Third Person's POV:
Elio with his girlfriend came in.
"Nonno, nonna, everyone, this is my girlfriend Bianca Rossi." Elio gestured to her girlfriend.
She was beautiful and gentle looking. She looked like she couldn't harm a fly. Everyone was very excited to meet her.
"Hello everyone. Nice to finally meet you. Elio has told me so much about you guys." She said in a sweet voice. Her voice was like a melody.
"Hello, come in. Sit here." Sophia said and led them to sit on the couch. Everyone sat around her.
"Bianca let me introduce you to everyone. This is my nonno, nonna, my mother, father and this is my uncle. These are all my brothers, Emilio, Alessio, Aurelio, Aldo, Luciano and Orlando. These are my cousins, Antonio, Leonard, Rafael, Alfonso, Benjamin, Matteo and this is my one and only princess, Ariana."
"Hello. Nice to meet you everyone. He has told me many things about you all. Ariana I am happy that you are finally home. It must have been very tough for you huh? Living a normal life that must have been hard on you." Bianca said in a sweet voice.
"No it wasn't. I was very happy before also. My parents loved me and they still do. It's just that I have two families now. Both love me and that is all I need." Ariana said.
She felt like something was off about how Bianca talked with her but she can't be sure. Maybe she was overthinking it.
"Oh I didn't mean it like that. I am sorry if I offended you." Bianca said quickly with a nervous look like she was getting bullied.
Romano brothers frowned because they felt like something was off about her but they can't point out what.
"No you didn't. I was just answering you what you asked." Ariana said calmly. She was now getting more sure that there was something going on.
Meanwhile Elio was unaware about what was going on with his girlfriend.
"So what do you do Bianca?" Sophia asked.
"I am currently working in a company as the secretary, Mrs. Romano." Bianca said.
"Oh that's good." Sophia said.
"What about your family?" Isabella asked.
"My father is a businessman and my mom is a housewife. I am a single child. I sometimes wonder how it would feel to have a sibling." Sophia sighed.
"Ariana, I envy you. It must feel very good to have so many brothers, right? You don't have to fear anyone and you can do anything you want. You get all the attention too. They must protect you like a jewel. On top of that they are also very successful." She said with a hint of jealousy flashing in her eyes.
"No it's not like that. I have to be mindful of my actions and can't be just willful. And yes they love me very much and I am very grateful for that." Ariana said softly.
"I wish you were more willful, princess. Then we can come and help you anytime you are in trouble but you are so mature and obedient that we can't do anything about it and just pamper you." Antonio said.
Anyone could tell from his tone how proud he was having her as his sister. Bianca's eyes were filled with hatred but she quickly covered it up and nobody saw it except Antonio and Gabriel. They sighed in their minds and thought that this girl is trouble.
"You are very lucky Ariana." Bianca said gently.
"Yes I am." Ariana said smiling.
"How much time are you guys dating for?" Ariana asked.
"Oh, it's been a few months." Elio said looking at his girlfriend.
"How did you guys meet?"
"It was night time and I was coming home when she ran to save a dog and almost got hit by a car. I saw that and immediately pulled my car to the side to help her. She was hurt but not very badly and then I sent her to the hospital." Elio said.
"Yeah and I just fell in love with him then and there. I mean who helps someone nowadays. Not only did he help me but he also took care of me in the hospital and visited me there. He also saved that puppy. I then adopted it. I was very touched by his kindness and knew that he was a very nice person. Then we slowly started talking to each other and got to know each other." Bianca said, looking at Elio sweetly.
No one can tell from her expression that she was lying or not. Her expression was perfect.
"That's sweet. Elio fratello loves puppies." Orlando said.
"Yeah he told me that. I was very surprised." Bianca said.
They talked for some time but Arian always felt like there was something wrong with Bianca like there was a motive hidden deep in her. She just couldn't put her finger on it. So she was very observant to her actions and watched her throughout the evening.
After they had dinner the juniors all went for a walk as the elders felt like they should give them some time to bond.
"So Ariana, what are you doing these days?" Bianca asked.
"I just finished my exams and am waiting for the university acceptance letter."
"Oh that's great. You can go to any school you want. That's so awesome."
"Huh? I mean it's not decided where I can go. It will be decided after the application letter comes out." Ariana said, confused.
"Oh I see. You are right. You don't want to tell anyone how you got into the university. I got it." Bianca said with an expression like she just got an answer and realised something.
"What do you mean by that?" Ariana asked.
"Nothing nothing at all. I will not say anything if you don't want me to. I mean you can go to any university that you want, your family will just support you. I got that." Bianca said sweetly, a little too sweet.
"What do you mean by that? Why would you say that? I will go to the university based on my ability, not on the support of my family and underhanded method." Ariana said, getting a little furious at her accusation.
By now everyone came to them and asked what happened.
"I just said that Ariana can go to any university that she wants and her family will fully support her but she got upset and misunderstood my meaning and thought that I am accusing her of cheating her way in the university. I am sorry Ariana. I know that it is hard to accept me since I am new in the family but please don't misunderstand me. I guess you aren't ready to accept me yet." Bianca said with tears in her eyes looking very pitiful like someone had bullied her.
"I didn't say that. You are twisting my words." Ariana became a little flustered.
She has seen many scheming women and dealt with them but this was her cousin's girlfriend. How should she deal with her without hurting her cousin?
"I am sure that twinnie didn't mean it like that. You are accusing her. She was the most excited that she was going to meet you. She has been encouraging our brothers to get a girlfriend. Why would she not accept you? Rafael fratello also has a girlfriend but she has been getting along with her well. I think that you are slandering her." Matteo said furiously.
He knew Ariana the best. How can he not. She was his twin. His best friend. Romano brothers were also feeling furious. They knew that they shouldn't say anything now because she was Elio's girlfriend and it was best that he solved this problem.
"I didn't. I am sorry. I know that I am probably wrong. Elio please forgive me. It's not Ariana's fault." Bianca said with a very pitiful face and sobbing gently.
"I think that you should say sorry to her." Elio said, looking serious.
Everyone's expression changed. They thought that he was out of his mind for getting Ariana to apologise. Her brothers were especially furious and just as they were about to say something, Ariana shook her head and signaled them to stay silent.
"Elio, this is not her fault. Maybe we shouldn't be so harsh with her. She will come to accept me eventually as I spend more time with her. Just let it go baby. I know that you feel that you should get me an apology but I think this will be very tough for her and embarrass her."
Although Bianca was saying this in the favour of Ariana but if anyone looked closely she was making it like Ariana was not willing to apologise. She was truly cunning.
"Are you going to apologise or not?" Elio said again furiously. Bianca was gloating happily but she put on an expression like she was very troubled.
"Ariana I think that you should probably apologise quickly, otherwise your brother will really be angry. I don't want him to be angry with you. I know that you didn't mean to say that. It is not embarrassing to admit your mistake." Bianca said with a troubled expression.
"I said, apologise Bianca You should apologise to princess." Elio roared this time looking at her.
Bianca was stunned and so were his brothers. They all thought that Elio was asking Ariana to apologise. Bianca looked at Elio and saw that he was looking at her and asking her to apologise.
"I...I don't understand Elio." Bianca stuttered.
She was getting scared now. After all Elio was going to be the head of the mafia and his aura can't be measured to normal people and this time he was really looking terrifying.
"Are you dumb? I am asking you to say sorry to princess for your behaviour." Elio said, gritting his teeth.
"I...but I wasn't wrong. I didn't say anything. She misunderstood my words. I am telling the truth baby. Please believe me. I know that she is your cousin and you can't see her getting wronged but this much pampering is also not right. This will only make her arrogant and unreasonable. As her future sister in law, I think that I shouldn't let her get haughty. Don't worry I will help you to get her attitude right. I am sure that with my help she will be right on track."
Bianca said, like she was right and was arrogantly talking with him. God knows where she got that much confidence to say things like these. That too, in front of her brothers, who will do anything for her. Sigh. No one can save her now.
"Hah! You sure are putting yourself on a high pedestal. What sister in law? What, getting her to get her attitude right? Who do you think you are? Who gave you the right to be so arrogant here? I can't believe that I was so blind. Cousin? She is my sister. SISTER. Do you think that if anyone else would have said these things he would be standing here alright? You made a very big mistake. One that you will regret for your whole life. You don't need to make her attitude right. She is the most amazing person and no one can be more understanding and kind than her."
Everyone was stunned at his outburst. They didn't think that he would say these types of things directly to her. But if they think deeply then this is also right. They all were brought up like that from childhood and they can't see their family members being treated wrongly. On top of that, this was their precious sister. How can they wrong her?
But Ariana wasn't very surprised. She knew her brothers very well. She knew that they would not let anything wrong happen to her. But she was a little surprised by his fierce attitude. She thought that he would go soft on Bianca, after all she was his girlfriend.
"Why would she accuse you or misunderstand you? She was so happy that she was going to meet you then why would she say those words. You don't know but she is very intelligent and she can go to any university that she wants without any help. Anyways our family doesn't condone those types of things and they are very strict with the matter of education. We are done Bianca. Now say sorry to her." Elio calmed down a little.
Ariana sighed. She was really happy that he had a girlfriend and thought that she could have some female company but who would have thought that she would turn out to be like this.
But Ariana was also happy that she showed her true colors early otherwise it would have been a train wreck if they got to know later on. She can tell that Elio wasn't in love with her and was just trying it out with her but he did like her genuinely. Otherwise he would not have made her his first girlfriend.
She was happy that he was so protective of her but also sad that his first girlfriend turned out to be Bianca and he will be sad for a period of time. But she knew that with their family's help and with time he will come out of this and will find someone even amazing.
*****
Here's another chapter guys.
I hope you will like it.
Happy reading.
Love, Stella.