Mandy paced the living room, nerves on edge as she rehearsed her words. The morning sun filtered through the blinds, casting streaks of light that did little to brighten her mood. She had stayed up all night, wrestling with thoughts of Davis, his intense brown eyes, and the way his presence made her heart race and her thoughts scatter. She couldn’t hold it in any longer; she needed to know where she stood with him. When Davis finally emerged from his room, looking slightly disheveled but no less handsome, Mandy wasted no time. “Davis, can we talk?” He nodded, sensing the urgency in her voice, and they sat down on the couch. The air between them felt heavy, as if the words Mandy was about to say would tip their delicate balance. Mandy’s voice quivered as she began, “I need to know, Davis... do you feel anything for me? I mean, really feel anything? Because I can’t keep pretending that this is nothing. I thought I could handle it, just being around you, but it’s driving me insane.
Davis eyes widened, and his breath caught in his throat. Ramsey Wendel stood in the shower, water cascading over his muscular frame. For a moment, Davis’s brain struggled to process what he was seeing. Was he more shocked by Ramsey’s presence, or was it the realization that Bella was once again betraying her sister? Or maybe, it was the undeniable fact that Ramsey, the man who had thrown Mandy out of his life, was now comfortably bathing in Bella’s apartment as if he owned it. Davis’s mind buzzed with questions. How long had this been going on? Was Bella really back with Ramsey, or was this just another one of their twisted games? His confusion gave way to anger; Mandy had trusted Bella, tried to protect her, and this was how she repaid her? He didn’t have long to ponder as the sound of approaching footsteps jolted him back to the moment. Bella’s soft humming grew louder, and Davis quickly ducked behind the half-open bathroom door, his heart hammering in his chest. He watched thro
Davis immediately sprinted down the hallway after weighing his options, his heart racing as Ramsey lunged after him, fueled by rage and determination. Despite Ramsey’s anger, his body betrayed him. Every move sent a sharp, familiar pain shooting through his bones—the lingering wounds from Mandy’s last attack had not fully healed. He was fast, but not fast enough. Davis slipped past Ramsey’s grasp, narrowly avoiding his outstretched arm. They tumbled into a messy struggle, grappling fiercely as Ramsey tried to pin Davis down. For a moment, it seemed like Ramsey would gain the upper hand, but Davis twisted his body just right, using his agility to break free. In the chaos, his expensive wristwatch snagged on Ramsey’s hand and fell to the floor with a metallic clatter. Ramsey groaned, clutching his side, pain flaring from his bruised ribs. Bella rushed over to him, her face twisted in panic, but by the time she reached Ramsey’s side, Davis had already vanished, disappearing into the
Davis could feel the weight of her words, and he knew this was no idle threat. Mandy was ready to fight back, and she wasn’t going to stop until Ramsey paid the ultimate price. "I'll tell you by morning" Mandy replied and left for bed. Mandy tossed and turned in her bed, her mind a whirlwind of rage and betrayal. She stared at the ceiling, imagining all the ways she could end Ramsey’s life once and for all. Her thoughts were dark and endless—a thousand schemes of revenge playing out in her head, each more dangerous than the last. But amid the chaos of her vengeful plans, another idea lingered, simmering beneath the surface: Davis. Mandy had grown tired of being alone, tired of feeling powerless, and part of her wanted to pull Davis closer, to make him hers in the most irreversible way possible. If she could pin her pregnancy on Davis, she could tie him to her life forever. It was a desperate, reckless thought, but Mandy was done playing by the rules. She threw back her covers a
Davis paced back and forth in his apartment, the tension in the room thick. His phone was clutched tightly in his hand, and beads of sweat formed on his brow. He needed this plan to go off without a hitch—literally. The sooner he figures something out, the closer he’d be to taking down Ramsey and his casino. With a quick swipe, he dialed the number to one of his trusted men. “Radee,” Davis barked, “You and the guys need to head to Ramsey’s casino now. I want eyes everywhere. If there’s anything we can use to cause an explosion, something subtle but deadly, I need to know. Got it?” “On it, boss,” Radee replied coolly. Davis hung up, his mind racing through all the potential scenarios. He wasn’t interested in a big, messy explosion that would draw attention. No, he needed something professional. Something Ramsey would never see coming. *** Radee and his crew of four walked into Ramsey’s casino. The neon lights outside buzzed softly, giving the place a vibrant glow. Inside,
Bella stepped into Eric Villagio's lounge, her eyes scanning the dimly lit room. She was eager to see Mandy, though part of her mind still swirled with the uneasy feeling she had after Ramsey’s sudden departure. The lounge was buzzing with activity, the low hum of conversations mixing with the clinking of glasses. It was the perfect place for a sisterly catch-up—or so she thought.As she approached the table where Mandy was seated, her pace slowed. Mandy wasn’t alone. A man, tall and handsome, sat across from her, chatting casually like they were old friends. Bella’s heart drummed. Who was this?Mandy noticed Bella’s arrival and waved her over with a big smile. “Bella! Over here!” she called out, her voice cheerful and innocent—too innocent.Bella’s brows furrowed as she walked up to the table, glancing at the man before looking back at her sister. “Mandy... what’s going on?” she asked, her tone careful. The last thing she expected was to see her sister with company—ESPECIALLY not a g
Mandy had slammed straight into Dwight Cullen—her husband. Her breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in shock as she stared at him. Dwight stood there, looking just as startled but with a nervous smile spreading across his face. His messy brown hair was slightly disheveled, and his worn jacket hinted at a man who’d been through too much too fast. For a moment, neither of them said anything.Mandy’s mind raced, a thousand thoughts flashing through her. Why is he here? How did he find me? What does he want now? Her body froze in place, muscles locked up, as if seeing Dwight had turned her into stone. Dwight cleared his throat, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke. “Mandy... hey. I’ve been looking for you.”Mandy blinked, her heart hammering in her chest. Of course he’s looking for me. He can’t let go, she thought bitterly. But instead of saying any of that, she clenched her jaw, buckled up, and with an icy look, she hissed, “Get out of my way.”Without giving Dwight a ch
Bella’s scream pierced through the air, echoing across the lounge like a desperate cry for help. It wasn’t just the loudness of it—it was the raw pain in her voice that grabbed the attention of everyone around her. Strangers began to gather, whispering and shooting concerned glances in her direction. A few of them stepped forward, trying to console her, asking questions she couldn’t even process. "Are you okay?" "Do you know Mr. Ramsey Wendel?" "Are you related to him?" But Bella wasn’t hearing any of it. Her mind was too shattered. The man she had loved—the one she thought she had figured out—was gone. Dead. Just like that.Alex stood beside her, looking helpless, unsure of what to do. His face was pale, his hands shaking slightly, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t know how to comfort Bella. He didn’t know how to comfort *anyone*. Meanwhile, Mandy stood nearby, watching Bella’s breakdown, a slight smirk curling the edges of her lips. She sighed a sigh of relief—Her plans h