LOGINBella’s POVI took in a deep breath before I finally stepped out from behind the hedges. Zayden looked different tonight. He was dressed in all black. He looked angry yet calm at the same time and his eyes were hardened that if looks could kill, I would have dropped dead by now.“What are you doing out here Bella?” He asked.“I got your package.” I raised the box.His gaze glanced toward it then back to me. “Good.” He said. “Keep it!”Then he turned to walk away. “Please don't walk away when I’m talking to you.” I went after him. “Bella…” he said, not stopping. “I’m really not in the mood tonight.”“Are you ever in the mood, Zayden?”He didn’t answer me. He just kept walking, back into the house, down the hall, up the staircase and into his room. He tried to shut the door behind him but I stopped it and went in after him. I held the box up. “These are Marco’s fingers aren’t they?”“Yes.”My chest tightened. “How could you?”“How could I what?” He said, nonchalant.“How could you
Bella’s POVSleep never came.I lay in bed for what felt like hours, staring at the ceiling while my thoughts refused to quiet. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him standing beside my bed.“Bella… if you’re awake, I want you to know I’m sorry.”The apology should have comforted me.Instead, it only made everything more confusing.With a frustrated sigh, I threw the blanket aside.“I can’t do this,” I muttered.Gianna, who had been arranging fresh flowers near the window, looked over immediately.“Bella, everything okay?”I nodded. “I want a bath please.”“Of course.”Within minutes, the large marble bathtub was filled with steaming water scented with lavender and jasmine. Chiara helped undo the buttons of my dress while Gianna gathered fresh towels.The warm water wrapped around my body the moment I stepped inside.For the first time all day, I allowed myself to breathe.Neither maid spoke much. They quietly washed my hair while I scrubbed away the tension that seemed to cling to ev
Zayden’s POVThe whole villa was chaotic. Men ran from all angles, securing every possible escape route.The place was on full lockdown until I had Marco squirming and pleading for mercy at my feet. I sat on a wooden chair in a secluded room far from the main house. I looked at my watch. It’s been over forty minutes since Nico had left to look for Marco, yet he hadn’t returned.Suddenly the doors burst open…Nico and two other men held Marco by both hands. He was tossing and shoving, looking dishevelled. Like he tried to escape but was caught and beaten down.“Let me go!” He yelled. “Get your hands off me.” What’s going on? I’ve done nothing.”Nico pushed him to the chair opposite me, binding both his hands by the side of the chair.He looked up at me. “Boss…what is happening? These men came to attack me. I’ve done nothing. Please just tell me what is going on.”I stared at him. Observing quietly. Not saying a word yet.“Marco,” I said finally.His eyes turned softer. “What is it?”I
Zayden’s POV"Zayden," Nico said gently.I didn't respond."Zayden, what is it?" He asked me. "You look like you've seen a ghost."I looked up from the file in my hand. "Lock the villa down.""What?" Tomás said."I said lock the fucking villa down. No one leaves. No one comes in." I ordered."Okay, okay." Tomás raised his hand. "But can you at least tell us what's going on?"I threw the file to him."Giovanni Russo. Does he look familiar?"Tomás and Nico looked at the image at the same time.Tomás shook his head. But Nico hesitated for a bit, then looked up at me."This is Marco. The new security who went through Enzo." Nico said."Exactly." I breathed. "How did one of Hiram's men waltz his way into my home and no one even checked twice to see where he came from?"Neither of them could answer me."And now he's parading the environment. Talking to my wife. Who knows what else he's done?"They remained silent.I looked at Tomás again."I said lock down the villa. Why the hell are you st
Zayden’s POVI waited for my wife.The night stretched on, long and empty. I sat in my study, staring at the door, listening for footsteps that never came.She didn't show up.I told myself I didn't care. That it was better this way. I told myself I had made my point — she needed to learn that she couldn't come to me only when it suited her.But the truth was simpler. I was disappointed.I stood and walked to the window. The garden was dark below, the fountain still and silent. I could see her bedroom window from here. It was dark. She was alone, probably crying, probably hating me.I had sent her away. I had humiliated her. And deep down I knew she meant it when she said she wanted me.I ran a hand through my hair. I stood up, restless. I needed to see her even if it was just to remind myself why I was doing all of this.I left the study and made my way through the house and stopped in front of her door.I knocked once. No answer.I knocked again—still nothing.I opened the door slo
Bella’s POVI closed the bedroom door behind me and stepped into the hallway.For the first time since marrying Zayden, I knew exactly where I was going.Every step toward his study felt impossibly heavy, yet somehow lighter than carrying the weight of everything I’d left unsaid.I was done pretending.Done lying to myself.Done convincing myself that every look, every touch, every gentle moment between us meant nothing.I was going to tell him the truth.I barely made it halfway down the corridor before a calm voice stopped me.“Isabella.”I turned.Emerald Romano stood at the end of the hall, elegant as ever in a cream silk dress. Not a strand of her silver-blonde hair was out of place. She regarded me with the same unreadable expression she always wore.“Going somewhere?” she asked.I swallowed. I didn’t want to tell her I was going to see her son. “I was… just taking a walk.”She tilted her head like she could tell I was lying. “Perfect.” She said, “I was about to do the same. Wal
Bella’s POVI woke up in a dark room, on a soft bed. Although I didn’t know where I was. My head pounded and my limbs felt weak. And then I remembered —The black sedan, the men, being shoved into the car like I was packaged goods.I stood slowly, squinting my eyes, trying to find an exit. There was
Bella’s POVThey dressed me like I was a doll.Hands I barely noticed moved around me in silence—fastening the pearl buttons at my wrists, smoothing invisible creases from a fabric that hung too heavily on my body.I stood in front of the mirror and watched them work carefully.My face looked pale
Bella’s POV“I’m really sorry,” Lucia said, taking my hand in hers. “I came to visit you that night and I saw how awful everything looked. Rafael explained as much as he could but I couldn't see you. You’d passed out. So I made sure I came every day, and now you’re awake.”“I don’t know what I’m go
Bella’s POVI woke up with a pounding headache, the kind that felt like someone was hammering nails into my skull.For a second, everything was blurry. Then I sat up slowly and looked down at myself. I was wearing a fresh white dress. My skin felt clean, like someone had washed me while I was uncon







