighed, pulling out my cell phone. "Seth," I say ignoring as the blood drains of all color from her face.
She knew she was fucked.
"Sir?" He answers immediately.
"I want to know what exactly happened to Isabella, you have five minutes to find out and give me an explanation or else." I threatened.
I looked up to see Isa shaking her head at me, pleadingly.
I sighed looking away from her, as I listened to Seth click on the keyboard, probably reviewing footage of the security cameras that were placed in the hallways.
"Of course, sir. It seems that one of the newly hired maids has been bothering her, sir. Paulo told me that he's had words with the maid, but she has ignored her. Before this morning it was just words. Now, it seems she got physical with her..." Seth said.
What the actual fuck?!
Who the fuck had the balls to come into this house to lay hands on my Isa?
I was seething. My anger half contained as I listened to Seth's revelation, trying not to snap my phone in half.
"Which. One?" I breathe, trying to squash my anger..
"Lauren Mal-lor-ry, sir." He replied instantly.
Lauren?!
Of course it was that nasty bitch.
She was one of the new maids my mother hired to help around the house a few weeks ago? Fucking hell. My mom is going to shit a brick when she finds out that bitch has done this.
Yet, this doesn't surprise me. Lauren has been nothing but trouble since the day she arrived.
I knew that bitch would cause problems. She dressed like she was here to ride dick instead of work. Always is causing problems within our ranks.
I almost growled in frustration at the situation.
My parents taught me to be a gentleman whether the woman is a lady or not.
Motherfucking, shit, damn it to hell! My hands are tied. I can't lay a hand on this bitch...
We can't harm a woman or children. So says our rules. Even if the situation called us to do so.
I hung up my phone and looked at her once more, "Do you want to tell me what happened now? Or are you going to wait. Because no matter what, everything that happened here will come to light." I promised, calmly.
She nods, looking away, her mesmerizing blue eyes looking rather like it held a silvery blue tint as they filled with unshed tears. "Anthony, please don't do this." She begged.
"Isabetta…" I am momentarily at a loss for words.
I shook my head trying to clear it from the red, angry haze. After a few seconds I get my bearings back. If I can't think on my feet now, how can I be the leader of this family? I need to always be on my A-Game and able to think without the bullshit and drama. Keep my head cool, and leveled.
Even if my Isa is involved.
Even if that bitch hurt her.
Even if all I want to do right now is go find this bitch and put a bullet in between her eyes.
"Let's go." I say, wrapping my arm around her tiny shoulders.
"Where?" She gasped, wide-eyed.
I didn't answer, opting to pull her in the direction of the sunroom, where I knew my parents and grandparents were having lunch.
She was quiet as we both slowly moved it to said room.
As we slowly enter the room, I realize everyone is here, including the culprit.
This fact almost made me smile.
"Good morning, mia famiglia." I greet, calmly. (My family)
I wait until I hear Seth walk into the room after me along with Zachary. I nod my head once as they walked deeper into the room discreetly. I can feel tension fall as everyone's eyes land on my Isabetta's face.
The loud clunk of silverware being dropped onto the ceramic dishes is heard around the room.
"Tesoro, who has done this to you?" My Nonno asks her as she tenses by my side. (Sweetheart)
"No— No one… I fell down the stairs.." Isabetta tried to speak but couldn't.
If only I knew this day would forever change my family along with my sweet Isabetta. I could feel it.
Everything happened in slow motion. One moment I was about to explain what happened.
The next Lauren pulled out Kolbri Pistol aiming it straight at Isabetta.
All the men in the room quickly stood from their seats, pulling out their own piece, quickly pointing it at Lauren.
"What is the meaning of this, young lady?" Nonno asks.
"Shut the fuck up, old man!" She screeched at Nonno.
So, silence and tension submerged the room until it almost became claustrophobic.
I can feel Isa stiffen beside me, shaking her head from side to side conspicuously, so I slowly maneuver myself between her and the gun. Only the tiniest fraction, shifting her slowly behind me.
"Lauren, why are you doing this?" My mother asked.
"Guys, don't remember me at all, do ya?" She asks, ignoring my mother.
"No." We all respond to her, confused.
"My father used to work for your family, his name is Horacio Mallory! You fired him when you found out he was skimming money off the top of all of your accounts! Like you needed the fucking money!" She screeches.
I move yet another fraction, placing Isabetta a bit more towards my back.
"Of course, we fired him. We don't take kindly to someone stealing from us. No one does." My father states, calmly .
Aro and Jasper moved further up, practically placing themselves as shields as well.
"He lost three fingers." She snapped, stiffening further.
What did Ratio expect to happen? Nonno was probably head of the Cullizio back then. He was an unmerciful man, especially when you crossed him. That man was lucky he got away with nothing but three of his fingers missing.
"Yes, well. We lost something, and so did he." Nonno said, dryly.
I could feel Isa stiffening further as I placed her further behind me as this horrid, poor excuse of a person spoke more and more.
Yes, person. I don't think this thing of the female species should be considered a lady after what she has informed us.
"Lauren, is it? What exactly are you doing here?" My father interrupted her mid-rant.
She turns to look in my father's direction, scowling at his tone.
"My father sent me. He said my job was to sleep with one of your moronic sons and get pregnant… but she kept getting in the way." She sneered at Isa, removing the safety from the gun.
"Seth, now!" I called.
With sudden agility and precision, Seth grabbed and neutralized Lauren, while Zachary quickly snatched the gun out of her hands.
"My oldest son is married and my second son is engaged. Now if you are referring to my son, Jasper, he is already dating someone, and my youngest son, Edward, isn't interested, so that seems very unlikely." My father points out, looking very amused.
"Enough. Seth, Zachary, both of you take this piece of trash to the basement." Nonno ordered, shaking his head in disbelief.
We all watched as Seth and Zachary dragged her out of the room, silence falling once again around us.
All the ladies in the room were too shocked to utter even a single word.