Hundred and Forty–Eight
Isabella’s POV
“I’m perfectly fine,” I repeated to Alexander in a shaky voice.
He was staring at me with worry in his eyes as I stared down at the gift basket that had just come in that contained Antonio’s mask, the same mask as the mask I had chosen for Alexander for the pack party.
“Are you sure? You look pale as a sheet!” He said as he stretched his hand to feel my temperature.
“I am, I just feel a bit sick…it’s probably hormones. I have to go.” I said and stood up abruptly, clutching the letter that I was a hundred and one percent sure was from Antonio now.
“I’ll come with you!” Alexander stood and I shook my head.
“No, no. I’m fine, finish your dinner.” I encouraged him.
“The hell I will. You look like you are about to keel over,” He yelled, pulling me back to him to check my temperature again.
“I’m fine, I promise.” I plastered a fake smile on my face, “I’ll be back You don’t always have to go everywhere with me, I can take care of myself, Xander. I’m just going to go pee,” I explained, surprised at how calm my voice came out.
Alexander stared at me for the longest time before he reluctantly, let go of me. I turned around almost as soon as he freed me, ready to get out of the kitchen and go somewhere -anywhere that wasn’t here.
“Lisa dear, can you bring that gift basket up with me?” I said to Lisa
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with a surprisingly even voice, a far cry from what I was feeling which was complete fear.
“Yes, Luna,” Lisa said and walked up to the gift basket.
I could feel Alexander’s eyes on me as I left the dining hall. Even without him saying anything more, I knew he was worried
I climbed up the stairs in careful, measured steps, hoping I didn’t fall from the shock I was in. Antonio had crossed the line by sending a gift basket to my home with his mask inside. He was sending a message -a message I did not appreciate.
I knew this was his cunning and vindictive way of trying to gain my attention and the realization irked me. He knew exactly what he was doing. He knew the right time to send in the gift basket and he knew to put in the mask. It was good Alexander didn’t think much of it. I had no idea what I would have said.
My head was reeling with too many thoughts. How did he know I was pregnant? How did he know the perfect time to send the gift basket? I felt like puking my guts out and it wasn’t just because of my hormones.
I wasn’t exactly sure when and how had I got to my private quarters as the scene after receiving Antonio’s gift was a blur but I was glad I was finally in the comfort of my privacy where I could think properly.
“Ma’am, are you alright?” Lisa asked after she dropped the gift basket on my coffee table.
“I’m just fine, thank you, Lisa,” I said to the maid in my best stable voice. She looked at me with uncertainty before hesitantly walking
away.
“If you need anything, anything at all, don’t hesitate to call on me.” She said and I nodded, appreciating her sweetness.
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“I’ll be sure to.”
The door closed behind her and I immediately opened the envelope and took out the letter to read.
“Hello my dear Luna, as you have been able to tell, by the mask in the gift basket it is I, Antonio.
I would like to congratulate you on your expectancy and give you an opportunity to learn about who you plan on producing an heir for
It seemed like the last time we met left you with some doubts. Allow me to clarify and clear your doubts.
Meet me at the northern border tomorrow night if you want to find out about the true nature of Alexander or your dear husband finds out about our little meeting.
Congratulations on your pregnancy again my love.
Yours A.”
I threw the letter across the room with so much force I sprained my wrist.
My mind was a mess of confusion. On one hand, I was curious to know what Antonio had to say, on the other hand, I didn’t want to believe Alexander had anything to do with the murder of my parents.
He had after all been the one to kill their murderers who for some reason I knew nothing about. I stood up abruptly and walked up to the gift basket on top of my coffee table and picked up the mask.
How dare he?
How dare he threaten me?
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I was beyond livid at his game to try and get me to come see him. Stubbornly, I decided I wouldn’t be going to see him but I knew immediately that that was not a practical decision.
If I didn’t meet his demands, I was positive he would do something completely unhinged that would get me in trouble with Alexander. The mask he had added to the gift basket was proof enough that Antonio was not to be messed with.
I paced my room, trying to figure out what I was going to do. Do I tell Alexander about Antonio and save myself from future problems or do I go see Antonio and save face not to mention satisfy my curiosity?
“Ugh!” I groaned as I plopped down on my bed still confused about
what to do.
I took out my phone and decided to dial Chloe, she’d know what to do. She picked up on the first ring.
“Hey, Bella.” She said simply, her voice groggy like she had just been roused from a nap.
“Chloe…” I spoke into the phone and that was when I broke down into
tears.
“I need you to pull yourself together Isabella,” She said through the phone after I finished explaining to her my dilemma. It was becoming harder and harder to keep it together. I was between a rock and a hard place. “First of all, not telling Alexander about Antonio was a terrible move on your part but it’s not too late to tell him now.”
“But what if he hates me for keeping it from him?” I asked, genuinely afraid that this would cause a rift between me and Alexander I was positive it would.
“He won’t. Alexander loves you to death and you know it, babe. Sure
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he’ll be upset but it’s nothing compared to what he’d do to Antonio. You need to let him know.”
“But what if he’s actual responsibility for their death, Chloe, what if Alexander killed my parents?” I asked the question I had been avoiding even thinking about.
There was a huge possibility that Antonio was lying but there was an equal possibility that he was telling the truth about Alexander and the realization brought fresh tears to my eyes.
“You know Alexander would never do that. Antonio is only trying to get into your head. Don’t let him, Isabella” Chloe warned. “Hell, you can’t let him.”
I wish it were that simple. She was right, I should have told Alexander about Antonio, in fact, I should tell him now.
The door to my room creaked open and I glanced over to the door to see Alexander walking in. “I have to go. Xander just came in.” I told Chloe.
“Tell him about it!” Chloe said before I hung up.
I turned to Alexander. “I told you I was fine Xander!” I said wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.
“I know. I was worried.” He said softly as he walked towards me. “Is everything okay? Why are you crying?” he asked as he got closer to me, pulling me into his chest.
“I’m not,” I said, even though it was very clear that I had been crying.
“Tell me what’s wrong!” Alexander demanded.
I pulled away from him and he let me. “Nothing, I just…I miss my
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parents. Every time I get a gift, it’s a reminder that my mom and dad will not be present for their grandchild’s birth.”
“Oh, baby…” Alexander said, pulling me into a hug, and for some reason that action caused me to start sobbing.
“Shhh, shhh.” Alexander rubbed my back from top to bottom as he led me to the bed.
“Hey, don’t cry.” He said, trying to soothe my pain. “Listen to me, I know it’s hard right now but just think how proud of you they are now. I know somewhere in heaven they are watching over you and I like angel. We might not be able to see them but I assure you, they will always be with you.”
Inodded and let him wipe the tears from my eyes.
“Xander?” I called ten minutes later after I had calmed down. We were both lying in bed with me lying on his chest.
“Yes?” He answered as stroked my hair with his fingers.
“Who killed my parents?”
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