Married to the Wrong CEO

Chapter 13: Leave

It took about thirty minutes before the car stopped, and Isadora realized they had arrived at the front of her house. She stepped out, and Fabio, along with the two bodyguards, instantly moved to follow her—something she didn’t attempt to stop or even question.

She entered through the front door, unsurprised to see her entire family seated in the living room, almost as if they had been collectively waiting for her return, holding their breath for her return something they partially thought wouldn’t happen.

"Thank God!" her stepmother gasped, as though she had just seen a bright light at the very end of a very dark tunnel, even as Isadora stepped further inside to allow the men behind her to walk in.

"Isadora!" her father began. "Where have you—" His words slowly fizzled out as his gaze caught sight of the men entering behind her, his voice fading into unease. frёewebnoѵēl.com

"Who are... Are you Tiberio’s men?" Luca asked, shocked they would appear so early, especially since he had expected to have until evening before they showed up.

Fabio remained silent, as did the two bodyguards standing behind him. Isadora spoke instead, explaining briefly how she had met a billionaire who had promised to protect them.

But in exchange, she had to stay with him.

Isadora had barely finished when Maria erupted in rage. "Are you mad? Are you dumb? Tiberio is a mafia lord with mafia ties, and you think a wealthy man would be able to protect us?" she screamed, spit flying as her anger rose.

"What can his money do for us?" she shouted. But while she continued, Elisa, her stepsister, was already busy with her phone, tapping away with frantic fingers. She tugged on the edge of her mother’s top, trying to draw her attention to the screen in her hands.

"Mum... Mother..." Elisa urged, practically shoving the phone in her mother’s face when it became clear Maria wasn’t listening. At last Maria quieted, her eyes widening in shock as she read the contents of the wiki page displayed there.

"Ahhh!" she gasped, as though a whole new world had opened to her. Her gaze shifted to Fabio and the two bodyguards, who finally decided to speak.

"We need you to pack your things and come with us. Everything else you need can be packed later and sent to you," Fabio said firmly.

Maria, now quiet, nodded slowly. Elisa was even quieter, her gaze fixed on the phone as though it could burn through the screen. Her fingers tightened around it until they whitened, her eyes locked on the picture of the man she was staring at.

Her expression of glee didn’t change as she shifted her gaze and ran to Isadora, throwing her arms around her.

"I’m glad you won’t have to go with that man!" she said.

Isadora hugged her back just as firmly, relieved and happy that at least one person seemed excited about it.

"Yes, we’re moving, but what about work? I have to go to work! Can they protect me there?" Rossi, her stepbrother, rudely asked.

Fabio answered before Isadora could, his tone cold and icy. "You’ll have bodyguards on you on a twenty-four-hour basis."

But Rossi only hissed and scoffed loudly enough for everyone to hear. "Such a bloody inconvenience!" he snapped before heading upstairs to get his things.

This pissed Isadora off beyond words, considering what she had gone through to secure the deal she had. Are you saying me being sold to the old man was a much better option for you? she thought, her heart hardening toward him.

Everyone else went upstairs to pack, except her father, who moved closer, having caught the flash of anger in her eyes.

"Don’t mind your brother. He doesn’t mean it. That’s just how he is," he told her, tapping her shoulder gently. "It’s amazing that you were able to convince this Dante of a man to do this." His voice carried a sad, thoughtful tone.

"Does this mean that you belong to him?" he asked, his voice lower now, as though his heart were breaking.

Isadora simply shook her head.

"...Only for a while," she told him. "...Only for a while, then I’ll be able to come back to live with you." She forced a smile, knowing her father was the one person who truly cared about her.

Soon, the packing was done, and Isadora was surprised to step outside and see another flashy black car waiting to convey her parents to a different location.

Their murmurs died instantly when they caught sight of the black cars, their eyes shining—even Rossi’s, though he tried to keep his expression calm and unaffected.

"Wow!" Elisa gasped, her face full of amazement.

Isadora turned to them, aware she would have to part with them. "I’ll come and see you tomorrow after you’ve settled down," she said softly.

"You’re not staying with us?" Elisa asked, frowning as she moved closer, concern in her eyes.

"No. I’m staying with the CEO for a while," Isadora replied, not wanting to mention his name casually.

She hugged Elisa, missing the flicker of anger in her stepsister’s eyes before it vanished.

"...But we can visit you, right?" Elisa asked, her voice low and teary.

"Of course... Of course you can visit me," Isadora said, nodding vigorously. She waved as they got into the car and drove away.

Isadora also got into the car that had brought her, along with Fabio and one bodyguard, since the other bodyguard and the driver of the second car had gone with her family.

She had just settled into her seat when Fabio spoke again, something she hadn’t expected, given that he rarely spoke unless it was important.

"I’ll be returning to Mr. Dante’s side and getting down at the company," he said. "...But I hope you seriously consider what I told you."

"Whatever deal you agreed to... finish it and leave. You seem like a simple girl that wants a simple life. You won’t find that here."