CHAPTER 3

BELLA'S POV

“What the hell are you doing?” I yelled, and she quickly placed her hand over my mouth to stop me from shouting.

“Calm down! I'm not gonna hurt you. If Ethan finds out you're missing, he's gonna wanna be a good husband and try to find you. If he sees us talking calmly, he would suspect something is going on, but if he sees us like this, he would think we got into a fight. He wouldn't have any reasons to be suspicious, does that make sense?” She replied calmly, and I realized she was right, so I stopped struggling while she took her hand off my mouth.

“So, what is it you wanted to tell me?” I asked and she let out a sigh before pulling the mask off. I could tell from her expression that she was troubled and probably afraid.

“I was also tricked into being with Ethan, but unlike you, I'm not married to him. However, he owns me for life. My parents' business was on the brink of bankruptcy and my brother nearly died due to a rare disease. Ethan was the only hope we had and he agreed to help us if he got me in return.” She explained and I tried to wrap my head around everything she had said.

“Hold on, how did you get to know Ethan and why did he want you in return?”

“Ethan was… my ex. We dated back in college, but when he became the CEO of his dad's company, he became cold and distant, so we broke up. I never thought I'd see him again until everything crumbled, and he offered us a silver lining only if I got back together with him. I had no idea he was married to you already until he made me sign a deal that bound me to him forever.” Her narration was making me dizzy and I would have fallen if she wasn't holding me against the wall.

The ladies that came and went gave us weird looks but I was too confused to care about what they thought. I knew Ethan never loved me but this… this was too much.

“How… how long have you been in the ‘deal’ with him?”

“It's been four years now.” She confessed and I let out a shaky breath of despair while her eyes held a depth of sadness and torment.

“Why… Why are you suddenly approaching me after four years? What hidden motive do you have?” I questioned and she let out a sigh as a desperate look clouded her expression.

“I can't let him do to you what he did to me. I've had countless abortions for Ethan and now I no longer have a womb. I can't carry my child anymore, and I fear he's about to do the same to you. You need to find a way out, we need to escape the clutches of that psychopath. I'm now useless and no longer have a future, so I have nothing to lose if I die with him but you; you have a bright life ahead of you! You can't remain with him anymore, Bella.”

Her words made sense and I couldn't help but feel sympathy towards her. She didn't want me to go through what she had gone through with Ethan and was trying to find a way out for me even though she didn't know me…

“Why are you helping me?”

“I'm not just helping you, I'm helping myself as well. Ethan's not telling you something, the moment you decide to divorce him and get the case to the court, you'll get access to half his property. If you can add violence to his atrocities, you might get everything he's worked hard for. That way, you'll ruin him and the only thing I want is to see him suffer for putting us through so much suffering and torture.” She explained and I let out a sigh as I replayed all of her words in my head. It was a very tempting offer…

“I never got your name. You know mine, you clearly know everything about me. If I'm to trust you, I need to know everything about you too.” I said and a soft smile appeared on her face in response.

“I'm Mabel Miles. I'll be at your office tomorrow. That way we can discuss more-”

“Bella?” I heard Ethan call out my name and my eyes widened in shock. Mabel realized that Ethan had found us and suddenly pressed me harder to the wall, her arm tightening over my neck.

Ethan immediately rushed over and separated us as I struggled to catch my breath. I thought she was gonna end me there for a second.

“Mabel? What are you doing here?” He asked as he held me close to him and I couldn't help but feel disgusted by him. He was a beast in human form.

“Your wife clearly didn't know her place and tried to threaten me to stay away from you! I accidentally spilled my drink on her dress and now she's forcing me to wash it up for her. She even tried to hit me… I only wanted to teach her a lesson.” Mabel replied in a soft, sulky tone as she crossed her arms and I could see that Ethan was dying to comfort her instead of me. His grip on my waist tightened and I bit down on my lip to stop myself from wincing in pain.

“I apologize for my wife's mistake. We'll take our leave now.” He said through gritted teeth before grabbing my hand and dragging me out of the bathroom.

“Ethan, it's not what you think-”

“You just wait till we get home. Better be prepared.” He said in anger as he took me to our assigned seats and made me sit. “Stay here, if you move an inch, you'd only add to your punishment.”

He walked away and I knew that he was going to appease Mabel in private. I used the time to think of everything she told me. Divorcing Ethan is very risky but it was also a good idea. I've been managing Dad's company ever since he died but when I married Ethan, it automatically became one of his companies… This was a chance to take back everything I had lost from him.

I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder and I turned my head to see a strikingly handsome man sitting beside me. He exuded a cold and intimidating aura that made me shudder in fear.

“Y-yes? What do you want from me?” I asked slowly, my voice trembling under his cold gaze and he smiled lightly, one that didn't reach his eyes.

“I have a few questions. Just answer me and you'll be safe.”