A Billionaire Romance that goes Sour

Chapter 4

Chapter 4:

Amalfi 19 August 2023

‘Helena, talk to me, say something, for goodness’ sake !’ he shouted

‘I can explain everything to you, Sergio,’ she blurted out, in tears

‘But Sergio, you can’t behave like this after the shock Helena went through,’ Flora scolded Sergio

‘You keep your voice down.’ I didn’t ring your doorbell,’ he replied sarcastically, pointing at Flora.

‘I can explain everything to you, Sergio. Please sit down. Eleven years ago, I was dating a young man called Patrick when I was just a teenager. We swore we’d never part, and he gave me an engagement ring to seal our union. I haven’t heard from him for some time now. He doesn’t even know I’m in the hospital.

‘But you should have told me, Helena. Why did you keep this from me ? he asked furiously

‘I was so happy to have met you. Besides, we hadn’t had enough time to talk about my past. Please understand me, my love’, I emphasised, with despair in my eyes.

‘I’ll try to think about our future calmly on my own’, he replied, very softly.

Sergio left my bedroom, devastated by this unexpected news that had come out of the blue. He felt as though he didn’t know me. The only thing on his mind was to drown out the pain gnawing at his heart with a good bottle of whisky, which he booked at Barrella’s, his favourite bar. Downing one glass of whisky after another, he pulled himself together and refused to let his emotions get the better of him.His plan against me was still on track, and there was no time to give up. He knew full well that he, too, was hiding dark secrets from his past from me. The decision he was about to make would change the course of the current situation. He put his pride aside and went back to the hospital to see me.

When he entered the room, we were very surprised to see him back so soon. I couldn’t believe my eyes. I was overjoyed to have Sergio back in my life. I’d thought I ’d lost him forever, yet the Heaven had not turned a deaf ear to my pleas.

‘Helena, my love, I’m sorry for the scene earlier. I’m a complete fool. I could never bear to lose you. The mere fact that you called out that man’s name made me so jealous. I couldn’t bear to live without you. Forgive me,’ he said, feigning regret.

‘I forgive you, and I promise I won’t mention that man again, my love,’ I said, overjoyed to see Sergio again.

‘Let’s forget all about it, and I hope you’re ready because you’re coming out tomorrow.’ ‘The doctor told me earlier,’ he announced to me.

‘I’m absolutely delighted. I can’t wait to get out of this horrible place,’ I said enthusiastically.

I had no idea of Sergio’s machiavellian plan. I was madly in love with him. Love had completely blinded me. I had no idea whatsoever what sort of man I was about to marry. I saw Sergio as the prince straight out of Perrault’s fairy tales, but he was not someone to be trusted.

He was so twisted and malicious that it was truly difficult to know what he was hiding. But Flora knew everything about him, whether it was his past or even his present. She had all the information needed to bring down this influential man but had no support from anyone. Flora knew full well that Sergio’s sudden change earlier was nothing but a farce, but no one was going to believe her.

She tried one last time to convince me to break up with the bloke who could ruin my whole life, but to no avail. It seemed as though Sergio had truly cast a spell over me. I was obsessed with the words Sergio had uttered a few minutes earlier.

His apologies had turned my world upside down such that I no longer wanted to hear a single word of Flora’s warnings.

I just wanted to make up with Sergio and move on, without even knowing what the future held for me. I had no idea of my future husband’s machiavellian plan, and Flora was genuinely worried for me.

Flora was the only person who’d been able to talk sense into me so far, but I wouldn’t hear a word about the evidence she had against Sergio. That very day, I left the hospital along with Flora and Sergio, and we settled into Sergio’s villa in Amalfi. I couldn’t believe the opulence of Sergio’s villa. I was awestruck by the luxury of the house.

I had never set foot in a house like this before. My dream was finally coming true. I had always dreamt of luxury and a life full of glitz and glamour.

Sergio was going to serve it up to me on a solid gold platter. I was so overwhelmed by the comfort of this house that I

put my post-traumatic stress to one side. Sergio smiled beside me and reassured me that I could have even more than everything I saw around here. But Flora sensed danger on the horizon.

She no longer knew how to dissuade me from Sergio’s malicious intentions. She was devising a new strategy to expose Sergio and get me out of this quagmire. In her view, I was walking straight into the lion’s den without realising it. My taste for luxury could cost my dearly, but I wasn’t even convinced of that myself.

The villa’s housekeeper served dinner and we sat down to eat. The atmosphere at dinner was rather tense, particularly between Sergio and Flora, who were seated opposite each other and stared each other down. It was gloomy, somber, and dark, yet a celebration was supposed to have taken place, but it failed to materialize.

It seemed as though Flora and Sergio were ready to come to blows. I was the only pawn in the whole affair. I didn’t understand anything about the whole situation. It was as if they were caught up in a suspenseful TV drama where everyone was hiding secrets from their partner and had no desire to bring them out into the open.

I was eating the meal that the housekeeper had prepared. I was extremely hungry. I couldn’t get enough of this delicious food, which reminded me of my mother’s cooking. Every bite brought me such bliss that I didn’t even notice the tension between Flora and Sergio. Sergio ate slowly, carefully watching Flora’s every move as she played at being a private detective at the table.

Her facial expression clearly revealed her feelings about Sergio’s turbulent life. She was still reflecting on the first pages of Sergio’s life, as described in his diary. Her mind was completely absorbed by it; she couldn’t easily forget it. A few minutes later, Sergio stood up from the table—unable to endure the gloomy atmosphere that filled the dinner. He went out to the villa’s terrace for a quick cigarette, trying to dispel the anxiety overwhelming his mind. Concerned about his abrupt departure, I followed him to the terrace and he was smoking briefly. I questioned Sergio to understand what was happening to him, but to no avail.