Mia's POV As soon as the car stopped at the giant entry gate of the Leonardi mansion, my heart started pounding, ready to come out of my chest. My heart beat raced at speed as fast as a rocket. I was nervous about meeting my in-laws officially for the first time after marriage. I hadn't interacted much at my wedding. I felt my legs were shaking enough not to make me walk straight. I mustered all my strength and told myself that I could do this. I can survive this. I took a deep breath in and out. I saw as the gate opened and the car went inside, a beautiful garden came into sight, following a marble stone path towards the mansion. Many beautiful and colourful varieties of exotic flowers were planted on both sides of the lane. I was mesmerized to look at the beautiful and perfectly maintained garden. I would have liked to relish the scenery outside the Leonardi mansion if I was not so nervous now. The car stopped in front of the mansion porch. Sam got out of the car first, and
Mia's POVXavier was hiding something. I didn't like that he wasn't sharing his problems with me."Xavier, I haven't seen you smiling so much in these years," Anna's voice caught my attention. "I didn't think you smiled throughout your life as much as you are smiling today," she said sarcastically.A frown reappeared on Xavier's face, and his cold aura was back. The scary and dangerous Xavier Leonardi had returned."That's none of your business. I won't act according to you," he warned her in his dangerous tone.Why did she have to mention that? Did she not like her brother smiling?"Yes, brother Xavier, you are behaving differently today," the twins Enzo and Lorenzo said together and began laughing.Xavier stopped eating and glared at the twins."Xavier!" Xavier's father called.Xavier's head snapped towards his father. "Yes, Dad!" His voice was emotionless."Finish your dinner and meet me at the bar. I have something to discuss urgently with you," his father said, and Xavier nodded
Xavier's POV I refilled my glass and took a sip. Closing my eyes, I relished the smoothness of the oldest scotch from my father's collection. When I opened my eyes to take another sip, I saw Matteo staring at me with some amusement on his face. "What?" I scoffed and asked. "I know. You were not pretending at the dinner," he said with a smirk on his face, and I wanted to punch him to wipe that smug smile off his face. I narrowed my eyes and raised my eyebrows. "What do you mean?" "I mean, the way you were behaving with Mia, it wasn't an act, was it?" He raised his chin in a challenge. I didn't want to answer this question because I couldn't. I myself didn't know why I felt different when I was with Mia. I was supposed to be heartless and ruthless with everyone. All my ego and anger subsided whenever she came in front of me. I couldn't understand what was happening to me. Then how could I tell him? I ignored his question, swirling the drink in my glass, and took another sip. "X
8 years ago…Mia’s pov. Rain was pouring down outside and here my mother’s eyes were flooding inside of our house. It was past midnight and my father hadn’t come yet . My mother was cleaning the kitchen about nth times just to kill the time while waiting for her husband and sobbing in her tears. A sound of switching of a car’s engine came and the doors of the car opened and closed with a thud and the sound of footsteps grew louder. Door was jerked open and the huge frame of my father came into sight. He was holding a beautiful lady in his arms. I didn’t like seeing her with my father. She was literally clinging on to him. He entered the house and threw his gaze on my mother, full of disgust . “Why are you still there? I don’t want to see your face when I come home. Get lost and never come in front of my eyes. You spoiled my mood.” He spat out with so much hatred in his voice. “I was waiting for you. I was worried , it was raining heavily outside and you hadn’t come home.” My mot
Xavier’s pov.“No. I won’t marry a low blood like her.” I roared. “Xavier please try and understand. We don’t have any choice. We need to make this deal as soon as possible.” My mother tried to convince me. She knew that another conflict was going to start between my father and me and she always tried to form a bridge between us. “But I was supposed to marry Valerio‟s other daughter. Then why had they changed the plan?” I was frustrated. “We don’t know, son, why they interchanged the brides. But they requested as this marriage will only last for three years and not a real one.” My mother explained in her gentle voice but I was not in the mood to listen to her. “What do you want mom? For your business deal you want to tie me to a low blood. I can’t even tolerate standing beside her. You want me to spend my whole life with her. Are you a serious mom?” I threw my hand in frustration and huffed. “Son, you have to marry her. This is for my business and I don’t accept a NO from you.
Mia’s pov”You are going to get married to Xavier Leonardi.” My father said abruptly. My eyes widened in shock. I could not believe that I heard him correctly. I waited for him to continue but he remained silent. Then I took the chance to ask him, “Wasn’t Kara going to marry him?” “Oh no. I won’t marry him. I can’t marry a playboy like him and also only for three years? No way!” Kara said, observing her fingernails. “But we have to form this alliance for merging our businesses. That’s why there has to be a marriage between the two families.” My stepmother Andrea said. “…and why do you think we have invested so much into you? Because one day we can use you in a business deal.” I could not believe what I was hearing from my own family. My own father wanted me to exchange for a business deal. My whole life was nothing but just business for them like I was some non living stuff in their house. I swallowed hard before daring to say something in front of my father. I never answered h
Xavier's pov. I entered and she closed the door. Turning towards me she ran her eyes over me. "Hey baby! What happened ? You didn't look at me, neither did you admire me." She complained in her seductive voice. "I had a very bad day." I told her sternly. "Let me make it up to you. I'll make you feel so good that you will forget about this bad day." She sat on my lap, wrapping her arms around my neck. Her sweet smell invaded my nose. Her touch was soothing. I took a deep breath. I needed a release and I have only a week to live my life freely . I knew my father made sure for his reputation that I would be tied to that Valerio girl. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her closer. I tucked my finger beneath her chin and made her face lift up to my level. I slammed my lips onto her, kissing the life out of her. When I was done kissing her, she was left breathless and panting heavily. Clutching the corner of her dress, I pulled it over her head and threw it aside. Unbuckling my
Mia's POVI was wearing a white gown waiting in the bridal room for my stepmother to take me to the wedding hall. I hadn't met Xavier Leonardi. But I heard about him that he was a big playboy and a successful businessman. He was one of the richest persons in the world and that scared me to death. I was scared to have the same fate like my mother. I was completely freaking out. I wanted to run away from this freaking wedding. But I couldn't leave my father hanging in the middle of a business deal. Plus so many people and media people had come for the wedding. I couldn't back out and embarrass my father in front of these people. Andrea had come and took me to the aisle where my father was waiting for me smiling. I saw for the first time him smiling at me. My heart became happy. But I knew it was only for the show in front of these people. He stretched his elbow for me and I held his elbow, hooking my hand around him. "Mia, I expect you to behave properly in front of these people.