Chapter 17

Marabella’s POV

I turned around and began walking toward my first class. Jason and his goonies stood off to the side, cackling at each other, as they all had their eyes pinned on me. “Hey, Calsut, was that your dad you were kissing?”, Jason asked. His friends giggled like little girls at Jason’s comment. Are we in fucking high school or something?

I ignored him and kept walking. My name is no longer Calsut, it is Barello. One of the many blessings that Luca doesn’t even realize he extended me. “I’m talking to you, Calsut”, Jason sneered. I continued to ignore him and kept walking past him, but as I tried to do so, Jason grabbed my arm.

“Who do you think you are? Ignoring me”, he asked, his voice filled with so much hate that it made my stomach churn. “Let me go, Jason”, I hissed, still not even looking at him. He laughed manically, “Yeah, I don’t think so”, he growled. “Let. Her. The. Fuck. Go”, Rex said through gritted teeth, as he grabbed onto Jason’s wrist.

“Who the fuck are you?”, Jason winced. “Mrs. Barello’s bodyguard. You will remove your hands from her immediately, or I will break them off of her”, Rex growled. My arm burned, as the blood traveled back to my hand and fingers after being released. “Mrs. B-Barello?”, Jason stuttered. Looks like he recognizes who my husband is. Judging by the way his face paled, he knew exactly who Luca Barello was.

“Thank you, Rex”, I muttered, as we walked away from Jason. “You do not have to thank me. It is my job, Mrs. Barello”, Rex replied stoically. “I can still be grateful that you did it. And, please stop calling me, ‘Mrs. Barello’, call me Mara”, I said. “I’m sorry, I can’t do that”, Rex said. “Why’s that?”, I asked, arching an eyebrow at him. “Because, Mr. Barello would have my head”, he answered seriously.

“No, he won’t. I’m specifically asking you to call me, Mara”, I said. Rex’s face was as hard as stone. “Okay, how about this, since you are so worried, how about, call me, Mara here and whatever you want in front of Luca. Deal?”, I asked, looking over at him. No answer. I sighed, “Fine. I’ll get you to, eventually”, I muttered, walking into my class. I headed for a seat in the middle. I’d prefer the back, but, with the immaturity level of my classmates, I can’t hear the professor over their class clown acts. Rex sat down on the seat directly behind me.

As I began to pull my books out, my phone buzzed. I pulled it from my pocket, seeing a message from Luca.

L: I made it to work safely, bambina. Don’t forget to text me if you need anything. Have a wonderful day, piccola.

I smiled to myself as I read his text. My heart sped up at the pure tenderness of this supposed heartless man.

M: I’m glad you are safe. Have a wonderful day at work.

When I hit send, the professor walked into the room. “Good morning, all”, Professor Scott addressed the class. “Good morning, professor”, the class responded. I hate this ritual about his class. What is so good about this morning? I had to leave my sexy ass husband to be here. It’s not good.

“I hope everyone finished their reports on plants from A to E and all of their functions”, he continued. My phone buzzed again, distracting me.

L: Are you okay, piccola?

M: Yes

L: Did something happen?

M: Nothing out of the ordinary

L: That doesn’t answer my question, piccola.

“Miss Marabella”, Professor Scott called me out. My heart stopped in my chest, as I quickly locked my phone and sat it in my lap. I looked up, locking eyes with Professor Scott. “Do you have your report?”, he asked mockingly, thinking that he was catching me slacking off.

I smirked, “Actually, It’s ‘MRS.’ now. And, yes, I do have my report”, I replied calmly. “Hmph. Then bring it to me”, he huffed. I slid my phone into my pocket, slickly, feeling it vibrate as I did so. Then I grabbed my report and stood away from my desk, proceeding to the front of the classroom.

I handed the professor my ten-page report. He frowned as he took it from me, knowing he didn’t pull one over on me. “Who did you marry, Mrs. Marabella?”, he asked solemnly. I returned his frown. I didn’t like the disappointment in his voice. “That’s none of your concern, Professor Scott”, I hissed through gritted teeth. “She’s married to Luca Barello, Professor”, Jason answered on my behalf, fucking asshole. “Oh”, Professor Scott uttered, his eyes widening to that of a goldfish. “Yeah”, I said, before turning around and going back to my seat.

Professor Scott stood shell shocked, not noticing me pulling my phone from my pocket to check the plethora of messages that my husband sent.

L: Don’t ignore me, piccola

L: I know something happened today. Please just tell me, amore

L: Are you seriously ignoring me?

L: What did your professor want with so much of your time?

L: What did he say to you, gattina (kitten)?

L: I could take him out if he disrespected you

I chuckled to myself as I read Luca’s messages. This man is something else entirely.

M: You almost got me in trouble, Mr. Impatient. Everything is fine though.

L: Everything is not fine, Marabella. Tell me what happened with that boy this morning.

I sighed, I really don’t want to do this right now. I am just trying to focus.

M: Seems like you already know. Thanks to Rex, I presume?

L: Bambina, all he told me was that he had to threaten the kid to get him to remove his hands from you. Why did he have his hands on you?

I sighed once again and pinched the bridge of my nose.

M: I miss you

L: I miss you, too, principessa. But, I still want an answer.

I huffed, trying to hold back memories and tears.

M: Luca, can we please talk about this later? You are distracting me, and I’m trying to hold it together.

L: I’m sorry, piccola. I wasn’t trying to upset you.

M: I know, please have a good day at work.

L: Principessa, I hope you have a wonderful day in class. I want you to know that you are a beautiful and intelligent young woman. And I’m proud to call you my wife. Don’t let some small-dicked little boy get you down. You are too gorgeous for him anyway.

Tears welled up in my eyes. He is just saying that to make me feel better. He can’t possibly believe his own words.

M: You are only saying that to be nice, but thank you anyway. It does help:)

L: I’m not saying just to be nice, piccola. I mean it.

M: Okay

L: No, none of that. Tell me you believe me, bambina.

I put my phone down in my lap. Then I started writing down notes that Professor Scott had written on the board, when he was talking about whatever the fuck he was talking about, while I was distracted by my husband. My phone buzzed, then buzzed again. I sighed, as I picked it up.

L: Piccola

L: Please don’t ignore me

M: I’m not trying to ignore you, Luca. But, I am trying to pay attention, so that I don’t miss the whole class. I’ll see you at home.

L: Uh, no. You’ll see me at noon, piccola gattina (little kitten), when I come to pick you up.

M: Okay

I set my phone down and ignored it. So that I could finish copying the board. Professor Scott kept giving me the side eye, as I scurried to write down the notes. He was done writing now, and he was dragging on about his favorite plants. Once I was finished copying the notes, I took a quick glance at my phone.

L: You have a sweet soul, principessa (princess)

I smiled to myself.

M: You do too, Luca. Don’t ever let anyone tell you anything different. I see the real you.

L: And I see the real you, piccola, so believe what I tell you.

“Okay, kids. I want you to do an at least, ten-page report on plants lettered ‘F-O’, due first thing Monday morning. You are dismissed”, Professor Scott announced. I put my binder and tablet in my book bag and stood from my seat. Rex followed suit behind me. “Mara, can I talk to you for a minute?”, the professor called out, making my stomach twist.

I slipped my hand behind me and motioned for Rex to follow me, as I walked down the steps towards the front of the class. Professor Scott waited until all the other students had left, to speak. “Alone, Mara”, he said gutturally, looking up at Rex. “Yeah, sorry. No can do. If you have something to say to me, you will have to say it in front of Rex. My husband would not appreciate me being alone with another man without my bodyguard present. Don’t you agree, Rex?”, I said, looking back at him. “Yes madam, I do”, Rex agreed.

Professor Scott looked taken aback by my words for a moment. “I was just going to ask you why you married a man like Luca Barello?”, he said, holding his head up high. I scoffed, “First of all, it’s none of your business. But, if you must know, it’s because I can see something in him no one else can”, I answered, before turning around and exiting the room, leaving behind Professor Scott standing at his desk dumbfounded and speechless.