BELLAI knew what he was capable of as he walked toward me, his eyes dark with intent. My heart raced as he came closer, standing right in front of me. I met his gaze, pleading silently, but he ignored my look, his expression unreadable.“Babe, hope nobody’s stressing you,” he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. The room grew tense as his words echoed, drawing all eyes to us. I swallowed hard, wishing he wouldn’t make a scene. David was bossy, sure, but showing it off here, in front of everyone it wasn’t what I wanted.I felt my pulse quicken, wondering if he was about to do something unpredictable.He reached out, took my hand firmly, and with a commanding glance around, he announced, “I’m sorry, guys, but I need my woman with me right now.” His tone was final, almost daring anyone to object. A few people looked away, unsure, while others exchanged shocked glances. Only Elowen, my friend, beamed at me from across the room, her eyes sparkling with approval.Then Sharon sneered, he
BELLA I caught a glimpse of David heading down the hallway, his figure casting a long shadow under the dim lights. My voice cracked as I called out, “David.” He stopped, his eyes searching my face as he hurried back to me. His hands found my face, fingers warm against my skin. “What happened? Are you alright?”A hard knot formed in my throat as I shook my head. “It’s… it’s my dad. He’s in the emergency room.” A single tear slid down, quickly joined by another. The words barely came out, my voice breaking under the weight.Without another word, David wrapped his arm around me, his grip steady. “We’re going,” he said, firm and resolute. He led me outside, instructing his driver, who pulled up to the curb within seconds. The ride to Hope Valley was a blur, the city lights streaking past, but David’s hand never left mine. The warmth of his fingers anchored me, his thumb brushing gently over my knuckles.At the hospital, I rushed down the hallway, the sterile scent of disinfectant and the
BELLA"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice barely steady as she stared at me from her seat, an unnerving calmness in her eyes.She tilted her head, her lips twisting into a playful smirk. "Chill out, baby. Why so tense? I’m not here to bite you." Her gaze slid down to my trembling hands. "At least, not yet."A shiver crawled down my spine, and I took a small step back, watching her closely.She raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Relax. I just came to talk. Nothing more...for now.""Whatever game you’re playing, leave me out of it." My voice sounded braver than I felt. "I don’t have any issues with you."Her laugh was cold, sharp, cutting through the room. "Oh, Bella, you had an issue with me the moment you decided to marry my man."My jaw clenched. "I never married your man. You chose his brother over him and walked away.""Well, well." She leaned forward, eyes glinting with something dark and dangerous. "Seems someone’s been doing their homework on me and David. So, tell me,
DAVIDThe thought of Lizzy getting anywhere near Bella or her father made my jaw tighten. My hands balled into fists as I paced the hospital corridor, glancing at the door to Bella's father's room.Lizzy knew. How she found out, I wasn’t sure, but I knew her games better than anyone. We had played them together once. My lips curled into a humorless smirk. You think you can outplay me, Lizzy? Try me.Pulling out my phone, I punched in the number for my head of security.“I need ten bodyguards here. Now,” I ordered, my voice as cold as the polished floor beneath my feet.“Yes, sir,” came the immediate reply before I ended the call, my grip on the phone still tight.BELLAThe soft click of keys stirred me awake. Squinting against the morning light, I turned to see David sitting beside me, his face illuminated by the glow of his laptop screen.“Good morning,” I murmured, my voice still heavy with sleep.His head lifted, and a slow smile spread across his face. God, that smile. It was the
BELLAMy fingers trembled as I picked up my phone. Enough was enough. I couldn't let Lizzy keep playing games with my life. She might think she was untouchable, but she was about to learn otherwise.The phone barely rang before her cold, clipped voice came through."Well, well. I didn’t think you had the nerve to call.""Why wouldn’t I?" My voice cracked with anger. "You’ve been pushing and pushing, and I’ve had it!"A low, chilling laugh came through the line. "That was your first mistake, Bella. You shouldn’t have called."I gritted my teeth. "What do you want from me?"She didn’t hesitate. "Simple. Divorce David. Get out of his life."My breath caught, but I refused to let her hear the doubt creeping into my mind. Did David even love me as much as I loved him? I shoved the thought aside and forced a sharp edge into my voice."Are you joking? You had your chance with him and threw it away. He’s mine now.""Yours?" Her voice was pure venom. "You really don’t know who you’re dealing w
Adam Bella"What do you mean?" I asked, staring at Michael my boyfriend, or at least, the man I thought he was as he blocked me from entering his apartment.His eyes held no remorse, no flicker of the love we had shared for six long years. The man I thought I knew stood before me now, cold and distant.It was as if I were nothing more than an inconvenience, a piece of trash he could toss aside without a second thought."I'm sorry, Bella, but we can't be together anymore. We can just be friends. I'm focused on building my career, and I need a woman of my class. We're no longer in the same caliber.I know you helped me through school, but I can't end up with you. I'm a manager now, aiming for something higher. I can support you with some money."His words cut deeper with each sentence. My chest tightened, my breath quickened. I blinked rapidly, trying to process what he had just said when a woman's voice cut through the fog in my mind.I turned, and there she was Vivan, my colleague. Sh
ADAM BELLA "Did you confirm it?" Elowen’s voice was sharp, cutting through the fog of disbelief still clouding my mind."Yeah," I replied, watching the street in a daze. "He said I’m not in his class anymore." My voice was flat, as though saying the words aloud would make the hurt dissipate."Did you kick him?" Her tone was filled with righteous fury.A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips. "Yeah, but... I forgot to slap him.""Good enough. I’m at your apartment. Come quickly. We need to talk."The line went dead, leaving me standing there, torn between laughing and crying. Elowen was always a fighter, always ready to battle my demons when I couldn’t. But today, it wasn’t enough. Nothing felt enough.I turned to leave when, out of nowhere, a strong hand gripped mine. Startled, I looked up to meet the gaze of a man whose presence was as unsettling as it was captivating. His piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, unblinking, unreadable."Let go," I demanded, though my voice betray
Adam Bella"Please, follow us," one of the guards said, his voice polite but leaving no room for argument.Reluctantly, I followed, trying to convince myself I wasn’t entirely losing my mind. The moment we stepped outside, my eyes widened. Parked at the curb was a Chrysler Pacifica. My dream car.I hesitated, fingers lightly tracing the sleek, polished exterior. The surreal nature of the situation sank in deeper."Miss, please," the guard prompted, gesturing to the open door.With one last glance at the car, I slid inside. The soft leather seats cradled me, and for a second, I lost myself in the luxury. Is this really happening?As I settled, the door clicked shut, and I was jolted back to reality. My soon-to-be husband entered the car without a word, eyes glued to his phone, his presence cold, distant."Where are we going?" I asked, breaking the uneasy silence.Without sparing me a glance, he replied, "To change your clothes. We’re getting married in an hour."I nearly choked on my o