RETURN OF THE FORGOTTEN BRIDE

ChapterEighteen

NATALIE’S POV

The air in Domenico Lopez’s mansion was always thick with unspoken words. I’d been here for weeks now, trapped in this golden cage, but I still hadn’t made my decision. Marry Domenico, as he insisted, or find some way to escape—though where I’d go and how I’d survive were questions I couldn’t yet answer.

I wandered the estate most days, trying to clear my head. The gardens were beautiful, sprawling with vibrant flowers and neatly trimmed hedges, but even their beauty couldn’t mask the weight of my dilemma. Domenico was a man of power, control, and charm when he chose to wield it, but he wasn’t a man of love. He wanted a wife for appearances, a piece to complete the image of a family man. But could I live like that? Pretending? Submitting?

Richard was and is still the only man whom my heart beats for. Though there was now no clear possibility of us meeting in sight.

As I mulled over my thoughts one afternoon, I noticed a pair of eyes watching me from the balcony above. Luca, Domenico’s youngest son, leaned casually against the railing, his gaze sharp and assessing. He was only a few years younger than me, his youth evident in his cocky smirk. I pretended not to notice and turned away, heading toward the shaded path lined with orange trees.

But Luca wasn’t the only one who had been paying attention to me lately.

Alejandro, Domenico’s eldest son, was quieter in his approach, but his interest was no less obvious. He found excuses to linger in the same rooms as me, offering polite conversation and the occasional compliment. Where Luca was bold and brash, Alejandro was calculated and deliberate. Both were dangerous in their own ways.

I tried to keep my distance, but it was impossible to ignore their advances. Domenico was always watching, and I didn’t need another reason for him to tighten his grip on me.

As I sat in the library flipping through a book I wasn’t actually reading, Luca slid into the chair across from me.

“You know,” he said, his voice low and teasing, “you don’t have to marry my father. There are other options.”

I stiffened, closing the book and placing it on the table. “What are you talking about?” with an obvious confused look on my face

He leaned closer, his grin widening. “Come on, Natalie. You know what I mean. My father’s old, set in his ways. You deserve someone younger, someone who can… keep up with you.”

I knew exactly what he was driving at. I was bought and it was obvious. I was probably a means to while away time in their eyes

Before I could respond, the door swung open, and Isabella, Domenico’s daughter, strode in. She was tall and commanding, her sharp features softened only by the dark waves of her hair. She took one look at Luca and me and crossed her arms.

“Luca,” she said, her voice like steel, “leave.”

Luca rolled his eyes but stood, his smirk still firmly in place. “Always the enforcer, aren’t you, Isabella?”

“Now,” she snapped, the firmness and strictness in her voice sent shivers down my spine, and he sauntered out, throwing me a wink over his shoulder.

When he was gone, Isabella turned her attention to me. Her gaze wasn’t unkind, but it was firm. “Stay away from my brothers,” she said bluntly. “They don’t know what they’re doing, and they’ll only cause trouble.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but she held up a hand. “I’m not here to lecture you, Natalie. But you need to be careful. My father doesn’t tolerate disloyalty, and my brothers… they’re reckless.”

Her words hung in the air, heavy with warning. I nodded slowly, unsure of what to say. Isabella studied me for a moment longer before sighing.

“I’ll deal with them,” she said, her tone softening. “Just focus on figuring out what you want. But whatever you choose, remember: nothing in this house comes without a price.”

She left before I could respond, her heels clicking against the polished floor. I sank back into my chair, my mind racing. Domenico, his sons, his daughter—this family was a web of power plays and hidden motives. And I was caught in the center of it.

NATALYA’S POV

Natalya sat across from me in the private lounge, her posture as composed as ever, but her eyes betrayed her. She was tired, and not just in the way that a glass of wine and a good night’s sleep could fix. No, this was deeper. I recognized it because I felt it too. Jenna had a way of draining everyone around her.

“I don’t think you understand how serious this is, Natalya,” I said, swirling my wine in its glass. My tone was sharp, but I didn’t bother softening it. There wasn’t time for pleasantries anymore.

“It's no longer a matter which keeping our secrets could fix” our gaze met. She knew damn well what I was talking about. My secret no longer had a strong hold as my opponent wasnt Natalya but Jenna.

She sighed, setting her glass down on the table between us. “Lana, she’s my daughter. I can’t just—”

“Yes, she’s your daughter,” I interrupted, leaning forward. “And that’s exactly why this is so dangerous. Jenna doesn’t care about loyalty. She doesn’t care about family. She cares about power, and if she has to destroy you to get it, she will.” I said in a firm voice "Guess, the apple really doesn't fall from the tree” with emphasis on the sarcasm in every word.

Natalya flinched, and for a moment, I almost felt sorry for her. Almost. But sympathy wasn’t a luxury we could afford.

“She’s young,” Natalya said finally, her voice quieter now. “Ambitious. She doesn’t realize the damage she’s causing.”

I let out a sharp laugh, shaking my head. “Don’t be stupid. Jenna knows exactly what she’s doing. Aligning with Caleb, targeting Richard—she’s not stumbling her way through this. She’s planning. And if she gets to Richard, she wins. You know what that means…… you know exactly what that means for us.”

Natalya didn’t respond, but her silence was enough.

“We’ve worked too hard for this,” I continued, my voice cold now. “I won’t let her tear it apart because she thinks she’s entitled to everything we’ve built.”

“She’s my daughter,” Natalya said again, almost like a mantra.

“And richard is my son” i said almost furious

“I know that, but Jenna is my daughter”

“And she’s my threat,” I snapped. “f**k natalya! Do you think she sees you as her mother right now? No. She sees you as competition. You’ve taught her everything she knows, and now she’s using it against you. Against us.”

Natalya looked down, her fingers tightening around her glass. “What do you want me to do, Lana? Cut her off? Push her away? She won’t stop. You know how relentless she is.”

“Then we have to be more relentless,” I said firmly. “She’s young, impulsive. She’s making enemies faster than she realizes. We can use that. Turn Richard against her, cut off Caleb’s influence, isolate her. She’s only strong when she has allies. Without them, she’s nothing.”

Natalya finally met my gaze, and for the first time, I saw the cracks in her resolve. She loved her daughter; that much was clear. But love wasn’t enough in this game. Love wouldn’t save us from Jenna’s ambition.

“She’ll hate me,” Natalya said softly.

“She already does,and hatred could be an understatement” I countered. The words hung in the air between us, heavy and unrelenting.

Natalya closed her eyes briefly, exhaling a shaky breath. When she opened them again, her expression was harder. Resigned.

“What’s your plan?” she asked.

I smiled, a cold, calculated smile. “We start with Caleb. He’s her strongest ally, and he’s reckless. If we can discredit him, Jenna loses her foundation. After that, we focus on Richard. Remind him of who Jenna really is, of what she’s capable of.”

“And if she fights back?” Natalya asked, though the answer was already clear.

“She will,” I said, standing and smoothing out my dress. “But so will we. And we’ll win.”

Natalya didn’t respond, but as I walked out of the lounge, I knew she understood. This wasn’t just business. It was survival. And Jenna had chosen the wrong opponents.

The game of cards had taken a drastic turn. It was no longer a game where I was against natalya. Now, it was a battle and Natalya and I were on the same team in a battle against a common enemy. Jenna.