Chapter 4

“Two-timer, you say?” Andrew sneered as he looked down on Bella.

Bella stood up and sighed. “How do you explain this? You are suddenly married to my stepsister. How long have you been seeing her?”

He scoffed. “You don't get to ask me questions.” He rolled his eyes. “Even if I was cheating, you slept with all those men, so how could you point fingers at me?”

Bella choked back a sob. He hadn't denied her accusations. “You'll regret this.”

“And just what do you think you can do to me?” He crossed his hands across his chest.

Bella ignored him and turned to walk away, but he grabbed her arm tightly.

“How dare you walk away when I haven't asked you to leave?”

Bella struggled to free herself from his grasp, but it was useless since he was more powerful. “Let me go,”

“Stop struggling; it's pointless,” he chuckled, shaking his head.

“Let me go!”

Suddenly, Andrew let go of her hand, and Bella fell backwards. However, she didn't hit the ground, as two powerful, muscular arms held her firmly.

“Are you okay?” His gruff voice asked, and she shook her head. “Did you hurt yourself?”

Bella shook her head, too stunned to speak.

“Uncle Tristan? What are you doing here?” Andrew asked in shock as he looked at the man who had just been speaking to Bella.

Tristian, who had just been put on the spot, glared at his nephew. “I thought I would show up for your wedding.”

Bella studied the man in question as she rubbed her sore arms from where Andrew had grabbed her before and was stunned at his looks.

He was lean yet athletic with a muscular build, sharp jawline, and chiseled features.

His dark brown hair had salt-and-pepper highlights that matched his piercing blue eyes perfectly.

He was obviously very sophisticated and polished if his tailored suit was anything to go by. His broad shoulders were evident and helped bring out the fit of the suit.

It wouldn't fit just anybody, no matter how much they tried.

“Are you hurt?”

Bella blinked as she realized he was talking to her. She bit her lip and nodded, not sure what he had said but knowing it would be rude to ignore him.

Andrew shoved her aside violently and reached for Victoria's hand. She had joined them at some point.

Bella looked up in time to see her staring at Tristian with lust-filled eyes. “Uncle, this is my fiancée, Victoria Thompson.” Then he turned to Victoria. “This is my uncle Tristan Ford. You must have heard of him…”

Bella snorted and turned to look at Tristian again, who was already looking at her. She flushed at being caught but couldn't look away. She frowned when she noticed a small scar above his left eyebrow and felt a twinge of sadness hit her.

What was that about? She wondered as she looked at her feet. “I shouldn't be here,” she whispered out loud and started walking away.

She bumped into James on the way out, and her heartbeat picked up, but she schooled her expression. “I came as you asked. I don't have to stay to witness the entire thing.” She couldn't bear it.

James smiled, a wicked sort of grin that caused Bella's heart to ache. “It's unfortunate that you couldn't keep a man long enough. But I guess it's a good thing Victoria found him; she'd do a much better job.”

Bella blinked back tears and just stared at the man she had always looked up to. When had he turned into this person? When had he changed from the loving and caring personality he had always been? Where had the father who had doted on his daughter lovingly and jealously gone?

“You can go anyway. If you stay here, you'd distract Andrew, and I don't want you ruining Victoria's big day.”

“You shouldn't have invited me if you think that way, and Andrew and Victoria absolutely deserve each other. I can't wait to see their life together.” She infused a mocking tone into her voice as she continued. “What goes around, comes around always.”

James's expression darkened. “What are you trying to say? If you do anything…” He was so angry that his voice and body were shaking.

“I'm not Victoria, so I would never stoop so low. However, karma will do it for me.” She wanted to say it, but she shook her head instead and didn't respond.

“Now get lost.”

She walked off, anger bubbling inside her as she thought of Andrew. Her eyes welled up with tears, but she held them at bay as she waved at the gatemen and stood outside.

Her mind was muddled up with different thoughts, so she decided to walk a few miles before ordering a cab.

Andrew and Victoria getting married just didn't make sense to her. Had Andrew been cheating on her? Of course he had, or else why would they suddenly be getting married?

Had Andrew arranged those photographs himself? He was the only man she had ever been naked in front of, so how come she had been photographed with strangers in the nude?

As she thought about it more and more, tears began to roll down her cheeks. Her vision blurred, and she tripped over a stone that had been in front of her.

She fell forward without an anchor and tried to use her hands for support. While she was able to protect herself, her hands were now bruised, and she had nasty cuts on her palms.

“I hate you so much, Andrew,” she whispered just as a black Range Rover stopped by the side where she was standing.

“Get in,”

Bella's eyes glistened with tears again as she saw Tristan looking at her from the car, but she didn't move.

“You're hurt; I just want to tend to your wounds,” he explained when she still didn't move.

Gradually, Bella's legs began to move towards the car. Tristian got down to open the door for her, and she thanked him. When he got in beside her, she wondered how his very presence could occupy so much space.

“Drive,” he instructed the driver, and soon they were pulling away from the house.

Bella sat there rigid and unmoving. She was starting to regret getting into the car when he spoke again.

“Let me see,”

“No, there's no need for that, sir. I'm fine.” Bella quickly said. “I would like to get out now, if that's okay.”

He simply stared at her, and the more he kept quiet, the more anxious she felt.

“Alright. Stop the car,” he instructed the driver, who immediately obeyed.

Bella thanked him and got out of the car. She watched him drive away and wondered why he had bothered with her at all.