Chapter 0004

•RAFAEL•

“Why is she here, Rafael?” Polly asked on the phone when I was on my way home.

“I married her. She’s my wife. That’s why she’s here.”

“Your wife? Are you crazy? After what her father did to our family, you married his daughter? Why?” she snapped.

“I know what I’m doing, and I have a plan. You must trust me, Polly.”

“God, no. You must get rid of her before I do something to her because I won’t tolerate this. Her father took everything from us. He ruined our lives.”

“Narra Colombo is our key, Polly. Leave her to me and don't lay your finger on her."

Polly paused for a moment before she answered. “You better not sleep with her, or I will kill her while you watch,” she answered before hanging up the call.

I knew my sister and how temperamental she could be. She wouldn't hesitate to hurt her, and I didn't want that, not when I was still working on a plan about what to do with her.

When I arrived home, I found Narra in the dining room. She was clearing the table when I walked in.

She stopped and turned around when she heard me approaching behind her.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend your sister. Is she mad at me?” She asked.

“No, she’s okay," I replied as I leaned closer. "Next time you want to have lunch, please don't invite her. Keep your mouth shut and know your place in this house."

"Yes," she nodded. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

I looked at Narra as she walked out of the room. There was something about her when she moved and talked.

But it wasn't there when we met a few weeks before the wedding. It made me hesitant to do what I had initially planned when we got married.

I followed behind her and went to my home office.

I wanted some time alone to think. I sat in the chair behind my desk and leaned back.

My cell phone rang, and I took a moment before answering.

"Hello?"

“Sir, we’ve received the stock from Montelli, and he will expect to see you at his club. Tonight at 8 PM.”

"Alright, thank you."

I hung up the call and informed my men to be ready at 6 PM.

I didn’t want to be unprepared for the meeting when Montelli might have planned something against me.

***

Later that evening, I asked Narra's assistant to prepare her for the meeting. As my wife, she had to be by my side.

“Are you going to show me off to your business associates so they will laugh at me?” She asked when the car drove to a stop outside Montelli’s nightclub.

“You’re here because Montelli knows we got married a few days ago, and I want him to meet you.”

“Your sister told me I don’t belong in your home because of what my father did. Is it the money that he owed you?”

I looked at her and scoffed. “Let’s go inside. I hate being late for my meetings.”

I hopped out of the car and opened the door for her. When we walked in, a bouncer directed us to Montelli’s VIP room.

There were strippers, waiters, and drinks inside. Narra asked to use the bathroom while I sat with Montelli and concluded our business.

My bodyguard placed the briefcase of cash on the counter, and Montelli’s men counted the money.

When they were done and confirmed it was all there, Montelli and I stood up from our chairs and shook hands.

“You are a good businessman, Sterling. Hopefully, we will work on more projects together. I am particularly interested in the new logistics business you’ve established. Think about it, and I might chip in a good amount of investment.”

“We will talk, Montelli,” I answered before I turned around and walked down the stairs to the ground floor, and that’s when I saw her.

“Let me go, Chris. Let me go,” she mumbled as I approached them and grabbed the guy by his shirt.

“You heard her, boy. Leave her alone unless you want me to break your legs,” I threatened him, pissed that he dared to approach her while she was with me.

“You will break my legs?” He laughed. “Did she tell you she was moaning my name two weeks ago? Aneira is mine.”

‘Aneira?’ I thought as I looked at her, confused because Narra’s mother told me that Aneira died a week before Narra and I got married.

“He’s mistaking me for my late sister. I don’t know him, Rafael. Please let’s leave this place.” She looked at me, and I turned and looked at the guy before I let him go with a warning.

When we got inside the car, I pressed my hand on my thigh, fighting the urge to call Jaxson to sort out the guy at the club.

For his sake, I hoped I would never bump into him ever again, or he would be a dead man.

When we got home, I closed the door and pushed Narra against the wall. I wrapped my hand around her neck and snarled.

“Were you involved with him before?”

“No, Rafael. I don’t — I don’t know him.” She was panting, her forehead sweating as she looked at me in horror.

“He called you Aneira."

“Aneira’s my late twin sister. We looked alike, and the guy thought I was her. He doesn’t know that my sister had died. You must believe me.”

“Fine,” I released my grip on her neck. “You’re my wife, and I don’t want to see another man speaking to you or even looking at you. Do you understand?”

She nodded before she hurried past me and went to her room down the hallway. She was sniffling when she disappeared into her room.

***

An hour later, after dinner, I headed upstairs to my room when I heard a commotion down the hallway.

“You’re clumsy and ugly. My brother can never be your husband, even in your grave. Do you hear me? This whole charade will be over soon when I make him see he can’t be married to the daughter of our enemy.”

“Why do you hate me?" Narra sobbed. "What have I done to you and your brother?”

“You shouldn’t be here, bastard!”

“Polly, ahh!” Narra screamed after I heard a slap.

I rushed to them and I was shocked when I found Polly cornering Narra, who had her hand on her cheek.

“Polly, what’s going on here?”

“This thing shouldn’t be here, Rafael. When is she leaving?”

I grabbed Narra’s hand and stood in front of her. “Don’t lay your hand on her again, little sister. Do you hear me? Narra is my wife, and I will handle my marriage with her the way I want.”

“I see,” she scoffed. “If she doesn’t raise our parents from the dead, she will join them,” she huffed before she walked away.