Chapter 131

       Bella's eyes oscillated from one angle to another staring at the trees whirling from the maneuver of the calm evening breeze. The woods they walked through appeared to be so calm and isolated, she knew that's cause no one loved there except them.

        They didn't walk for too long before seeing what seems like light coming from a place, Bella could still see their crip from the spot. She was in awe when she stepped in, threw countryside musicians were already standing at a spot waiting for them. The cooks have already prepared their meal as they stood at a corner.

          There were dancers dancing close to a fire and then one table for both of them. The decoration and everything were lovely, it was more than lovely. She smiled staring at Antonio for him to take her hands to their seat, he drew out a chair for her to seat before pushing it back in.

        Bella felt happy, genuinely happy. To think at the beginning of what she called to be a vacation was a catastrophe till he came along. He made her stay here worth it, he made her experience new things and places. Places she's never been to before even if this is her city, even if she's stayed here all her life. 

       After their meal, Bella regretted why she wore a tiny sleeve dress as if he noticed her and quickly wrapped his coat around her for safety. "Shall we dance?" He asked. "I don't know a thing or two about dancing." 

       "I'll teach you, come here." He helped her up for the musicians to begin, Antonio clapped both his hands together before taking her hands and their dance began. He was quite a good dancer, one of the qualities Bella never thought he had, one of the qualities all businessmen lacked. But then he said their family always have this gathering or functions where all the members of their family would come together.

       They'll have it soon again and he'd be taking her with him this time. Since it's already ordained that he would succeed all of his father's inheritance, there was no crime in meeting up with his far and close relations in that party. Besides him being the best father and husband anyone could ever ask of, he was a cunning man. A greedy businessman following the ways of his father.

        He didn't need to have a son to succeed in everything his father owned cause he has already succeeded.

.

         Bella helped her girls dress up the next morning, they were in big doll heavy coat cause of the sudden snow that surrounded them everywhere. No wonder there was cold the previous night. They got carried away by their vacation and forgot about the month they were in and the time of the year.

       Yes, it was that time, the time of bells and Christmas deco around the city, the time when families unite again after a stressful year. Bella could hear bells ringing in her ears, she would have been super excited if that time was not two months away from them. But what's the crime in preparing now?

        "Where are we going to mama," Jojo asked, her skin had already turned pink from the cold. Bella wore her a thick pink glove since pink is her favorite color, matching her coat, thick hat, scarves, and boots. While Antonio helped Jasmine with hers since her favorite color was blue her attire was blue. Both girls hung their toy bags after dressing up, their mother and father made sure to wear them napkins just in case they start their diabetic peeing when the time comes.

         "To visit your grandparents," Antonio announced. She didn't want her visit to be a full-time family visit, but she almost forgot that wouldn't happen, not when she was married to a man like Antonio who wouldn't let her out of his sight. He helped her zip her dress up, arranging her hair as well as helping her with her pieces of jewelry.

       Kissing her stomach every morning before leaving has become a norm for both him and the girls. They mimic everything he does to her, that's one of the reasons she hates it when he kisses her before them. They all stepped into the car with Edmund as they headed for her parents' house.

         Bella felt her stomach churn, she was nervous from their last altercation, she has never talked to her parents the way she did. She had let her emotions get the better of her and it resulted in hitting them. They were both good people who had good intentions for her.

        Arriving at the remote part of the city, Antonio stared at the large farms on the way, there were many farmlands with little buildings attached to them. He didn't know places like this existed until now, he was in awe, he was fascinated. The only bad thing about this place would be poor connection and living, they were indeed absent from the world. They drove further in before coming to halt before a building.

        Bella let out a sigh staring at the building, she was anxious, she thought she was ready to face them but now she's here, she isn't. She didn't think she was ready, from what she knows her siblings might be home, if they are, is this the right way to introduce Antonio to them? Unannounced?

       "Are you ready? We could go back home if you like." She heard Antonio's soft relaxing voice from her side and she met his gaze. He stared at her eyes filled with tears, the thoughts of what if, crept into her mind. It scared her, what if they confessed to her cause they didn't want her anymore? Cause she's brought nothing but an embarrassment to them.

        "L... Let's go." She said wondering why she was suddenly feeling so emotional. It was hurtful finding out the people she knew all her life, the people she called family were really not related to her. They were not her family, she was not a part of them, she belonged somewhere else.

        Antonio stepped out of the car before helping her out, and also his daughters. He was just too eager to meet her family, to know her parents. He helped his girls out too, they both were smiling at everyone who came out to stare at them. At everyone who stopped working just to stare at them. They never get to see important people with big cars every day, but it was surprising the important person was the girl next door.

       The errand girl, the one always seen with a device claiming to have really rich friends. They said she went to the city to study a few years back, but she hasn't returned since then. 

        Bella led them into the little house she grew up in, she used to be excited when coming to this place, but it seems like life has changed a lot for her. "Bella?" Eden greeted her sister awestruck to see her. It's been months since they last saw each other since everyone had their lives to live.

       She got a call from her mother recently about what had happened a few weeks ago, about how her father had told her sister of the forbidden news knowing she was pregnant and not in a condition for such. "Eden," Bella called staring at the little girl standing next to her and another baby in her arms.

      Eden stared at the intimidating figure behind her sister and the two little angels in pink and blue pandas standing next to her sister. "You're here?" Bella asked.

         "Mum hasn't been herself since you left, so I decided to keep her company." She said. "Aunty Bella." The little girl by Eden's side called for Bella to smile at them, they all loved her being the last child of the family. Most times she would go visit her sister and other times her brother but stopped when she got to college.

      "Mandy, come here." Bella hugged her little niece whose eyes were on the little girls staring at her. Mandy looked two years older than Jojo and Jasmine and she was as cute as her mother with a pale-looking skin and hazel eyes, but her dirty blonde hair is just one of the features she stole from her father.

        While Eden and Tyler had their parent's features, Bella was different. But their mother always gave the excuse of her inheriting her grandmother's features.

         "This is my husband Antonio and daughters, Jojo and Jasmine." Bella introduced. Eden looked happy for her adopted sister, she always the life of the wealthy suited her sister cause of how girlish she was when they were still kids.

       "Where is mother?" Bella asked gesturing her hands for Antonio to seat which he did. Her thoughts had been clouded by her not being a part of her family and she had forgotten how messy and out of place their house was. For someone like Antonio, this place and environment was disgusting but she wondered how he was still able to maintain his composure.

       Knowing she was offered a job as a substitute, Antonio already knew where she came from, he understood her situation. Earlier he thought she refused to tell him about herself cause she was ashamed of her family being way lower than his, but he was wrong.

        "N... Nice to meet you, Mr. Antonio." Eden stuttered. 

        "You too Eden." Antonio let out...