Eliana's Pov "So I told this guy that I wouldn't be able to do that then he got angry, wore his clothes, and stormed out," Anna said, licking ice cream off her spoon.Bella looked at her, an astonished look on her face, "Are you for real? That dude is disgusting. "I chuckled, "You sure know how to pick the weird ones." I ate a piece of chocolate off my ice cream, the chocolate melting in my mouth the minute it touched my tongue. I was thrilled I came out, despite the whole baby fiasco. It's been ages since I caught up with my girls and now that we were here together, I didn't want to leave. I almost forgot about the previous days and my spirits were lifted.I almost forgot about Noah. A pang appeared in my chest.I swallowed and focused my attention back on what they were talking about."I remember when I was with this Duke-" Bella started but was interrupted by Anna's surprised gasp."You were with a Duke?" She asked, her voice failing to hide her astonishment. "Yes Anna, that
Chapter Sixty-FiveNoah's Pov I listened absently as Jerry rattled off my schedule for the day, his words blending into a blur of background noise. My mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Eliana, her words echoing in my ears.I love you.Those three words. Just three words have caused more damage than one would expect from just three words.They were the first words that echoed in my abyss of a mind.There were the last words I heard before I slept. I thought she was cruel, but that word couldn't begin to describe her.Did she think it was a joke? Was I a joke to her? How would you tell someone you love them when you don't? I thought I was evil for what I did, but this was another degree.I had prided myself on being perceptive, on being able to see through people's facades. But with Eliana, I had been blind to her true intentions. The realisation struck me with a sharp pang of regret and anger.She had taken advantage of my vulnerability, my desire for companionship and affection.
Noah's Pov "Who the hell is that woman?" My voice boomed loudly, the noise of my anger and irritation bouncing off the interior of the car."Oh Jesus, that was so close." He wheezed, trying to catch his breath as fast as he was capable of. He was so unfit and to be honest, I wasn't shocked the slightest. He took a bottle of water from the bottle holder, then sucked the bottle dry.Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, his face contorted with both exhaustion and fear. With trembling hands, he wiped the sweat from his brow and tried to steady himself. The rush of adrenaline coursing through his veins began to subside, gradually allowing him to regain control over his breathing. "Talk to me boy," I said, shaking his shoulder. "Okay, that was my," he took in a lungful of air. "ex".I blinked twice. Jerry, the most quiet and timid guy, with that danger of a woman for an ex? She looked like she could swallow him whole."Are you serious? Are you sure you weren't just her pet?"He lo
Eliana's Pov "The wedding is in less than two months, Eliana. We need to go shopping for things you would need as soon as we can." My mother in law, Lucy said through the phone.I almost rolled my eyes but I knew she meant well. She was so excited about the wedding, the fact that her son who she thought would never get married was going to do his wedding soon and nothing has gone wrong. Yet. I might decide to kill him."Okay Luce, when should we go wedding dress shopping?" I asked, adding finishing touches to my sketches. "Shopping? Oh sweet child, we don't shop for dresses. There's already a dress for you to wear."I paused my shading, "What dress?" I asked, becoming increasingly sceptical about the whole arrangement."My wedding dress of course."My pencil lead broke."Don't tell me you mean the one you wore like a hundred years ago, Lucy. Don't tell me that's what you expect me to wear."Lucy laughed heartily into the phone and I also giggled, "Nonsense child. You need to see the
Eliana’s povBella and I got out of the car and walked back into the house, each lost in our thoughts on how to handle the situation with Lucy. She felt Bella didn t want to get married so she already moved on and accepted her fate. That may have made her come off as uninterested and uncaring, but poor Lucy didn't want to keep her hopes up about Bella getting married. She had no idea that bella had always had dreams of marriage since she was a kid and despite her uninterested demeanour, was a hopeless romantic.It was just a little case of misunderstanding, and I'm sure a day of wedding dress shopping would fix it all. Lucy was seated in the same position I left her in and still had the same expression on her face. Bella cautiously walked to her, a concerned expression on her face, "Mother, you good?"Taken aback by the unexpected company in the room, Lucy's eyes widened and she stared at us like we haven't been in the room for some time."When did you guys get in?" She said, rubbi
Chapter Sixty-NineEliana's Pov "I'm sorry ma'am, you don't like the dress? What about you, bride?"The sales attendant asked, an innocent look in her eyes. "Are you for real? Of course we don't like that." Bella responded. Lucy got up, an annoyed expression on her face. "I don't know if this is a game but obviously you don't recognise who we are. Call your superior for me."The sales attendant began to apologise immediately, her face flushed in embarrassment, "I'm so sorry ma'am, I just wanted to make the atmosphere lively, please forgive me Mrs Adler."Lucy gave her a stern look, and I shivered on the sales attendant's behalf. If I were her, I most likely would be running for the hills."I expect a better reception from now on if you would like to keep your job," Bella said, her voice dripping with authority. The sales attendant nodded quickly, managing a smile, "It won't happen again. Can you please follow me to this section where our mermaid style wedding dresses are stacked?"
Chapter SeventyEliana’s POVWe left the boutique with a sobbing bride, me, a wedding dress with a crown veil and an after party dress, which Bella picked, since I was a mess. I sat in the back while Lucy and Bella sat in front. The awkwardness between them was suffocating and without me being in the right mood for conversations, they had to face the elephant in the room, what went wrong earlier today.Bella coughed a bit while glancing at her mother, who pretended to be interested in the car interior. She sure has been staring at the leather for too long.“We need to talk about the dress mother." Bella started, temporarily making the air tense again. Lucy didn't look away from the leather, instead she nodded. "Yes we do need to. The two dresses we got from the boutique are stunning. I do love the after party dress too."I mentally face palmed. Lucy didn't want to talk but Bella had a lot to say. A lot had to be said."Cut the crap, mother. You know what I'm talking about." Bella sa
Eliana's Pov When we see pictures of picture perfect weddings, no one ever stops to think, how much work went into this? My tongue was sore from tasting everything. Lucy had kept me busy with the tasting aspect. At first I was excited to taste the cake samples and dessert samples then I got sick of the sugar. The wine tasting part, I enjoyed, but I was done with wedding tasting for the day. Bella was busy with the interior decor of the hall because in her words not mine, she had better style than I did. I agree, it was pretty obvious. Everything was brought to Lucy for executive agreement. She said and I quote, what an elder can see seating, a child can't see when climbing on the tallest tree.The Adler family and overconfidence. Noah and his dad went suit shopping and from what I heard, their relationship was getting much better. He had Valentino, Jerry and surprisingly Alex as his groom men. He and Alex have become surprisingly close, which meant Bella had to see more of Alex an
Chapter 26AlexNoah didn't take it well. As expected. He even broke my nose and jaw because of it.I understood. Not only did I break his trust by fucking his sister who I swore to protect, I didn't tell him when it started. Thankfully, Eliana was there to calm him down or else I wouldn't have had a face anymore.Things were stiff between us the first few days, then he accepted it. Said he couldn't have trusted anyone else to be with his sister if not me.Things were perfect between Bella and I. Linda reached out to Bella, and made her not only an ambassador but the manager of a new division that was opening here in the city.Bella was excited. She flopped the first meeting, but Linda said basically what Laura of Pearls said. Bella was self dependent, and that's what truly mattered. I on the other hand never felt happier. She was all that mattered to me and being with her has made everyday of my life better than the last. We had crazy sex, every orgasm better than the last.I loved h
Bella's Pov Alex smiled at me, his thumb cleaning off the lone tear that escaped my eye. "I said I love you, Bella."Say something! My brain screamed at me and I recovered from the shock. "Why?" I asked, whispering, afraid that the moment might end if I was too loud.He chuckled softly, "Why? You are perfect. Compassionate and beautiful. You light up a room with your presence. A perfect example of beauty and brains. I could go and on, but those wouldn't still explain why I have fallen in love with you.""But I'm impulsive and inconsiderate. We haven't known eachother for long…""You aren't impulsive and inconsiderate. You are passionate and driven. The things you see as faults, aren't faults at all. And we haven't known each other for long, but it feels like I've known you forever.""But, but…" I stammered but he placed a finger on my lips, shutting me up. "But nothing, Bella. If you don't feel this way, it's okay. I just want you to know that, my heart's yours, even if you don't wa
Chapter 24BellaNoah was shocked when I asked him to replace my guard. He wanted to know what happened, but I wasn't giving him any explanation. I didn't want to think about anything. I immersed myself into my work, creating more content for the brands I worked with and spent the other days drinking. I didn't want to leave my home. I didn't want to stumble on Alex.That night felt like a bad dream. I hated myself for believing Antonia. Even Fiona didn't want me there.I should have maintained my pride. I should have walked away when the drinks poured on me. I should have never made that deal. Maybe, just maybe…I brushed that thought away, taking a gulp of my wine. I didn't want to feel anymore. I didn't want to regret anything anymore.Maybe I should have listened to Alex. Maybe I shouldn't have said those words. Maybe I shouldn't have let my lack of judgement and frustration coupled with jealousy get into my head.I hated Antonia. And seeing her wrapped around him with her lips on
Chapter 23Alex's POV"You know I can see through you, right?" I said with a smile as Antonia spoke about how hard it was to be related to a legend.She gasped, placing a hand on her chest, "What do you mean Alex?"I chuckled, playing with my dinner knife, "I know you have a plan to ruin things for Bella."Her eyes widened and she laughed, hard. "I knew there was a reason I liked you."I chuckled, "I see through snakes like you. Now, it would be wise if you stop whatever you are planning. "Bella came, her eyes emotionless as she saw Antonia giggle. She was going to take it the wrong way. But did she even care? Did she care enough to lose sweat over whatever I do? She was so driven by her career, I loved that about her. But she was willing to ruin what we had for something that was obviously a trap. She didn't care if after this, I would keep my distance far away from her.It didn't matter to her, all that mattered was this opportunity to meet her idol and become an ambassador for th
Chapter 22Bella.The trip back home was the worst. Alex and I still didn't talk to each other. That continued even after we got home. We barely spoke when I wanted to go out, and I only went out once. The week was the worst as I planned on how I would style my dress for the wedding at the end of the week.I tried to distract myself by meeting up with Eliana after my brother rudely asked for me to help her get ready for their date. He looked suspiciously happy, and I was happy for him.She wasn't in a good stare because of what went on with Oliver, but by the time we partnered up to make her gorgeous, she forgot all about the incident and focused only on her date with Noah.Something was up with that relationship, one minute they look like they want to kill each other, then the next they look like they can't wait to be in the room together. Eliana always blushes when we talk about sex. One would think she was a virgin but knowing my brother, that was next to impossible. Unless the un
Chapter 21Bella's Pov The dinner party started twenty minutes before we got there. Alex and I got to the hotel two hours before the time for the party to start, and that wasn't nearly enough time for me to get dressed.Alex was ready ages ago and actually offered to help inform me that I wasn't going to take much time,but I explained to him that I had to be fashionably late or I wouldn't be taken seriously. He decided to just leave the room since he was feeling restless. I wore a sparkly deep blue mermaid sequins dress with a high slit. It was off the shoulder, my cleavage evident but not spilling. I made my hair into waves and swept it to a side, then wore my jewellery which consisted of dangling earrings, rings and a little bracelet. Wore my silver heels and after doing my soft yet fierce make up, I was ready to go.I walked in front of the large mirror, a smile on my face as I checked myself out. I twirled in the mirror. The door opened and Alex stepped in, clad in his muscle
Chapter 20Bella's Pov I walked into the room with my robe on. Alex was already under the covers, turned away from my side of the bed. I let out a silent sigh as I wore my night wear and crawled under the covers.Looking at his back, I couldn't judge if he was asleep or not. I tapped on his shoulder, "Alex?" No reply. I tapped him again and I felt him grab my arm."Wha…" I didn't have time to process what was happening as he pulled me into his arms."Alex, you could have told me you wanted to cuddle." I giggled, laying in his chest.He scoffed, "I don't want to cuddle. I just want to steal your warmth.""Deceive yourself all you want, but I know you are obsessed with me." I tapped his nose and he rolled his eyes."Whatever makes you sleep, butterfly." He muttered into my ear and we fell into a deep silence.A lot was going through my mind. What are we doing ? Why did he feel offended when I said what I said about him?Was I wrong? Was it just my fear talking? What if I was getting
Chapter 19 Bella’s Pov It was seven o'clock, and I was dressed and adorned for our first shoot. Alex sat beside me in our car as we trailed behind Pearl's crew closely to the venue. I felt a lot more confident, like the real Bella people saw. Beautiful, fierce, unbreakable. All thanks to the one man I never knew could make me feel so beautiful, so seen. I blushed as I remembered events that happened earlier today in the dressing room while I was getting ready, his head between my legs as he handed his daily meal. He ate pussy better and more passionately than anyone I’ve ever met. And while I wobbled out of the dressing room to show the crew my look, he whispered assumingly dirty words to me like, “I so want to fuck you with that dress bunched around your waist.” Somehow, he managed to make that statement sweet by adding how beautiful I looked after saying that. And I felt beautiful, not just because he said so. He showed it, he made me love every one of my insecurities by mentio
Chapter 18BellaWe met the pearls crew in Dubai. They were all so nice and friendly. I couldn’t meet Laura personally but I met her assistant, who led us to the hotel where they already booked a room for us. It was a majestic five-star hotel to my taste, crawling with rich Arab men and beautiful women.Even Alex was impressed about this fact after criticizing the kind of plane ticket they bought for us, hence why we had to go on his private jet instead.The room was just how we wished it could be. It was a suite adorned with luxurious furnishings and breathtaking views of the city skyline.We settled in the suite after a brief arrangement to meet early tomorrow morning for our shoot. We had the whole day to rest.Alex was already in the suite when I walked in with a towel on his waist and water dripping down his chest.“Hey,” he greeted, taking my attention off his chest and to the teasing smirk on his face as he caught me checking him out. “I could pose for a picture if you like,” h