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 POVThe moment we arrived in Brixton, a sense of unease washed over me. It had been a long, tense journey, and although Zane's presence beside me had given me comfort, I couldn’t shake the growing anxiety that clung to me. I powered on my phone, intending to send a quick message to Kamille, to let her know I was back. But as soon as the screen lit up, I was bombarded with a flood of missed calls and messages from my family.I frowned, my fingers hovering over the notifications. What could they possibly want now? My heart began to race as I scrolled through the endless list of calls, each one filling me with dread.Zane, who had been watching me carefully, reached over and gently took the phone from my hands. “Let’s get you settled in first,” he said softly, his voice soothing. “Somewhere safe.”I hesitated for a moment, staring at the phone now in his grip, but then I nodded. He was right. I needed to be somewhere safe before I dealt with whatever chaos awaited me on the other
Dave’s POVI was still furious, pacing around the room like a caged animal. The board meeting had ended, but the storm inside me hadn’t. My knuckles were white from how hard I was clenching my fists. Everything was falling apart—Belle running away, the warehouse going up in flames, the investors losing faith. It was all because of that bastard Zane Caruso, and I’d be damned if I didn’t make him pay for it.I took another swig from the bottle of whiskey sitting on the desk, letting the burn slide down my throat, but it did nothing to dull the rage simmering inside me. My thoughts were wild, bouncing between revenge and destruction, when Jason, my personal assistant, burst into the room, panting like he had run a marathon.“Sir,” he wheezed, leaning against the doorframe. “Belle’s phone... it just became active a few minutes ago.”I froze, the bottle still halfway to my lips. “Where?” My voice was low, dangerous.“Brixton,” Jason said, swallowing hard.A slow, twisted smile crept across
Belle’s POVAfter I was done unpacking my clothes, although my mind still felt foggy from everything that had happened in the past few days, I tried to focus. The familiar task of organizing my things gave me something to do, something to distract myself from the swirling thoughts that refused to quiet down. I neatly folded the last of my shirts and placed them in the drawer. I sighed, glancing around the room Zane had set up for me in his penthouse. It was beautiful, spacious, and elegant, but the weight in my chest wouldn’t lift.Just as I stood up, stretching out the tension that had gathered in my back, my phone rang again. My heart leaped with anxiety. After all the calls and messages I’d received earlier from my family, I wasn’t ready for more. I picked up the phone, dreading who it might be this time.It was my elder brother, Elijah.I stared at his name on the screen, my thumb hovering over the "answer" button. Elijah? Why would he be calling me? He had been as nonchalant as e
Zane's POVI drove in silence as Belle sat beside me, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. I could feel the tension radiating off her in waves, and I didn’t blame her. The Perri mansion was a place filled with too many bad memories for her, and the thought of going back there—especially with everything happening in her family—must’ve been overwhelming.“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked softly, keeping my eyes on the road, though I desperately wanted to turn and see her expression.She was quiet for a moment, and then she nodded, though her voice came out small, uncertain. “I have to. There’s no running from it.”“I’ll wait up for you,” I said, breaking the silence. “No matter how long it takes.”Belle glanced at me then, a sad smile tugging at the corners of her lips. “You don’t have to do that, Zane. I’ll be fine.”“I don’t care,” I replied, gripping the steering wheel tighter. “I’ll wait.”The Perri mansion loomed ahead, its grand silhouette casting long shadows as th
Belle's POV“Fuck! I can’t believe that entering my own house would turn out to be this hard.” I muttered to myself as I stood at the entrance of the house, my hand hovering over the door handle. My stomach churned with unease, a sick feeling that gnawed at me from the inside. Anxiety twisted tightly in my chest, making it hard to breathe. It felt like everything had come to this moment, and I had no idea what awaited me on the other side of the door. My fingers fidgeted nervously against the cold metal handle, my pulse quickening with every second that I hesitated.What am I going to find there? I wondered, biting down on my lip as I fought the urge to turn and leave. But I couldn’t. I had to face this.Taking in a deep breath, I steeled myself and finally pushed open the door.The house was eerily quiet, and that silence immediately unsettled me. My eyes swept the hallway, then the living room beyond. Nothing. No one. I stepped further inside, my footsteps echoing through the sti
Zane's POVThe streets of Brixton blurred past me as I sped through the near-empty roads. The engine of my car roared in protest, but I didn’t let up. My foot pressed harder against the pedal, heart hammering in my chest. Belle’s call had come through only minutes ago, but instead of her voice, I heard the chaos of her family in the background. The tension, the shouting—it was enough to make my stomach twist. What made me bolt from Zeke and Fletcher’s meeting wasn’t just that. It was the sound of her mother accusing her—blaming Belle for everything her family was going through.But the real kicker, the thing that set me off, was hearing Belle throw up. The sound echoed through the phone, making my blood run cold. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.I had to get to her. And fast.The Perri mansion was beautiful, elegant enough for doctors of their status and nothing out of the ordinary. But right now, all it felt like was a prison Belle couldn’t escape from. I slammed t