Trouble In Paradise

"Indeed," Damien said simply. He accepted Vaughn's outstretched hand, but the handshake only lasted a moment. Both of them were too disgusted with each other to continue touching.

Their mutual disdain was palpable; no one could ever guess the deep hatred that ran between the two men. Bella had overheard Vaughn complaining about Damien and his family on countless occasions. While Vaughn's father, Stephen McCoy, was a gold merchant with his main company in South Africa, the Beriosova family had a dark history.

There had been speculations that Luciano Beriosova was a drug lord who used his legitimate business as a cover-up. It might have been just rumors, but Vaughn had said the same thing, and Bella didn’t believe he was making it up.

“While I would love to catch up, I was just about to take Bella home,” Vaughn said.

“Wasn’t she supposed to start classes today?” Damien asked.

“She’s tired, aren’t you, baby?”

That voice... there was no way she could say otherwise. Vaughn's harsh gaze promised severe punishment if she tried to defy him. “Y-Yes,” Bella stammered. In the end, she could only comply.

If Damien sensed the tension between Vaughn and Bella, he didn’t mention it. He only spoke a few words to Bella before walking away. “Come see me if you find things difficult here.”

Vaughn grabbed her hand and led her away. On the outside, it seemed like he was gently holding her hand, but his fingers were digging into her wrist, sure to leave bruises. She was in pain, but she dared not say anything.

No words were exchanged as they entered his car and drove back to her apartment. Bella got out of the car on shaky legs and unlocked the door to her luxurious apartment. The moment they were both inside, Vaughn slammed the door shut and violently grabbed her by the jaw. His eyes were like two burning orbs, staring into her skull.

“You’re really becoming too bold, Bella Page,” Vaughn hissed.

“V-Vaughn, p-please, you're hurting me,” she pleaded.

“Oh, is that so? But it’s not like you give me much of a choice, baby. I’m trying so hard to be nice to you, but you keep pushing me.”

“I’m sorry,” Bella whispered.

“What was this about? Did you know that bastard would be in Westbridge? Is that why you wanted to go so badly? Got a little crush on the famous pop star, babe?”

“No, no, it was a coincidence! I swear!”

“Try harder. Give me something more believable,” Vaughn demanded.

His grip tightened, and Bella screamed in pain. It felt like her jaw was about to snap out of place! She was terrified for her life. She might have provoked him in the past, but she had never seen him like this before. He had gone crazy.

If he killed her here, no one would bother prosecuting him. Her life would be wasted! Why was it that every time she tried to escape this monster, she always ended up back where she started?

In a moment of desperation, Bella raised her knee and slammed it into Vaughn’s midsection. The kick wasn’t strong enough to double him over in pain, but it made him loosen his grip, and she slipped away. Bella tried to run, but Vaughn grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back forcefully.

Her face snapped to the side as Vaughn slapped her. The impact blurred her vision, and her mind went numb for a moment before the pain brought her back to reality.

Vaughn’s blue eyes held sinister intentions. “I’ve had enough of you!” he exclaimed. Perhaps he intended to hit her again—she wasn’t sure—but Bella broke down before he had the chance.

Vaughn froze in place as he watched his wife weeping on the floor. Seeing her like this made him feel a strange discomfort in his heart. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was just the crying that annoyed him.

“Stop that. Get up,” he ordered.

Bella raised her head to look at him. Tears still streamed down her face, and her eyes held such hatred that it stunned Vaughn. “I hate you,” she proclaimed. Unfortunately, her words alone couldn’t convey the depth of her loathing. She added, “I wish I’d never met you. I wish you’d let me drown!”

“Bella…”

Bella dashed past him and ran out the door. Vaughn chased after her, watching as she ran down the street. “Bella, wait! Bella!” Unfortunately, he had dismissed his men before driving to her apartment, so he could only watch her figure disappear into the distance. “Shit.”

He had messed up. For the first time in the five years they’d been married, Vaughn felt that he had crossed the line. The fact that she had brought up their past—that particular event that had both bonded and traumatized her—was alarming. It was the first time she’d spoken about it in years.

Vaughn grabbed his car keys and went after her.

---

It was a chilly night, and the cold wind whipped against Bella’s body. She was shivering, but she kept walking. She didn’t regret running away; she just wished she’d had the sense to grab a jacket first.

She couldn’t stand Vaughn. She thought she could pretend everything was fine until she gathered enough evidence to file for divorce. But Vaughn was pushing her to the edge. If she didn’t find a way out soon, she might lose herself completely.

Right now, she had nowhere to go. She had no money of her own. When she had married Vaughn, she had dropped out of school and chosen to be a full-time housewife for his sake. The result was this: her life was miserable, and she had no resources to escape.

Her family wasn’t on her side, and her sister was sleeping with her husband. The world thought Vaughn was the perfect, loving spouse. She felt completely powerless.

“Young miss, you’re back,” said the woman who had sold her ramen last time. Bella hadn’t realized she had returned to the small ramen shop, one of the few places she knew in town apart from the academy. “Would you like me to make you something?”

“No, I’m just going to stand here for a bit,” Bella replied.

Sensing her mood, the older woman didn’t say anything further.

Bella didn’t know how long she had been standing there, nearly overwhelmed by her emotions, when she suddenly heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Trouble in paradise?”

When she turned, she was surprised to see Damien. He was dressed in a thick jacket, and a scarf was wrapped around his neck, partially hiding his face. He was clearly in disguise, as it wasn’t cold enough to warrant such attire.

Bella glanced at him once before turning away. She wasn’t in the mood to entertain him, and she was afraid someone might see them together—whether it be Vaughn or his security team.

“Does he hit you often?” Damien asked.

Bella's eyes widened in shock, Her gaze turns to him. " What?"