THE BILLIONAIRE'S UNEXPECTED LOVE

FERNANDA'S POV What was my offence this time, haha! Like Bruno needs any reason to beat the s**t out of me, this time around he's taking his frustrations out on me, otherwise how on earth did I cause him to loose his precious deal. Blows after blows landed on my body, I'm sure he's bent on killing me, wouldn't that be better? I laid there at the mercy of his hands thinking "how long will it take for him to knock me dead?" like a hopeless chicken in the butchers hand I waited for the end. Suddenly like a snap to reality, a very strong angry emotion enveloped me as I thought back to my life with this monster "why should I die?" A kick of adrenaline together with anger and a new purpose rushed right through me, I looked around with my tear clouded eyes, reaching for the vase in the second compartment of the center table, I summoned all the strength I have left and struck him with it. As expected it threw him off balance giving me enough time to run to the safety of my room, locking the door was not enough cause even if he didn't want to kill me before, he will surely do so now. I brought out a small bag and went for my most valuable items, I don't really have that much so they were not hard to assemble, next will be how to get out of this house, the door is out of the equation as I hear him rain down curses on me "b***h, how dare you? I will kill you today, useless c**t filled with misfortune, everything about you is filled with misfortune" his words stopped hurting me a long time ago but at the same time it makes me wonder, if I was really that bad why then does he still want me around why not let me go? Well I'm done waiting to be released like a prisoner it's time to take my freedom by force. I look around for any other possible exit, the bathroom window was my only solution, dragging my reading chair and the ottoman in my room to the window as quickly as I can I stacked them on top of each other. He was already banging on the door and will break it down soon, I hurriedly jumped down sustaining more injuries to add to my swollen face and tender bones, but I was not deterred cause I knew that my survival depends on how fast I can get out of here. Ignoring my body's protest I ran towards the roads and got into the first taxi I saw with my father's house in mind. After a while the driver drove into Lincoln avenue and dropped me in front of our house. From the outside I could already notice the major changes to the house, letting myself into the house with my keys I noticed a lot of changes inside too, did Amy get a new job? we couldn't possibly afford all this with Daddy's hospital bills or am I in the wrong house? "Fernanda, is that you?" I turned around to see my step sister Amy standing by the door. "Hi Amy" I replied "gosh girl you look awful, what happened to you" "nothing serious, just a little accident" I answered awkwardly, I've almost forgotten my wounds "you really look awful" she said in a condescending tone. What was I expecting, I don't really want to waste my energy on her so I asked " what about Dad, is he still at the hospital or at home? the last time we talked, you told me that he's okay now and recuperating slowly" Bruno never lets me leave the house even to see Daddy. "Fernanda, mi amor" came the sweet voice of Mama Maria, she was coming in with my stepmother Emilia. "Darling I had to confirm if it was really you, I have missed you so much" she says as she envelopes me in her arms, without much thought I allow myself to soak up the goodness that is her, she has always been a good woman, always caring and available any time I need her she's more of a mother to me than my stepmother. "What happened dear, you don't look so good" before I could answer she dragged me to the couch and instructed Amy to get her the first aid kit and a bowl of warm water. She goes ahead to clean me up with my 'sweet sweet family' watching with a sneer on their face. Still desperate for answers I repeat my question to Amy again but was met with silence and a shocked face from Mama Maria, all I got was "She doesn't know?" "know what?" I asked "oh darling" she said amidst tears, I ran to Daddy's room praying it's not what I'm thinking only to get there and meet the room in a different light no trace of Daddy in the room not even his flipflops were left "what have you done to my Father?" Shedding crocodile tears my stepmother spoke "we didn't know how to tell you, we knew how much you loved your father, everything happened so fast and it was so painful that we just had to bury him" "so you're telling me that he died and you buried him without a word to me, how heartless can you be? why did you then tell me he was getting better?" I can feel my heart breaking into pieces, piercing and unbearable pain engulfs me, I can't breathe, it's like there's no oxygen around me. "No no! no!!! this can't be happening, oh Daddy no!! How? The whole reason I'm still with that beast is because of Daddy and you knew yet you left me there" why will daddy die just like that, the doctor said after the surgery he will be fine, money was obviously not the problem so what happened? I couldn't help but think about those last moments, was he hurt I wasn't there with him, that I've not come to see him for a long time? Tears streamed down my face as I sat there helplessly, I wanted to shout, to laugh, to strangle someone yet I couldn't move. Mama Maria tried her best to console me but the tears just wouldn't stop. Amy left the room for a while to answer a call what a family indeed, the fact that I could feel no remorse coming from her, what exactly happened to my father? I sat there on the floor listening to the unbelievable explanation coming out from my stepmother's mouth. "I want to see him, take me to him" she picked up a note and scribbled something then handed it over to me "here, this is where he is. I walked out with Mama Maria by my side, giving her one last hug "just wait a moment for me, let me inform my husband and we can go together" "no Ma, I want to go alone" I replied "are you sure?" again I replied "Yes" then she said "then you will have to promise me that you'll take care and afterwards come home straight, you can stay with me for a while just like when you were younger" she added with a smile "yes Mama, I promise" I replied "you still remember the house number, it's still the same, you can call if you get stranded, ok?" I nodded but somehow I knew I wouldn't be coming back to this house again. On my way to the cemetery, I decided to take the narrow path near the church to avoid the stares I've been getting since I left the house, I was at the churches garden when I heard a commotion coming from the cemetery puzzled I looked up to see Bruno and several other men looking for... wait...Me!! No this is not good where can I hide, I thought to myself as they were already close by and if any of them was careful enough spotting me will not be a problem. "Ahhh!! I'm running out of time and inside the church is not even an option''. I hid behind the nearest car to me and quietly crawled to its side, as I heard footsteps getting closer and closer I felt trapped. Noticing that the car was slightly opened and still running, all my prayers were "Lord please don't let me end up in Bruno's hands again" as I pulled the car door and entered as quietly as possible only to meet the owner looking at me in confusion ''s**t I'm doomed". MARCELO'S POV I wonder why Señora Donatella insists on meeting in the church for a business proposal they're other places we could go why does it have to be a church, now she's running late and I'm stuck in this tiny town, it's almost as if she's testing my Patience. Looking at the matriarch, one will think she is someone that can be handled easily with her petite stature and quiet nature but over the years she has proved to be a very wise and resourceful woman, you can say that she's the driving force behind La Casa de la Novedad. Still brooding about my situation, I notice my car door opening and a small figure making her way into the car, she seems afraid of something, afraid of being caught maybe. I could tell the moment she noticed my presence, I opened my mouth to talk but she slapped it close muttering please repeatedly. My driver and bodyguard had already sprung into action mode but I quickly stopped them, for some reason I wanted to see what she would do. She looked really terrified as she looked around frantically that was when I noticed the people outside looking around for...her? Noticing that she might be the one in need of help, I prised her hands out of my mouth, and carefully reminded her that the windows were tinted and the car sound proof, this seems to calm her down till they left. Looking at her again, I concluded that if she's really a thief then it's a waste of God's talent cause although she doesn't look so well with those bruises one could tell that beneath all that lies a very beautiful lady. I chuckled under my breath, I must be out of my mind to be analyzing her in this situation. Just then I get a message from Donatella asking to reschedule, as expected. I turn to her "I need to leave now where do I drop you" "anywhere away from here, the bus stop if possible" and almost immediately "no not the bus stop they will look for me there also" "ok then I'm going into town, would you...." before I could finish my sentence "yes, yes that's fine by me" I tapped my driver and we set out for the two hours journey. She became unsettled when she noticed the second car behind and I had to assure her that they were my bodyguards, that didn't change anything. She didn't speak again till we got to the city and she asked to be dropped off at the first bus stop. I gave her some cash and my card if she needed help, that was after she refused to go to a hospital. She thanked me multiple times before exiting the car and that was when I realized I didn't even get her name.