Page 124 of Fractured
She sits up straighter, her voice stronger now.
“The night of our wedding, you were so sweet and kind, sofucking beautiful. I thought, why not try? What harm can it do? Just try, for once, to give it a shot. But my father knew all along it would never work. That’s why he pushed so hard. He used you as well as me. My father knew you would kill me eventually and he would have it all.” She lifts the papers and tosses them on her lap.
“He hated me that much.” She lets out a little sob.
She rubs her tummy and then she looks at me, her eyes puffy and red, tears falling down her cheeks.
“I would give my life for my baby, Alexander. I would never ever hurt her, ever. How could he hate me that much to repeatedly try to kill me? I’m his child?”
I can’t help it now. I have to touch her. Cupping her wet cheek, I try my best to not choke on my words.
“Greed, love. He was greedy, and you were in his way.”
She sniffs and puts her cheek in my hand, closing her eyes. It takes every ounce of self-control to just hold my hand and not gather her in my arms. She whispers in my palm.
“Did you know all along?”
I suck in air and now I stand up and gather her face in my hands; she opens her sad beautiful green eyes, the pain I can feel to my very bones.
“I never knew. This I swear to you, my love. I was selfish and arrogant, treated you like a toy, someone I had to tolerate. I will forever regret my actions and vow to never ever hurt you like that again. But not once did we see what he had planned for you and for me. He wanted you gone, yes, but he wanted us all out of his way. He planned to kill us all and take my father’s seat. By the time we learned the truth, you had fled, and we had to take care of the mess he left behind.”
Her eyes go wide and she grabs my hand with her cold one.
“Alexander, no wonder you hated me. You knew it was him, but needed proof I was a part of it. That final day, you said I signed my death warrant, but I only ever signed Nonno’s trust fund.”
“He used your trust fund as a cover. He needed your signature to move the money around. Without you, the plan failed. I failed you, Isabella. I should have kept my temper and waited till I had all the answers, instead I hurt you out of anger, broke you and I don’t blame you for leaving me.”
She just looks up at me, so I take her hand and kiss the top of it.
“Come with me. You're cold, love.” She pulls back, and remains sitting there looking at me.
“I want to give the money back to your father. That day you said I had fourteen million dollars in betrayal money. Is that what he stole from you?”
Taking a deep breath.
“Yes, and from you as well. He took most of your trust fund money as well. You were to receive one hundred and fifty thousand every three months. He only gave you fifteen. But we can talk about finances with my father in the morning. Right now you're freezing and so am I.”
I pull her up and put my arm around her shoulders.
“Come, love. I just want you warm. We can still talk.” I cross the hall and bring her to my bed. I pull the cover back and she looks at me, her eyes wide and uncertain.
“Get in, bunny. No funny business tonight. I am simply a man, trying to warm up his wife and comfort her.”
She slips off her housecoat and sits on the bed. I bring her feet up and tuck her in. Crawling over the top of her, I slip in beside her and make her lie down. Forcing her to put her head on mychest, holding her tight, she finally relaxes and curls on her side, stroking my sternum.
“I’ve made so many mistakes Isabella and I don’t expect you to forgive me yet, but I will do everything I can to prove to you I am not that person anymore. Christopher owns the club, I sold it to him. I don’t want that life anymore. I just want you and the baby. I know you won’t believe me and I can’t blame you. But I learned a lot while I looked for you.”
She stops moving her hand and looks up at me. I stroke her hair back from her face and cup her cheek.
“I love you, Isabella Russo, now and forever.”
Tears leak from her eyes to fall on my chest and I don't need her to say the words back to me. But it feels good to finally get the words out.
“Alexander?” I put my finger on her lips.
“Not yet. Don’t say anything until you know for sure. But I have to tell you when I knew for sure.”
“Okay, tell me.” She smiles.
