Bargain Bride The Billionaires Forced Wife

IN A SMALL AND OLD TREEHOUSE, Chiara slowly cut her medium-rare steak while smiling at the handsome man sipping his wine in front of her. As she put the small part of her food to her mouth to savor it, the man's eyes landed on her before giving her a playful wink.

"What's going on in that pretty head of yours, babe? You've been staring at me for a while now," the man asked his girlfriend while smirking.

Chiara put her palm on her jaw as she smiled at him. "I just can't believe that it's been four years since I said yes to you," she let out a breathe of happiness and relief.

"That was the happiest day of my life, babe," the man said as he reached for Chiara's hand and softly caresses it with his thumb.

"There will be more years ahead of us. I promised that I will marry you, right?" he added.

Chiara nodded with determination. "Yeah, I won't forget that. I've always wanted to marry you."

The man suddenly stood up, walked around the table, and knelt beside Chiara. This made the woman turn her body to her side.

"Babe, what are you doing?" she asked. "Stand up. The floor will ruin your clothes."

But the man didn't waiver. He just smiled at her before touching her right hand.

"Simone?" Chiara cold her boyfriend when he put her hand on his chest.

Simone looked up at her before smiling. "I know that I have my own lapses. I'm not yet successful and rich enough to support you. There are a lot of richer and prettier men compare to me, but you chose me. Thank you, babe."

Chiara's eyes started to swell. "Silly! Of course, I will choose you. I love you!"

"And I love you too, babe. I love you so much," he kissed her hand softly. "You're the best woman in my eyes. You're intelligence makes you so sexy. The way you carried yourself cannot be compare to others. Your smile brightens up my lonely days. You laugh sounds melodic in my ears. Everything about you is so perfect. You're perfect."

It is not the first time Chiara heard those compliments from Simone, but she can't help but shed a tear everytime this happens. Her heart's starting to warm her whole body, as if those words from her boyfriend is enough to make her function.

"I'm not perfect, babe, but I'm trying. I want to be the best version of myself... for you," she responded while drying the tears flowing down her face.

Simone stood up and used his thumb to help her. His huge hands covered both sides of Chiara's face.

"I promise to be with you for the rest of our lives. I promise to fight against whatever hinders our way. I vow to cherish, protect, and love you every day. I commit to give you the happiness you deserve and to be a responsible partner. I will be there in your ups, and comfort you in your downs," his face moved closer to hers before whispering his heart out. "I love you."

"I love you too. I love you more," Chiara responded.

Their lips met as they hugged each other's bodies. For them, this intimate act is enough to express how they love each other.

They've been friends since childhood. It was Chiara who fell first, and she fell hard.

Staring at her boyfriend, Chiara cannot imagine how she will live if her man is not on her side. Whenever she's afraid, Simone is right there to comfort and protect her. He's her knight-in-shining-armor. Her savior.

"I want us to marry as soon as possible, but I don't want to pull you into the next level if I still don't have the means to give you a comfortable life," Simone spoke, breaking the silence.

Chiara looked up at him. "My family's well off. I can support for the both of us. We can survive for a couple of years with my money. I'm sure that after that time, you're already successful."

Simone shook his head, earning a pout from his girlfriend. "I want to prove myself, not just to you, but also to you parents."

"I want to be the man they could be proud of. A man who will not depend on their daughter's fortune," he answered. "Just a few more years and it'll come true. Besides, we're still young."

Chiara smiled. Her man is always a responsible and independent one.

Even though she really wanted them to get married now, she respected her partner's decision. She understood that it is difficult to build success from scratch.

Simone's starting his business, and is striving really hard to put in on top. Of course, she's supportive and willing to extend help by promoting his business to her parents' business partners.

"Promise me one thing," Chiara spoke.

"Sure, what is it, babe?"

She took a deep breath before speaking. "Marry me before I turned 27."

Simone's eyebrows furrowed for a short span of time before smiling. "Why 27? That's a very specific number babe."

She buried her face on his chest. "My mom was 27 when she married dad. I want the same for me."

Simone chuckled and hugged her tighter. "I promise that I will marry you before you turn 27. I will be successful at that time. I have three years more."

The rest of their night was spent with them talking about their past and future. The two love birds are already starting to build their life in their minds - a life where the two of them will live happily ever after.

But the destiny has a different plan.

"Mom? Dad? What's happening?" Chiara asked with confusion when she entered their house.

"Why are you kneeling?" she added. "Mom! Dad!"

Chiara looked around their living room. Unfamiliar faces greeted her. Men wearing black suits, maybe over ten, are scattered around the area.

She turned her eyes back to her parents who are still kneeling. Their eyes are filled with fear. Her mom's fingers are trembling while his dad is gritting his teeth.

When Chiara turned her head to the direction where her parents are looking at, she saw an unknown mam sitting on their only one-man sofa: the place where only his father could sit.

In their home, sitting in that sofa signifies that the one sitting holds the most power. It is unquestionable for her father to sit on that sofa since he is the head of the house.

But looking at the unknown man claiming her father's spot made Chiara's blood boil.

"Who are you?! You're not suppose to be sitting there!" she pointed at the man while glaring at him. "Only my father can have that spot! Go away!"

Instead of leaving, the man leaned his body forward and steepled his fingers. His eyes landed on Chiara.

The first thing that caught Chiara's attention is his eyes. They were mismatched. Blue on the left and green on the right.

"Ezio Moris Vitali."

The man's voice brought shivers to Chiara's body. His voice is as cold as his eyes. His face has no emotion while looking at her, but his eyes has something beneath them that Chiara couldn't interpret.

"I don't give a damn on your name," she spat out the words as an insult.

"I'm sure I didn't misheard it when you asked me who I am," Ezio answered before leaning back and resting his arms on the side.

Chiara didn't listen to what he said. "What are you doing here? Why are my parents kneeling?! I will call the police!"

Ezio chuckled as if her words sounded like jokes on him.

"Go on," he challenged her. "You're actually doing me a favor."

Chiara became more confused because of his words. "What?"

He grinned. "You can call the police, but not for me," his eyes went back to her parents. "But for your lovely parents."

Her eyes widened. "Huh?" she looked at her parents, looking for answers. She kneeled beside them. "Mom, dad, what's happening?"

But her parents remain silent. Chiara couldn't understand what's happening and her parents won't answer. She's starting to get impatient.