Bella's POVThe air felt heavy with the unspoken tension as Max and I stood there, his eyes searching mine for answers. "Bella," he hesitated, "do you regret that kiss?"I shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his gaze. The truth hung in the air, but I couldn't bring myself to voice it. "I... I need some time to think," I finally mumbled, breaking eye contact and walking away."I'll be at home later," I called over my shoulder, not daring to look back. The weight of Max's unspoken question lingered with each step. As I walked down the quiet street, my mind raced with conflicting emotions.Lost in my thoughts, I collided with someone. Startled, I looked up to see Selena, my cousin, holding a picture in her hand. It took me a moment to realize it was a photo of me kissing him – a moment that should have remained private, luckily his face didn't show and mine didn't too. But still, she saw it and that was a problem.Selena's eyes gleamed with mischief. "Caught you in the act, Bella. This could
Peron's POV"ARGGHHHH," I yelled pushing everything on my table to the floor. "What is going on? Why is everything going downhill? Who is doing this?" I groaned almost tearing my clothes like a mad man. I stormed out of my office, my mind a turbulent storm of frustration and confusion. The news about other businesses vanishing hit me like a sledgehammer, shattering the illusion of stability I had worked so hard to build. The once bustling street now seemed desolate, mirroring the chaos in my mind.Without a clear thought, I found myself in the driver's seat of my car, the engine roaring to life as I sped away from the crumbling remnants of my business. The familiar hum of the engine served as a stark contrast to the clamor of thoughts raging in my head. I needed solace, an escape from the maddening reality.The neon lights of a nearby bar beckoned me like a lighthouse guiding a lost ship. I parked haphazardly, stumbling out of the car and into the dimly lit establishment. The air was
Bella's POV I gently guided Peron into the house, his steps faltering as he leaned heavily on me. "I'm sorry," I told Max through mind link. "Please help us." I continued supporting Peron, guiding him towards a chair. "And you think he'll help you?" My wolf hissed in my head, still upset about Peron's punch on Max. "He was drunk. Max is bigger than that. He should understand," I replied, easing Peron into the chair. The air was tense, both inside my head and in the room. Kira, sensing the unease, inquired, "What happened?" She glanced at Peron, who was visibly intoxicated. "Drunk and needs to get sober, quickly," I muttered, deciding to address the immediate concern. I excused myself and headed to the kitchen, intent on preparing some soup. As I moved pots and pans around, I couldn't shake off the disturbing incident. In the kitchen, I set the soup to simmer, the aroma wafting through the air. My thoughts, however, were elsewhere. What had triggered Peron's sudden binge drinking,
Peron's POVAs I slowly opened my eyes, the piercing light from the morning sun felt like a thousand needles stabbing into my brain. A groan escaped my lips as I realized the throbbing headache that accompanied my awakening. The room swirled around me, and I tried to piece together the events of the previous night. Mass drinking, I thought and regret washed over me.I fumbled for my phone on the bedside table, hoping to find some sort of relief or explanation for the company's current state. As the device illuminated, I squinted at the screen, expecting to see messages from my men or some crucial information. Yet, to my dismay, the screen displayed nothing but the usual notifications and mundane updates."No useful messages," I muttered, my disappointment evident in my voice. My team was supposed to keep me informed, especially after a night like that. I shook my head, attempting to shake off the remnants of the headache, and decided to face the day ahead.Dragging myself out of bed,
Elizabeth's POV"So I'm just a side piece, huh?" I hissed walking away to find a cab. "Does he think I'm a slave or what? Making sure Bella is okay? If she dies, I don't give two fucks!" I mumbled, trying to stop a cab but none would wait. After waiting for almost ten minutes, one finally waited and I got him."Miss Elizabeth," the man in the front seat called, handing me an envelope. "We've been watching you.'"Watching me? You are you?" I growled, trying to open the door but it was locked and I could not unlock it manually either."Relax, Miss Elizabeth," the man said with an eerie calmness. "We're not here to harm you. In fact, we believe you have the potential to work with us."I eyed the mysterious man with suspicion, sliding into the cab's back seat. "Work with you? Who are you, and why have you been watching me?""We are an organization with interests that align with yours," he replied cryptically. "We know about your connection with Bella, and we need someone on the inside to
Bella's POV As I stepped through the front door, cradling my newborn son Cayden in my arms, I was greeted by an unexpected sight – a woman bustling about the living room, dusting shelves and arranging flowers. Confusion etched across my face as I realized we didn't have a maid before. "Hello, ma'am. I'm Emily, your new maid," she said with a warm smile, briefly pausing from her duties. Perplexed, I fumbled for my phone and dialed Peron. "Peron, there's a new maid here, and I didn't know we were hiring," I questioned, my voice filled with curiosity. Peron's voice crackled through the phone, "Oh, Bella, that's Emily. She used to work there until she fell ill. She's recovered now and wants to resume her duties." A wave of understanding washed over me. "Oh, I see. Well, welcome back, Emily," I said, trying to mask my surprise. As I ended the call, I couldn't help but wonder about the circumstances that led Emily back to our doorstep, especially in this troubled time. "Thank you, ma'am
Bella's POV My heart pounded in my chest as I read the ominous message about Emily's true identity. Determination overcame fear as I swiftly got out of bed, leaving Cayden peacefully sleeping beside me. I made my way down the hallway to check on Emily, but as I approached her supposed quarters, Peron emerged from the shadows. "Bella, what are you doing?" he asked, a hint of concern in his eyes. "Peron, did you see where Emily went?" I questioned, urgency lacing my words. He hesitated, "I thought I saw her running away quickly. Why?" My stomach tightened. "Peron, Emily is not who she claims to be. We need to find her." His eyes widened in realization. "What do you mean, Bella?" "She's a fake, Peron. Someone sent me a message warning me about her. We need to act quickly," I explained, urgency driving my actions. "Someone? Who?" "That doesn't matter, Peron. We have to find her and ask her who sent her here!" I said. Peron's expression shifted from confusion to concern. "Let's fi
Elizabeth's POV "What a lovely day to be free," I chuckled while sipping the wine from my glass cup. I rushed to answer the call, my heart pounding as I heard the urgency in my man's voice. "Elizabeth, it's bad. Peron had an accident. They're taking him to the hospital." Dread gripped me, and I managed to stammer out, "What happened?" "He drank the glass you asked Bella to have. It wasn't meant for him, but he took it, and now... it's not good, Elizabeth." Guilt surged within me. I had given that bitch to give Bella a specific glass to drink, what went wrong? How could I have foreseen that Peron would unknowingly take it? "Tell me where they're taking him. I need to be there," I demanded, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. "The general hospital." I hung up, my mind racing as I rushed to the hospital. Each step felt heavier than the last, the echo of my own footsteps matching the racing beat of my heart. Arriving at the emergency room, I approached the reception desk.