Chapter 12

Something like a headlight flashed in my face. I groaned and turned the other way muttering curses. When did the bulb light get this bright and annoying. I still wanted to sleep.

Click! Click!

The flashlight went off in my face again. This time l forced open my sleepy eyes and they were met by a shirtless and grinning Ferracco.

He was wearing a mischievous grin as he held his camera.

He was doing it again!

"Ferracco! I told you to stop that!," l yelled in a still sleepy voice throwing a pillow at him.

His boyish grin only increased. He clicked one more picture of me earning a groan from me.

"Do you know you look sexy as hell when you are asleep," he said with a smirk.

A shy smile made it's way on my face. I was sure my face was now fifty shades red with all the blushing. Ferracco enjoyed teasing me to no end. He once told me he enjoyed making me blush because it showed he still had an effect on me.

It was now our day six in Paris for our honeymoon. Every chance he get , Ferracco loved taking pictures of me with the camera l got him for his birthday , especially when l was asleep.

I had discovered many things about him in the past week.

1: He was allergic to any sea food.

2: He loved photography

3: The man was a clean freak. We argued every time over my laying around clothes.

4: He had a talent for cooking.

We spent two blissful weeks in Paris for our honeymoon. During daytime , we toured Paris . We went for shopping , cruising and dining in expensive restaurants. At night , Ferracco would rush me to our honeymoon suite where he will whisper promises of love in the night under his tender care and touches.

An excited shiver ran through me every time l recalled the nights we spent in our honeymoon suite.

It was barely two days since my return from France and Claudius was already pressuring me into taking the reins of my parent's business.

My parents had left me their entire fortune. I had studied business management at my father's insistence but my dream was to be an artist. I guess it was now a long forgotten dream.

Back then l was afraid of disappointing my father. He always reminded me that the empire he was building was for me .

"Jane ! You can't possibly deny your legacy. This is Mr Augusto's dream for you," Claudius argued.

We were in my father's study room discussing about my inheritance. I exhaled deeply feeling helpless and trapped. I knew that Castio Construction company would collapse under my poor management. I was already scared.

" l am not good at this," l said my voice barely above a whisper.

Claudius gripped my shoulders and stared at me , his dark gaze silently commanding.

"I will help you all the way until you are strong," he urged firmly.

I shook my head slowly.

" Of course , you will help . You are still the company's lawyer. I know someone who can do a right job in leading Castio."

Claudius looked up shocked , then his steel grey eyes narrowed suspiciously.

"Who is that?," he demanded in a not so friendly voice.

This was going to be harder than l thought!

I drew in a deep shuddering breath before saying,

"Ferracco. He is an architect and can lead the construction company well ."

His face slowly turned to ice. I held my breath waiting for his reply.

" You can't mean that! He might be your husband but he is not to be trusted with managing rights over Castio ," he burst out angrily.

"I thought you have accepted him as part of the family," l argued feeling annoyed.

Why was Claudius so hung up on hating Ferracco to the very end!

"I was only tolerating him to see what he is up to. What can l do when he has you and the entire family wrapped around his tiny little fingers," he said in a scowling voice.

I clenched my fists in anger. I raised my head and stared at him defiantly.

" l have made my decision. Ferracco is my husband and he has every right on planet to take that seat ." l strode out leaving behind a gaping Claudius.

****

That night , we cuddled after one of our passionate nights together. My head was resting on his chest. His eyes were closed but l knew he wasn't asleep. I began drawing circles on his chest to gain his attention. His eyes flew open and rested on me.

He lifted a dark eyebrow lazily grinning. How l loved his messy look. It only heightened his appeal.

Was it even legal to be this handsome!

I ignored my blushing and decided to concentrate on important matters.

"I want you to help in my father's company," l said uncertainly.

" Of course , l will," he said in a casual voice.

" Not as an electrician. "

He stared at me confused.

" l want you to be the CEO of Castio construction company. "

****

Ferracco finally accepted my offer after a hard time of convincing him.

" l don't want to invade in your family business, " he had argued that every time l brought up the subject.

His words had pained me.

"But you are now my family," l had cried at him blinking back tears.

At last he had gave in and the company was now flourishing under Ferracco's expert care. Even Claudius was forced to withdrew from his cold remarks and had complimented Ferracco on his good work.

For six months , everything was going smoothly until one fateful morning . l had woken up startled. My heart was racing madly and my face was dripping sweat. I remembered having a nightmare but l couldn't recall what it was about.

My right hand squeezed my chest. For some unknown reason , l had this nagging feeling at the back of my mind that something really terrible was looming at the corner.

I have had this feeling since the wedding preparations but l had blamed it on the wedding jitters. But today , the feeling was more intense than l ever recalled. It's like l could taste it's horrible aftertaste in my mouth.

One thought crossed my mind.

Ferracco!

At times like this , l needed him. My husband always knew the right things to say. My hand groped for him but his side was empty and cold. It seemed he had woken up real early to go to work.

He worked extremely hard for the past months. He went to work early and came back late but l wasn't disappointed. Ferracco always managed to make time for me and it delighted me considering how demanding the role of a CEO is.

Beep beep!

My cellphone beeped on the bedside table. I sat up straight and reached for it. My jaw dropped open.

Ten missed calls from Claudius!

Just how much did l drink last night!

A smile crawled on my face as l remembered last night. Ferracco had surprised me by making a candlelight dinner on the balcony of our room.

We ate some Thai food made by him. That man never cease to surprise me. He always had something up his sleeve. He was exciting, unpredictable and mysterious which only added to his attractiveness.

I knew that our marriage was not going to be boring one. We had talked holding hands sitting on the balcony under a great galaxy of stairs while sharing a chilled bottle of champagne.

I prided myself for not getting drunk so easily. Ferracco had challenged me that whoever falls drunk first grant the other a wish. I had felt disappointed that l had fallen drunk so fast after three glasses.

My cellphone rang bringing me out of my reverie. I took it up again and swiped the green icon.

"Claudius," l asked him worriedly.

I wondered what had happened for him to call ten times. But all l got in response was a heavy breathing from the other line.

This was definitely not good!

My heart began to beat uncomfortably. Ever since l lost my parents , l was now a little bit paranoid. Then one frightening thought crossed my mind.

What if Ferracco got in a car accident while driving to the company?

Blood pounded in my forehead.

"Claudius! Say something . You are really scaring me," l cried a him over the phone.

My heart beat seemed to triple with every minute of agonising silence from Claudius.

"Is Ferracco okay," l asked nervously.

Mentioning his name , seemed to snap out Claudius from whatever trance he was in.

"You have to rush to the company , Jane. Now! Something terrible have happened," his urgent voice boomed through the receiver.

I have never seen him sound so desperate. Claudius was always controlled and confident. What could have happened to set him over the edge like that.

" Calm down Claudius. Tell me what happened. "

"Dammit Jane! Just get your lazy ass over here," he shouted at me.

I never fancy people who shouted at me ever since l was young. Shouting at me only made me more stubborn than ever.

"Don't scream at me! I won't leave the house not knowing what is wrong over there," l fired back at him.

He huffed out an annoyed breath still fuming with anger.

"That damn bastard conned us. He striped us of everything to the last coin. He sold the company to some Greek tycoon and fled with the money. It's all over Jane. We are ruined," he said in an acid voice.

Only one person had the power to do that but l couldn't accept it.

"No," l whispered to myself in denial.

Ferracco loved me and he would never hurt me like this.

"Accept it , Jane. Your husband was a corn artist all along. The scumbag have taken all your money and disappeared ," he fired back.

I felt my heart shatter inside my chest. I felt numb . My cellphone dropped down on the floor and shattered apart.

I felt my strength being sapped away. My legs trembled unable to hold my weight. I dropped to the floor like some bag of potatoes.

"Ferracco would never do that to me . He loves me," l whispered trying to convince myself .

Then a thought crossed my mind. Suddenly feeling strengthened and determined , l quickly got up from the floor and ran into the closet.

A gasp escaped me and l held on to the door frame for support.

His side of the closet was empty!

No! It can't be!

I ran to the bookshelf. Ferracco loved reading classic novels.

His favourite books were also gone!

I staggered backwards feeling dizzy. The world seemed to be rotating around. I stumbled out of my room , hysterically screaming.

"Ferracco! Ferracco!"

Only the echo of my own voice answered . Aunt Amira and Lola rushed into the sitting parlour their faces drawn in confusion.

" Jane . What's wrong dear?," Aunt Amira asked in worry as she came forward to hold me.

I squirmed out of her hold and began pacing the room aimlessly. I felt suffocated and l wanted to puke out.

A knock sounded at the door. Lola rushed to open it. A fifty something female richly dressed was standing in the doorway. She was accompanied by a younger man clad in a black business suit holding a briefcase. He looked very professional.

"How may we help you?," Lola asked the guests.

" We are looking for Mrs Volcano," the older woman answered.

I felt hatred stir inside me at the use of my new surname. Ferracco had taken advantage of my love for him. I forced my legs to wobble to the door.

" l am Mrs Volcano," l answered stiffly.

The man beside her opened his briefcase and handed me some papers. My hands began to shake as l register the words on the papers. It was the mansion's house deed papers. I looked up at them shocked. Aunt Amira and Lola took the papers from me and viewed them with puzzled expressions.

" We bought this house this morning from your husband, Mr Ferracco Volcano."

I began to feel dizzy and dropped down to the ground . l saw Amira and Lola rush to me before everything became black.

*****

I woke up sleeping in my room. I tried to sit up . ouch! l was feeling a bit dizzy and my head was aching badly. Aunt Amira was dozing in a chair besides the bed. Her eyes flew open and she immediately scrambled to her feet looking worried.

" Don't strain your yourself."

She plopped some pillows behind me on the headboard. Then everything replayed in my mind. I clamped my hand over my mouth sobbing.

I had lost my father's company along with my home all because of my reckless behaviour.

My parents were clearly disappointed in me . My father had started Castio industries from the ground. He had worked for twenty years of his life to make it what it was today.

Castio industries was my father's dream. His life revolved around mum, me and Castio. Castio was like a second child to him. And l had destroyed that thing he had worked for all life.

I was horrible!

"Oh my child," Amira murmured and sat beside me, cradling my head on her chest.

I sobbed on her shirt. I was feeling horrible. I destroyed everything . My heart was aching. I was stupid enough to think that Ferracco loved me. I personally set a stage for him to scum us when l made him the CEO of Castio.

Thinking about it made my head throb even more . I wanted to crawl in some hole and die. It was very painful. I had invited him into my family. I had disregarded Claudius's warnings, Amira's worries.

It was over!

Castio Construction company was no more. Castio mansion was no longer ours.

I thought of my mother's little garden. How she woke up early to water her flowers. How she would smile every time she tends to her flowers. More tears spilled down my cheeks at the thought.

" l want to die nana. It's so painful," l choked out.

Amira released me and stared at me with eyes glistening with tears. She stroked my cheeks.

" Don't blame yourself. You were tricked. How could you have guessed what's on that scumbag's mind. We are not fortune tellers," she says with a tremulous smile tracing her mouth.

" But l allowed it. I let him. I even gave him the powers over Castio."

I dropped my head in my hands and sobbed even harder feeling horrible.

"You have to live , Jane. At least for your baby."

An icy trickle went down my spine at her words. My heart beat accelerated. I looked up at her stunned. Tears were flowing down her cheeks. I continue to stare at her with confusion written on my face.

" The doctor said you are one month pregnant," she further explained.

It can't be!

I slowly shook my head , wanting to clear my head of this illusion. My eyes searches Amira's eyes for any hint that she was joking. But they stared back at me with a serious expression in them.

It can't be!

This has to be one sick joke?

I can't be pregnant with that devil's child!

Plizz God! Don't let me be!

I buried my face in a pillow and screamed my lungs out.

A/N: And that was his greatest betrayal, my lovely readers. How disappointing. He took advantage of her pain. But there are lot of hidden things concerning his betrayal. Find out in book two.

Stay tuned.