The Mafia's Forbidden Bride (The Whole Book)

Forbidden Encounter

Six years later...

*Bella*

"No!!!"

I screamed, waking up with heavy breathing and sweating profusely.

The nightmare had returned. Ever since my accident three years ago, I had been haunted by these dreams. Though the visuals weren't clear and I couldn't recall anything specific, the blurry image of a man sitting beside me while my car hit the truck still tormented me in my dreams.

It had been three years since the accident, yet the events of that day remained a mystery to me. When I regained consciousness in the hospital after the incident, I found myself only with the scars as remnants of that cruel event. The accident had left my uterus so wounded that conceiving in the future became an impossibility. The worst part was the complete blankness in my memory for the entire previous year as if it had been erased from my mind. The doctors advised me against forcing myself to remember, suggesting that the memories might return naturally over time.

They were right. Whenever I tried to forcefully recall that day, I was met with a sharp headache, as if my mind was resisting the memories. It felt as though my head might explode if I continued to push for those forgotten moments.

Due to the situation, my parents sent me away from Florence, but I had a feeling that they were intentionally trying to keep me away from the city. They didn't want to talk about that year, and I couldn't fathom why they were hiding something from me.

I finished my internship and started working at a hospital in Rome. Yet, a part of me felt blank because of those forgotten memories.

The sound of the alarm clock going off startled me, pulling me back to the present.

I groggily pressed my hand on the alarm clock to shut it up and reached for the photo frame containing a picture of my family: Mom, Dad, and Ric, my younger brother.

My parents were the epitome of an ideal couple, living out a real-life fairy tale. My dad, Matteo Romano, was the best dad in the world, always there for us. My mom, Anna Romano, on the other hand, was the embodiment of perfection in every aspect of her life. She was fortunate to have married the man she loved and achieved success in every aspect of life- a loving husband, a successful business, and a picture-perfect family life. I admired her so much. I wanted to be just like her, to have a perfect life like hers.

Taking a deep breath and stretching my arms above my head, I prepared to get off my bed and get ready for the day.

Within half an hour, I left for work. I developed a fear of driving a car after my accident, and I never drove after that day. However, the hospital where I work was nearby, so I chose to walk daily.

As I walked across the street, I oddly sensed someone's eyes on me. I halted in my tracks and looked around the busy street, but I couldn't see anyone. I didn't know why, but these days, I often felt like someone was secretly watching me or following me. Maybe I was imagining things, but I couldn't shake off this feeling.

I hastened my pace and hurried toward the hospital. Upon entering, a wave of relief washed over me. After regaining my composure, I resumed my tasks for the day.

__________________

"Why did they have to change management?" Dr. Olivia D'Angelo groaned as she approached the coffee machine. "God knows what changes they will bring to the hospital," she sighed, leaning against the wall. I shook my head, amused by her dramatic expression.

"Do you know who the new MD is?" Dr. Sarah Allegro asked, placing a cup under the coffee machine.

Olivia and Sarah had become my friends in this new place, and because of them, I quickly settled into my workplace.

"It's still a mystery," Olivia sighed.

"Why did they need to sell it? The hospital was running so well," Sarah questioned, her brows furrowing.

"I have no idea. However, I heard the new owner bought the hospital at a good price," Olivia replied as Sarah took her cup, and Olivia placed hers.

"That's strange," Sarah mused.

"Not really. People invest when they foresee profits," I joined their conversation after listening for a while, filling my cup with coffee after Olivia removed hers.

"Yeah," Olivia agreed.

"The only odd thing is that the new management shuffled the shifts of a few doctors strangely, and even Dr. Costa's schedule has been changed. So, Dr. Bella..." Olivia trailed off with a mischievous smile, clearly enjoying teasing me, "You won't be able to catch a glimpse of him," she teased as she sipped her coffee.

"Olivia?!" I protested, feeling my cheeks heat up. "Dr. Costa and I aren't together."

Dr. Orlando Costa was a very famous general surgeon. I had assisted him a few times. He was a very nice and handsome man, as well as a highly successful surgeon. Any girl would consider herself lucky if he pursued her. However, the problem was, I didn't feel that way. Despite this, when rumors began circulating about affairs between Dr. Costa and me, I gave him hints that I needed time and space. Nevertheless, he persisted in pursuing me, constantly pestering me, which led me to begin avoiding him.

"Is that so?" Sarah smirked. "Well, even if that's the case, this new management seems to have gone out of its way to keep you two apart," she remarked playfully. I rolled my eyes while both of my friends laughed amusingly.

Just then, a broadcast message popped up, instructing us to gather in the conference hall as the new managing director was coming to visit the hospital.

"Who do you think it will be?" Sarah inquired eagerly, steering our discussion toward the new managing director.

"Ah, we're going to find out soon enough," Olivia waved her hand, looking uninterested.

As we entered the conference hall, a sea of people had already gathered.

"What's going on?" I inquired, turning to Dr. Christopher for information.

He leaned in and whispered, "The new MD is going to address everyone today. But he hasn't come yet. Everyone is waiting for him."

“Do you know who he is?” I asked curiously in a hushed voice.

“No information about him is shared. He is still a mystery,” he shrugged.

Olivia let out a bored yawn, while Sarah rolled her eyes. It was evident that we were in for a tedious conference.

After a brief wait, the old management staff entered with the new management team, but the new MD was not with them. A senior executive took the mic and began an introductory speech, briefing everyone on the details of the takeover. The speech was as tedious as always, prompting me to take out my phone to check my emails.

Suddenly, all eyes turned toward the entrance as heavy footsteps echoed, followed by a multitude of lighter steps, indicating the arrival of the new Managing Director. Uninterested, I remained engrossed in checking my phone.

"Everyone, please welcome our new MD, Mr. Vincenzo Leonardi," the mention of the name made me snap my head in the direction everyone else was looking.

And then, the new Managing Director strode in, prompting everyone to rise in a show of respect. There he was, exuding an air of dominance and authority, flanked by bodyguards and his assistants.

Wait?!

What?!

Vincenzo Leonardi was our new MD?!

I couldn't believe my eyes, but it was true: the new Managing Director was none other than Vincenzo Leonardi.

"OMG, Vincenzo Leonardi is the new MD. If I had known, I would have retouched my makeup before coming here," Olivia whispered while her eyes remained fixed on Vincenzo.

"Yeah, if they had informed us in advance, I would have worn my sexy blouse today," Sarah sighed, ogling Vincenzo.

Glancing around, I noticed more women looking at him as if he were a delectable piece of cake.

The moment he entered the room, a towering figure at 6 feet 5 inches, everyone's eyes were drawn to him. His broad, muscular frame seemed almost too much for his tailored gray suit to contain, hinting at the sculpted physique beneath. But it wasn't just his physical presence that commanded attention; it was the undeniable magnetism that surrounded him like a dangerous aura, making the room feel smaller in comparison to his magnificent personality.

Despite the scandals and his notorious bad boy image, he remained untouchable, yet paradoxically, it only added to his allure, making him even more desirable to both women and men alike.

However, Vincenzo remained unaffected by the curious gazes directed at him. As he took his seat, the rest of us followed suit. After a few formalities, Vincenzo began his speech.

I still couldn't understand why he needed to take over this hospital. Didn't he have more businesses than he could manage? With his infamous scandals involving leaked s*x tapes and affairs with supermodels and famous actresses, he already had enough on his plate.

However, his eyes held a cold, indifferent gaze, and his speech exuded professionalism as it resonated in his deep, stern voice. Strangely, I felt his gaze fixate on me intermittently during his speech, more than I could easily comprehend.

After his presentation and introduction of the new management staff and their role in hospital administration, the crowd began to disperse, people starting to make their way out of the hall. I, too, began to head towards the exit.

"Dr. Bella!" Vin's deep voice called out, making me halt in my steps. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before turning and facing the handsome devil.

"Mr. Leonardi!" I responded with a professional smile.

"I haven't been feeling well today. Can you please examine me?" he asked, his eyes carrying an intimidating intensity, leaving no room for refusal.

"Umm... Mr. Leonardi, you're the MD and I'm a junior doctor," I said with a shrug. "I believe it would be best for you to consult a more experienced physician. We can't take any risks with your health," I explained, nodding firmly.

"No, Dr. Bella. I don't want any other doctor but you. I trust only you to cure my ailment," he declared, a smirk playing on his lips and his hands tucking into his pockets. But his eyes remained on me as he checked me out from head to toe.

Asshole.

"Alright, Mr. Leonardi," I relented with a sigh, realizing I couldn't be harsh, giving more excuses, especially with everyone's eyes on me.

"Then, shall we proceed to the examination room?" I suggested, trying to regain a semblance of control over the situation.

"Dr. Bella, why don't you come to my office and examine me there?" Vin demanded, his tone carrying an air of command as he took a step toward me. I sucked a breath at the thought of being in his proximity.

"Well, you see, the examination room is equipped to provide a thorough check-up, which is essential for proper diagnosis," I replied, meeting his gaze with a challenge.

"No need to worry! Just tell me what you require, and I'll make sure everything you need is arranged in my office. Come on, Doctor, let's not waste time. I can feel my heartbeat accelerating by the second. And if something were to happen to me, you'd be responsible," he taunted.

"Don't worry, Mr. Leonardi. We can't afford any harm coming to you," I assured, giving him a nod before making my way out of the conference room, heading towards the MD's office. My heart raced frantically as I sensed Vin's footsteps following closely behind me.

Upon reaching his office, he held the door open for me. I flinched, finding him so close. His expensive cologne mixed with his own manly scent filled the air around me, making my heart nervously flutter. However, I promptly entered and heard him close the door behind me. Feeling trapped and frustrated, I turned abruptly to face him.

"What's going on, Vin?" I demanded annoyingly.

"So now we're on a first-name basis," he grinned, finding amusement in the situation.

"Don't change the topic. You appear perfectly fine. Why do you want me to examine you?" I countered.

"I want to ensure that the doctors in my hospital are competent and highly skilled." He shrugged as his cold face remained unreadable. "However, how can you say without examining me that I am perfectly fine?" he challenged, lifting a brow.

"So, you want to test my abilities and knowledge," I narrowed my eyes.

"I've invested significantly in this hospital. I want to ensure my doctors are well-trained and experienced," he fired back, his gaze intimidating.

"So, you're testing whether I'm qualified to be a doctor in your hospital or not," I nodded sarcastically, furrowing my brow.

"I simply want you to examine me, Bella. That's all," he sighed, giving a casual shrug.

I exhaled in frustration, closing my eyes momentarily. I decided to maintain professionalism throughout.

'Come on, Bella, he is just a patient and nothing more,' I tried to convince myself as I focused on the task at hand.

I proceeded to check his temperature by touching his forehead. My palm tingled as it touched his soft skin. I tried harder to mask my reaction.

He felt warm, but not unusually so. His skin was so soft under my palm.

Next, I held his wrist to check his pulse. It throbbed vigorously beneath my fingers. He was a vigorous, hot-blooded male, perfectly healthy. I swallowed as my gaze fell on his strong, muscular arm, covered in his shirt sleeve, with tattoos peeking through it, and I knew what hid beneath it.

"You appear to be normal," I whispered, feeling a bit breathless as his proximity seemed overwhelming.

"Check my heartbeat. It's pounding so loudly," he instructed as his voice turned huskier, catching me off guard as he suddenly took my hand and placed it on his chest.

An almost inaudible gasp escaped me, my reaction impossible to conceal. My eyes instinctively roamed over him. He was as solid as steel everywhere, his physique impeccably sculpted with more defined abs and pecs compared to previous years.

His chest heaved loudly as his warm breath fanned my face. He was very close. My heart jumped as I felt his hot gaze at me and I didn't dare to look up.

I could feel his heart pounding loudly beneath my touch, and this was far from normal. I promptly fetched a stethoscope and listened to his heartbeat. It beat so loudly that it made my own heart race.

"Everything seems normal. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong," I said, trying my best to keep my voice calm and steady.

"Really? Then why do I feel so hot when the air conditioner is functioning properly?" he whispered, his voice deep and husky, causing me to swallow hard.

"I believe you haven't conducted a thorough examination. If you stay a little longer, perhaps you'd notice something unusual," he reasoned, leaning closer.

"When do you usually feel hot, Mr. Leonardi?" I inquired, attempting not to sound as breathless as I felt at that moment, though I feared I was failing miserably.

He leaned into my shoulder, making my breath catch in my throat.

"Whenever you are near me, Dr. Bella," he whispered huskily into my ear.

Taken aback, I pulled away swiftly, feeling my face flush with warmth.

"Um... Mr. Leonardi," I responded with a professional tone, attempting to regain my composure. "From a medical perspective, you're perfectly healthy. And as for feeling hot..." I hesitated for a moment. "I might suggest taking a cold shower," I said, my gaze meeting his challenging expression as he arched an eyebrow.

But not willing to entertain further discussion, I quickly turned on my heels and made a swift exit from his office as if a ghost were chasing after me.