My Mafia Brothers

Chp 2:The lie I lived

"Bella, go to your room and lock the door. Do not come downstairs, no matter what happens," Jane said, her voice firm and urgent, as she took Isabella's chin in her hands. She glanced at her husband, who was standing at the door, his eyes fixed on the entrance. "Do you understand, Bella?"

Isabella nodded, but her curiosity got the better of her. "Mum, what's happening?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Jane's grip on her chin tightened. "Go and lock your door, Bella. Now."

Isabella hesitated for a moment, but her mother's stern expression sent her hurrying towards the stairs. She hid in the shadows behind the banisters, peeking through the rails to get a glimpse of the stranger who had entered her home. He was a tall man clad in an expensive suit, his presence exuding an aura of darkness and fear. His gaze swept through the room, examining his surroundings, and as it landed on Isabella, her eyes widened with fear. She regretted not listening to her mother sooner and hastily retreated upstairs, locking her door behind her. She leaned her back against the door, releasing a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

Isabella slowly crept towards her bed, her brain whirling with thoughts and questions. Who was that man downstairs?And what were her parents about to reveal to her before they were interrupted? "Ugh," she huffed, flopping onto her bed in frustration. She was tempted to sneak out of her room and eavesdrop on the conversation downstairs, but the thought of that ominous stranger sent shivers down her spine, making her hesitate.

Sitting on her bed, numerous thoughts swirled through Isabella's mind as she contemplated the possibilities. Was her family in debt? Were they hiding something from her? Her mind raced with questions. She got up from her bed and approached the door, pressing her ear against it in an attempt to eavesdrop on the conversation downstairs. At first, she couldn't make out anything, but just as she was about to give up, she heard her father's voice rise in anger, directed at the stranger. "She's not going anywhere! We're not giving our daughter away!" Isabella's heart skipped a beat as she realized they were talking about her. Fear crept in, and her mind raced with worst-case scenarios. She had heard stories about families being forced to give up their children due to debt or shady dealings. Who was this man her father was arguing with? She had never seen him before, and the thought of being taken away from her loving family was unbearable. Tears began to form in her eyes as she felt a wave of fear wash over her. But deep down, she knew her family would never give her up, no matter what. They loved her too much, and she trusted them completely. The thought gave her a sense of comfort, and she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart.

Isabella stepped away from her door towards her bed and hugged her knees to herself a lonely tear escaping out of her eyes.She waited.After what felt like hours she heard the stairs creaked as her parents climbed upstairs to her room and her heart beated faster than ever She got up from her place and dashed towards the door just as her hand was about to reach the door knob to open the door,it sprang open and she was engulfed in a bone crushing hug by her mother.She returned the hug finding comfort in her mother's arm.After the mother daughter duo broke the hug,Isabella looked at her father who was standing at the door way watching them , and then at her mother.Jane held her daughters hand gently as she led her to the bed and sat down beside her as her father grabbed a chair from her study table and sat down infront them.

"Dad..." Isabella said as she placed her hand on her father's.

"I.."Albert took a deep breath and looked at his wife for reassurance.

"That man,what did he want ,why - "

"Bells calm down I'll explain everything "

Jane held Bella's hand as she and Albert revealed everything to her .
Now Bella wished she hadn't asked.

Denial was her first reaction.
"No"

"No no no you're joking no " she said raising her voice a bit but her parents tear stricken faces did not help.

It was as if her whole world collapsed down on her .

A week prior to her birthday she and her friend group had taken a DNA test with Alice,who was going through a tough phase with her parents and had found out that she was adopted.To support her all of her friends took a DNA test.Bella had forgotten about it.The results however were unexpected.Jane and Albert were shocked and broken to find out that the their girl was not their girl .They had received documents and a letter from Isabella's real family along with the result.It contained the information regarding the results.Isabella was not their biological child .She was kidnapped from her family mere hours after her birth and given to them .Albert and Jane's own biological child had been either killed or kidnapped and replaced with her.And now Isabella 's real family wanted her back .And it broke the family of three .The parents had taken care and loved Isabella not knowing that she was their blood and Bella had always loved them as her real parents.Her parents did not want to give her .Because she was their girl no matter even if the results said otherwise.

They were afraid of telling Bella the truth .They feared that she would leave them.

We can't lose you, Bella," Albert said, his voice shaking. "You're our girl, no matter what."

"We love you, and we can't imagine life without you," Jane added, tears streaming down her face.

Isabella's mind raced as she tried to process the information. She felt like her whole identity was shattered. She looked at her parents, and her heart ached. She knew they loved her, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that her whole life had been a lie.

"What do I do?" she asked, feeling lost.

"I don't want to leave you ,please don't send me away"she pleaded.

"Never"Her parents said in unison.

"I can't live without you,I don't want to live with anyone else I love you you are my real parents I don't want to go please don't send me away mum dad " Bella said breaking into tears
Her mother engulfed her as she cried her heart out.

She won't leave them.Ever.

"We'll face this together, as a family," Albert said, his voice firm .

In the late hours of the night when she couldn't sleep Isabella stared at the ceiling her mind replaying everything that had happened today.She wished she hadn't asked her parents.She wished she hadn't taken that stupid DNA test .She wished she could forget everything.She wished it would all be a terrible dream when she woke up.But it wasn't .She.wasnt letting herself think about her real family.After everything today Bella and her parents exchanged promises that they would never leave her not she would leave them as long as they lived and they would fight anyone who came in their way to break their family.
But she was curious about her real family.She didn't ask her parents about them.But deep in her heart she wanted to meet them.Her parents didn't mention anything about them.She wondered what her biological parents looked like .Whom did she resembles the most What were their names .Did she have siblings.Her parents had only told her that the man who came today was a part of her real family.She wished that he was some sort of family friend and she never had to see him again .

They had a quiet dinner today lacking it's usual liveliness.Her parents feared that she would be sent to live with her real
guardians .When they had voiced their fears Bella had fiercely replied that she would rather die than live with them.She couldn't bear to look at her parents.They looked so broken .It was true that Isabella was the light that lit their lives . Seeing her parents like this made her dislike for her real family grow .
She could not sleep that night She twisted and turned in her bed but could fall asleep.