Christian's POV Nothing could beat the expression on Belle's face as I stared at her almost naked body. Her white gown was gone and she was left with her panties on and her breasts bare. I wanted to look away but I couldn't. My gaze travelled down her body and then back to her before I brought myself to turn my eyes away. "You could knock!" She exclaimed when I didn't speak to her. If only she knew that I was trying to find my voice. She still had an amazing body and memories of how I enjoyed touching her began to flood my brain. "Christian!" She called. "You should apologize. Where are your manners?" She asked. I turned to look at her for a moment, controlling my heartbeat and desires before finally finding the urge to speak. "It's just a normal woman body, Belle. I've seen lots of those. And besides we are married. Why do I need to knock in my own bedroom?" I asked and the confusion on her face spread. She opened her mouth in shock, too stunned to speak. I didn't know which of
Belle's POV."What the hell does she want?" Alexander thundered at me as I stood beside the door. I turned to look at Christian and there was relief on his face, as if he was happy that I had interrupted them.Lucy shrugged her shoulders and opened her palm as she walked into the study. She took a seat beside Christian."Leave us, woman." Alexander said to her. "And take your daughter in law with you, we are discussing something important." He added, turning to look at Christian with the intention of continuing from where they had left off in the conversation.Christian stood up immediately and walked to the door, to his father's dismay."I'll see her, father. To know what she wants. It might be important." He replied while walking to me."Sure. Emotions again." I heard Alexander say as we walked out of the study together. Alone in our bedroom, Christian turned to me."Yes? What do you want?" He asked in a harsh tone.Here we go again."What was happening in there?" I asked. "What wer
Belle's POVChristian was staring at me with fire in his eyes. I wondered how long he had been standing there, waiting for me to walk in. It was quite ridiculous.I strolled into the room ignoring his stare and going straight to perform the business of undressing myself for the night."You were not going to give a response so I did in your stead. You should be thanking me." I said to him as I brought out my night wear from the wardrobe.I turned to see if he was going to give me privacy to undress but since he didn't look like he wanted to move, I turned my back to him again."You feel you can speak the way you want now?" He asked, still pissed."I don't get what you are so mad about." I answered. "You told me to play my cards right, to act in love with you and that was exactly what I did."Taking off my dress and not caring if he were staring at me or not, I replaced it with my night dress and turned to see him breathing hard."Your parents asked you a question and you froze. I answe
Belle's POVAlexander looked at the door and me simultaneously as if trying to get a hang of what was actually going on.He moved past me and banged on the door, the sound very loud considering the time of the night. I said nothing to him as he continued to bang, it was his house afterall.Christian opened the door with a scrowl on his face probably thinking I were the one knocking. His look didn't change when he saw his father, it only hardened."What are you up to, Christian? Open the door." Alexander said."Leave dad, this is none of your business." Christian replied. Alexander peeped in and was able to see Lucy on the floor, Gabrielle still doing her best to offer her support."What is wrong with your mother this time around?" He asked."Leave, dad. Just go away." He said and shut the door again, this time even louder than he had when he sent me away. I realized that Alexander was probably the cause of the ruckus going on in there and Christian knows but Alexander wasn't aware tha
Christian's POVThe bruise on her neck was just too much to handle. It was as if something had tried strangling her to death.I considered suicide, maybe she wanted to hang herself. Was she tired of it all? Was I that suffocating that she wanted to end it all?But no, Belle was a strong woman. She once joked that nothing would make her kill herself. Her parents, the most important things in her life were dead and she was still standing strong. So no, it definitely wasn't suicide.Then what was it? I didn't know why I was annoyed at it. She stood there, shifting her head away from my touch, trying to make sure I don't see how much damage was done."Who did that to you, Belle?" I asked her again."It's nothing." She replied, taking the hat forcefully away from my hand and replacing it on her head."It definitely doesn't look like nothing." I replied."It's my business Christian, stay away from it." She answered and turned to walk far away from me and my family.I turned to look at Gabri
Christian's POVMy eyes was wide with shock. I had expected her to say Belle really did it. It would have been easier to say Belle had lied to me or even a lover. Maybe a lover she had secretly brought on to the trip had a misunderstanding with her and wanted to kill her, anything would have sufficed, but not my father.Definitely not my father.He wasn't a monster. Yes, he was many other things but he wasn't violent enough to hold her up to the point it left that sort of mark on her neck."It's been very long I saw you this surprised, Christian." Gabrielle said studying my face.I turned to look at her and shook my head with disbelief."My father doesn't have any reason to do that to her." I replied."True," she nodded "but he did. I saw them in his study last night."I didn't know what came over me but I turned angrily and walked down to my father's room. Without knocking, I kicked open the door and he jerked upright."You did what?" I asked, going over to his side of the bed. My mo
Belle's POVHe thightened his grip on my arm but I didn't flinch, only determined to stay and help him. My hand was against his back, patting with the intent of bringing his heartbeat and breath back to normal.He stared at me, with those beautiful eyes of his and instead of asking me to leave like he had done the previous time, I found him staring at my lips and leaning forward.Something spoke to me to move away from him and leave the room. To not further complicate our situation and relationship, but his eyes were more compelling than the voice in my head.When his lips touched mine, I didn't move, only felt. His grip on my arms softened as he deepened the kiss, his tongue doing the magic in my mouth.It was like a trance. I no longer controlled my mind. I only allowed him to lead while I followed.The kiss ended and I felt his eyes on me even though mine were still closed."The sleep disorder is not gone, Christian." I said immediately I regained my breath. It wasn't a question.
Belle's POVThe danger in her eyes was enough for me to read the red signs. I took a step back from her even as she continued to pretend to smile at me. No one wanted to anger a woman who felt like she had been scorned, especially by a cheating husband.A lot was beginning to unfold about Christian's family even without asking questions and getting answers. They were way too forward to keep secrets among themselves no matter how much they tried to hide it.Lucy still looked at me with daggers in her eyes and I had to use the gown she gave to me to keep a good distance between us."What are you talking about Mrs Lucy? I don't have anything to do with your husband. He is my father in law for Gods sake." I said, trying to calm her down."Well, I don't believe you." She retorted, turning to make sure we were still alone before taking another step towards me. "Afterall you just appeared in my son's life again. Who knew what you had been doing before that.""I wasn't doing anything." I said
Belle's POVI woke up to find Christian staring at me with a smile on his face. After the intense love making last night, he sure did look intent. And so was I. There was no happiness in the world compared to what I was feeling right now. In few weeks time, I will be walking down the aisle as Christian's wife. Official wife this time around. We were going to have a real wedding. The thought of having a wedding alone made me fulfilled."Good morning Sleepy head." He said, kissing my forehead and I snuggled closer to him, to get a scent of his fresh morning breath."Were you even able to sleep Mr Martin?" I asked him, wishing the day would just halt for a while and that we didn't have to go on with our daily responsibilities. I wouldn't mind being in bed with him all day, in fact that was what I desperately wanted.He smiled. "Who sleeps when there is a beautiful woman lying in his arm. There's no sleep for such men." He replied, the beautiful smile still playing on the corner of his li
Christian's POV"Mr Martin?"I turned my chair away from the window to find Louisa standing by my office, her bag hung on her arm. She had a worried look on her face that was too hard to miss, even with my thoughts and feelings all over the place.She felt sorry for me, I almost laughed at the situation. She had seen me at my best, worse and worst throughout these few days and I knew I had a lot to apologize to her for."Is it time to leave already?" I asked her and she nodded, pointing at the clock hanging on the wall. "It's been time to leave an hour ago, sir." She replied.I nodded my head and offered her a weak smile. She must have waited to make sure I left before she did, but it's an hour past her closing time. I had to let her get back to her life outside the walls of the company. "Time travels faster these days." I said and she smiled at me. "Go on then, I want to see David before I leave. He said he is around the building now.""Do you want me to wait...''"No, Louisa. I hav
Belle's POVThe days got tougher after the separation. It's been a week and some days since Christian and I decided to call it quits. I sat with Bernard in his flower shop, arranging and trying to make myself useful. His wary eyes were always on me, wanting to make sure that I was fine and wasn't thinking too much about the situation.I was glad to be back, especially back to my parent's house where I didn't need to worry about it being taken away anymore. It was all thanks to Christian and the contract marriage which was supposed to last for six months and more, but was later cut to three because of all the craziness. Getting married to a wealthy man for just three months and getting a house out of it would be considered a success I should think.But why wasn't I feeling successful? Why did it feel like someone had a hold on my heart and any mistake or move from me would require it being crushed to pieces."You know after the settlement, you won't need to do all these." Bernard said
Christian's POVThe doorbell of the house rang and I walked out of the house to open the door to see my mother and Gabrielle standing with a basket of fruits in their hands. It's been a week since Belle left and I have hardly done anything for myself apart from going to work. I lived like a work maniac and who else but my mother and cousin to take notice of it.They stood there, staring puppy eyed at me and the last thing I wanted was for anyone to pity me. My wife didn't die. Yes, she left me but she's alive, hale, happy and hearty."Finally decided to be part of the family again?" I said to Gabrielle as I led them into the dinning room where my home laptop and some papers were placed on the table."I won't pick a fight with you." Gabrielle replied, opening the cabinet and exclaiming at the uneaten fruits inside."Do you eat, Christian?" She asked, turning to look at me."I eat?" I replied and shrugged my shoulders. "Why do you ask that?""I don't know, it's obvious you don't eat. No
Belle's POVI sat looking at the mirror while preparing for Christian's celebratory dinner. Two weeks ago, we had discovered his uncle had been the architect of the news and Alexander had stripped him off his position, sending him to head the lower branch in South Arizona. Today, Christian was named chairman and we were to celebrate. But I didn't feel that celebratory urge in me as I realized it was all going to be over soon. The fake marriage, the lies, they will all be over soon. I heard a light tap on my door and rose to see Christian leaning in, dressed in his suit and looking ravishing. We've not really spoken much to eachother for the last two weeks but the environment seemed tense. Something was definitely bothering him that he didn't want to share with me or anybody for that matter. He was not in good terms with his parents for whatever the reason and Gabrielle had refused to come back to the city because of shame. Hopefully, she attends the dinner tonight."Are you ready?" C
Christian's POVI just couldn't describe my thoughts process when I looked at his face. He stood there, looking surprised at all of us and probably wondering why we were all staring at him. I couldn't believe he could do that to us which was the major reason I couldn't take a step towards him, or even talk to him. I had vowed to punch the offender on the cheeks but couldn't bring myself to.He was the most supportive person in the world and I desperately needed to know why he did that. Why he went all the way to even throw his own sister under the bus. My mother was dumbfounded as she stared at him and so was my father. None of us said anything, none of us moved an inch and the situation became more ridiculous and suffocating.Gabrielle walked to him immediately without any cue and looked straight into his eyes."It was you?" She asked him and he sighed. He knew what she was talking about and didn't even try to hide his shame."You found out." He said. It wasn't a question because the
Christian's POVShe was quiet for a moment as if she wanted to change her mind. But I knew her. Since she was on the phone already, she wasn't going to just leave me hanging. And I knew she wouldn't also keep something that important from me."Tell me, Brie." I said to her, holding my breath and wishing she wasn't going to say something ridiculous, something that would make me begin to hate Belle again when my heart was falling madly in love with her. It would only complicate my feelings and right now, I couldn't deal with anymore complicated feelings. She of all people should know that."It was your parents." She said calmly. "Uncle Alexander and Aunt Lucy threatened her to." Then she stopped, giving me a moment to take it all in, before continuing. "With the life of her parents."The ache I felt in my chest was nothing compared to having my arm cut off from me. No, they wouldn't do that to me. They were aware of how much I loved Belle then and even mourned with me while I looked for
Christian's POVI took three breaths in front of the company, before stepping out of my car. Belle had advised to me to stop hiding and with more than three days gone, it was indeed time to stop hiding. There were reporters, all right and they all crowded me on my way into the office. My bodyguards tried their best to keep them off but I waved them."Mr Martin, there has been a whole lot of rumors about you for a while now, can you say something quick about that?" One of the female reporters asked."Mr Martin, is the sleep disorder real?" Still a female."Your mother has also had her share of the rumour, what can you say about that?"I halted at their questions and adjusted my suit."The disorder is true." I replied, wishing that this was the best thing to do. The shot sounds increased and I knew I was in deep trouble. "But that was five years ago. It happened and I was cured of it, now I don't have it anymore. Everyother thing you've heard, is false."I concluded and made my way into
Christian's POV"What in the world!" My father exclaimed, shocked to the bones. If we were not in a pretty deep situation, I would have laughed at him, but we were and nothing was damn funny.Angry at what my mother had just done, he tried to take few steps towards, her but my uncle stopped him immediately."I wouldn't do that if I were you." He said and my father turned to look at him. I didn't know whatever he saw in my uncle's eyes, but he stopped and waited.My mother was still wrecking havoc when the maid brought her drugs. Quickly, I put it into a syringe and gave my uncle while I distracted my mother."He's here now, mum." I said to her. "Drop it and come with me."She shook her head vigorously, not in the slightest mood of stopping her actions. Thankfully, her attention was purely focused on us and wasn't aware when my uncle took the bottle from behind and injected the syringe on her arm. She stopped immediately and collapsed into his arms. I was surprised at how quickly the d