Bargain Bride: The Billionaire’s Forced Wife

“THEY REALLY HAVE THE COURAGE to fight against us,” Chiara spoke to her husband as she read Sophia’s message to her. The message contains Isadora’s plan on framing thr Vitali company into something illegal.

Ezio clicked his tongue while signing some papers. “Don’t they have a better plan? Planting drugs sounds lame,” he stated with a mocking tone.

“Lame?” Chiara asked her husband. “Drugs are illegal. Don’t you know what will happen if they sound some in our company?” she added with her hands on her waist. “Our company’s image will crumble and, you and I will be in trouble.”

Ezio chuckled before standing up and hugging his wife from the side. “Of course, cara, I know that, ” he planted a kiss on her neck. “But also know how to counter it.”

“Really?” Chiara asked with her eyebrow rising. “And how would you do that?”

“That part’s on me,” he grinned. “You’ll know once it happened.”

Chiara just threw a deep breath. “I’m worried on Sophia. She’s entering the enemy’s base, ” she spoke before she remembered something.

“If we will counter Isadora’s plan, wouldn’t that make her doubt Sophia?” she asked. She didn’t wait for her husband’s answer and went on chatting her friend.

On the other hand, Sophia was sitting inside a restaurant, alone in the table because Isadora went to the bathroom.

Her eyes are subtly looking at Isadora’s phone whose screen is touching the table, avoiding others to read the contents. But Sophia has plans how to do that.

She subtly put her double mirror under the table, and slowly moved it underneath the phone. With only the gladd table separating them, Sophia can clearly see the message Isadora received.

“We’ll plant the drug on the Vitali’s conference room within this week. Send the money ASAP. ”

Sophia pretended not to see anything. She pretended to take a selfie but she is really texting Chiara using one hand. After the message was sent, she received a reply after a moment.

Chiara: Wouldn’t she doubt you if we found the drugs?

Sophia replied quickly. “Don’t worry. She doesn’t know that I know.”

After sending the message, Sophia hurriedly opened the guest user and pretended that she was not texting. It was the view that Isadora saw upon leaving the comfort room.

The first thing she checked subtly is her phone. It was still upside down and the marker she put wasn’t moved. Isadora smiled inwardly knowing that Sophia didn’t poke with her phone. It was a test, and Sophia passed in Isadora’s mind.

“What are you doing?” Isadora spoke, trying to see the screen of Sophia’s phone. She looked like she was texting somebody, because of her fingers typing heavily.

Sophia looked at her with a calm appearance. “I’m supporting these idols,” she showed her phone with a livestream and several users commenting on the live, including Sophia. “The group with the largest comments will win.”

Isadora checked the contents and found out that Sophia was telling the truth. Her doubts subsided before she sat down.

“My husband and I will have our date later, ” Isadora spoke. “I have to leave early.”

“Oh my, where will you have your date?” she asked innocently. “Marco and I used to date in Venice.”

Isadora proudly answered her. “We’ll have our shopping date in Rinascente Roma Tritone, then a dinner in MAIO.”

“Those are such expensive places. You’re really living a luxurious life, ” Sophia replied. “I enjoyed this day. Thank you for treating me again. I’ll be paying for us next time.”

After they parted ways, Sophia blew a sigh, as she successfully survived another day with her husband’s murderer.

BACK IN THE OFFICE, Chiara was ready to leave before her husband. She fixed herself before checking if she’s already done with her tasks.

“I want to go with you, ” Ezio demanded while pouting. He looked like a child ready to throw a tantrum.

Chiara shook her head while smiling. “You can come with me if you’re free, but tesoro,” she pointed to a certain direction. “You see those papers? You still have a lot of work to finish by this day.”

“I can order Luigi and Victor to do this,” he argued. “Let me go with you.”

“You have to do that by yourself,” her hands rested on her waist. “When you were comatosed, Luigi and Victor did almost all of the work while guiding me. Now that you’re healed, you must do your responsibilities like a model boss.”

She kissed his puffing cheeks before speaking. “Bye! I’ll see you at home later before six in the evening. Love you!”

Chiara didn’t wait for her husband to respond and went towards the door. Earlier this morning, Chiara received a message from Monika, saying that she already arrived from her trip on France.

The latter invited her to meet up, since she has a lot to share from her trip. They invited Ms. Coppola to join them, but she refused as she has an emergency in their company.

Just after a few minutes, Chiara arrived at their meeting place. From the entrance door of the restaurant, she can see Monika waiting for her with shopping bags with brand names under the chair.

“Have you been waiting for so long?” Chiara asked after giving a cheek to cheek kiss to Monika.

“Oh, not really,” she answered. “I just arrived. By the way,” she picked up the bag under her chair. “These are my gifts for you.”

Chiara was surprised to know that it’s for her. She assumed that the other one was supposed to be for Ms. Coppola.

“Thank you so much, Monika,” she spoke while opening the shopping bag with a brand name “Bvlgari”. She was greeted by two boxes inside.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

The first box contains a Bvlgari rose gold necklace with a green jade pendant. The other box contains a ring with the same characteristics.

“This is so beautiful,” Chiara spoke while trying the ring in her finger. “Thank you, Monika,” she added. “I haven’t prepared for a gift for you.”

“No worries. You mentioned that you liked jade last time, and I remembered you when I saw that,” Monika spoke. “I’m happy that you liked my gift. I wonder if Ms. Coppola will like it. It’s the same design but instead of jade, it has diamonds.”

They ordered their food, just a light snack and juice. They finished their food first before catching up.

“How’s your trip to France?” Chiara asked. “I remember you said that it will only take you two weeks, but you stayed their for almost a month.”

“That’s right, ” Monika replied with a satisfied smile. “The reason why I went to France is to ask for my family’s support and connection to rush the process of the divorce.”

Chiara was surpised hearing that. She knew that Monika and Giovanni are now under a divorce procedure, but she didn’t expect that Monika will make a move to finish it quickly.

It looks like Monika really wanted to cut off her ties with Giovanni, which is a good thing for Chiara.

“So, how was it?” Chiara asked. “Did they help you?”

Monika mentiomed before that her father dotes Giovanni too much, for the reason that the latter saved him. Chiara was worried that her father might stop their divorce procedure and force Monika to continue their relationship despite Giovanni’s infidelity.

“Thankfully, it went well. I was able to convince my father,” she answered. “Good thing that I prepared photos and videos of Giovanni cheating on me. If not, I’m sure my father will dismiss my request.”

Chiara was about to speak when her phone rang. Thinking that it was from her husband, she hurriedly reached for her phone to check.

Her eyebrows furrowed upon seeing an unknown telephone number on the screen. The number doesn’t look familiar, so she decided to let it ring and not to answer.

“Who is it?” Monika asked when she saw her friend not answering the call.

“I don’t know. It’s an unknown number,” she spoke. “I don’t want to answer this. Maybe just a scam call.”

They continued talking until Chiara received another notification. This time, it was a message from Sophia.

Sophia: Chiara, are you available today? I would like to talk to you regarding Isadora. Even over a call will be fine.

Chiara replied to her. She wanted to talk to Sophia, but she has prior commitments and she promised Monika that she will stay with her before night time.

Chiara: I’m sorry, Sophia. I’m currently having a meet up in Rinascente Roma Tritone. I’ll call you later. Would that be fine for you?

Chiara went back on talking with Monika. Thry conversation revolved on her stay in France, especially about the process of their divorce.

“My husband doesn’t want to sign the divorce papers at first, but when I blackmailed him that I will expose his infidelity, he finally signed,” Monika spoke. “However, I didn’t realize that he used a pen with disappearing ink. I just noticed it when I check the divorce papers once again. ”

“A pen with disappearing ink?” Chiara asked, surprised to hear such thing. “There is such a thing?”

Monika nodded. “Yes. I think the ink will disappear after contacting with friction for several minutes,” she answered. “It was a bold move from him.”

“I had to resort to some things in order to make him sign again,” she added with a sigh. “My father used his connection to rush the process. I’m happy to announce that we’re officially divorced,” she added while showing a paper stating the same.

Chiara looked shocked upon hearing it. She thought that the process was only rush, but still ongoing. Monika’s father must have a strong connection in Italy for him to do that.

“I’m happy that you escaped such unhappy and toxic marriage, Monika,” she reached for her hand. “You’re so strong to go against him.”

Monika smiled and it reached her ears. “Thank you for supporting me, Chiara,” she spoke, her voice cracking on the last part.

“I was worried that people might look at me differently because I’m a divorced woman,” she spoke with a low voice. “I grew up in a family that doesn’t recognize divorce. My elders are very traditional and they value religious practices so much, that’s why I’m hesitant to open this to them.”

“Some of our family members told me that no man would want me knowing that I’m a divorced woman, that it will tarnish our family’s reputation,” she added, trying to wipe the tears forming on the corner of her eye.

Chiara comforted her. “Divorce is not a thing to be ashamed of. It just shows your strength and courage to escape a relationship that destroy you,” she assured her. “If Ms. Coppola is hear, she would understand how you feel. She was a divorcee too, so she knews how hard it is.”

“Really?” Monika looked up at her, shocked to know that Ms. Coppola was also divorced.

Chiara nodded. “It’s fine to be sad, but you also have to be happy that you’re already free from him.”

They hugged each other, with Chiara giving comfort to her friend, who also happened to be the ex-wife of their rival.

“Thank you, Chiara. It’s good to have a friend like you.”

While they were celebrating in silence, Chiara’s phone beeped with another message. She removed herself from the hug to check the message.

Sophia: Isadora is also in that place with Giovanni. Take care, Chiara.

Reading that, Chiara subtly asked Monika to check another place, far from the current area they are in. She also reasoned that rush hour is approaching and it will difficult for them to be stuck between the heavy traffic.

The moment they left the restaurant, they rode on each other’s car. Monika drove her own while Chiara has one of Ezio’s bodyguards to drive for her.

When they drove off, Chiara saw a car that just parked in the area. After a few moments, Giovanni emerged from the car, with Isadora following his steps.