004

Dario POV

"Finally! The pauper is out of our lives!" Sofia exclaimed joyfully as she approached where I stood, observing the scenario that just unfolded. "Now, I have you all to myself." She kissed me.

"I have always been yours, my darling." I smiled, wrapping my hands around her waist. I kissed her passionately.

"Use your room kids!" My grandmother exclaimed.

We all burst into laughter.

I carried her into our room, where we engaged in an extended session of lovemaking.

Next morning, after breakfast, I got into the car, ready for work when my driver said something unbelievable.

"Sir, I think madam Bella is not who she claimed to be." He said, with a look of uncertainty. "What makes you say that?" I retorted impatiently as I was running late for work. "She might not be the poor countryside girl she claimed to be." He replied.

"Tell me why you said that! I'm running out of time!" I snapped, shutting the car door with annoyance.

"Last night, as she departed the mansion, I observed a car pick her up, and it was no ordinary vehicle sir, it was a limited edition Rolls-Royce phantom." He disclosed, evidently struggling to comprehend his own words.

"What! I exclaimed incredulously. You must be mistaken, she is just an ordinary countryside girl, how could such a lavish car fetch her? Did you manage to note the license plate number? I inquired, a sense of unease creeping over me.

"Yes sir, I did note down the license plate number." He dipped his hand into his pocket, and pulled out a small piece of paper, which he then handed to me.

"Hand over my phone!" I snapped at him.

"Here sir," he replied, his hands trembling with fear, as he handed me the phone.

I promptly placed a call to my P.A. "Check out this license plate number and tell me who it belongs to."

"Okay, sir." Came the response from the other end.

I ended the call, trying to focus amidst the barrage of thoughts.

"Who are you, Bella? Could you have faked your identity?"

"Focus! Dario, focus!"

Not long after, a call came through.

"Sir, I wasn't able to find out who the car belongs to. I was denied access. I think the owner must be a very influential person for their information to be kept secret." My P.A. said in one breath.

"Okay." I said, hanging up the call. "Who could it be?" I pondered.

I decided to brush the thought off my mind.

It no longer matters to me who she is.

I need to begin preparing for my wedding with Sofia Jones. I smiled at the thought.

Upon arriving at the office, I received a call from my grandmother.

"Dario, your grandfather is back! And he wants to see you." She said in hushed tones before abruptly ending the call.

"What! Why would he come at this time? He should have waited until after I married Sofia." I hissed angrily.

I summoned my driver immediately. Grandfather doesn't like to be kept waiting. "Let's head back home, grandfather is back!"

"Yes sir," he replied, driving at full speed.

The room was tense when I got home.

Grandfather sure has a commanding presence.

In his eighties, he is still looking handsome with smooth skin.

"Where is Bella?" He asked, his voice resonating with authority and a subtle hint of privilege.

I broke a sweat as fear gripped all of us except for Sofia, who stood not concerned. She detests grandfather to the core of her being.

"Oh! Darling, you didn't tell us you were returning today, we would have prepared a feast for you." Alissa went to meet him, trying to ease the tension in the room.

"Get off me!" He pushed her away in annoyance. I said where is my granddaughter-in-law! He thundered. And what is this slut doing here!" He slammed, pointing at Sofia who stood beside mother unfazed.

Everyone in the household knows how much grandfather loves and cherishes Bella. He always goes out of his way to make sure she is happy.

Few months after my marriage with Bella Robert, Diego Fowler, the feared chairman of Fowlers' Enterprise, had a severe heart disease that almost claimed his life.

He was flown to one of the world's best hospitals to receive a heart transplant.

Seeing him now was a huge surprise to everyone after three years.

Who is going to break the news to him?

"Hmm…grandfather…I…I…I mean I and Bella are divorced." My lips trembled as I managed to explain the situation.

"What! How dare you go against my order!" He roared with intense anger, causing the whole room to tremble.

"Grandfather, I have always obeyed and respected you, but not on this one!" I exclaimed in anger.

"You!" he bellowed. "I will never accept this slut as my granddaughter -in-law! I want her out of my house this instant!" He roared so loudly that it caused him to collapse, while pointing at Sofia.

Darling!" Grandmother screamed, as she ran to meet him where he lay on the floor. I called for an ambulance immediately.

He was rushed to the hospital again!

Despite our efforts to keep the media at bay, the news surged like wildfire. Reporters flooded the mansion, bombarding us with questions.

The reporters fell prey to the story my grandmother crafted.

"Oh, poor Diego!" She wailed. "He just slipped and fell, right after being discharged from the hospital. Back he went just when he thought he was free! What terrible luck! She lamented, tears cascaded from her eyes like a river.

Had I not witnessed the truth, I might have believed her lies myself.

Yet, thanks to her we escaped the clutches of the reporters.

"Thank goodness! He's no longer a part of our lives. Let's proceed with our wedding plans." Sofia remarked, seemingly unaffected by the recent event.

"Don't speak like that, he is still my grandfather. I need his consent. What if he returns?" I voiced my concern.

"We'll likely be married by then." She reassured me with a smile. "And who is to say he'll even return? He is currently incapacitated by a stroke." She added, a malicious glint flickering in her eyes.

I stared intently at her.

Could this be the Sofia whom I love? I mused.