Author's Note:

I managed to get some writing done after I got back last night, which ended up being quite a lot.

So, here is the next chapter.

Hopefully you'll like it!

Bella's POV:

Standing there in front of me was the older man I had seen the other night, Edwin Massimo.

His face gave nothing away, as he stared at me from where he stood, behind the massive chair behind his desk.

I stood a few feet away from the door as I stared unblinkingly at him, before crossing my arms.

"Isabella." He greeted me with a soft smile. "Sit down, please." He gestured towards one of the large accent chairs.

I nodded, moving to sit down, before turning towards him. Curiously.

"Why am I here?" I asked, quietly.

"I wanted to talk to you, alone." He replied.

I nodded, I got that much from the man who escorted me over here.

Yet, he didn't say anything.

Was he waiting for me to breach the subject? Or was he doing this to piss me off.

The silence began to get to me.

With another sigh, I looked towards him again, "You said you want to speak to me. About what? Do you have more information about my parents I don't know about? Maybe a long lost Uncle that I don't know about?" I asked, sarcastically.

He chuckled, shaking his head at me in response, "Cousin, actually. His name is Demitri. He along with his parents and your grandparents are the last remaining. He is married to one of my daughters, Sienna." He replied.

I tilted my head at him in response, before humming.

"Was that the only reason you brought me here? To tell you that my family and yours are already related?" I asked, bored.

"No, actually, I wanted to know how you are doing with all of this? I'm sure you have questions." He replied, gently.

I nodded in response.

I did have questions.

Sadly, my father was the only one who could answer them.

"You're hurt and confused." He stated, giving me an unsurprised look.

No shit. How the hell was I supposed to feel? Happy?

I sharply turned to look at him frowning, "I am. Wouldn't you be if you found out your father had lied to you all of your life?" I retorted.

He stared at me for a moment before simply nodding. "I'd be pissed off too. Sadly, in my case, my father was murdered when I was fifteen. Leaving me in charge of all of this." He gestured around the room as he sat down. "So, yes, I do understand what you're feeling but you must understand that we are only trying to protect you." He replied, calmly.

There it was again. That word. Both of them kept that they were trying to protect me but they have yet to explain why or from what it is I am being protected.

"From what? Both Edward and you are telling me the same thing. But you fail to mention why you are protecting me!" I growled, shooting out of my seat.

"You really want to know?" He asked.

I jutted out my chin once before looking down at my feet.

A few minutes of silence filled the air before he sighed.

"His name was Marino Endrizzi. Your father, Marino and I were all friends, and grew up together. Everything was fine until Marino's father murdered mine, I killed him in retaliation… thus causing a war. Blood ran in the streets and caused much pain for everyone in Italy. Marino and Jaime Greco made an agreement to marry Jaime's daughter to him and put it all to rest… Sadly, it was unknown to everyone that Carlo and Renata had fallen in love. They eloped and ran away." He finally said.

"What happened when they were found?" I asked, biting my lip.

"Endrizzi found out were they were and plotted something. It was on their way home one day, he sent out his goons in a car and had them t bone the car. It sent your mother into early labor with you." He explained.

"Edward told me about this." I whispered.

"Did he tell you that after you were born Carlo called me and begged for my help?" He asked.

I shook my head at him wide eyed. "No, he only told me you helped sneak them out of the country." I whispered.

Edwin nodded, looking down at his hands. "Your parents made my Elizabeth and me into your godparents. This was shortly before she passed… I am terribly sorry that your father hid all of this from you but it was for your own good." He told me, with a sad look.

"I can see now that he did it for a good reason." I replied flatly.

"Yes, now the danger we are referring to… is his son, Vincenzo Endrizzi." He supplied.

"How is one man so dangerous?" I asked him, confused.

"That man is dangerous because he will stop at nothing to have you. Not for himself… no, he doesn't want you as his wife… he already has one. He wants you to sell you to the highest bidder. He is so callous that he doesn't care about the life of children or women as long as he gets what he wants, and that's money." He replied.

I felt my eyes widen and the blood drain from my face as I heard him speak.

He— wants to— sell me?

"W-why me?" I asked, after I recovered slightly.

"Because you and your mother were something they couldn't have… he's become obsessed with having you to himself…" Edwin explained.

No, this couldn't be true. For the love of God, why did this have to happen?

There has to be something I could do. Anything.

"What if I leave? Will that stop him?" I asked, nervously.

"No. He'll follow you until he gets you. Now I need to ask you for a small favor." He softly said.

Something tells me I was about to seal my fate within this family…

"What is that?" I asked, hesitant to hear the answer.

"Take my son's offer. Let us keep you safe." He finally said as the door burst open, causing us both to turn in surprise.

There stood a haggard, and disheveled looking Edward, breathing hard as he walked inside, before slamming the door closed behind himself.

"Son, are you alright?" Edwin asked as he stared at him, blankly.

"I— No. No, I just wanted to see if Isabella was alright." Edward replied, as his cheeks turned pink.

I raised a brow at him, before turning to look back at Edwin.

"I will think about what you told me and give you a response later tonight. Is that all you wished to speak about?" I asked, calm and collectedly.

"For now, yes." He replied as his eyes looked with Edward's.

"Che diavolo stai progettando, vecchio?" Edward asked as I slowly rose to my feet. (What in the hell are you planning, old man?)

"Tua sorella mi ha detto cos'è successo prima. Sto solo correggendo il tuo errore. Non prenderne l'abitudine.." Edwin replied, coldly. (Your sister told me what happened earlier. I am only correcting your error. Don't make a habit of it.)

I watched Edward flinch under his father's gaze before nodding expressionlessly, and turning towards me, concerned.

"Are you ready to go back?" He asked me.

I nodded in response as he took my wrist and practically pulled me out of the room, towards the elevator.

The entire time, all I could think was, both Eds are right. Doing this was the only way to stay alive. My hands were tied.

He was my only means of survival.

If marriage was the only way then fuck it, what did I have to lose?

Well, maybe my freedom but somehow losing that, if it meant I would survive, didn't bother me.

I'd probably have to add some conditions, though, so that brought some peace to me.

We waited silently for the elevator to come before I turned towards him.

"I've thought it over... and I accept your crappy ass proposal." I said, causing him to turn sharply towards me.

"Really? What's changed?" He asked, intrigued.

"Your father told me… everything." I replied quietly.

His eyes widened slightly, as the door opened.

I had the satisfaction of walking out of the elevator, towards the room without another word, smirking as his face still had the stupid wide-eyed goofy expression.