Chapter 15
Flashback Continues…
Niccolo Point of View
Talking about my life to Bella started feeling like a burden-down. It was a very touchy subject to me and no one spoke of it in my presence as they very well knew how hurting it was for me.
My sweet mother, who loved my father blindly and not just loved him, she worshiped and what she got in return? Betrayal and stranded alone!
I observed many a times when my mother used to cry mutely in dark so I couldn’t see her or hear her. Growing up, I unknowingly pelted up all the hatred I felt for the man who destroyed her but when the she left me, all hell broke loose.
That man, no way, deserved to be a father, no less a human. My mother meant nothing to him, I meant nothing to him. All that mattered was money, fame and different women to his taste.
I have never seen such a filthy person ever in my life!
Fernando Russo!
“I was wrong.” Bella whispered, rubbing her hand against my chest. I looked down at her to see her already gazing at me with empathy.
“I was wrong to think if you have good sum of money and little prominence, you can live happily but I guess I made huge mistake in judging the world.” She said placing a soft kiss on my chest.
“Then you are surely mistaken, Bella. Because my life is not what you call perfect. I had to see so much which I shouldn’t and bear so much.” I said, to which she nodded and pressed herself close to me.
Truly, In spite of having money and power, I was not happy. I learnt my lesson the hard way with each obstacle that life threw at me. I fell down, I got bruised, I felt weak, still fate tested me the hard way despite seeing my struggle.
“Then? What happened then? Your grandma, did she come to meet you?” She asked, seeing I looked better than before.
“Not yet, it took her two days to reach the country due to several reasons but she instructed my uncle to take care of me until she was here. My uncle and the lady, whom I learnt was my aunt i. e., my uncle’s wife, talked to the cops and cremated my mother, holding a very private funeral for her. Both my uncle and aunt, it was my first time meeting them and frankly speaking, I didn’t even know how they looked like but only heard about them a little from my mom. I was very wary around them not leaving my mom’s cold hand. It was my aunt who introduced herself to me and told me how important it is to send my mother away.” I snorted ironically.
It was said right, ‘A good enemy is better than a best friend.’ The saying provided an example in my own life. When my own father left me to fend myself, my uncle who hates him so much tended me when I was in need.
“I didn’t know what to do. I did know that the relation between my father and his family is not on good note which made me even more hesitant of them. My uncle did not once talk to me and he was always brooding. I felt like I was thrown in a whole new house where I was unwanted. Though he took me to their house, my uncle was always emotionless with me. But then, my aunt was a kind woman. She took care of me and hugged when the nightmares of my dead mother haunted me.” I heaved deeply when memories of the time when I was fell into depression flood in my mind.
I went in to depression and I couldn’t eat or sleep and always stayed quite in dark room. Even doctors couldn’t figure out how to get me out of my state.
Those days were not just dark but also gloomy for me as well for my Uncle and aunt.
“Your uncle didn’t like you?” Bella asked, more like stated. She was calm the whole time I am narrating but the pain was visible clearly in her eyes.
Pain for me!
It was better though, she better feel pain for me than feel pity.
“Not exactly. He did not like my father. He was more of a person who looks hard on outside but actually kind from inside. Those two days at their house proved to me no less than a hell. It was not because of them, no, my aunt tried every possible way to accommodate me with whatever I needed. She even spent those couple night staying awake in my room so I could sleep fret less while my uncle stayed outside my closed room.” This time I smiled genuinely thinking about my uncle.
The man who displayed no emotion for me had in fact took care of me looked out for me from afar in shadows.
“Two days later, my grandma finally arrived to the Russo’s mansion and went straight to meet my uncle before even seeing me. All the three of them closed the doors and spent a lot of time discussing something. I was around there at that time and that was when I heard their conversation and came to know what kind of person the animal I call my father is.” I said gritting my teeth. I still lose my control whenever I remember those awful days and that awful conversation.
“Why? Why?” I immediately put my face in her hair as a way to control my anger which miraculous was a success.
“Those two days of late arrival of grandma was because she found out the address of my father and went to meet him. She told my uncle how father was so heartless to leave his own young son on roads just because he was of no use to him. For him my mother was a legal form to have good sex and now that she was no more, he could care less for me. When I heard grandma explain them the situation I could only cry. That was the first time I heard my uncle show any emotion because I heard him thrash the whole room and curse my father endlessly.” Bella gasped to which I smiled at her sadly.
I nodded at her sadly when she was shaking her head in utter disbelief. Yes, that is how the man who gave birth to me is.
“How could he do that to your mom and you? Didn’t he love you at all? You are his only child, didn’t he feel remorse?” Bella asked. Remorse? Love?
That animal did not know what they are. He only loved money and his only remorse was when something did not go as he pleased. Nothing mattered to him, not his parents, not his siblings nor his wife and son.
“Love and Remorse was never a part of his dictionary, Bella. He is an animal in human clothing.” I said proceeding further. “Anyway, After their discussion, grandma told uncle and aunt that she would be taking me Italy with her and would raise me for few years until I get out of depression. True to her words, I spent two years with her in Italy and though it was awkward and gloomy at first, she taught me so much that made me what a person I am today. Later on, after I was in good health, I was back to live with my uncle and aunt. Through years they became more of true parents to me.”
“That’s nice.” She said smiling a little.
I nodded my head at her, “Yes it is. My uncle was still emotionless with me but he was Hades when it comes to discipline. He took matters seriously and would never take mistakes lightly but then it was good, you know. He disciplined me and made me a tough man while on the other side my aunt was so lovable and jovial kind of person. Thanks to their good nature, they were finally blessed with a child after eleven years of their wedding. I got a brother and it was like our family was complete.”
“Just when I was happy to find a home finally, my uncle and aunt loved me and my cousin equally, my brother was growing up into a cheerful and a naughty kid and it was so delightful when –” I gulped the lump formed in my throat and looked up at the ceiling to press down the sadness erupting inside me.
“When- both uncle and aunt left us alone in a plane crash.”
“Oh my God!” Bella gasped, I smiled sadly at her and shook my head when she cried. I wiped the tears off her cheeks and consoled her.
“Later it was revealed that my uncle already prepared a will making me the next to take over the family business putting my brother under my care. Funny right, the person who was very tough on me and who loathed my father believed me enough to make me the next heir. You asked me why I stranded you those months, yes?” I asked and she nodded lightly trying to not cry again.
“It was because I was confused. I promised myself to give back what was my brother’s once he comes to an age of taking over the Empire. Though I don’t care whatever you are, I felt responsible for the Russo’s reputation and so I couldn’t decide what was correct and what not.” She looked blankly at me figuring out my dilemma slowly.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
“I love you so much, Bella. Love you so much to the extent of scaring myself with the passion I feel for you. I was stuck between my ideology and the society’s view. The Empire I am handling right now is not mine, I am just keeping it intact and running until its true heir take it back and while it is in my hands, I need to keep it safe and protected. One side I see no wrong with you and your situation but at the same time, people are challenging my philosophy even going to the extent of hurting you.” I held her hands in mine and looked at her with a mixture of love and fear.
Love for her, fear of losing her!
“I feared that if I was with you, then you would go through useless trials of insults from people. I feared you would go though the same pain of betrayal and uselessness I had felt once. And I loved you so much, enough to leave you for your safety and to clear my confusion.” I confessed to her truthfully hugging her back tightly.
I will not let her away from me again.
Once I give back my brother what was rightfully his, I will pursue her no matter what. She will be mine only and I will be hers.
Just… just few more years…!
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