BELLAThe room felt suffocating. Every corner, every piece of furniture screamed his name. I didn’t want to believe what I’d overheard that I was just a pawn in David’s twisted game. My heart clenched as I yanked open the wardrobe. One by one, I pulled out my clothes, tossing them into the open suitcase on the bed. My hands trembled as I avoided touching anything he’d ever bought me. Those things felt like shackles now, weights pulling me deeper into this pit of betrayal.The memories stabbed at me relentlessly. First, there was the night with his ex-fiancée her presence in our lives, his lies, and how it had all ended with me losing my memories. And now this? A bet? Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t stop packing. The mansion, once grand and full of life, now felt like a gilded prison. I couldn’t stay here another second.I froze mid-motion, clutching a scarf. The door creaked open. My breath hitched as David stepped inside, his face drawn and pale. His eyes immediately fell on th
BELLAThe phone felt heavy in my hand as I stared at Elowen's name on the screen. My thumb hovered for a second before I tapped to call her."I'm coming home," I said the moment she picked up.Her voice was laced with confusion. "What? Why?"I drew in a shaky breath. "I ended things with David. I can't... I won't do this anymore." My voice cracked, and I hated the weakness I heard in it.Elowen hesitated before responding, her voice soft but steady. "Alright, babe. I'm at home. Come over."I hung up and hailed a cab, sliding into the backseat with a heavy heart. The car rumbled to life, the sound barely cutting through the storm of emotions in my head. I stared out the window, watching the city blur past. The weight of it all settled deep in my chest David’s betrayal, the lies, the games. The wind outside seemed relentless, as though it shared my turmoil."We're here," the driver said, pulling me from my spiraling thoughts.I blinked and reached into my wallet, handing him the fare. M
DAVIDThe office felt like a cage. My chest ached with regret, and the silence in the room roared louder than my thoughts. It had been two months since Bella left, and every day since had been a torment.The leather chair groaned as I leaned back, clutching a photo of her. Bella was laughing in the picture, her eyes sparkling with a joy I hadn’t seen in what felt like forever. John had sent it to me as an update, a cruel reminder of what I’d lost.I ran a hand through my hair, the weight of my mistakes pressing down on me. The lies. The betrayal. The distance. It was all my fault.“Sir?” My assistant’s voice pulled me out of my misery. He stood at the door, his face pale. “There’s an urgent situation at the Highland filming site.”I sat up straight, alarmed. “What happened?”“There’s been an accident. Some of the workers were injured. Bella…”My breath hitched. “Bella?”“She’s one of the directors on site,” he continued cautiously. “But… she’s missing. Ice collapsed during filming.”T
DAVIDThe hospital waiting room felt colder than the snowstorm outside. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, and the sterile smell of antiseptic hung thick in the air. My fingers gripped the edge of the chair, knuckles white, as the minutes dragged into hours.Bella’s face flashed in my mind the way she looked at me with fire in her eyes, even in her weakest moments. How could she say it wasn’t an accident? Who would hurt her? The thought tightened my chest, making it hard to breathe.A shuffle of footsteps broke through my thoughts. I looked up to see Elowen and Bella’s father approaching. I rose to my feet immediately, my legs stiff from sitting too long. Bowing slightly to him, I muttered, “Sir.”He placed a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm yet comforting. “There’s no need for that, son. How’s my daughter?”I swallowed hard. “The doctors haven’t said anything yet. She should be okay, but I…” My voice faltered. I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince him or myself.B
DAVID The boardroom doors swung shut behind me, my steps echoing in the marble hallway as Janet struggled to match my pace. Her brow furrowed as she glanced up at me, her smaller frame dwarfed by my towering presence. I barely noticed her; my thoughts were consumed by the incessant buzzing of my phone in my pocket.Pulling it out, I saw my assistant’s name flashing on the screen. My gut tightened as I pressed the phone to my ear.“Sir,” his voice came through, tight and hurried, “you were right. It wasn’t an accident. It was planned.”I stopped mid-step, the weight of his words hitting me like a freight train. My jaw clenched as my mind raced.Who would go to such lengths? Who would want Bella dead?Janet, catching up to me, placed a cautious hand on my arm. “David, what’s going on?” Her voice was soft but insistent, her eyes searching mine for an answer.I shook my head, stepping into the elevator without a word. Janet followed silently, sensing the storm brewing inside me.“How do
DAVID“What do you mean by that?” I asked, leaning closer to Bella. The hospital room felt colder than it should have, a chill creeping into my bones as I tried to make sense of her words.Janet, ever the shadow at my side, pulled a chair closer, her gaze bouncing between Bella and me.Bella’s hands trembled as she picked up her phone. She swiped at the screen, then turned it toward us. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she said, “Read this.”The text was stark, its words burning into my mind:We need to destroy you to bring David down.For a moment, I stared at the screen, my jaw tightening. The words were a punch to the gut, calculated and sharp.“Who would send this?” Bella’s voice cracked, pulling my attention back to her. Her eyes, wide and brimming with unshed tears, searched mine for answers.I clenched my fists. “I don’t know,” I admitted, my tone rougher than I intended. “But I’ll find out. I’ve made enemies, Bella people who’d go to extremes to see me fall but why go t
DAVIDThe hum of my Lamborghini's engine filled the silence between Janet and me as we sped down the private road toward the mansion. The weight of everything that had happened pressed down on my chest like an iron hand.“Who do you think wants to kill Bella?” Janet’s voice was soft but insistent, breaking through my thoughts.My grip on the steering wheel tightened, the leather groaning under my hand. “I don’t know,” I said, running my free hand through my hair. “If I claimed to know, I’d be lying. The ones I know who’d want to hurt Bella… they’re already rotting in prison.”Janet frowned, her lips pressed into a thin line. “Unless they’ve got someone out here someone willing to avenge them.”“That’s possible,” I admitted, my mind racing through the possibilities. “But I’ve had them locked down so tight they shouldn’t even be able to breathe without me knowing.”We reached the mansion gates, and they swung open smoothly. A line of guards stood at attention as we drove into the drivew
DAVIDI gripped the man’s shoulder tightly, my voice low but steady. “No one’s going to kill your son. I won’t let that happen.”He shifted uncomfortably under my hand, his gaze darting to the floor. “You don’t understand.” His voice cracked. “The people I’m talking about…they’re powerful. They own this city.”“Powerful?” I scoffed, letting out a sharp breath. “What if I take your son out of that prison and return him to you? Safe and sound. Just tell me who they are.”He hesitated, his lips trembling as though he was weighing the odds. “What if you’re too late? What if they’ve already…” His voice broke, fear pooling in his eyes.I straightened, my jaw tightening. “I am David Copperfield.” The name hung heavy between us, and the room seemed to shrink. “The most feared man in this city. I destroy whoever stands in my way. Your son will walk out of that prison but you need to tell me their names.”His fear didn’t vanish, but it dulled enough for him to nod. “His name…his name is Eden.”
BELLADavid’s warm breath brushed against my forehead as he pressed a tender kiss there. I leaned into his broad chest, letting the rhythmic hum of the car engine soothe me. The world outside the tinted windows blurred into streaks of green and gray, but my mind was stuck on a question I had never gotten a proper answer to.Jasper’s biological mother.I’d asked David countless times, but he always deflected, sidestepping the truth with a practiced ease. Early in our relationship, my curiosity had earned me a sharp glare and a clipped response, a warning not to pry. His reaction then only fueled my suspicions. Whoever she was, she wasn’t Lizzy. That much I knew.Jasper hated Lizzy with a passion that went far beyond childish rebellion.Lost in thought, I glanced up at David’s face, his sharp jawline and piercing eyes commanding attention even when he wasn’t trying. Before I could look away, he caught me.“Am I that handsome you can’t tear your eyes away?” he teased, a playful grin tugg
BELLAThe house was quiet, too quiet.It had been a week since everything unfolded a week since Janet showed a side of herself I’d never imagined existed. I thought David had the monopoly on cold, calculating intensity, but no. It seemed to run deep in the Copperfield bloodline. Janet’s icy demeanor and unrelenting drive had sent chills down my spine.As I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands instinctively rested on my growing belly. My thoughts wandered as I absently traced small circles over the bump. Would our baby inherit that cold fire? That unflinching resolve?“No,” I whispered to the empty room, shaking my head firmly. “I won’t let that happen.”But as I glanced in the mirror, my reflection didn’t look so certain. My hand lingered on my stomach, my mind replaying moments of David’s intense glares, Janet’s sharp words, and even Grandpa’s commanding presence. Would this little life growing inside me carry those traits?The sudden creak of the bedroom door snapped me out of my spi
JANETThe sharp ache in my side dragged me from a restless sleep. My body protested as I sat up, every movement feeling like a battle. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, soft but unrelenting, highlighting the faint dust motes floating in the air. I groaned, my voice raspy and weak, catching sight of David slouched in a chair beside my bed, his head tilted at an awkward angle. Bella was curled up in another chair, her knees tucked to her chest, her face soft in sleep.They must have stayed with me all night. Babysitters. My lips curled in a bitter smile as I shifted my weight, the rustling of the sheets loud in the still room.David stirred first, rubbing the back of his neck before his eyes snapped to mine. Relief flooded his face as he rose and approached. “You’re awake,” he said, his voice low but steady.“Barely,” I muttered, forcing a weak grin.“Are you okay?” he asked, crouching beside me, his eyes scanning my face.I nodded but winced as pain flared through my ribs. “I
DAVIDThe gravel crunched beneath my polished shoes as I approached the decrepit house, its peeling paint and broken windows matching the decay I felt brewing inside me. My guards moved silently, circling the structure like shadows. I raised a hand, signaling them to hold position as I neared the door.Then, I heard her voice. Janet’s voice, strained and trembling.“Do you think David will let you go scot-free?” she demanded, her words sharp despite the pain behind them.“He doesn’t have to find out,” Vivian replied, her tone cold and resolute.My jaw clenched. I kicked the door in with a force that sent it crashing against the wall, the wood splintering under my fury. Inside, chaos erupted. Denise bolted for the window, but he didn’t get far. Two of my guards caught him mid-leap, a solid punch to his jaw sending him sprawling to the floor.Vivian stood frozen, her wide eyes darting between me and the guards dragging Denise back into the room. Her hands trembled as she took a step bac
DAVIDThe morning sun streamed through the wide windows of the Copperfield mansion, but its warmth did little to ease the cold knot of anxiety in my chest. Janet stood by the doorway, dressed in a simple tracksuit. Her fingers fiddled with the hem of her jacket, a nervous habit she hadn’t shaken since childhood.“You ready?” I asked, keeping my tone casual.Her eyes flicked up to meet mine, uncertain but resolute. She nodded once.“Good.” I stepped closer, brushing an invisible speck of lint from her shoulder. In the same motion, I adjusted the tiny tracker I had sewn into the inner seam of her jacket. It wasn’t much, but it would ensure I knew her every move.“Remember,” I said, lowering my voice, “if anything feels off, just play along. Don’t give them any reason to suspect you.”Janet’s lips pressed into a thin line. She nodded again, but the slight tremor in her hands betrayed her fear. I wanted to call the whole thing off, but I couldn’t—not this time.As she walked down the long
BELLA"You shouldn’t have said much, Bella," Elowen teased, her voice carrying a hint of exasperation as she swiveled in her chair to face me. "Now he won’t stop talking. Thank God others are around. If not, you’d be stuck listening to him all day." She sighed dramatically, glancing at Emmanuelle, who had just sauntered back to her desk.I chuckled, shaking my head as I watched Emmanuelle settle in. Sitting across from Elowen, I couldn’t help but notice how oblivious Emmanuelle seemed. She was always chatty, spilling secrets like water from a broken faucet. And Vivian? She had Emmanuelle wrapped around her little finger.Poor girl. She thinks Vivian is her friend. If only she knew the truth. Vivian’s web of lies had fooled many, but I wasn’t one of them. Claiming to be connected to the Copperfield family when her mother was just a servant? And now, she was getting closer to Denise, weaving him into her schemes. My stomach twisted at the thought. If they were planning what I suspected,
DAVIDI spent the entire night poring over strategies to dismantle Denise’s plans. The moment Bella insisted on joining the fight, I knew I had to shut her down.“No, Bella,” I said, my voice firm but gentle. “You’re pregnant. I can’t risk your life or our baby’s.”Her eyes flared with defiance, her hands folding over her growing belly. “But you and Janet risked your lives to bring the people who tried to kill me to justice,” she argued, her voice steady, daring me to counter.I sighed, running a hand through my hair, frustration evident. “How about you visit your father for a while?” I suggested. “By the time you’re back, we’ll have taken care of Denise.”She crossed her arms, the set of her jaw telling me I’d already lost this battle. “No, David. I’m staying. That’s final.”I exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. Arguing with a determined woman especially a pregnant one was a battle destined for failure.“All right, fine,” I muttered, waving a white flag in my mind. “But
DAVID“Babe, you need to rest,” I said softly, brushing a stray curl from Bella’s face.Her eyelids fluttered, heavy with sleep, but she managed a small nod. “I think... you’re right,” she murmured, her voice thick with exhaustion.Taking her hand, I guided her to her room, watching as she stifled a yawn. The moment her head hit the pillow, she was out like a light, mumbling a faint “Good night” that made me smile.I stood there for a moment, my gaze lingering on her. The soft rise and fall of her chest, the slight curve of her lips pregnancy had added a glow to her, even as it filled her face out a little. To me, she was perfection. Leaning down, I kissed her forehead gently, then pulled the blanket up to her chin.“Sleep well, my love,” I whispered, turning off the lamp and quietly shutting the door behind me.But as I stepped into the hallway, my serenity evaporated. Janet. My sister’s fear weighed heavily on me, and I couldn’t shake the tension knotting my shoulders. Without hesit
DAVIDBella's gaze lingered on me as the car glided through the streets toward the estate. I could feel the weight of her curiosity pressing against my silence."What happened?" she asked, her voice soft but insistent.I forced a smile that barely reached my eyes. "Nothing."Her eyes narrowed. "Don’t lie to me, David. Your whole demeanor changed the second you checked your phone."A muscle in my jaw tightened as I weighed my words. "Someone’s after my sister.""Who?" she pressed, leaning slightly toward me."Denise," I said curtly.Her brows furrowed. "Who’s Denise? I don’t think you’ve ever mentioned him.""You wouldn’t know him," I said, my tone clipped."Then tell me. Maybe I will," she replied, her persistence unwavering.The car pulled to a stop in front of my mansion, its grand facade illuminated by the soft glow of the outdoor lights. My assistant stepped out and opened Bella’s door. I followed, my eyes scanning the grounds instinctively, looking for any sign of trouble."Have