Isabella Moretti has been living in the shadow of heartbreak and betrayal. First, she was betrayed a day before her wedding by her high school sweetheart and it took her five years to get over the incident but it seemed love was not meant for her as her recent boyfriend of one year also cheated on her with her best friend. On the night of the incident, she met a stranger at a club. Unbeknownst to Isabella, Alessandro is not just any man, he is one of the richest playboys and the ruthless leader of an organized crime family. On getting home in the morning, her father informs her about an agreement for her to marry Alessandro. She doesn't need a man, especially not a playboy who brings up her past insecurities. But she also does not have a choice but to save her family as the marriage is the only way to secure the protection and financial support needed to prevent their family from being destroyed. As Isabella and Alessandro navigate their forced relationship, secrets unravel, and passions ignite. Can they overcome their pasts and insecurities to find love and redemption in each other? Or will the dangerous world they inhabit tear them apart? "Fated Alliance" is a tale of love, betrayal, and the power of fate, where two souls must find their way through darkness to discover the light of a new beginning.
Chapter 1 The First Cut
The sun was beginning to set low on the horizon, casting a warm glow across the hotel room of Isabella Moretti as she sat poised on a Tuscany makeup chair, her lovely olive skin glowing as the makeup artist carefully applied a rose-tinted blush to her high cheekbones. It was the eve of her wedding and she was finally tying the knot with the love of her life, Dante. They had been best friends and high school sweethearts, and her dream of getting married on her twentieth birthday was about to be fulfilled.
Isabella's phone vibrated against the glass table, as she glanced at it with a smile on her face. She has been receiving lots of messages from her friends and loved ones, all congratulating her on her upcoming wedding. As she picked up her phone, it was an unknown number and her curiosity piqued as she quickly unlocked the device
"Your man needs you in his room ASAP."
Her brows knitted in confusion. The curt message felt off. She quickly dialed Dante's number, the phone pressed tight against her ear. Ringing. Then voicemail. She furrowed her brows as she read the message over and over. She turned to the makeup artist.
"How long until we are done"?
"Ten minutes. Close your eyes and look up" the make up artist replied softly, as she tried to insert the false lashes on her eyelids.
Isabella obediently shut her eyes, feeling the light, feathery touch of a brush sweeping across her lids.
After the eyelashes were installed, she dialed her fiancé again, Dante, but the call went to voicemail again.
"Lucia?" she called out, but her best friend and maid of honor was not in the room either.
"Where did she go?" Isabella muttered, more to herself.
"Miss, you need to stay calm, so I won't make a mistake or smudge your makeup" the makeup artist advised.
"I need to leave," Isabella replied, growing impatient.
"Five minutes, and you're good to go." the makeup artist assured.
"I'll be back I promise"
"I'm sorry I can't wait, I have another client to attend to" she replied.
"I need to check on something," she said, standing up with an apologetic smile.
"But Miss, the setting spray-"
"I'll be back shortly," Isabella replied, already moving towards the door.
Five minutes later, Isabella was about to turn the corner leading to her fiancé, Dante's room, when she heard her name being called in a whispered tone by a familiar voice. She stopped in her tracks and got close to the narrow, dimly lit hallway used by staff to move discreetly between rooms and service areas.
Isabella's pulse quickened. What was Lucia and Dante doing in a store room?
"I don't know how to do this, Lucia, it will break her." Dante's voice flooded to her.
"You have to, Dante. It's now or never," Lucia's voice retorted, firm yet laced with urgency.
"I cannot hurt her like that". Dante replied,
"Neither Bella nor Andre deserve this Dante. It's either you come clean, or I will."
"It'll destroy her," Dante whispered, the anguish he felt, evident in his voice.
"Better now than later. She deserves the truth," Lucia countered.
Isabella's mind raced. What is the truth? What were they hiding?
Taking a silent breath, she moved closer, pressing herself against the wall beside the door, eavesdropping.
"Where do I start Lu"?
"This has gone on for too long, Dante."
"But...our wedding is tomorrow," Dante said, his voice breaking.
"I don't know how I got into this mess...it's eating..."
Isabella could not take it any longer. She barged in on them as a gasp escaped from Lucia's lips while Dante's brown eyes grew wide with raw terror. He licked his lips that has suddenly gone dry, and gritted his teeth.
"What mess are you talking about, Lulu?" Isabella's voice wavered, her eyes darting between them, searching for answers.
Lucia shot a glance at Dante, who looked like he was about to break. "Dante, tell her," she urged.
Isabella moved closer to Dante, her heart pounding with every beat. "Tell me what, babe?" she coaxed, her voice trembling.
"I love Andre," he murmured, his voice barely audible.
Isabella furrowed her brows. "I know you love him, that's why he is your best man". A nervous laugh escaped her, but it felt hollow.
"For Chrissake Dante, can you come clean already? I'm getting allergies from all these chemicals?" Lucia snapped.
Just then, Andre barged in, "Isabella, Dante and I... we've been seeing each other."
Time seemed to stand still. The walls closed in, the room spinning. Isabella's breath caught, a cold dread settling in her stomach.
"Seeing each other? As in... romantically?" she whispered, hoping she'd misheard.
Dante nodded slowly, tears glistening in his eyes. "I'm so sorry, Bella. I never meant to hurt you." On seeing the tears in Dante's eyes, Andre moved close and held his trembling fingers, forcing him to look at him.
Isabella staggered back, as she stared at their entwined fingers, her hand clutching the shelf behind for support. Memories flooded her mind-late nights when Dante was working, or so he said, stolen glances between him and Andre she'd brushed off. Still, she was still in doubt.
Isabella turned to Dante, shaking her head as tears formed "No, babe, tell him. You're not gay". Tell him. She dared him.
"I've been trying to tell you for a while now, Isabella." Dante replied.
"No, my name is Belle to you, and you are not in love with Andre" she replied, still in denial.
Dante gritted his teeth. "It's true Belle, I couldn't tell you all this because I didn't want to hurt you," he confessed.
Lucia, seeing her best friend in so much pain, stepped forward, wringing her hands. "I wanted to tell you, Bella. But it wasn't my secret to share."
Isabella's gaze hardened. "How long?"
Dante looked down, shamefaced. "Six months."
"Six months?" Isabella echoed, disbelief coloring her tone. "And our wedding? Was that just a facade?"
Dante shook his head fervently. "No! I love you, Bella. But... I also love Andre. I was confused."
"Confused?" She laughed bitterly. "You think that makes this any better?"
Isabella took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "So, what now? Were you going to go through with the wedding? Live a lie?"
Dante looked torn, his eyes pleading. "I didn't know what to do. I didn't want to lose you."
Isabella's eyes flashed with anger. "But you already have."
"I'm really sorry babe" he got close and was about to touch her, but she flinched, and clutched her heart as she felt pain shoot through her. She could not believe she had been with Dante for more than half a decade, and he had not once brought up his sexuality. Her heart squeezed painfully as she stared at him and Andre. Then a thought ocured to her.
"It may be a phase. I can wait", she muttered. Then she looked up at three pairs of eyes watching her. "You are young, and you are exploring your sexuality. It's a phase and I can wait". She said, staring at Dante, willing him to agree with her.
"I'm deeply in love with him, Belle '' Dante affirmed, his voice barely audible. The look in his eyes told her he was telling the truth.
Isabella nodded as the tears flowed freely down her cheeks. Then she turned on her heel, the need to escape overwhelming. Lucia reached out, trying to grasp her arm. "Bella, please...". She could hear Lucia calling after her but she couldn't stop. She needed to get away.
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