C10 10

"Momma, can I go to Zia Francessa's house? Chiara has come home for the weekend," Isabella asked her mother extra sweetly, wanting to go meet her childhood friend Chiara, who had recently gotten married and shifted to a different place.

"There is no need for that. Shut up and sit there. God knows what new problems you would create," Rosetta said as she made snacks for the evening tea.

Isabella stared at her mother furiously, who in turn ignored her.

Isabella stomped her foot and stared at her mother, who still ignored her.

"You are overreacting, momma. You refused to let me go to the office. I accepted that. But how can you keep me locked inside the house? That's hardly fair. This is the twenty-first century, for God's sake. I have every right to live my life as I wish," Isabella protested at her mother's high-handed behaviour.

"Overreacting? You won't understand our worries now, Izzy. You will understand this only when you become a mother. Because of your impulsive act, you ruined your reputation at that office. Your brother lost his job."

"They didn't fire fratellone. He quit the job."

"And what is the reason?"

"Yeah, blame it all on me."

"Stop fighting and pour this tea into those cups and take them to your papa and fratellone," Rosetta ordered.

Isabella made a face and did as she was told.

They heard the doorbell ringing and wondered who it could be.

"Are we expecting guests, momma?" Isabella asked.

"Not that I know of. Let me go and see who it is," Rosetta said and walked out of the kitchen after turning off the stove.

Isabella followed her mother and looked in horror at the sight.

Her boss, Benjamin Lockwood, was standing in the living room with a sleeping Sapphire in his arms, next to a frowning Alessandro and a confused Zakariah Carter.

An elderly couple was also present, whom she figured must be his parents.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Carter. I'm William Lockwood. This is my wife, Elizabeth Lockwood, and our son, Benjamin Lockwood," William introduced.

"Please take a seat," Zakariah Carter said, and their eyes widened in horror when the driver came in carrying different trays of gifts.

Benjamin closed his eyes in disbelief. He had planned to tell his father not to bring the gifts out until they had the talk with the Carters.

Sapphire threw up on the way, and the topic skipped his mind.

"Mr. Carter, we would like to come directly to the point. Isabella and Alessandro must have filled you in on the circumstances and what happened in the office," William said.

"Yes."

"We would like to ask for your daughter's hand in marriage for our son," William said.

Isabella held her breath, waiting for the explosion.

Zakariah and Rosetta shared a helpless look.

They had not really expected the family to come asking for Isabella's hand.

"Mr. Lockwood—" Zakariah started to say.

"William, please. Now that we are going to be relatives, it would look awkward addressing each other so formally. I can call you Zakariah, right?" William asked with a polite smile.

"Dad, please," Benjamin hissed.

"Yeah, sure. As I was saying, William, we feel honoured that you have come to our home asking for our Izzy's hand. But—"

"But?" William asked with a frown.

"We are from different worlds, as you can see. We are simple middle-class people, and an alliance with such a well-settled family is not what we want for our daughter. Also, our cultures are so very different," Zakariah said.

"What??" William asked in shock.

Carters don't want this alliance because they are rich? William couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"Izzy would find it difficult to adjust to high society life. I hope you understand what I'm trying to say?" Zakariah asked politely.

"You are rejecting us because we are rich?" William asked in disbelief.

"Oh no, please don't take it that way. Marriage is not just between two people, right? It's between two families too. And our families are far apart in everything. Yes, we are settled in London for a long time now. But at heart, we are still conservative Italians," Zakariah said, and Rosetta nodded.

"We love our son, and you love your daughter. We want what is best for our son. That must be what you want for your daughter too. Where it matters, we are the same, Zakariah," William said.

"Forgive me, but please, if it weren't for the child, would you have come here asking for our daughter's hand?" Rosetta asked, leaving William speechless for a moment.

"If that's what Benjamin wanted, we would have," Elizabeth said, as she liked the pretty girl instantly. And from what Benjamin has said, she is a nice girl too.

So, if Benjamin had come and said he wanted to marry Isabella, they would have definitely come asking for her hand.

"That's the point. He wouldn't have wanted her if it were not for the child," Rosetta pointed out.

Benjamin didn't have any argument.

What could he say? That he fell in love with her at first sight.

That would be a lie.

Maybe, given time, he would have.

She is beautiful, she is smart and witty. What is there not to love?

But you will never know!

"We understand your concern. You don't want your daughter to get into a marriage where there is already a child," Elizabeth said with a sad smile.

She does understand. She wouldn't have wanted that for her daughter either.

"We are glad you understand our point," Zakariah said.

"We hope you will reconsider. We are not forcing you. Please just think about it. Benjamin would keep her happy," William promised.

Zakariah nodded half-heartedly, not having the heart to outrightly say their rejection again.

"Mr. and Mrs. Carter, I'm extremely sorry for the distress I have caused you because of my impulsiveness. Alessandro told me that you were angry with Isabella. But it was not Isabella's fault, Mrs. Carter. It was all me. Please forgive me and don't be angry with Bella," Benjamin said, looking at Rosetta.

Rosetta's heart melted a little.

Oh, such a nice guy, her heart whispered.

He would have definitely kept their Izzy happy.

Only if the circumstances were different.

"It's okay, son."

"We will take our leave then," William said and stood up from the couch, disappointed with the turn of events.

Benjamin came and stood in front of Isabella.

"Hi," he said.

"Hi," she smiled.

"She was so excited to meet you. But she threw up on the way and then fell asleep, exhausted," Benjamin said, looking at the baby in his arms.

"I missed her too," Isabella said and raised on her tiptoes and pressed a light kiss on the baby's cheeks.

Everyone looked at them in awe.

'They all look so cute together,' a traitorous voice from inside Rosetta's head screamed.

Rosetta shook her head to dispel that voice.

She simply can't have her daughter sacrifice her life for someone else's child.

"Bella," Benjamin called.

"Yes?"

"Now that you resigned, why don't you start small-scale baking?" Benjamin asked.

"But I don't have the money to start a shop," Isabella said.

"Don't start a shop. Do some home baking. Ask Alessandro to set up an online portal for your business."

Alessandro frowned. Why didn't that idea strike him before?

"That would work?" Isabella asked.

"If your baked goods are tasty, it will definitely work. Take care, Bella," he said and turned to the other family members.

"Dad, Mom! Let's go?"