A Woman's Empire

XXXV

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

The golden sunlight beamed down onto Audrielle's glowing skin as she galloped through the fields on the horse. Stella continuously giggled as the two girls raced their horses back to the barn. It was starting to get dark and Camilla had called out to the two almost half an hour ago, letting them know that dinner was almost ready.

Audrielle loved it in Italy and she was thrilled to find out that Antonio had sorted it all out for her to stay here. Stella absolutely adored having Audrielle around as she was like an older, loving sister. The two quickly came inseparable within the few days Audrielle had been staying.

Audrielle did anything to keep Stella happy and not bored, whether it was tea parties and dress ups or picking wild flowers and climbing trees. Audrielle wanted Stella to have an amazing childhood, something that Audrielle never got.

"Elle! Elle! I won!" Stella shouted in a bubbly voice. Audrielle grinned as the horse slowed down to a halt next to Stella's pony. She mounted off of her horse and quickly helped Stella off of hers before taking the two horses reins and leading them into the barn.

"That was so fun!" Stella exclaimed, jumping with joy as she followed closely behind Audrielle. Audrielle agreed and took off the saddles, giving the blankets to Stella so she could put them away.

Once the horses were finally unsaddled and fed, Audrielle and Stella strolled back into the house where they were greeted with the warm aroma of the food Camilla had cooked. They decided to eat dinner outside since the weather was nice and warm when the phone in the kitchen rang. Camilla dismissed herself from the table, going to answer it.

"Audrielle?" Stella asked and she looked up from her plate.

"Yeah sweetie?"

"Did my brother hurt you?" The question rang inside of Audrielle's head and she thought about it for a second.

"Why would you think that?" Audrielle questioned quietly, placing her knife and fork down beside her plate.

"I-I heard you and mamma talking and you were crying. Then mamma said Leo and you cried even more!" The little girl huffed, resting her chin on her hand.

(Translation: Mom)

Audrielle had to watch what she was going to say. After all, Leo was Stella's eldest brother, someone she looked up to and Audrielle knew that she couldn't destroy the bond the two seemed to have.

"N-No, I just miss him that's all." That was half a lie. Sure she missed him when she would lie in bed at night, begging to feel his arm wrap around her waist and pull her in for a cuddle. But she shouldn't miss him and she had to quickly adapt to his presence missing.

He can no longer hurt you. The thought echoed through her mind and she suddenly held back tears. Stella suddenly smiled a toothy grin before resuming to eating her dinner. After a while, Camilla finally returned with a frown on her face and Audrielle immediately picked up on the change of atmosphere in the air.

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Leo threw the papers across the room, his thoughts speeding at a thousand miles a minute. Where the hell was she? He still had the note she wrote and the earrings and ring were on top of his bedside table, constantly reminding him that she wasn't there. That she wasnt an arm length away from his body.

The door to his office creaked open and Antonio stood there. He stared at the messy room in disgust but with the holes Leo was burning into his skull, he didn't say anything and shrugged his shoulders, stepping over the paper to give his brother a cup of coffee.