Note: This chapter contains mature content intended for readers 18 years and older. Reader discretion is advised.
BELLAGosh, it’s true I’m supposed to be winning over Vivian, but here I am, tangled up with his brother. I shake my head, trying to clear my thoughts, but the guilt settles like a stone in my stomach.A call from Elowen jolts me out of my haze. “Aren’t you coming to the office today?” she asks, her voice expectant. I’m fumbling for an excuse when David smoothly takes the phone from my hand, his gaze fixed on mine.“She’s on leave,” he says, calm but firm.There’s a brief silence, and I can almost sense Elowen’s confusion. “Okay… Sir,” she replies, her tone wary.As I stand to leave, a sharp pain shoots through me, and David’s arms are around me before I can protest. Without a word, he lifts me and carries me into a luxurious en-suite bathroom I hadn’t noticed before. Setting me down, he tilts his head, his lips curving into a smirk.“Need help with your shower?” His eyes gleam with mischief.My pulse quickens, but I manage to shake my head. “No, I can manage.” I step into the shower,
BELLA“Gosh, I need to get this guy out of my head,” I muttered, half to myself, half to my friends as I scanned their faces for ideas.Dorcas raised a brow. “How about Painful Regret?”Before I could answer, Debby jumped in, leaning forward with a gleam in her eye. “No, let’s make it punchier. Something like Revenge on My Husband.”I nodded slowly. “Okay… I like where we’re going, but I still feel like we’re missing something.”Elowen, usually quiet, finally spoke up. “Why not My Lover Next Door?”“Wow,” I breathed, surprised by how creative they were. “You guys are brilliant. Alright, here’s what we’ll do: each of us will brainstorm our ideas. We’ll outline the plot, build out the characters, write some dialogue. Then we’ll share our progress in the group chat.”Debby raised her hand with a grin. “Where are we setting this?”“Los Angeles,” I decided, feeling a spark of excitement. “We’re going to make this script unforgettable.”Over the next two weeks, I barely slept. My mind buzze
DAVIDThis is crossing a line. I know how hard Bella has been working putting in late nights and doing everything possible to make sure she wins. Her presentation was impressive, but if I just hand her the win, people will start putting two and two together.I text her, lifting my chin slightly to catch her attention. The second she glances at her phone, a small smile curves on her lips. That’s my girl, I think, barely hiding my own grin. Bella didn’t even need her original work to knock this out of the park that’s what I call boss moves.BELLAAs soon as I feel my phone buzz, I glance down. A message from David reads, You’ve got this. You can present this without a hitch. I believe in you.The words sink in. No one’s ever really believed in me except Dad and Elowen. And now there’s David, practically a stranger, telling me he’s got my back.Then it hits me. Vivian. This is her doing. I swear, she’s not going to get away with this. I’m still fuming when David strides to the front of t
DAVID“How dare you?” My voice cut through the silence as I caught sight of Bella, swaying slightly as she stood at the entrance to the third-floor corridor. I had warned her more than once. Why couldn’t she listen?I reached out, my hand circling her wrist with a controlled but firm grip. Her eyes met mine with a hazy defiance, lips curving slightly upward as though she found the situation amusing. "What are you doing here?" I demanded, my voice a sharp whisper. "I told you to stay away."Her gaze wavered, catching the dim light in the hallway as she tried to pull back. "You don’t get to tell me what I know," she muttered, a faint slur in her words as she stumbled again, nearly falling before I steadied her. Strands of her hair framed her flushed face, and she smirked, her eyes slightly glazed."You’ve been drinking." I spoke it as a fact, a simmering annoyance tightening my grip momentarily."I… didn’t drink," she mumbled, though her words betrayed her. She looked down, and for a se
BELLA I waited, tense and watchful, glancing out the window as if I could make David leave faster. Breakfast was quiet. Jasper, my little “popcorn,” sat nibbling his toast. He looked up as I entered, and his soft face crinkled into a frown.“What’s the matter, sweetheart?” I asked, a gentle smile on my lips.“I waited for you yesterday, but you never came home.” His voice was small, yet hurt, piercing me with guilt.“I’m so sorry, my popcorn. I was... working late.” The lie tasted bitter. “But why were you waiting for me?”He blinked, glancing down at his plate. “I wanted you to read me a story,” he whispered.My chest tightened. “I promise I’ll make it up to you tonight,” I said, pressing a tender kiss to his forehead.Then I caught sight of David at the table, stoic and focused on his food. I didn’t want him here, clouding the morning. “Aren’t you heading to work?” I asked, my voice trying to sound casual.He paused mid-bite, lifting his gaze, his eyes sharp as glass. “And why do y
BELLA The last thing I remember was Jasper’s desperate voice cutting through the haze: “Dad, don’t hurt her!” I know I wasn’t supposed to go to the third floor, but my curiosity had overpowered me, and now I’m paying for it. When I open my eyes, I’m back in my room, head pounding. The room blurs before me, and then I hear a frantic voice nearby. “She’s awake!” Julie, one of the maids, exclaims as she rushes to my side. Her eyes are wide, taking in my every feature with worry. “Are you okay?” Her voice trembles with genuine concern, something I’m not used to. I touch my forehead, wincing at the dull ache. “I… I think so,” I murmur, though the memory is cloudy. “You’ve been out for three days,” she says, her voice a mix of relief and lingering fear. “We were all so worried, especially Jasper. He refused to leave your side.” Three days? My mind stumbles over the words. “Three days?” I try to push myself up, but my body feels heavy, unsteady. “I... I need to work…” Julie gently pres
BELLA I tried to hide the tears in my eyes as the door creaked open, and Jasper rushed in, his small frame full of relief and worry.“You’re awake!” His voice was almost a whisper, but his excitement was unmistakable as he climbed onto the bed. Before I could say a word, his hands cupped my cheeks, tilting my face toward him. “Why are you crying?” he asked, his eyes searching mine, the concern there so intense it caught me off guard.I forced a smile, rubbing my eyes. “I’m not crying, silly. It’s just… water. Sometimes it happens.”He didn’t look convinced, and I could feel him watching me even as I looked away. “I thought you were at your grandfather’s house,” I said, hoping to shift his attention.“I was, but when I heard you were awake, I told Grandpa I didn’t want to fish anymore. I had to come see you.” His words were so simple, yet they struck something deep inside me.I tried to tease, masking the tightness in my throat. “Oh, so you missed me?” I tickled his sides, and he brok
BELLA"Can you take us to the park?" I told the taxi driver, feeling Jasper's little hands clutch onto me like I was his life raft. I glanced down at him, suppressing a smile at how tightly he was holding on.“Is this your first time taking a taxi?” I asked, amused by his grip.His wide eyes glanced up at me. “Yes, it’s my first time,” he replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He wasn’t letting go for anything.I couldn’t help but smile. David Copperfield’s only child, riding in a taxi. If only the world knew. I gently lifted him onto my lap, making sure he felt safe, his small hands never loosening their hold on me.As we arrived at the park, the sight hit me immediately. Families everywhere, kids squealing in laughter, running from swings to slides with boundless energy. Jasper's eyes lit up like I’d never seen before."There are so many kids here!" he squealed, bouncing in my lap.“Yep, lots of kids,” I chuckled, taking in his excitement. His gaze darted from one group to anoth
BELLAThe chill of David’s voice froze the air around us. "What is he doing here?" His tone was sharp, commanding, sending shivers down my spine. He stepped forward, shoving the man away from me with a force that made him stumble."David…" I began, but the fire in his eyes silenced me."Stay away from my wife," he barked at the man. The sheer venom in his words made the stranger take a step back, his confidence visibly shaken."I-I just met him here," I stammered, my voice barely audible. "He claims to be my boyfriend." But why was I explaining myself to him? Shouldn’t he be the one answering for his actions?David turned to me, his piercing gaze locking with mine. "Get in the car," he ordered, his tone leaving no room for argument.Before I could process what was happening, his hand wrapped around my wrist, and he pulled me toward his car. His grip was firm but not painful, his touch burning through my skin. He didn’t even glance at me as he drove, the tension in the car suffocating.
DAVID“How could this happen?” Grandpa’s voice thundered through the study, the vibrations seeming to shake the very walls. His face was red, veins bulging at his temple as he paced like a lion in a cage. “You’re supposed to be smart, David. How did you let this happen?”I couldn’t meet his eyes. The weight of my mistake hung over me like a storm cloud. “I’m sorry, Grandpa,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.“Sorry?” He stopped pacing and stared me down, his piercing gaze making me feel like I was shrinking. “Sorry doesn’t fix this. You’ve dragged our name into the mud. Fix it! Clean up this mess before it destroys the family name,” he snapped, his voice cold and commanding.“I will,” I said, bowing slightly, more out of habit than respect, before leaving the room.The heavy oak door clicked shut behind me, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My shoulders sagged, the weight of his expectations pressing down on me. As I moved down the dimly lit hallway, the
DAVIDThe grand hall seemed colder than usual, the air thick with tension. My family was gathered, their expressions a mixture of confusion and dread as Lizzy stood there, a smug smile playing on her lips. How did she know about the family dinner? She had no business being here. Her confidence irritated me as much as the sinking feeling in my stomach. Janet caught my eye from across the room, her raised brows and smirk silently taunting me. *I told you so,* her expression seemed to say. My chest tightened. Lizzy was trouble trouble I thought I’d left behind weeks ago. I glanced at her again, but she met my gaze with an unsettling boldness. She was toying with me, and I hated that she felt she could. “Why are you here?” my mother’s voice broke the silence. It wasn’t just a question; it was a challenge. Her tone was razor-sharp, and she wasn’t hiding her disdain. Lizzy smiled sweetly, her head tilting slightly. “Oh, Mom, aren’t you happy to see me?” Her saccharine tone was lac
LIZZYThe click of my stiletto heels echoed in the quiet room as I paced, the plan forming clearly in my mind. Three weeks. It had been three weeks since David and I had slept together. It was time to make my move. My lips curled into a smile as I tapped my manicured nails against the countertop.A fake paternity report.David wouldn’t be able to deny it. He’d walked right into my trap that night, drugged and defenseless. Now, he’d have no choice but to accept responsibility. Bella might still be in the picture, but with this bombshell, I’d tear her away from him.My thoughts were interrupted by the door slamming open. Michael stormed in, his face red with anger. “You told me Bella would be mine!” he barked, his voice raw with frustration. “But instead, she’s still with David protected by that damn Copperfield family!”I sighed dramatically, turning to face him with a smirk. “Calm down, Michael. These things take time. Bella isn’t invincible.”“Time?” he shouted, his fists clenching a
DAVIDThe word "divorce" fell from her lips like a sharp blade, cutting through the room. My breath hitched, but I kept my expression stoic. Divorce? She had no idea what she was asking for. No idea what we’d been through to get here. Her memories were gone, sure, but that didn’t make her any less my wife or the mother of the child growing inside her.As she backed away from me, her arms crossed over her chest, I noticed the way her lips trembled, the anger barely masking her confusion. She didn’t trust me. I couldn’t blame her. I’d failed her before, and the damage Lizzy caused was now etched into the cracks of our fragile life.But I wasn’t about to let her walk away. Not now. Not ever.“You’re pregnant,” I said, my voice calm but firm, watching as her wide eyes darted to mine, a mixture of shock and disbelief flashing across her face.“What?” she whispered, backing up until her legs hit the edge of the couch.I stayed where I was, giving her space. “You’re carrying my child. That’s
BELLAHis lips were still red from where I bit him, and he had the audacity to stare at me like I owed him something. Did he really think I’d let him kiss me just because he claimed to be my husband? I crossed my arms tightly over my chest and turned away. Richest man in the city or not, he wasn’t my type.Before I could stew in my frustration any longer, the door creaked open, and a woman walked in. She was younger than I expected, her face fresh and her posture formal, but the bow she gave me made my jaw tighten.“Hello, ma’am,” she said with a respectful nod.Ma’am? Ma’am? I blinked at her, my stomach knotting. She couldn’t be more than five years older than me, yet she spoke to me like I was her elder. But before I could respond, another realization struck me.What was my name?I gasped, a cold panic washing over me as my mind turned blank. Nothing. Not a single memory to hold onto. My chest tightened, my hands trembling. Who was I?“Are you all right, ma’am?” the woman asked, her
DAVIDI sat by Bella’s side, watching her chest rise and fall with the steady rhythm of her breathing. She looked so fragile, her face pale against the stark whiteness of the hospital sheets. My heart clenched. She was my Bella the woman I’d fought so hard to protect, and now the mother of my unborn child. The news of her pregnancy had hit me like a bolt of lightning.I should have been elated, but instead, guilt gnawed at me. How could I expect her to be happy about this? She didn’t even want me near her. Every time I reached out, she recoiled as if I were a stranger or worse, a monster.Desperate for answers, I grabbed my phone and scrolled through her contacts until I found Elowen’s number. Her best friend. Maybe she could help. I hesitated, my thumb hovering over the call button. Would she even pick up?When the line connected, her voice came through soft but cautious. “Hello?”“This is David Copperfield,” I said, my voice firm despite the tension in my chest. “I need to ask you s
DAVIDThe moment Bella’s name left my lips, it felt like the air had been sucked out of the world. My legs moved before my brain caught up, sprinting after her as the memory of Lizzy’s touch burned like acid on my skin. The streetlights above flickered faintly, casting jagged shadows as I stumbled forward.“Bella!” I called, my voice raw and desperate. My heart pounded like a drum, fear clawing at my chest. Then I saw it headlights. A car hurtling toward her fragile frame, her silhouette frozen in its glare.“NO!” The word tore from my throat, but the night swallowed it whole.The screech of brakes came too late. The car hit her, the sound of the impact like thunder ripping through the stillness. Her body flew into the air, limp and weightless, before crashing back down with a sickening thud. The driver didn’t stop. The car sped away, its taillights vanishing into the darkness, leaving nothing but Bella’s crumpled figure on the cold pavement.My knees buckled as I reached her. “Bella,
LIZZYI watched David stagger, his hand gripping the edge of the table as if it might stop the spinning in his head. His usually sharp gaze was unfocused, his breaths shallow. A slow smirk curled my lips. The drug was working perfectly.As I stepped closer, he tried to push me away, his movements clumsy and weak. “Who are you?” he slurred, blinking as if trying to clear the fog clouding his mind.“Shh,” I cooed, my voice soft yet dripping with venom. “You don’t need to fight it, David. Just let go.”“Don’t don’t come closer,” he muttered, stumbling back a step. His attempt at authority was laughable now.“Oh, David,” I said, my tone mockingly sweet. “You can’t resist me. Not tonight.”He shook his head as if trying to shake off the haze, his jaw tightening. “Get out of my sight,” he growled, though the bite in his voice had dulled to a whimper.I laughed softly, the sound echoing in the silence of the dimly lit room. “It’s no use pretending, David. You need me, whether you want to adm