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Sold Myself to My Husband’s Rival 99
Bella’s POVAs Jesse’s words sank in—“Would you like it if I was concerned about another woman?”—a wave of guilt rushed through me.I looked at him, standing there with fire in his eyes, pain etched along the tension in his jaw. And I... I felt guilty.But not just for him.A part of me—one I tried so hard to silence—ached for Julius too. It wasn’t the same kind of love anymore, not like what I felt for Jesse now, but there was something. A thread I hadn’t cut clean. Maybe guilt. Maybe empathy. Maybe both.Did I still love him?The question cut through my heart like a slow whisper.No. I shook my head slightly, trying to dispel the thought. That wasn’t what this was. Julius had made his bed, and Jesse… Jesse was the one who held me when I broke.Still, the weight in my chest wouldn’t lift.I’ll find another way to get Julius out, I promised myself silently. But not like this. Not through Jesse. Not by asking him again and again until I damage everything we’ve tried so hard to rebuild.
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In a dimly lit chamber buried beneath a forgotten estate, shadows danced along stone walls, flickering with the low orange glow of a single lantern swaying gently overhead. The masked man sat at the head of the long steel table, his fingers steepled beneath his chin, eyes glinting behind a sleek obsidian mask that reflected the candlelight like a mirror of menace.He tilted his head slightly as one of his subordinates approached him cautiously, hands behind his back, voice low and respectful.“Sir… Jesse is still trying to figure out who you are.”The masked man chuckled—a cold, humorless sound that echoed through the chamber like a sharp knife being dragged across glass.“Of course he is,” he murmured. “He would. It’s only natural. A man like him… I truly wouldn’t have wanted to become enemies with.”He leaned forward slightly, his voice gaining an edge of amusement that didn’t reach his eyes.“But he just had to fall for the wrong woman.”There was a pause. The silence thickened.An
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Jesse’s POVBella fell asleep not long after, her breath soft and steady, her body curled up beneath the sheets like she finally felt safe. I stood at the edge of the bed for a moment, just watching her. Her lashes fluttered slightly with each exhale, lips parted gently as though she was dreaming of something sweet. Maybe of us. Maybe of nothing at all. Either way, she looked peaceful—so heartbreakingly peaceful. And beautiful.I loved her.God, I loved her so much.There was a kind of stillness in that moment, the kind that only came when the world quieted just long enough for you to realize what mattered. And right now, all that mattered was her.Then my phone buzzed quietly on the dresser.Not wanting to wake her, I reached for it, stepped out of the room, and closed the door softly behind me before answering.“Hello?” I said quietly, already knowing the tone on the other end wouldn’t be good.“Sir,” came the low voice of one of my security leads. “It’s about Athena.”My jaw tensed
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Two men. Dressed in plain black. Flanking Bella casually, like they belonged beside her. One of them whispered something. She looked confused, then nervous. Before she could react, one of them reached for her. The other scanned the area quickly before they moved.And then—just like that—they walked her out through a side exit.I froze.They took her.They fucking took her.I snapped to attention. “Pause. Zoom in on their faces.”The quality wasn’t perfect, but I could make out partial features. I took out my phone and dialed Marcus.“She’s gone,” I said, my voice low and lethal. “Bella’s been taken.”“What?” Marcus barked on the other end. “Where?”“From the mall. I just saw the footage. Get a team on it. I want every exit, every traffic camera nearby checked. Start with the basement—track her phone.”I clicked off and immediately tried her phone’s GPS. It pinged faintly… then showed a signal underground. Deep in the mall’s lower levels.The fucking parking garage.I was already movin
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The heavy door shut with a hollow, final thud.And then I was alone.Tears welled in my eyes, finally slipping down my cheeks. I didn’t sob—I couldn’t even move. I just sat there, trembling, cold, and confused.Because I didn’t recognize him. His build, his eyes, his scent—none of it was familiar.This wasn’t a face from my past.This wasn’t someone Jesse had warned me about.This wasn’t even someone who wanted money or fame.This… felt different.Calculated. Clean. Like I was just a piece in something bigger.And that terrified me more than anything.But one thing kept me grounded—kept me from breaking completely.Jesse.If there was one man in this world who would tear it apart to find me, it was him.And if whoever kidnapped me had any idea what Jesse was capable of… They’d already be running.We soon exited the basement through another corridor—longer, colder, and strangely silent. I didn’t know how many men were around me anymore, but I could hear footsteps echoing in every di
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Instead, he calmly reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, silver-capped syringe.“Then this,” he said, “should help you remember what you've forgotten… all these years.”My breath caught.“No—don’t. You can’t just—”I thrashed, tried to push myself back, but I was still too weak. My arms were shaking, and before I could scream, he lunged forward and slammed the needle into my neck.“Stop!” I gasped, but it was too late.The burn was immediate. Sharp. Like fire under my skin.I collapsed to the floor. The cold stone hit my cheek, and my limbs felt like they were melting.And then—Pain.Pain so fierce it split through my skull like a lightning strike.I screamed.Clutched my head.The world warped. Spun. Flashed.And just like that—the memories started coming.Like glass shattering inside me.The injection hit like fire in my veins. I collapsed, my body trembling violently as my vision twisted and blurred. Every heartbeat pounded like a hammer in my skull. The cold floor
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He paced in front of me like a predator circling its prey.“So I contacted Athena,” he continued, with sick satisfaction curling around every syllable. “She was bitter, easy to manipulate. I helped her get close to you, fed her everything she needed to ruin your life from the inside. The false accusations, the prison, the media—all me.”I stared up at him, disgust boiling in my chest.“I was going to kill you in that prison,” he admitted, voice low. “But someone saved you. Just like before. You disappeared again. And when I finally found you…” he trailed off, smiling bitterly behind his mask. “You were under Jesse’s protection. Fortified. Untouchable.”His eyes narrowed. “I couldn’t get to you. Not until now.”He crouched to my level, his breath a disgusting whisper.“I was going to kill you tonight, Bella. Just end it. But then I realized… I needed the seal more than your death. So I’ll take it from you first… and then, you can die.”My heart was pounding, but I forced my voice to st
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I woke up on the floor, curled into myself. The chair was gone. My body was numb. Burned. My limbs twitched with the aftershocks.But still—he didn’t stop.Day three, they moved to knives.They tied me upright against the wall this time. My arms above my head. My feet barely touching the floor.He came in holding a blade no longer than a finger. Sharp. Clean.“I’ve always admired precision,” he murmured.Then he made the first cut—just below my collarbone. I didn’t scream.The second—across my ribs. I flinched, but I bit down on the inside of my cheek to silence myself.The third—along my thigh. Deep. Burning.“Where is the seal, Bella?” he asked again.I spat blood at his feet.“Eat glass, uncle.”He chuckled like a proud father watching a stubborn child. Then he motioned to the guard. Another cut. This one through the side of my hand.I screamed this time.But not from pain.From rage.“You’ll never have it,” I growled. “Even if I knew where it was—I’d die before giving it to you.”
Last Updated : 2025-04-23
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Sold Myself to My Husband’s Rival 140
Jesse didn’t wait.He didn’t have time.He stood tall, voice cutting through the confusion like a sword:"You were lied to," he said..""Anna drugged me. Stole my memories. Tried to turn me into a pawn."Gasps.Shouts."But I remember now," Jesse said, voice rising."I remember everything."He looked at each of them in turn, letting them see it."Bella saved me," he said.Jesse swallowed hard.Emotion strangled him for a moment.But there was no time for sentiment now.He pointed toward the battlefield beyond the walls."Anna’s forces are tearing Dominion apart," he barked."We have to join the battle and subdue Anna"A roar answered him."To the gates!" Jesse bellowed.And they moved—like a storm unleashed.The eastern gate flew open.Jesse led his forces through it, armor gleaming under the sun, sword blazing in his hand.Dominion's soldiers—nearly overwhelmed—saw him charge into the fray and rallied like men rising from the dead.Bella—fighting atop the crumbling battlements—turned
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Bella drew her own sword then—long, silver-edged, a gift from her late father.It gleamed in her hand like a promise.She turned to Kael."Stay at the walls," she said. "Command from here."Kael frowned, catching the dangerous light in her eyes."My lady—""I'm going down there."She didn’t give him a chance to argue.She descended the inner stairs two at a time, the battle raging louder with every step, until she burst into the courtyard where fresh soldiers were rushing to reinforce the lines.They parted instinctively as she passed—eyes wide, faces awed.Bella didn’t stop.She charged through the outer gate just as another battering ram crashed uselessly against the thick stone, and then she was in the heart of it.Sword raised.The first enemy soldier lunged toward her.Bella sidestepped easily, driving her blade into his ribs with clean precision.Another swung a heavy axe at her head.She ducked low, slicing across his knee, sending him crumpling to the dirt.Her training kick
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She met Marcus’s hard gaze head-on."Stand aside when Anna attacks. Protect Jesse if he’s targeted. That’s all.""And what about Anna?" someone called from the back.Bella’s smile was cold and sharp."I’ll handle her."Marcus was silent for a long moment.The entire clearing seemed to hold its breath.Finally—he nodded once.Hard."If Jesse fights for you," he said,"Then so will we."Bella's breath caught.Not relief.Not yet.There would be no real relief until Jesse stood beside her, whole again.But it was something."Swear it," she said quietly.Marcus drew his sword.Pointed it to the sky."I swear it," he said.One by one, the soldiers behind him echoed the oath—hands raised, fists pounding against chests.Bella closed her eyes for half a second. Dominion would not fall today.Kael stepped closer."My lady," he said urgently,"we must return. Anna's forces will reach the outer walls within the hour."Bella nodded.She gave Marcus one last hard look."Stay true," she said."Or
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She glanced to her left where Rovan rode beside her, his horse’s breath steaming in the frozen air."The eastern watchposts have fallen?" she asked calmly.Rovan nodded."Yes, my lady. Minimal casualties. Dominion forces are stretched thin defending the outlying trade routes, just as you predicted."Anna smiled faintly.Bella thought she was clever—moving silently, rebuilding her little empire in the shadows.But she had grown soft.Love. Loyalty. Sentiment.All the weaknesses Anna had carved out of herself years ago.Bella had them in abundance.And Anna would use every one of them to crush her.The estate was visible now in the distance.Even from here, its silver towers and iron gates gleamed under the pale moonlight like a fortress carved from a dream.Anna narrowed her eyes.Soon, it would be hers.She raised her hand, signaling a halt.The army stopped instantly—trained, disciplined.She turned in the saddle to face them, her voice cutting through the cold air like a blade."Ton
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And soon—she would pay for it with everything she loved.Anna stood above the valley cliffs, her black-gloved hands gripping the stone railing as she watched her forces disappear into the misty hills.Her smile was razor-sharp now.Because the truth was—This was never about Jesse alone.No.This was about Dominion.About power.About taking everything Bella had rebuilt after her fall — and grinding it beneath Anna’s heel.She wanted Dominion for herself.The empire.The resources.The power it held over every shadowed trade route and underworld contract on the continent.Jesse had just been the bait.The excuse.And Bella, foolish in her sentimentality, had handed her the perfect justification by kidnapping him.Anna turned to Rovan, her second-in-command."We won’t just retrieve Jesse," she said, her voice smooth and deadly."We’ll seize Dominion itself."Rovan’s brows furrowed slightly. "But my lady, Dominion’s forces—""Will be fractured," Anna interrupted coolly. "Once the borde
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Small at first.Barely noticeable.Then it grew worse.His entire body tensed, muscles locking, breaths becoming shallow and fast like he was fighting something.His hands gripped the blanket tightly, knuckles white.I sat up immediately."Jesse," I whispered, reaching out to touch his arm.He flinched violently at the contact, a sharp cry tearing from his throat—a sound so broken, so full of fear, it shattered something inside me.He wasn’t awake.Not fully.He was trapped somewhere deep inside himself."Jesse," I said again, firmer this time. "It's me. Bella. You're safe."He thrashed once, fists clenching like he was trying to fight invisible enemies.Sweat beaded on his forehead.I caught his wrists carefully, not restraining him, just anchoring him to something real."Shh..." I whispered, leaning closer. "You're safe. No one’s hurting you. I'm here."Slowly, his breathing hitched—sharp, jagged gasps breaking through the fog.His eyes snapped open, wild, unfocused.He looked right
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I brought him his tea, just like every other morning since he returned.But this time, when I placed it in his hands, he didn’t immediately drink it.He just... stared at me.Longer than usual.Long enough that the hairs on my arms prickled.Like he was trying to see something inside me.Something he couldn't quite remember.I sat beside him, keeping a careful distance.“How are you feeling?” I asked gently.He tilted his head slightly, confusion flickering across his face.“I feel like... I should know you,” he said finally, his voice rough from sleep and something deeper.My throat tightened.“You do,” I whispered. “You will.”He frowned, as if struggling inside his own mind.“I keep seeing... flashes. A hand reaching for mine. Laughter. A... necklace?”He pressed his fingers to his temple, frustrated.“It’s all broken. Like... like pieces of glass.”I reached out slowly, letting my hand rest lightly over his.“You're remembering,” I said, voice trembling with hope. “Even if it’s sm
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His eyes locked on mine.No memories.But something shone there.He stepped closer, holding the tiny flower out to me.“You’re beautiful,” he said softly. “Just like this.”My throat tightened painfully.Tears pricked the corners of my eyes.I took the flower carefully, cradling it between my fingers like it was the most precious thing I’d ever been given.“Thank you, Jesse,” I whispered.He smiled.Really smiled.For the first time since I brought him back.Jesse’s smile.The one I’d fallen in love with once before.The one I was falling for all over again.We spent the rest of the afternoon in the gardens.I told him small, harmless things—stories about the flowers, about the diffMarcust statues scattered around the estate.He listened closely, his attention sharp whenever I spoke.At one point, he reached out and brushed a leaf from my hair, his fingers lingering near my cheek longer than necessary.He didn’t understand why he wanted to touch me.Didn’t remember.But he still did.
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Down the maintenance shaft.Through the hidden door.Into the cold breath of the night.We made it to the transport just as the first alarm howled through the estate.I shoved Jesse inside, climbed in after him, and Kael slammed the door shut.The vehicle peeled into the tunnels like a bullet, shields cloaking us from heat sensors.Behind us, the estate lit up with searchlights and shouting guards.Too late.I held Jesse close against me as we sped away.His breathing was shallow.His body stiff.But he was here.Alive.Mine again.I looked down at him—this man who had fought so many battles for me without ever asking for anything back.And I whispered the words I should have said a long time ago.“I’m never letting you go again.”We made it back to Dominion just before sunrise.The sky was still dark, bleeding into deep violet as we pulled through the hidden tunnels beneath the estate.Kael handled the security re-entry codes.Justin coordinated the sweeps to make sure no foreign tra
