In His Grasp: A Mafia Romance

Chapter 57: Suspecting She's Being Bullied

As Isabella expected, Sophia called her soon after.

"Isabella, what's going on? Why did Emanuele kick Chloe out? She's crying, and she doesn't know what she did wrong." Sophia sounded genuinely worried. Chloe had returned in tears, carrying her luggage, and Sophia couldn't comprehend why this had happened. She called Isabella to get an explanation.

"I don't know either," Isabella said wearily. "Emanuele isn't here; he ordered Tony to do it."

Isabella closed her eyes, feeling exhausted. Her mother had always believed Chloe was a gentle and kind lady and had no idea about the things Chloe had done to her. Isabella couldn't bring herself to tell her mother about the psychological torment she'd endured.

"Chloe is now suspicious that maybe she did something wrong and that you told Emanuele about it. Isabella, did you really make Emanuele kick her out?" Her mother's words made Isabella feel a sharp pain in her chest, the familiar suffocation quickly returning.

"I... didn't," Isabella struggled to respond. "Emanuele is the head of the Mafia. He has his own thoughts. How could I possibly influence him?"

"Is that so? Then I can't understand what Emanuele is thinking," Sophia shook her head. She didn't understand why Emanuele had embarrassed her.

But, in the end, this apartment was Emanuele's. He had the right to allow someone in and the right to keep them out.

"Isabella, Chloe is feeling really down. How about you come over and stay with her for a few days to comfort her?" Sophia suggested. Isabella wanted to scream. She'd finally managed to get Chloe out, and now Sophia was asking her to move in and console Chloe? "Mom, you know I don't like staying there. Plus, work is getting busier, and I have graduation stuff to handle." Isabella replied. "Alright," Sophia sighed, not forcing the issue. "Then at least spend the weekend with Chloe."

"We'll talk about that later," Isabella said, desperately ending the call. Continuing this conversation would cause her heart to stop beating.

The second day Chloe returned to stay in her apartment, Emanuele came back. As he entered, he went straight to his room. When he saw that all the items in his room had been replaced, his icy expression relaxed slightly. He then instructed Tony, "Dispose of all the items in the room the woman stayed in before. Replace everything with new ones. Also, get rid of the rocking chair on the balcony."

He spoke in a cold and heavy tone, and Tony, along with other bodyguards, immediately carried out his orders, throwing the items away.

Isabella, standing behind Emanuele, was confused. Did he have a severe case of germophobia? These things were practically new. Wasn't it a waste to dispose of them like this?

At that moment, she saw Emanuele turn his gaze towards her, his face filled with irritation.

"From now on, don't bring just anyone into my apartment casually. Otherwise, next time, they may not leave peacefully," Emanuele warned her.

Isabella nodded, "Alright, I understand."

For the first time, she didn't resent Emanuele's warning. In fact, she appreciated it. This way, Chloe would never have a chance to return.

Seeing Isabella quickly accept his warning without any resistance, Emanuele approached her, his brow furrowing, and he closed the distance between them. Isabella instinctively took two steps back, finding herself with her back against the wall, leaving her no room to retreat.

"Isabella, what's the deal with you and your cousin? You seem quite afraid of her," Emanuele inquired.

"We don't have... much of a relationship," Isabella replied. "We're just cousins, and I used to stay at her house when I was younger."

"Is that so?" Emanuele recalled the last time he'd seen Isabella, she'd been nervous when confronted by her stepmother, and now, facing her cousin, she was even more anxious. It was as though she was more scared of him than of meeting Emanuele himself. He wondered if there was a hidden secret.

"Did she do something really bad to you in the past, bully you perhaps? Is that why you're like this?" Emanuele asked, his gaze scrutinizing Isabella intently, trying to discern what was running through her mind His words made her feel as though her heart had been pounded with a heavy stone, and the pain made her dizzy, short of breath, with waves of suffocation.

Isabella had been guarding this secret with the utmost care, and not even her mother knew about it. Her close friend Evelyn knew just a little. But now, a man who appeared to be a friend-enemy, Emanuele, was suddenly asking as if he intended to expose all her secrets for future use against her.

Isabella's body swayed, and Emanuele reached out, pulling her into his arms to prevent her from falling. In that moment, he discovered that Isabella's body was as cold as ice, and she was trembling uncontrollably, as if she couldn't hold herself together.

"Isabella? What's wrong? Are you ill?" Emanuele scrutinized her, his brow furrowed, questioning if it was his earlier statement that had frightened her to such a degree.

"I'm fine," Isabella forced herself to appear stronger, but her face remained pale, and her breathing was still labored.

She needed medication to stabilize her emotions.

"Maybe it's because I threw up last night, and my stomach feels a bit uneasy," Isabella explained.

"Let's go to the hospital," Emanuele insisted, leading Isabella outside.

At that moment, Emanuele displayed genuine concern for Isabella, but she found it frightening. She didn't need this kind of care.

"I'm fine. I'm a doctor; I know my own health. There's nothing wrong," Isabella stopped Emanuele's actions.

To change the subject, to avoid discussing it further, Isabella quickly stabilized her emotions and regained her composure. Emanuele assessed her for a moment, making sure she was okay, before relenting. However, he couldn't resist a sarcastic remark, "I never imagined Miss Gould to be so fragile. I heard you only had a salad last night and yet you vomited. I suggest you go to the hospital for a comprehensive check-up."

"Thank you for your concern," Isabella tried to free herself from Emanuele's embrace, but he held her firmly, not allowing her to break free. Her waist was so soft and pliant, with a little bit of flesh, that he didn't want to let go. He was thoroughly captivated, using one hand to control her.

Not only did he not release Isabella, but he also firmly pressed her against himself, allowing her softness to collide with his hardness.