HIS HIRED BRIDE

CHAPTER - 15

"Friendship is the hardest thing in the world to explain. It’s not something you learn in school. But if you haven’t learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven’t learned anything.” — Muhammad Ali.

AVA WILSON P.O.V

My head was hurting so hard that I couldn't even open my eyes. I try to open my eyes but the light in the room makes it more difficult.

I rub my head and slowly wipe my tears and again try to open my eyes. Everything was a blur and I found it difficult to look around the room. I can guarantee that I was not in my room due to the white wall. My room was all about stars.

I frown and adjust my eyesight with the light. The annoying beeping sound coming from my left side made me scowled in irritation.

"Ava, Oh My God!" Bella's concerned voice came, making me look at her in confusion.

Samantha faces pop next as she pushes Bella to the side "Are you okay, Ava ?"

"What happened to me?" I asked them with a crooked voice.

The door opened and Marcello walked inside with a disheveled hair. His face was looking so tired that I wanted to run my finger over his face to give him some comfort.

He looked up and instantly came to the other side, tucking my hair carefully behind my ears.

"I'm sorry." He apologetically whispered with a soft voice and that's when my memory started coming back, why I am lying here in this room.

*****Twelve Hour Ago*****

Lily's surgery went successful as I couldn't control my happy tears. Dr. Parker informed us that she was alright. Currently she is under observation but tomorrow we can meet her. I was smiling and crying at the same time when Bella came and hugged me and soon Sam also joined us.

"We should go now?" Marcello interrupted, making three of us look at him in question.

"Where?" I stated.

"To my home." He replied with a blank face.

"Why will she go to your home?" Samantha, beat me asking the same question which stuck inside my mouth.

"Why What? That was our deal?" Marcello spoke, now getting worked up.

"Deal?" I looked at him in confusion.

"You didn't say anything about this?"

"What do you mean? It was written on the third page of the contract paper. After signing, you are moving in with me Ms. Wilson." He snapped with a clenched jaw.

The businessman asshole Marcello Trocelli is back.

I scoff "There was no such thing written on the damn papers." I argue back.

"I knew this was going to happen. I told you not to trust this man." Samantha spoke between us.

"Look Ms. Harper, I am not saying anything doesn't mean I will stand and listen to your nonsense. " He pinched his forehead "And it's between me and Ms.Wilson, so stay out of it."

"Mr. Trocelli, I am not going to repeat again, you did not inform me about this" I flapped my hand around "So I am not going anywhere with you."

"Are you stupid." Marcello gritted his teeth "What do you mean by I did not inform you. It was all written clearly on the contract paper. If you are blind then it makes sense." He sarcastically replied.

"I....I.....What?" I stammered as I tried to remember where that line was. And then I remember my laziness of reading the whole contract.

The colour from my face faded and I gulped down my breathe "Don't tell me, you were skipping the paper while reading it." Marcello shook his head in disbelief.

"Have you gone nuts?" Samantha shouted at me. Bella immediately holds Sam's hand taking her outside from the hospital.

Marcello paced around the room with a scowl. "I didn't know you were this stupid. How could you sign the paper without reading it?"

"I was not in my sense okay." I tried to justify it.

He scowled "That does not change anything. You have to move in with me. I cannot take the risk." He stood in front of me with a hard face.

"Look---"

"No Ms.Wilson, you listen. And listen carefully, I accepted whatever you asked. I called the doctor, I paid the bills, I did all you asked for me. And now once it's all done, you cannot back out." He furiously spoke with a tensed veins popped in his forehead.

I was stunned by his words. He was rubbing on my face what he has done for me. My mouth was shut and I couldn't say anything anymore. His words burden me and I simply nodded my head.

I couldn't complain to him anymore. I couldn't ask any more favors. I was already in debt to him.

With a sigh I stood up "Picked me up after two hours." I replied with a robotic voice and walked out from there.

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I took a shower and made sure I had everything I needed to move in with him.

He will be here anytime as I watch the clock tickling. It took me another hour after coming and explaining everything to Bella and Samantha. It was the first time Bella also stood there and shook her head in disappointment. And let's just say my half an hour gone calming both of them down. They were both against the idea of it but they understood how important it was for me. I was devastated leaving this home but I knew I had to do this.

"Did you pack everything?" Samantha asked as I stood in my room.

"Yeah, I think I have everything. Besides, I am only going for a short period of time. It's not like I am going to leave there forever." I explained as Bella helped me close my luggage.

Samantha let out a sigh. "What about Lily? What am I supposed to tell her if she asks why are you not here?"

"I'll drop by the hospital tomorrow. I'll explain to her don't worry." I said as I planned everything that I was going to say.

"If he hurts even a single strand of your hair, I swear I will kill him." Samantha cupped my cheeks and I nodded with a smile.

"Promise me Ava. Just promise me that when you come back, everything will go back to normal and you'll be alright?" Samantha held my hand making me promise.

"I promised." I assure her with a smile.

"Well, we should go downstairs." I told her and took my luggage and Sam took another helping me carry them downstairs.

As if on queues, the buzzer rang in the moving room and Bella ran to 'Open' the door zooming past us in full speed.

Marcello was sitting at the couch as Bella was carrying a glass of water for him. I rolled my eyes at her fan girl behaviour. Marcello eyes me and then at the frame which was hanging at the centre of the room. Everyone will notice it first if they sit there. It was a picture of my father and mother. They were smiling at each other as my mother was the same age as me. I was a complete replica of my mother. Same hazel brown eyes and the same hair colour.

Just as I stepped in the last stair, Marcello came forward, taking the bag from me. "It's okay. I can carry it." I told him, refusing his help.

But he ignored me and took the bag like it weighted nothing. I scoff and mutter under my breathe "Show off."

Samantha descended next and suddenly I could feel the tension and awkwardness in the room so I decided to break it off and clasped my hand together. "Okay, why don't we get going."

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MARCELLO TROCELLI P.O.V

Ava made her way out of the house and I followed her carrying the bag but stopped as I heard my name.

"Marcello." Ms. Harper called.

I glanced at her with a sigh thinking another argument will start any time. But there was something telling me deep down, Ms. Harper was right. Her behaviour was the same as Rafael and that made me nervous. My palm became sweaty.

I was a businessman and it was normal to meet other people, but I am trying my best to impress this woman who doesn't let go of any chance to insult me.

"Yes?" I answered.

"I'll be honest with you, I really don't like this set up, contract whatever it is. But Ava is something else. You don't know her well but living with her you will understand how pure hearted girl she is." She started. "I don't think she knows what she's getting herself into."

Her words made me remember Rafael. He told me the same thing. It was like I was again listening to Raf. They are on the same page, saying the same thing but with different wordings.

"It's very easy to manipulate and play with her feelings. She can be easily taken advantage of without her knowing until she's hurting. And as a friend who grew up with her, I saw her losing everything, her grieving, her loneliness. Be sensitive with her and be careful with her heart. She will start liking you and I am damn sure about that. Because you have already made your way in her life. I just don't want her to come home one day with a broken heart. And you don't want to know what I am capable of doing." She threatened.

I was beyond shock. My eyes were wide with fright. For the time in my life, I don't have anything to say. Ava might fall in love with me? I couldn't grasp that line.

Can I just say, she was just blabbering out of concern. I just nodded my head and I was so relieved when she gave the bag to me.

It didn't take long, safely putting all the luggage inside the trunk of the car. "Take care of yourself and my number is on the speed dial, call me if something goes wrong." Samantha informed Ava and pulled her into a hug.

"Don't stress yourself too much and take care of yourself." Ava kissed Ms. Harper's cheeks.

Next that red hair girl, what was her name.... Bella. She hugs and whispers something making Ava cheeks red.

I watched them in amusement as Ms.Harper slapped that red head making her scream in pain. I wasn't surprised watching these three girls bond because I also have these same things. Friendship is another kind of family which is hard to live. It is like till death do us apart.

Ava sat inside the car and I had this urge to ask her if she was fine. "Are you okay?" I asked her as I ignited the car.

"Yeah." She nodded.

"But I needed to visit someone. Will you take me please." I nodded in response.

But it still bothers me not knowing where we are going. I thought before driving to the route which she directed."

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