Mafia Billionaire’s Forlorn Wife
Chapter 18

“Nooo….” Leo gasps, staring at me like I have suddenly grown two heads, “you did not!”

I smirk, “oh, I did. And I am going to make sure that he realises who he is messing with. He will have the taste of his own medicine and he will learn to respect me, one way or the other.”

Leo snickers, pushing his hand through his curly brown hair that always give him a more of a boyish appearance that most of his past boyfriends and girlfriends have swooned over.

“Just don’t get in trouble okay? Let’s not forget that he is the king of the Bratva. I don’t want you to lose yourself in the process of trying to bring him down.” My smile softens at the concern in his words as I nod my head in understanding.

My heart pinches as I think about how Rhys has already taken away so much from me by disrespecting my heart and emotions. I don’t know how he could have turned against me just like that.

“I just sometimes wonder if he really was that good at pretending or if there is something that I am missing out on.” I mumble, staring up at Leo with a frown on my lips.

He meets my eyes, “what do you mean?”

I shrug, “it’s just…” I look away towards the balcony of my office, staring at the mis afternoon sun that shines up in the sky, “even on the day of the wedding…his friends were there, his relatives, his soldiers, and he was so happy during our vows. Everything felt so perfect. And the wedding gift…”

I trail off thinking about how Rhys had snuck into my hotel room just as I had finished getting ready and given me the most beautiful gift that I could have asked for…

|Flashback|

I cannot believe myself…

The woman staring at me in the mirror is simply out of this world and I cannot believe that it is me.

After months and months of waiting, finally my wedding dress was delivered last week to me and right now as I am standing in it, I know that it was a good decision to hire Constance Duval for one of her custom designs.

The dress is an icon of beauty and enigma with the bodice made out of pearls and the flowing skirt falling to the ground from my cinched waist in heavy twirls. Pearl beads make up the sleeves of the dress which hang from my upper arms till my shoulders and aside from that, my neck and shoulders are bare, glimmering with body shimmer.

My hair is open, falling till the base of my h**s in lose curls, and a few flowers and pearl head beads are twirled into my hair in a soft pin up. My face is mostly left in the tones of natural makeup, and everything about me currently feels ethereal to my own eyes.

I take in a shaky breath, realising that at least I look good enough, even though the ball of nerves rising in the pit of my stomach refuses to subside.

It is as though my entire body is telling me that something might go wrong today.

I look around the empty bridal suite that was brimming with stylists and make up artists till about ten minutes ago, but at the moment, I am all alone.

I sigh, shaking my head as I walk over to the long settee before reaching for the cold glass of champagne on the table in front of me.

Most brides have a bridesmaid or mother to tell them about how everything will be alright and the nagging worry that they are feeling just before their wedding does not mean a thing; I am not one of those women.

Because no one from my family was allowed to attend my wedding. There was no one to even walk me down the aisle until Leo offered and I was too overwhelmed to say no to him.

At the moment, Leo is in his own room, getting dressed. However, I know that he will be here in less than ten minutes and then, all my worries will be gone.

“Everything is gonna be alright, Bella.” I mutter to myself, taking a sip of the champagne, hoping that the bubbles would calm down my raging anxiety.

That is when I hear the sound of the main door of the suite opening and my eyes widen as I stand up, “Leo, is that you?” I call out, rushing out of the bedroom and towards the lobby, “oh, you have no idea how nervous—”

I stutter to a stop in my words as I realise that it isn’t Leo who has just entered the room.

It is Rhys.

And he and I are both frozen in our spots as we stare at each other.

He looks like a f*****g greek god come alive in his dark suit and an even darker shirt underneath. There is nothing mellow about him and with the way he is standing in the doorframe, almost reaching the top of it, he is an embodiment of enigma and alluring darkness.

His striking midnight eyes are roving over my body, a look of pure hunger dissolving in them as he stands there, holding the door open with one hand and holding the handle of what looks like a…trolley? A cart? In the other.

That is when I remember that he isn’t supposed to see me and my eyes widen, “why are you here! It’s bad luck for the two of us two see each other before the wedding!”

I hurry to the bedroom once again but I hear the door closing as Rhys comes in after me.

“Come on, moya solnyshka, you cannot hide me after I have just seen just how beautiful you look.” He says approaching me with an amazed smile on his lips, his eyes look me over and he just shakes his head with the most appreciative expression on his face, “you look like an absolute angel. So beautiful, so…you…” he whispers, resting his palms against my waist, pulling me closer to himself as I place my hands on his chest.

“You weren’t supposed to see me.” I whisper, pouting at the fact that we broke tradition. “This could bring bad luck for us.”

He clicks his tongue, “nothing will bring bad luck for us, baby, you and I are forever.” He leans forward and presses his lips against mine for just a small peck before pulling back sheepishly, “I didn’t wish to spoil your beautiful make up but I couldn’t help myself.”

My heart soars at how thoughtful he is, shaking my head, I reach up on my toes and peck his lips once again, “don’t worry about it.” I murmur against his lips, kissing him softly and smiling at how cautious he seems.

I really did hit the jackpot when it comes to choosing my husband. He is the epitome of everything that a girl could ever ask for in a life partner.

He is everything that I have ever wanted.

He chuckles, pulling back as he looks down at me, “you look so beautiful that I can’t wait for the ceremony to be over and I can have you all to myself.”

Blush creeps up my cheeks as I giggle shyly at his eagerness, realising just how crazy he is about me, same as I am about him.

“We’re getting married.” I almost squeal, staring into his dreamy eyes, unable to believe that this is actually happening.

The last seven months of my life have been the most blissful times…be it the elaborate dates that he set up for us, or our weekend getaways to beautiful places that most people just dream about, or the nights when I felt too tired to do anything and he rubbed my feet, making me believe that one bad day does not mean that I am worthless.

Even on days when I felt like a 0, Rhys Mikhailov had the talent of making me feel like a f*****g 1000.

“We’re getting married, sweetheart.” He whispers, cupping the sides of my neck, making sure to not disturb my hair as I giggle at him.

I am so crazy about this man that with him standing by my side, I almost don’t feel the pain of my family’s absence.

Almost.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Rhys must have seen the longing on my face as he looks at me with concerned eyes.

I frown slightly, “I’m just…” I release a disheartened breath, “I’m just upset that my family didn’t come today. No one came. Not even Ace.” I mumble.

Rhys knows just how good of a bond I share with Ace and to not have him here today is truly hurting me.

“Oh, sweetheart, come here.” He hugs me gently, pressing his lips to the side of my head as he whispers, “they’ll all come around. Don’t worry. And until then, you have me.”

My heart warms as I smile up at him, blinking away the tears from my eyes before I k**s his jaw lightly. “I’m lucky to have you, pumpkin.”

He makes a fake scowl, “can you not call me that, at least today?”

I giggle, unable to help myself as I bop the tip of his nose lightly with my index finger, “You’ll always be my pumpkin,” he snickers and shakes his head fondly before he seems to remember something and grins at me crookedly.

My heart flutters in my chest just as his smirk widens, “come, I have to show you something.” He tells me as he steps back and takes my hand in his own, leading me to the lobby of my suite once again as I ponder what he could possibly have to show me.

“What’s that?” I ask with intrigue lacing my voice as I stare at the rustic trolly that he had rolled in when he entered my room in the first place. There is a large rectangular box placed on the trolley and it is covered by a black cloth which obstructs the view of whatever is underneath.

Rhys grins like a six year old getting halloween candy as he practically dashes to the trolley and places his palms on the box, “this, sweetheart,” he breaths meeting my eyes with his own shining with mirth and joy, “is your wedding present.” He tells me right as he removes the cloth and a gasp escapes my lips.

My feet carry me to the trolley and all I can focus on is the rectangular glass case that is currently encasing a miniature replica of the most beautiful house that I have ever seen…hell, this is a f*****g mansion not a house. White, with lush green lands surrounding it, and balconies and sweeping staircases.

Shakily, I meet Rhys’ eyes, “is that what I think it is?” I ask, pointing at the miniature replica with shivering hands.

He grins and bends down to pull out a black envelope which he hands to me, “these are the papers, sweetheart. It’s all yours.”

I gasp when he places the papers of the deed in front of my eyes and I see my name, he places it on top of the glass case as I continue to gape at the miniature model of the palace that he has just gifted me while my eyes bounce between that and the deed.

“How crazy are you…?” I gasp, meeting his midnight blue eyes that hold the power to drown me and bring me alive at the same time.

He smirks, “for you, sweetheart? You have no idea.” He says shaking his head just before he produces a pen from his breast pocket, “sign it, my queen. It’s all yours, located in the Greek countryside, it is a sanctuary of peace and serenity. Just the kind of place where you talk about spending your troubled days in.”

I chuckle at the memory of when I told him how I wish to have a palace in some remote place where I own it all and have nothing to fear about.

And he fulfilled that dream of mine.

I am the luckiest woman alive.”

|End of Flashback|

I scoff thinking about that memory, a bitter taste of betrayal appears in my mouth as I realise what a fool I had been.

“BELLA!” I snap my eyes towards Leo who is looking at me like I just stole his cat, “where the f**k did you go to? I was trying to call you for like a good five minutes!” He complaints.

I give him a sheepish smile before shaking my head, “it was nothing, so, anyways, do you want to know about what I am planning to do to Rhys as revenge for taking all my assets?”

Leo doesn’t look too comfortable with the idea of me planning anything for revenge but he nods his head nonetheless, “as long as you don’t die doing it.” He warns me.

I chuckle, “come on, he’s not going to let anything happen to me.” That is something that I can be sure of.

Leo gives me a pointed look, “you don’t know that.”

I smile, “I just do.” He rolls his eyes but I continue, “okay, so listen up…”