All Chapters of Barren Heiress Returns With Quadruplet: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

Belle's POVA week had passed since the confrontation with Dave’s mother, but it felt like a lifetime. Each day dragged on, and with every passing hour, I felt more and more like I was slipping away from myself. The days blurred together. I spent most of my time idly, staring out the window or sipping on cocktails that did little to numb the ache in my chest. And this cool breezy evening, I was doing just that. Nursing a drink in the sitting room, when my mother’s voice cut through the silence. She was on the phone, speaking in rapid Italian with a designer about the wedding dress the Scott family had ordered for me. My wedding dress. I scoffed at the absurdity of it. It was supposed to arrive soon, and I would have to go for fittings, try on the gown that symbolized the end of everything I had once dreamed for myself.I gulped down the cocktail rapidly.The call ended, and my mother re-entered the room, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. She looked at me, her exp

Belle's POV The ride home with Dave was suffocating, the silence between us thicker than the humid night air. I could feel his eyes on me, but I refused to meet his gaze, keeping mine fixed on the passing streetlights that blurred into a hazy mess. I wanted nothing more than to disappear, to escape this nightmare that I’d willingly walked into—or had been pushed into, more like it. The evening had been a parade of fake smiles and hollow congratulations, all of it making me feel like a mannequin on display rather than a bride-to-be. My thoughts were spinning, tangled in a web of doubt and dread, when Dave finally broke the silence.“Belle,” he said softly, leaning in closer as if he could melt away the cold distance between us with just his voice. “I know tonight was a lot. But I’m here for you, okay? We’re in this together.”His hand reached for mine, but I pulled away, my fingers curling into a fist on my lap. I could feel him hesitate, and then he tried again, his hand brushing ag

Belle's POVZane’s arms were wrapped around me, his touch like a warm blanket shielding me from the cold reality outside. I could feel his heartbeat against my chest, strong and steady, grounding me in this moment that felt too perfect to be real. My breath hitched as his lips moved against my neck, leaving a trail of fire in their wake. I moaned, unable to stop the sound from escaping as I clung to him, wanting to melt into his embrace, to forget everything else.“I missed you so much,” I whispered, my voice trembling with emotions that I kept bottled up for far too long.“Shush,” Zane murmured, his lips brushing against my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “I know you did, Belle. I’m here now.”“Promise me,” I said, pulling back just enough to look into his eyes. “Promise you won’t leave me, even if I try to push you away.”He smiled, that crooked smile that always made my heart skip a beat. “I’ll never leave you, Belle. Not ever.”His words were a balm to my aching heart, and b

Zane's POV The past twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind, a mess of emotions I couldn’t seem to shake. I couldn’t stop replaying the conversation with Belle in my head. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the way she looked at me—determined, yet fragile. It was the eve of her wedding, and despite my desperate appeal to her yesterday morning, she was still set on marrying Dave Scott. The thought made my stomach churn, a mix of anger and helplessness gnawing at me.I needed a drink. No, I needed to drown the thoughts, the pain, the frustration. I dressed quickly, throwing on a shirt and jeans, and headed out to one of the bars I knew would be dark and quiet enough to let me brood in peace.The whiskey went down smooth, burning just enough to distract me from my thoughts, if only for a moment. I ordered another, and then another, losing count as the hours slipped away. The bar was a blur of muted conversations and the clinking of glasses, but none of it registered. My mind was trapped

Belle’s POVAs Kamille made the call, Amanda squeezed my hand again, her eyes shining with pride. “You’re doing the right thing, Belle. I know it’s scary, but you’re strong. You can do this.”I smiled at her, feeling the tears welling up again, but this time, they were tears of relief. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you for being here.”The door to the suite opened, and my mother stepped back inside, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her. “What’s going on here?” she demanded, her voice sharp.I turned to face her, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not marrying Dave,” I said, my voice firm, despite the fear that still lingered at the edges of my resolve.My mother’s eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought she might actually faint. But then, her expression hardened, and she took a step towards me, her hand clenching into a fist at her side. “Belle, don’t be ridiculous. You can’t back out now. It’s too late.”“It’s not too late,” I replied, holding my ground. “It’s