CHAPTER 04

THALIA ISABELLE

“What did he say, Hansel?” I asked him as soon as I saw him, his boss called a while ago to ask for an update.

“He said, nothing changes, if you will not go back then he will be the one to bring you back, Ms. Thalia,” Hansel problematically said and my mouth hangs open due to the unexpected turning of events. If Giovanni will go here then it will be doomed for me, other bosses will hear upon his arrival.

My feet got cold as my blood boils in every vein of my being I inhaled deeply and gritted my teeth afterward. “He is getting into my nerves!” I said to him and he look at me sympathizing due to his boss’ decision.

“I told you, Ms. Thalia. He will have you by hook or crook this time,” Hansel said and taps my shoulder the moment he passes by to go to the living room and join his buddies.

I hold tightly to the phone I am holding right now as if my sanity is on it.

What the hell is he wanted? Isn’t it enough that I suffered emotionally in his hands and he wants it for part two? I surrendered that’s why I went home despite everything; I left everything behind and continue my life here even if it was one of the darkest phases in my life.

I went to the living room but I felt my heart stops beating and I got paled, my brother, what the hell is he doing here right now?!

I saw Harris sitting on one of the sofas with Hansel and his men like a king with a murderous glare at me. He is glaring at me like he wants to kill with his sight.

“H-Harris, hehe,” I awkwardly laugh and I think I am melting slowly right now because I don’t fucking know to explain this to him when I find it hard to narrate everything that happened to me in the Netherlands.

“Thalia Isabelle Lamnelle, what is this happening right now?” my brother asked and mentioned my whole name, my heart wants to explode in fear and the seventeen degrees of the air conditioner in this area has no sense because I am sweating now.

Damn shit! I look at Hansel and throw him deadly glares because if they just went to a nearby hotel then there will be no problem!

“Don’t make me repeat it,” Harris reminded using his authoritative voice that anyone from his company who hears this tune will tremble.

“T-They are my…visitors,” I carefully said.

“That’s not what I heard from them when I asked him,” he said and pointed to Hansel who is looking at me apologetically. I inhaled deeply and look at Hansel dangerously.

Your piece of shit!

“Thalia Isabelle!” Harris shouted my name and we are all startled I saw Brickser’s men trembling from their seats and wanted to run outside the house, same with me. “They are Brickser’s men,” I admitted.

“Brickser, who? From the Netherlands?” he asked me and I nodded.

“I don’t want your head to nod; it is answerable by yes or no.”

“Yes, the Brickser from the Netherlands,” I answered honestly because there is no point in lying straightly to his face because if I lie, my brother will go mad and he might slap me for lying.

“Why they are here?”

“Don’t be shocked, Harris,” I introduced and he just arcs his eyebrow, he leaned his back on the sofa and crossed his legs. He is looking at me with those cold eyes so I held tightly onto the hem of my black shirt.

“Brickser and I got married in the Netherlands, two years ago,” I admitted the truth and somehow it felt liberating, the secret I kept in my family for two years is now revealed to my brother. I don’t know how my parents will react regarding this matter.

I look at him and it seems like he doesn’t believe it.

“Don’t joke around, Thalia,” he said seriously.

“I am not, Harris. That’s the truth and the reason why they are here is to bring me back to the Netherlands,” I admitted.

“You lied to us, you got married without our knowledge?” he questioned carefully but with heaviness on it and my heart broke. I know he is disappointed right now but what can I do? I am open to whatever he will say to me and I will accept it wholeheartedly.

“I did, Harris,” I answered.

I wasn’t ready with what he did, he made the glass coffee table turn into broken pieces of glass. He flips the table without sweat and I saw his face got reddened. He is damn mad right now. “What the fuck?!” he angrily said and kick the broken glass away from his feet.

They are all startled and their fears got more intense even Hansel who is calm a while ago wants to run away. Harris stood and went towards me and held my shoulders tightly, my eyes pooled with tears when I saw the pain in his eyes.

“It was him, who caused you the pain you felt when you came back? It was him who led you to your self-destruction, Thalia?!” he asked and I nodded as my tear fell on my cheeks. “Damn him!” he said and let me go then he headed to the wall.

He punches the wall as he screams with his anger, I signaled the men to never come with my brother because he might take his anger on them. With my trembling hands I held his hands “Stop it please,” I said while crying.

“How dare he hurt you like that, Thalia? I am mad at him but I am mad at myself more because I did not protect you, my protection wasn’t enough, I---I,” he said and can’t even form his words because of so much pain he is feeling right now so I hugged him.

“Don’t blame yourself please, Harris. Don’t do it,” I said to him and caressed his back but he just hugged me tightly. “The day we thought we are going to lose you feared me the most,” he whispered in my ears and my heart hurts even more because he looks so powerless right now, far from being high and mighty.

So when the raging sea got calm I explained everything to him privately.

“What? So he married you for his vengeance?” Harris asked and his jaws tightened as his fists closed tightly and I nodded. “What a bullshit!” he hissed.

“So what’s your plan? I heard from Hansel that he will come here and the society will know his arrival, Daddy will be notified,” Harris said with concern in his voice so I inhaled deeply. “I have decided, I will let our parents know about this one,” I said to him.

“All right, let’s go home,” my brother invited and I agreed with him.

I will not let this day end without confessing to our parents and once I saw Giovanni I will kick him for putting a lot of pressure on me right now. I informed the men who will be left in this house and Hansel suggested that he will come with us to further explain.

“No, just stay here,” I told to him.

“Let him be if he wants to see the representative from hell,” my brother joked and Hansel paled. “I’m just joking, Ms. Thalia,” he said with conviction so I just nodded at him.

“Don’t scare them, you know that Daddy is not joining the group anymore,” I told to my brother, and smirked at me as he open the door of his car. “He may not be the boss but he is still the boss, Thalia Isabelle,” he said.

I did not bring my car because I am not in the mood to drive safely I am nervous at the moment because I am afraid about our parents will react. “Harris, don’t tell them the reason why we got married,” I told to him and he nodded.

“Sure,” he said. I trust his word because he rarely breaks his words.

I feel like I am in a hot seat and they are going to interrogate me, we are at our parent's house and I saw my father staring at me coldly. While my mother is patiently waiting for me to speak up and Audrey is waiting too but my brother is smirking like shit, he is teasing me!

“Thalia Isabelle, will you speak or not?” my father asked impatiently and he earned a hit from Mommy. “Don’t pressure her,” Mommy said and she smiled at me gently.

Will I be able to destroy her smiling face right now?

I am sorry, Mommy. I deeply am. I inhaled deeply and hold onto my shirt’s hem tightly to get courage and strength.

“Family, I am married to Giovanni Flynn Brickser from the Netherlands,” I bravely announced and I heard my brother whistling so I threw a death glare at him. He is not helping!

My mother and Audrey’s mouths opened and close while Daddy is staring at me waiting for me to retract my words but I just nodded to confirm his question in his head.

“Shit!” he cussed and stood up, he went a few meters away from me and his hands are on his waist. I looked down and played with my fingers. My tears are in my eyes and waiting to fall. “What the hell?” I heard him ask in the air; probably he can’t still accept it.

“How did it happen, Thalia? Why did you marry a stranger? He is a damn mafia boss!” Daddy said and the rest gasped for what they have learned about Giovanni.

Wherever you are asshole, I hope you will not live peacefully! I curse you to hell!

“I married him, Daddy.”

“Lauren, look at the decision of your daughter had made. She serves herself in a lion’s den,” Daddy said and pointed his finger at me. He is not mad; he is more likely disappointed and sad. If he is mad then he reacted violently.

“Is he the reason why you went home damaged two years ago, Thalia?” Daddy dangerously asked and I nodded as my tears fall to my cheeks. “Where is he?” he asked me.

“He is coming home, Daddy,” Harris answered because I wasn’t able to speak up anymore and Audrey noticed it so she came and comforted me.

“Tell him to meet us, Thalia Isabelle. We have lots of things to talk about, Thalia,” Daddy calmly said and my head rose to see him and he is standing in front of me now. So I stood up and hug him, my tears burst out like a fall.

“I am sorry, Daddy. I am sorry for not telling you about this earlier,” I said to him between my cries and I felt him nod. “I understand if you did not tell us this earlier, you are too damaged to speak up. I should’ve been there for you, I am not at you, I am mad at myself for not protecting my princess,” he stated and that made me guiltier.

After we calmed down I told them some details, the only thing that I did not tell is Giovanni’s reason for our marriage, and that he might be assassinated by our group. I won’t allow that or else we’ll face another mafia war.

Our family accepted it but it doesn’t mean that Giovanni is acknowledged in our family because he isn’t…yet.

“Your brother will drive you back home, Thalia,” Mommy said and caressed my cheek like she used to do when I was still a child and I love it every time she does this. “Thank you so much, Mommy. For everything,” I emotionally said and sniff.

“Thalia, whatever shapes you can be, I am your mother and I will never turn my back on you,” she said and I hugged her.

While we are waiting for my brother’s car to come out of the garage, Audrey is teasing me with some married activities. “Now you know whenever I tell you something hot and spicy,” she teased me. My face heated up and glared at her.

“Stop it,” I told her but she’s teasing me more and she even tickles me ending us laughing. “When will you give me another baby niece or nephew?” I asked her and it was my turn to tease her. “I told to your brother that I want another baby but he refused it because he can’t still get over that he fainted,” she said and laughs afterward.

My brother drives me back home and the moment I entered the gate he maneuvered his car to go home now. I felt free now and there is no more satisfying than telling the truths to everyone who needs to know. My heart is not heavy…unless he shows up in front of me. My forehead creased when I noticed the ambiance around my house although the lights are on and their cars are parked.

So to end my confusion I went inside the house and I was shocked to see who is sitting on one of the sofas like he owned the place with his crossed legs and his deep brown eyes staring at me deeply like it digs my soul.

“Oh you’re here,” I mockingly said to him and acted like I am surprised to see him.

It’s been two years since I last saw him and nothing changes, my hatred for him intensified but since he chose to come here then I will let him feel the hatred I have for him. I am not going to revenge but I will just show him what he truly deserves.

“Hello, my wife,” he greeted back and what he said made my blood boil with anger toward him. How dare he call me wife when he never treated me as one?