chapter 34

"So, what's new?"

Bella calmly sipped her coffee, enjoying the chilly December breeze of Boston. She was found in a small café, not far from the penthouse, meeting her brother, Ian, who had called her wanting to discuss "something very urgent". Knowing how dramatic he could be, Bella grudgingly agreed.

"Earth to Bella, earth to Bella," Ian said, waving his hand in front of her face.

"I am listening Ian," she answered, rolling her eyes. "I am trying to understand what was so urgent that you called me here?"

"Can't I have a cup of coffee with my sister?"

"During working hours? What does Dad think about you slipping away from the office in broad daylight?"

Ian shrugged. "He's out of town... went to go sort out that mess with that factory in San francisco . He's coming back tomorrow."

Bella raised an eyebrow. "He went himself? Why didn't he send you?

Shouldn't you be taking over these things now? I mean-"

"Calm down, it's not what you think,"

he said quickly. "I had to meet with the wedding planner this week, that's why he didn't send me. Don't always assume the worst..."

Bella sighed. Right, how could she forget? It was the wedding of the century for the Swans.

Her brother was getting married. It was arranged (obviously). She overheard her father looking for appropriate alliances long before her own marriage was fixed, but he never seemed to be satisfied with the choices. It was only last month that he finally found the "right" one, someone not only good enough to be a wife, but also the daughter-in-law of the illustrious Richard Swan. Of course, Bella was kept far from these dealings. She only managed to get snippets out of Ian now and then, who was so embarrassed by the idea of being set up that he had refused to talk about it.

That was until he met Sheila. In just one meeting, he had been smitten; and there was no turning back after that.

Truth be told Bella was beyond ecstatic for her brother. Her first impression of Sheila the few times they met was a positive one. She was right for her brother in more ways than he understood himself. It was almost a relief for Bella to know that after her departure from the Swan manor, there was at least someone looking after her brother.

"So are you all set then?Bella asked.

"For the wedding?"

Ian grimaced. "The wedding planner is all sorts of nuts... I wasted all day yesterday trying to explain Dad's taste, and she understood nothing."

"Maybe it's not her fault," she replied bitterly. "Dad's taste is horrible."

Look at Stephan, she thought to herself.

"Yes, but that doesn't change the fact that the wedding will be hell if she doesn't do what he likes."

"Okay, so get Sheila to talk to her."

"No, Sheila is already stressed out with events at her own place. I can't give her more stuff to do."

Bella finally realized why she was summoned to the coffee shop. "Before you ask, let me make it clear that I am not going to-"

"But I am asking Belle," Ian cut in desperately. "I need your help! I can't figure all this out by myself! The wedding is less than a month away and I don't even know what I will be wearing, Bella pressed her lips, not knowing what to say. Her brother was reasonable in his demand, no doubt, but did he not understand why she was being reluctant? "Please Bella," he said after a few minutes. "I wouldn't ask if I had an alternative. Besides, you will also get a break from Stephan, don't you think?"

She snorted. "As if I will be allowed to enter the house without Stephan."

"Then bring him with you. He can keep dad distracted."

Bella sighed. "I love you Ian, and I will be there with you for the wedding. But coming back home to help with the planning? That's just too much... Dad is going hate anything I pick, not that I will blame him. I suck in these things. Plus, it will take him two minutes to figure out something is wrong between me and Stephan-"

"So, something is wrong between the two of you?"

Bella realized a second too late what she let slip. She had to give it to her brother, he had a knack of getting things out of her even when she tried very hard to hide them.

"You can tell me... I will understand," Ian said earnestly.

He would. There was no doubt about that. Except Bella didn't know what she was supposed to tell him.

After overhearing Stephan and Angelina that day, she had decided explicitly to not interfere in the former's life. Not that she wasn't doing just that before, but seeing him so angry, blaming her for things that were out of her control... she didn't see what other choice she had.

"Nothing is wrong Ian," she finally muttered. "But we aren't perfect. We are two very different people in an arranged marriage... it will take time, don't you think, for us to be husband and wife? But Dad is not going to accept that... anything less than perfect is unacceptable for him."

Ian stretched out his hand to hold hers. "Ignore him for a second... what do you want?"

Bella shrugged. "Can we please not talk about this? I am making peace with how things are... why do you want to get back into these discussions? We aren't going to get anything out of it-"

"We can find-"

"No, I am not negotiating," she snapped, her patience done. "Besides, we are talking about your marriage here, not mine."

Ian looked away from her. "I am sorry Belle," he said. "I am sorry I cannot help-"

"I am not asking for it."

"Yes, but I always end up putting you in rough situations... if Mom was here, then she would have handled this... and Dad... and you would still-"

"Stop with the pity party," Belle cut in, before the conversation became too painful. "How many weeks do you want me to come and stay? Is three weeks good enough?"

Ian blinked, not following.

"Okay fine, three weeks it is," she continued, ignoring the look she was receiving. "Send me the wedding planner's number, I will talk to her. And please be proactive with the company... I can't stress this enough Ian-"

He didn't let her finish for he had risen from his chair and pulled her into a tight hug. Bella smiled, glad that at least this relationship of hers had not changed in the wake of her marriage.

However, the happiness did not last long. As she made her way back to the penthouse, Bella had no idea what she was going to say to Stephan. Her father had made it very clear that once she was married, she would only be allowed to enter the house with her husband and no one else.

But how was she supposed to convince Stephan? They had barely exchanged a few words in the last few weeks. While Angelina's visit somewhat calmed him down, there was still a lot of resentment left. Bella could see it as clear as day. So given these circumstances, how could she even ask him to stay three weeks with her family?

The evening passed on with these thoughts and much too soon, Stephan arrived from work, tired but not as disgruntled as she imagined. Taking that as a good sign, she joined him for dinner at the dining table, a first for them.

"I need to talk to you," she said quietly, while he served himself food.

"About what?"

"Ian is getting married."

"So I have heard. My hearty congratulations."

"As his sister, I need to be there."

"Go ahead. I told you before, you are free to do whatever you like."

Bella now felt a little impatient. Would it hurt to give her some undivided attention? "It's not that simple."

"Why not?"

"Because this is the first time I am officially visiting my family after our wedding. So it's customary for me to come

with my husband."

Stephan mulled that over. "Okay, I can drop you off tomorrow evening. I have a few meetings during the day."

"You don't understand — I can only stay the full three weeks if you are there with me."

He finally met her eyes.

"I wouldn't have asked if it was avoidable," she continued quickly, in case his temper flew off the handle. "But my family is very... traditional. You have to come and stay there until the wedding is over. "

Stephan finally found his voice. "Three weeks?"

Bella nodded. "We can come back the second the reception is over."

"You do realize I will only be home for dinners, right? I have a lot of meetings scheduled for the next few days."

"No problem. The busier you are, the prouder my father will be."

"But wouldn't that defy the point of me staying there?"

She groaned. "I told you, my family is traditional. It's the thought of you and me staying there together that they care about. The logistics are pointless."

Stephan shrugged. "Fine, it's your call. I will stay three weeks, but don't come running to me if your family will ask awkward questions."

Bella glared at him. How conveniently he threw the entire responsibility on her shoulders!

"Yes, I will," she replied, defiant. "Because we are in this together. That was our deal. "

"What?"

"We both promised to keep each other's family happy. I covered for you in front of your family as best as I can, now it's your turn. "

Stephan pressed his lips, clearly displeased. But she didn't care. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

"Fine," he finally muttered. "What am I supposed to be doing?"

"For starters, loose the grouchiness."

His eyes flashed. "Excuse me?"

"We can't be happily in love, if you are always on the verge of screaming your head off. You have to learn how to control your anger — my father is a man of discipline."

"I haven't yelled at you so far, have I? So what's the problem?"

"The problem," she stressed, annoyed. "Is that we don't look anything like a newly married couple. The second my brother or my father sees us together, they will know I have been lying for three months about how happy I am with you. They will think your temper is a direct result of our unhappy relationship and will undoubtedly involve your family for further details. Do you want that?"

Stephan didn't respond.

"I didn't think so," she continued, glad that he was still somewhat reasonable. "If we are going to make this work, you will have to be smiling. All the time."

He grudgingly nodded.

"Also, you cannot come home whenever you like. Dinner is served at 8pm, so you will have to be there by then — no excuses. You cannot drink-"

"I don't-"

"Save the excuses. Maria told me about all the empty scotch bottles she found in the den."

For a second, he appeared furious to hear that, but upon meeting her gaze, he blinked and went back to eating.

"As I was saying," she continued, triumphantly. "You cannot drink and make a fuss. Do you think you can manage all that?"

He snorted. "I am not an idiot."

Bella disagreed with that, but she let it go. They compromised enough for one night.

"Great, I'll be ready by the time you come home tomorrow evening."