Belle's POV I couldn’t sleep.No matter how much I tossed and turned, pulling the covers tighter around me, sleep refused to come. My mind wouldn’t shut off. It was like a tangled web of thoughts, each one more confusing than the last. Zane. The wedding. Kamille and Amanda. My family. It was all swirling together, a constant reminder that I had run away from everything, but it had followed me here, clinging to me like shadows in the dark.With a frustrated sigh, I threw off the covers and sat up, feeling the cool air hit my skin. The hotel room was quiet, but the silence felt suffocating. I needed to get out, even if just for a brief stroll. Maybe the cool night air would help clear my head.I slipped into the hotel’s provided robe and padded barefoot to the door, stepping into the hallway. It was dimly lit, with the occasional flicker of light overhead. I walked aimlessly until I found myself at the end of the corridor, where a small balcony overlooked the city below. I stepped outs
Dave's POV It was another day, but it still felt like hell. No amount of alcohol or distractions could drown out the harsh reality staring me in the face. Millions of dollars were lost, and it was all because of one person: Zane Caruso. First, Belle humiliated me by leaving me at the altar, and now, with the drug shipment gone and the warehouse reduced to ashes, the situation was spiraling out of control. Investors were jittery, questioning the stability of our operations. The emergency stakeholders meeting was looming over me like a guillotine.I stood at the base of the grand staircase, straightening my tie in the mirror before making my way up. The house felt cold, like it had been stripped of its warmth and soul. My mother was waiting at the top of the stairs, already dressed in her sharp, tailored corporate suit—a sleek black blazer that hugged her narrow frame, matched with a pencil skirt that stopped just above the knee. Her dark hair was pulled into a tight bun, her makeup fl
Belle's POV The balcony suddenly felt too hot and too small with Zane standing there. It wasn’t the balcony itself, but the air between us—heavy, charged, suffocating. My chest tightened as I tried to blink back the tears that wouldn’t stop. I didn’t want to cry, not now, not in front of him, but it was like a dam had broken inside me, and I had no control anymore.Zane watched me, his dark eyes full of concern, and I hated how much I wanted him to fix everything, even though I knew he couldn’t. This wasn’t something anyone could fix. I felt raw, exposed in a way I hadn’t expected. I thought running would solve everything, that distance would make it easier to forget, to move on. But seeing him here, in front of me, only made my feelings for him sharper, more painful.More intense and fucking uncontrolable.“Belle,” he continued, his voice low and gentle, but I shook my head, pressing my lips together to stop another sob from escaping. I couldn’t bear the softness in his tone, the wa
Zane’s POV“I’m sorry, Belle,” I whispered, the weight of my words heavy in the quiet of the night. “I’ll leave you be for now. I didn’t mean to make things worse.”My voice sounded hollow, even to me, and I hated how much it felt like defeat. But what else could I do? I had already done enough damage. I turned away from her, my heart pounding as I walked toward my room. Each step felt heavier than the last, like I was trudging through mud.The VIP section was eerily quiet, more than usual. It was a stark contrast to the storm raging in my mind. Maybe that’s why I noticed it—how still everything was. It gave me too much space to think, to question whether I’d said the right things or if I had just messed up everything even more. Did she hate me now? Had I pushed her too far, saying things that made sense only to me?I reached my door, fumbling with the key card, trying to slide it into the reader while my thoughts swirled in chaos. I told myself that I’d just pretend to sleep, maybe g
Belle's POV Zane's lips on mine felt like a spark igniting something deep within me—something I hadn’t known I was missing until this very moment. The world seemed to blur, leaving just the two of us, wrapped in each other's warmth and longing. His kiss was tender yet urgent, his hands gripping me as though he was afraid I might vanish again.Without breaking the kiss, Zane lifted me effortlessly, and I instinctively wrapped my legs around him, holding him as tightly as I could. My fingers tangled in his hair as his mouth moved against mine, sending waves of warmth coursing through me. Every inch of my body hummed with a desire I had tried so hard to suppress, but now it was impossible. This was real. He was real.I felt the soft fabric of my nightwear hike up beath the robe I wore over it as he carried me, his strong arms supporting my weight as if I weighed nothing at all. My heart raced, not out of fear, but anticipation. The door to his room was already ajar, and he nudged it ope
Zane’s POVI felt Belle’s breath against my neck as she gently shifted on top of me. My pulse raced, a mix of desire and disbelief settling deep in my chest. After everything we’d been through, the moment was undeniably ours. Her soft fingers trailed along my arms, her touch light, yet electrifying, and I felt a slow smile tug at the corner of my mouth. It was impossible not to feel the tension melt away, replaced by a heady anticipation.“What did you just say?” I asked with my voice bearing a gentle humorous tone.Belle leaned closer, her lips brushing against mine with a teasing softness, and I couldn’t help but reach for her waist, grounding myself in the feel of her skin under my hands. But then, she pulled back slightly, her eyes gleaming with mischief, a hint of confidence I hadn’t seen before glimmering in those depths."It’s my turn," she whispered, her voice low and husky. The sound sent a ripple of excitement down to my groin, yet I held back, wanting to savor every second
Belle’s POV The soreness in my body made itself known the moment I stirred awake, a dull ache spreading through me, but it was a reminder of last night—of the passion we shared, of Zane’s touch, of how perfectly we fit together. I couldn’t help but smile, letting the memory of it wash over me like a warm, comforting wave. Still half-asleep, I reached out to snuggle into the heat of Zane’s body, only to find cold sheets next to me.My eyes fluttered open, instantly searching the space beside me. He wasn’t there. I sat up, a rush of worry flooding my chest. Where is he? I scanned the room, my heart beating faster with each passing second. The space was quiet, too quiet, and I suddenly felt a knot form in my stomach.Had he left?I threw the covers off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. My bare feet touched the cool floor as I stood, and my eyes caught sight of the robe from last night lying discarded nearby. I quickly picked it up and wrapped it around my body, tying the belt
Zane’s POVThe cool air of Paris brushed against my face as Belle and I stepped out of the hotel and into the sun-dappled streets. The morning was alive, vibrant, and buzzing with a low hum of activity. A strange mix of excitement and calmness settled inside me as I glanced over at Belle, her golden hair catching the morning light. She looked radiant, more at ease than I’d seen her in a long time, and the sight of her like this—happy, comfortable—made my heart swell.We walked down the cobblestone streets, and I let my hand casually brush against hers, the simple touch enough to remind me that this moment was real. We hadn’t talked much since that electrifying shower, but it felt right. Words didn’t seem necessary when we were so perfectly in sync.As we rounded a corner, a quaint restaurant caught my eye, its name written in elegant cursive Le Petit Amour. The place was charming, tucked into a cozy corner of the street, with small tables arranged outside, each adorned with a vase of
Belle's POV The sun was warm on my skin, the breeze gentle and soothing as it drifted through the open patio where we all sat, the laughter of our loved ones filling the air. It was a picture-perfect moment—the kind of moment I used to dream about but never truly believed would come. We were all gathered around the long, sun-dappled table, the warmth of the day reflecting the joy that radiated from everyone’s faces. Zane was sitting beside me, his hand resting comfortably on my leg, our twins, Sean and Clara, gurgling happily in their bassinet close by. The twins were the center of attention today, as they were most days. Kamille’s kids, Reon, Torin, Tyris, Royer, and little Phoebe, were running around the patio, shrieking in delight as they chased each other. I glanced at Kamille and Zeke, who were sitting across from us, laughing and chatting while keeping a watchful eye on their children. Amanda, was helping prepare the meal, occasionally smiling in our direction as the kids d
Zane's POVI stood there, fists clenched, staring Dave Scott down. Every fiber of my being wanted to lunge at him, to make him pay for everything he’d done. But I couldn’t—at least, not yet. The recorder in my pocket was still running, capturing every damning word that fell from his mouth. I could feel it, a tiny weight pressing against my ribs, reminding me that I had to play this smart. For Belle. For Kelly. For justice.Dave, on the other hand, was as smug as ever, leaning back with that infuriating smirk plastered across his face. He had no idea that his time was running out.“You think you can just waltz in here and act like you own the place?” Dave sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. “You’re nothing, Zane. A nobody playing hero in a game that’s way beyond your league.”I bit back my anger, forcing myself to remain calm. His words didn’t matter. Not when I had the truth on my side. I took a deep breath, my fingers brushing against the stop button on the recorder hidden
Belle's POVWalking into the living room wasn’t easy. My legs felt heavy, like I was dragging weights with each step. The air in the mansion was suffocating, thick with tension and unspoken fears. My heart raced, a wild, chaotic rhythm that matched the pounding of my thoughts. I could still hear my mother’s frantic voice behind me, begging, pleading for me to stay with them, to hide, to escape into the secret bunker.“Belle, you don’t have to do this!” she cried, reaching out as if she could physically hold me back. Her eyes were wide with fear, her voice trembling. “Come with us. We can hide. We can survive this.”I stopped, my hand resting on the doorframe, my back to her. I couldn’t turn around. I couldn’t let her see the turmoil etched on my face, the way my hands trembled from the weight of what I was about to do. My family was scared—terrified, really—but the idea of running, of leaving Zane behind to face this monster alone, felt like a betrayal I wasn’t willing to commit.“W
Dave's POVI had been waiting for over an hour, sitting there, staring at the doors leading to the rooms, expecting Belle and Zane to finally step out. It wasn’t like them to hide this long, especially Zane. But instead of the two people I was dying to confront, what I got was the Perri family, practically groveling before me. Pathetic.The Perri patriarch, Mr. Perri, stood in front of me with a forced smile, his hands clasped in front of him as though in prayer. His wife hovered behind him, wringing her hands nervously. “Please, David,” her father began, his voice trembling. “We don’t want any trouble. Just… drop the lawsuit. We’ll leave quietly, I swear. We won’t cause any problems.”I couldn’t help the smirk that stretched across my face. They were so desperate, so weak. This was the kind of power I craved, watching them squirm, knowing I held all the cards. “You won’t cause any trouble?” I repeated, mocking his words as if they were a joke. “Oh, trust me, you wouldn’t be able
Zane's POVBelle’s tears were too much for me to handle. The way her shoulders shook, the soft sniffles she tried to hide—it broke something inside me. I couldn’t stand seeing her like this. Without thinking, I reached out, pulling her into my arms once more, holding her as tightly as I dared.“It’s going to be okay,” I whispered, my lips brushing against her hair. “I swear to you, Belle, this will all end today. I’ll make sure of it.”She pulled back slightly, her wide, tear-filled eyes meeting mine. There was a small, hopeful smile on her lips, but I could see the doubt lingering beneath it. It killed me to know that she still didn’t fully believe everything would be fine, that she didn’t fully believe in me. But I didn’t blame her. After everything that had happened, after all the lies, how could she?God! I needed her to trust me.I leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her lips again, my hand cupping her cheek gently. When I pulled away, her eyes fluttered open, and I saw a leve
Belle's POV“I’m scared, Zane,” I confessed. My voice trembled, and my arms tightened instinctively around my belly. I felt so vulnerable, standing there in front of him, exposed and raw. How was I supposed to face Dave? What would he say? What would he do?Zane hugged me tighter. His warmth, his strength—it was like a lifeline, grounding me in the storm of emotions threatening to overwhelm me. He pressed a soft kiss to my hair, his lips lingering there for a moment before he spoke.“You don’t have to be scared,” he murmured into my hair, his voice gentle yet filled with quiet resolve. “I’m here. No one is going to hurt you. Not Dave. Not anyone.”I closed my eyes, leaning into his chest, letting his heartbeat steady mine. His words were soothing, like a balm to my frayed nerves. Dave had always had a way of getting under my skin, and now… with everything that had happened…“Go get refreshed,” Zane said, pulling back slightly to look into my eyes. His fingers brushed a loose strand o
Zane's POVI cursed under my breath as we broke the kiss. I let her take a while to arrange her silk gown. I moved a bit from her as my mind played over what happened the night before.Belle couldn’t sleep all night; I could tell from the way she kept shifting in bed, her body tense beneath the silk sheets. I lay beside her, watching her.I thought back to earlier that night when I walked into the Perri mansion, my mind filled with chaos, only to be confronted by an entirely different reality. I remember the way Belle’s mother was yelling, her voice shrill with rage, but none of that mattered the second I saw Belle. She stood there, so fragile and strong all at once, and without thinking, I crossed the room and pulled her into my arms. Her soft, warm body pressed against mine, grounding me in the middle of the madness. She was everything. The only thing that made sense. The world could be burning down around us, and I wouldn’t care, as long as I had her.Belle’s mother, however, didn
Belle's POVI hadn’t moved from my spot on the bed. Not an inch. I sat there, staring blankly at the wall across from me, my mind heavy with thoughts, swirling memories of last night that I couldn’t quite shake. Everything felt so distant yet so vivid, playing over and over again in my mind. The weight of it all bore down on me, rendering me numb.Opposite me, Zane sat with his back against the headboard, his eyes wide open, just watching. He had been watching me all night. He hadn’t said much, but I could feel his presence, steady and unwavering, like a tether keeping me from completely unraveling. His gaze hadn’t left me, and for some reason, I found comfort in that. My thoughts drifted back to the moment it all came crashing down. The nausea that hit me like a brick after the shouting match with my mother, the way she had followed me into the bathroom after I threw up, concern etched across her face despite the earlier anger.“Belle, are you alright?” she’d asked, her voice surp
Dave's POVThe sun was barely up, casting a dull, gray light over the city, but the weight on my chest was already heavier than the day before. The shipment I had been waiting for was just a few hours away. The timing couldn’t have been worse, not with Belle out there and Zane still breathing. I needed to tie up loose ends, and fast.I sat on the brown leather swivel chair in my study, my hands running over my face as I tried to think. I needed to find a way to get the attention of the drug enforcement agency off my back before the shipment arrived. Every second counted, and I knew that one wrong move could bring it all crashing down.I reached for my phone, my fingers tapping rapidly as I sent out a message to my men. It was time to surround the Perri mansion. We need to bring Belle's family to their limit. Once that was done, they would bring out Belle. Or rather, she would bring forth herself. Then that nosy Zane Caruso will come for her and I get to silence him forever."Surrou