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CHAPTER NINETEEN : MORE THAN A GIFT.
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2026-11-04 11:51:07By the time they arrived at the mansion, Isabella was still thinking about the mall.
She had received expensive gifts before, but never anything like this. Alessandro had bought an entire shopping mall and placed it in her name as though he were buying her a bouquet of flowers.
She glanced at him as they walked into the house.
“Alessandro?”
He loosened his tie. “Yes?”
“Can I ask you something?”
“You never need permission to ask me anything.”
She hesitated. “Why do you do these things?”
He stopped walking.
“What things?”
“Buying me an entire mall. Giving me expensive things. Making people apologize to me.” She lowered her eyes. “You don't have to do all that.”
He studied her for a moment.
“Do you think I do it because I feel obligated?”
“I don't know.”
He stepped closer, gently lifting her chin.
“Your father made you feel as though you were something he could exchange for money. I won't have you believing that your worth depends on what someone is willing to pay for you.”
Isabella's throat tightened.
“I know you didn't treat me that way.”
“Then believe me when I say you deserve more than the life you were given.”
She looked away, fighting the tears gathering in her eyes.
Alessandro sighed and brushed his thumb across her cheek.
“Sweetheart, I didn't buy that mall to make you indebted to me. I bought it because I wanted to.”
She managed a small smile.
“You really are impossible.”
A faint smile touched his lips.
“I'm told that quite often.”
Later that evening, Isabella found Alessandro in his study.
He was reviewing documents with Marco, but when he saw her standing at the doorway, he immediately put them aside.
“Come in.”
She entered, holding a small shopping bag.
“I wanted to show you something.”
He gestured towards the chair beside his desk.
“What did you buy?”
She opened the bag and brought out a simple cream-coloured dress.
“This one.”
He examined it.
“It's beautiful.”
“You didn't even look properly.”
“I don't need to. You chose it.”
She laughed softly and placed the dress back inside.
Then her expression became thoughtful.
“Alessandro, there's something else.”
He leaned back.
“I'm listening.”
“Today, when you ordered your guards to hurt those women, I was frightened.”
His face changed.
“Of them?”
She shook her head.
“Of you.”
Silence settled between them.
Isabella quickly continued.
“I know they were cruel to me. I know you were angry because of what happened. But sometimes, when you become angry, I don't know what you might do.”
Alessandro looked down at the papers on his desk.
He had heard people say they feared him countless times. It had never bothered him.
Hearing it from his wife was different.
“Did I make you feel unsafe today?”
“A little.”
He nodded slowly.
“I won't pretend I can become a different man overnight, Isabella. There are things I've done that I cannot undo. But I don't want you afraid to speak to me.”
She looked at him.
“Then promise me something.”
“What?”
“Before you punish someone because of me, listen to what I have to say. I don't want to be the reason someone gets hurt.”
He watched her for a long moment.
“I can promise to listen.”
“Thank you.”
He reached for her hand, but paused before touching it.
“May I?”
She nodded.
He took her hand and kissed her fingers.
“You are allowed to disagree with me, Isabella. Even when I'm angry.”
A small smile appeared on her face.
“I'm beginning to discover that.”
That night, Isabella was already in bed when Alessandro entered their bedroom.
He changed into his sleeping clothes and climbed into bed beside her.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Isabella shifted closer.
“Alessandro?”
“Hm?”
“Would you be angry if I asked you to teach me something?”
He turned towards her.
“What would you like to learn?”
“More about your businesses. Not just the things you showed me before. I want to understand how everything works.”
His eyebrows lifted slightly.
“Why?”
She played with the edge of the blanket.
“Because I don't want to remain helpless. I want to understand the world I married into. I also want to be able to make decisions for myself.”
He studied her face.
There was still shyness in her eyes, but something else was beginning to appear beneath it.
Determination.
“I'll arrange it,” he said. “You can spend time with the managers of our companies. Learn about the accounts, investments and operations.”
Her face brightened.
“Really?”
“Really.”
She smiled, then hesitantly rested her head against his shoulder.
Alessandro slipped an arm around her.
“There's one condition,” he murmured.
She lifted her head.
“What?”
“You stop thinking you have to earn your place beside me.”
Her smile faded into something more tender.
“I'll try.”
He kissed her forehead.
“That's enough for tonight.”
She settled against him again, and he held her until her breathing became slow and steady.
But just as he was about to close his eyes, her voice interrupted the quiet.
“Alessandro?”
“Yes, sweetheart?”
She lifted her face towards him.
“Can I kiss you?”
For the first time that night, he went completely still.
Then he looked into her eyes.
“Are you sure, Isabella?”
She nodded, her cheeks turning pink.
He leaned closer, but allowed her to close the remaining distance.
And when her lips finally met his, Alessandro realised that this small kiss meant more to him than every expensive gift he had ever given her.
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