Isabella's POV

Grandma wraps her hands around me in a tight, warm hug that forces me to push back the emotions sweeping through me.

It's been a while since I last visited and I miss her so much. She doesn't visit me at all and I understand that she is trying to give me the privacy that I need and deserve as a married woman.

I came to see her and how she is coping with her new maid who she likes talking about over the phone and also to inform her of my upcoming trip to Italy in five days.

I am so excited about it and I wish we could go on this trip together. But I know that won't be possible because I can't afford it and I can't bring myself to ask Jayden to do this as a favor.

I can't ask him for anything that has to do with money. Even if I want to summon up the courage to do that, the fact that I actually got paid before venturing into the business I have with him and his mother's claim that I am in this marriage for the monetary benefits won't allow me.

I have my pride as a woman.

"How have you been, my baby?" She pulls my cheek playfully and a blush appears on my face, remembering how Grandma used to treat me like a child till I finished high school.

I was her little child and I am happy we have settled our differences.

"I am fine, Grandma", I say with a smile on my face as she leads me away from the door to the couch. I sit on it while she settles on the one next to me.

She continues to watch me for a while until I decide to speak up. "How have you been? Where is this new friend you have been talking to me about?"

"Oh, Safina? She should be in the kitchen. Should I get her for you?" She wants to rise up to go call her maid who happens to be an elderly woman but I stop her.

"Don't worry."

This place is homey and cozy. It has a large sitting room and a spacious kitchen too. There are two bedrooms and I'm sure Safina would be sleeping in the other bedroom.

"How are you, my child?" She finally shows the worry etched on her face. Now I know why she was watching me earlier. She has been persistent with her calls these last few days and I thought she missed me but now I know she is worried about me.

Probably worried because she knows that this marriage isn't out of love. She must think that Jayden is mistreating me.

"I'm doing well, Mother. You have absolutely nothing to worry about'', I assure her with one of my brightest smiles.

The worry and frown on her face does not disappear, instead, it deepens. "Are you sure?"

I nod quickly. "Of course. I'm fine, why are you worried?" I take a hold of her hands.

She sighs deeply. "I really don't know why but…"

"Mother, I told you already that Jayden is a good man…" I cut her off.

"That wasn't what you told me before you both got married…." she interrupts me too.

"Yes and that was because I didn't know him well enough."

"But now you do?" She demands with curiosity and I nod. "How much do you know about him? Is he maltreating you?"

"Of course not, Mother. He isn't maltreating me. Believe me, he is a good man. He was rude and harsh because he was my boss and because he was going through a lot.." I pause.

"A lot which is stopping him from finding a real wife for himself instead of asking you to be his wife for a year?" I can detect the contempt in her voice. It is obvious Mother is still not good with Jayden.

Even though she agreed to come over to this new house because I persuaded her to, she still doesn't think good of Jayden.

"Mom…" I trail off. "Actually, yes. He is doing this because of what he is going through."

"What is he going through?" She scoffs, her nose flaring up in displeasure. "I just hope he isn't taking advantage of you?" She peers at me again.

"Of course not, Mother. Didn't I tell you this is just something on paper?" I know what she is talking about. She is asking if he isn't forcing me to have sex with him. "He didn't force me to marry him, remember? I willingly ventured into this with my two eyes open. We can't have sex because it is against the contract."

She remains silent for a while, looking deep in thoughts. "Really?"

"Of course", I roll my eyes.

"You two aren't sharing the same bed?" Instead of blurting out a yes, I hesitate.

I don't know if this is a way of asking if we are figuratively sharing a bed or we are having sex.

"We share the same bed but we don't have sex as married couples do. We are just married on paper like I said earlier and I am still a virgin '', I declare openly and I see her heave a sigh of relief, her right hand on her chest.

"I'm so relieved. I was worried", she expresses sadly.

"I know. Jayden is a good man and he won't do that…"

"Don't be so sure, men can be unpredictable sometimes", she snarls at me before leaning backward.

Can men be unpredictable? I know Jayden is naturally unpredictable but I thought that was because he was my boss but now that I think of it, he is still unpredictable.

Maybe this is why I get hurt sometimes when he does things I don't expect. Things like pretending as if the kiss didn't happen. He kissed me but I didn't expect it. That is part of it.

A red flush creeps to my face and I shake my head.

This always happens whenever I think about that kiss. A kiss that lasted for just a minute. A kiss that wasn't supposed to happen. I don't know why my mind keeps going back to it when it shouldn't.

"What are you thinking?" Grandma's touch and voice jerks me out of my reverie. I blink once to wave away the blush on my face and the thought of something forbidden before gazing up at her.

"Nothing", I say sharply with a smile and she nods.

There is really no need to prolong the topic of making her see how good Jayden is in just a day.

Perhaps if I tell her about the trip he sponsored, she will realize what I am talking about.

"Don't worry, everything will be over soon. When it is over, you can find another man who will love you for who you are and then you can bring forth kids who will keep me company as you promised me when you were a child", she stares at me with loving eyes. I can see how much she wishes this didn't happen but surprisingly I am not sad about it.

I don't regret getting married to Jayden.

"If anything happens", she pauses as her fingers graze my cheeks.

"I have good news, though", I announce quickly so as not to allow her to go on with the topic of Jayden.

"Good news?" Her eyes widen and it shifts to my belly. She let out a gasp and clasp her hands over her mouth.

Throaty laughter leaves my mouth and I shake my head. "What are you thinking, Mother? I already told you that Jayden and I will not have sex. This isn't a sexual relationship."

"Really?" She doesn't look excited at the news or sad. Her face is expressionless.

"Yes. The good news is that I am going to Italy in five days. Jayden is sponsoring my trip to make up for not going somewhere nice for our honeymoon."

"Are you going alone?" She asks calmly.

"Yes. Jayden is too busy to go with me. I'm glad he is not going, though. You know I have always wanted to go there so I can visit Verona…"

"The city of love?" Her eye beams with happiness. "Where your grandfather and I met. Where we consummated our marriage. Where I conceived our first child."

Her eyes become dreamy and it brims with tears at the remembrance of the man who showered her love till his last breath.

This is the man who is responsible for my stronghold on the existence of true love.

Him and her.

"I pray I find love", I say unconsciously, looking into space and imagining what would happen if my dreams come true.

I never knew going to Verona would be possible but now that it is going to happen, it doesn't feel surreal but it is. I can't wait to go there and see what fate has in stock for me.

If love finds me, I will hold it with both hands.

My phone rings, pulling Mother and me out of my thoughts. My thought is about finding a man who will love me for who I am, a man who will love me wholeheartedly and appreciate me but Grandma's thoughts are about her late husband.

Jayden's name flashes across my screen and I sit upright instantly.

Why is he calling me? I already told him I was going to visit Grandma today and he permitted me to come.

He barely calls me except if there is something important he wants to talk to me about.

I pick up the call and glue the phone to my right ear.

"Jayden?" I call with a sudden curiosity eating me up.

"Where are you?" He questions sharply.

I turn to Grandma, shifting uncomfortably on the couch. "I'm at Grandma's. I told you, didn't I?"

"Can you come home now? It's urgent", the tone of urgency gets to me and I stand up with my heart beating twice its normal rate.

"Did something happen to you?" I ask, holding the phone more firmly.

"No. We are on the newspaper headlines. Someone revealed to the press about our contract, come home now!"

The phone clicks and the call gets disconnected while my mouth hangs open in the air in shock.

****

I smell trouble.

Who do you think is responsible? Will Isabella still be able to go ahead with her plans to visit The Love City?

Air your views and don't forget to vote.

I have fulfilled my promise. Don't I deserve a 💓?

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