HER REVENGE

24.

"This coffee is the best," Isabella said, savoring the rich flavor.

"I knew you'd love it," Matteo said, his lips curving into a smile.

"Of course I love it," Isabella said, taking another sip. "It's delicious."

"So, tell me, what's your real name?" Matteo asked,

"Isabella Bank,"

"So where are you from?"

"Mexico," Isabella replied, feeling a rush of homesickness.
"Enough about me," she said, turning the conversation back to him. "Why did you decide to be a photographer in your father's company?"

Matteo hesitated, his gaze falling to the floor. "It's a long story,"

"I have time," Isabella said, waiting for him to continue.

Matteo smiled. "Of course you don't have all day to hear about it,"

"I do, Please, I'm all ears."

Matteo hesitated, his gaze uncertain. "It's personal,"

Isabella's eyes softened. "I understand,"

"Come on, finish your coffee, so we can go back to work,"

Isabella nodded, taking a final sip of her coffee. "Okay,"

She stood up, brushing her hair back from her face. Matteo smiled at her, his eyes warm.

"Shall we?" he asked.
★★★

Lucia burst out laughing she dropped her phone"Is that how guys behave?"

"What do you mean?" Luca asked, his brow furrowed.

"The jerk that Chiara married locked her up in a room,"

"What?" Luca exclaimed, his eyes wide. "That's awful! What did he do that for?"

"He's a control freak," Lucia said, shaking her head. "He thinks he can treat her like a prisoner just because he's her husband. It's ridiculous."

Luca's jaw dropped. "That's crazy.

"I mean, just because he's a mafia boss doesn't give him the right to lock my friend up, If I ever catch him, I'll kill him!"

Luca's eyes widened. "You can't be serious, You would really kill someone?"

"Well, maybe not literally, But I would definitely teach him a lesson he'll never forget. I mean, how dare he lock his wife up like she's a prisoner?

Lucia continued ranting, her voice growing louder. "He's such a dork, with a rotten personality! How can he treat his wife like that? It's disgusting!you know what I think we should kill him together"

Luca let out a long sigh. "I think you should go back to serving our customers, I don't think you're going to convince me to help you commit murder."

Luica sighed, rolling her eyes. "Fine," she said, stalking back to the front of the store.

"Thanks for understanding," Luca said, giving her a wry smile.

As Lucia stormed off, Luca let out a deep sigh.

"Gosh, that girl can be a piece of work," he said to himself. "See the way she is insulting my brother But she's not wrong - he doesn't have the right to lock his wife up like that. That's just crazy!" He shook his head,
★★★
Alessandro's text came through: "💬Cancel all my appointments. I won't be in the office today."

Alessandro strode into the storehouse, his eyes scanning the space until they landed on the wall michele tied up and slumped against the wall.

"Are you ready to talk?"

Michele, lifted his head with difficulty, his face covered in bruises."Please, I'm sorry."

Alessandro narrowed his eyes."I don't need your apology,I want to know who you work for."

Michele looked away, his eyes downcast. "I can't betray him,"

"But you can betray me?" Alessandro demanded,"You can sell me out, but you won't tell me who you work for? How does that make sense?" Michele shivered, his body trembling.

Alessandro's eyes turned hard as stone. "You're a strong one, but I'm stronger, I'll make you talk."

He pulled out a knife, and Michele's heart sank. Alessandro grabbed his hand and began to cut his fingers, one by one.

Michele let out a bloodcurdling scream, his eyes "please"

Alessandro paused, the knife hovering over another finger.

"Are you ready to talk?" Alessandro asked, his eyes cold and unyielding.

Michele's lips quivered. "Please,"

Alessandro felt a flicker of distaste. "I hate it when people beg me, It's such a pathetic display."

Michele's resolve crumbled. He couldn't take the pain, or the fear, any longer.

"You know what?,Your so-called boss left you here to die, and yet you still refuse to talk?"

Michele said nothing, but his eyes were wide with fear and pain.

"I'll leave you with three fingers, Since you refuse to talk, I'll make you die a slow and painful death. I'll be back tomorrow, and I expect an answer."

He turned and left the room, the door closing with a resounding thud.
★★★

Alessandro came back into the dining room, went to wash his hands, and cleaned up. He sat down at the table and took a bite of his food.

"What about Chiara?" he asked Irene, the maid who was with him.

"She refused to come down," Irene said, bowing her head.

Alessandro stood up and strode over to Chiara's room. He pushed open the door and stopped in his tracks.

The room was empty. He was sure he had asked Fox to lock her in. Where had she gone?

He looked around, searching for any sign of where she might have gone. But there was nothing.

"What the hell?" he muttered to himself

"Fox!" Alessandro called, his voice booming.

"Boss!" Fox said, his head bowed.

"Where is Chiara?" Alessandro demanded.

"I locked her in your room, boss," Fox said, his voice trembling.

"My room?, But I told you to lock her in her room!"

Fox swallowed hard. "She begged me to lock her in your study room,"

Alessandro's eyes widened. "My study room? Why would she want that?"

Alessandro rushed to his study room and threw open the door. What he saw inside made his jaw drop.

The entire room was a mess. Paint was splattered all over the walls, the floor was covered in drips and drops of paint, and the furniture was smeared with color.

And in the middle of it all stood Chiara, a paintbrush in her hand and a look of utter concentration on her face.

"What the hell, Chiara?" Alessandro yelled

"Hubby, you're finally back," Chiara said, a warm smile spreading across her face.

"What the hell did you do to my study room?" Alessandro roared

Chiara's smile grew wider. "Hubby, calm down,I know you locked me up, but I decided to decorate your study room for you. I thought you'd like it. I guess I was wrong?"

Alessandro looked around, his eyes taking in the colorful chaos.

"Decorate..." Alessandro said slowly, his voice strained.

"Yes, hunny!, I used blue, black, and pink paint to decorate the walls. I thought I was being such a good wife!"

Alessandro stared at her, his mouth agape. "Good wife?, You've ruined my study room!"

"But I was trying to be a good wife,"

Alessandro's eyes flashed with anger. "Chiara!" he roared.

...................