BELLAI couldn’t shake the rumors I’d heard about David’s mom how she was controlling, always demanding things go her way. But what about his grandfather? I needed to ask Jasper. David would never answer me, and even if he did, his responses would be clipped.My thoughts drifted to Jasper, and just as I descended the stairs, there he was, waiting at the bottom. He greeted me with a tight hug, wrapping his arms around me as if we’d known each other for years.“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, his voice soft but eager.My heart skipped a beat. Waiting for me? We had only just met yesterday. I glanced over at David, whose expression was a mix of disbelief and something unreadable as he stood frozen beside his driver.“Are you going to greet me, or just stand there?” David asked, his tone dry but expectant.“Hi, Dad,” Jasper replied casually, already pulling me toward his room before David could respond.Inside, Jasper’s room was pristine, a blend of boyish charm and refined taste. He
BELLA A granddaughter? Who were they kidding? The idea of giving them a child, especially when their son was a complete jackass, made my skin crawl. I couldn’t even picture David touching me, let alone starting a family with him. As I glanced at him, David casually responded to his mother, "Yes, we will soon have a daughter."My heart skipped a beat. Was he serious? My thoughts spiraled—had he forgotten this was all a charade? As I struggled to process his words, Mr. Copperfield’s voice broke through the haze."And how is Vivian?" he asked, his tone light, though the question hung in the air like a weight. "Why isn’t she here with us?"David’s jaw tensed. "She’s fine," he said, his voice flat, not bothering to hide his disinterest in the topic."You’ve always been like a big brother to her," Mr. Copperfield continued, his eyes resting on David. "That’s why I trusted you to look after her. Her mother asks about her all the time."Her mother? I blinked, confused. Why hadn’t I heard abo
BELLA As soon as we arrived home, David silently lifted Jasper from my lap, carrying him to his room without a glance in my direction. Left alone in the stillness, I let my thoughts whirl.The Copperfield family… they’re absolutely insane.I was still lost in thought when David’s driver approached me. "We’ll be heading to Miss Thalassa’s home at 10 a.m. tomorrow," he informed me.I nodded absentmindedly. "Okay," I replied, though a flicker of uncertainty gnawed at me. I was his assistant now, wasn’t I? Shouldn’t I be at the office?Needing clarification, I made my way to his room and knocked softly."Come in," his voice called, steady yet detached.I stepped inside for the first time, taking in the stark contrast of his space book-lined shelves and workstations, all cold and impersonal. A place for everything, except warmth. I realized just how little I knew about David beyond his public persona as the ruthless billionaire.“Do you need me for anything tomorrow? I’ll be at your mothe
BELLA I couldn’t tear my eyes from Veronica, standing quietly beside Mrs. Thalassa, her posture almost robotic in its obedience. My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me out of the trance. Glancing at the screen, I read the message: We’re having a workers' trip.“What?!” The word escaped far louder than I intended. Immediately, I cringed, realizing I wasn’t alone.Mrs. Thalassa arched a brow, her lips curling into an amused smile. “What’s the matter, angel?”Embarrassment washed over me. A trip wasn’t worth screaming about, no matter how exciting.“We’re having a workers' trip,” I repeated, trying to sound calmer.Her smile widened, and her tone was laced with playful curiosity. “A trip, hmm? Then we must prepare. Let’s make sure you have everything you need.”I blinked, surprised by her sudden interest in fashion. Mrs. Thalassa could outshine any designer, no doubt, but her attention to me was unsettling.The day turned into a whirlwind of shopping. By the time I returned home, exha
BELLAI stared at him, my heart heavy with disbelief. Why would he want to announce our marriage? I’d wanted it to stay a secret, to keep it hidden from everyone. It was better that way dating David, of all people, came with complications. This was exactly the kind of stunt he’d pull.“Fine, I’ll come with you,” I muttered, my voice laced with irritation. Without waiting for his response, I spun on my heel and headed to my room, slamming the door behind me. My hands were trembling as I tossed clothes into a bag, each movement rough and frustrated.In the car, I stared out the window, my mind racing, already planning how I’d slip away as soon as David left me at the camp. But suddenly, the car slowed, and I noticed David signaling the driver to stop. Confused, I glanced at him as the car came to a halt.“You can get out,” he said, his voice calm, too calm.My brows knitted together. “But… I’ll have to walk an hour to get there,” I protested, the disbelief thick in my voice.He just shr
DAVIDThe anger simmered within me, a deep, restless rage. Who dares disturb my moment of peace? It was the one thing I absolutely loathed. Just as I was about to kiss Bella, lost in the warmth of her body, a loud knock on the door shattered the moment.I swung the door open, ready to unleash my frustration, and found my assistant shifting nervously, eyes wide with apprehension. The glare I shot him could make most people cower.“Sorry, boss, I didn’t mean to disturb your—”“Disturb what?” I interrupted, my voice sharper than intended. My patience was thin, fraying at the edges.“You have a visitor,” he said, barely above a whisper.My heart sank. The moment of intimacy with Bella faded away. “Who is it?” I demanded, irritation bubbling over.“It’s me,” a voice called from behind my assistant. I stepped aside, and there stood Mike, Lizzy’s younger brother. The sight of him twisted a knife in my gut. What was he doing here?Anger surged through me, memories of betrayal flooding my mind
BELLADavid’s words lingered in my mind. “I won't bring you to the public unless you want to.” He said it so casually, but the weight of it hung in the air, like a truth neither of us dared to acknowledge. I stayed quiet, letting it simmer.Our trip was supposed to be relaxing, but my thoughts kept circling back to that man who’d soured David’s mood. Who was he, really? Even as I laughed with David along the shore, I sensed a shadow in his eyes a tension he couldn’t hide.Back at home, the atmosphere was heavy. I couldn’t just ignore it anymore, so I dialed Elowen.“Elowen, remember the guy from our trip? The one who got under David’s skin?”“Oh, I remember him alright,” she replied. I caught myself before calling David “my man,” realizing how natural it felt. “Can you look into him for me?”Elowen paused, curiosity in her voice. “Since when are you this invested?”“Just… something about him seemed off.”“Give me a bit. I’ll dig around and call you back.”Jasper’s small voice suddenly
BELLA The smooth, low timbre of his voice drifted over to me, sending a shiver down my spine. “Babe, come here.” Did he just call me… ‘babe’? I glanced over my shoulder, my pulse quickening as David’s gaze sharpened on me. My skin tingled under his intense stare. Slowly, I stepped away from Mike, drawn by an invisible force as David’s hand snaked around my waist, pulling me close with surprising strength. His grip tightened, and a sharp twinge made me wince. I tried to pull back, but his hold only grew firmer, possessive. “Why are you here?” David's voice cut through the room, cold and clipped as he stared down Mike, who only smirked, unfazed. “We aren’t enemies, brother,” Mike replied, his tone casual, almost taunting. David’s jaw clenched. “Who gave you the right to enter my office?” he demanded, his voice a low, controlled fury. Mike shrugged. “I used to come here all the time when we were close. Or have you forgotten our past?” David stepped forward with deliberate, almost p