chapter eleven

Bella stood at the top of the stairs, glaring down at Riven, who was trying to get up, his fists clenched and growling at the pain that came with falling down the stairs. Her heart pounded a thousand miles per hour. Her breath hitched a little bit, like the air in the atmosphere had finally vanished like she was suddenly transported out of space. She bit her nails.

Oh my. This man is sure going to kill me. First mistakenly shooting him, and now accidentally pulling him down the stairs.

But I'm sure he's fine; he looks strong. If he can pull out a bullet all by himself, he can survive this, Bella thought to herself as she watched him.

Ace, who was standing at the door, marvelously stared at Riven and Bella his eyes darting between Riven, then Bella, then back to Riven, like he had just seen a cow giving birth to a lion.

"Dude, are you okay?" Ace asked, stepping forward to help him get up, but Riven refused. His hand held his stomach next to his ribs as they screamed in pain. In disbelief, he slowly looked up at Bella.

His and her gaze met anger mixed with something else, maybe love, fumed in his eyes. Bella's eyes shrank, afraid and scared, but mostly guilty.

Why do I feel sorry for him? He kidnapped me... but why? If he wanted to kill me, he would have done it by now. Instead, he brought me here this luxurious house. Or maybe it's just beauty in disguise, she guessed.

Ace watched Riven and Bella look at each other as if time had stopped between them as if the world itself paused to listen to their hearts pounding for one another. A broken soul, a lonely heart, connecting with one full of hope yet drenched in despair.

"You know—" Ace started to speak, but Riven muttered "ouch," startling him. Not only were his ribs perhaps broken, but he also had a recent wound.

"And then what happened to you?" Ace asked, playful and childish as always.

Riven just looked at him, his stare dead, before turning his gaze back to Bella, who stood like a child who had broken her mom's favorite vase.

"I'll be back," Riven uttered, walking away in the direction of his office.

Ace speechlessly watched Riven slowly walking toward his office. His mouth was slightly open in disbelief, but mostly in amusement. Nobody had ever been able to hurt Riven, let alone put a finger on him. Yet in less than twenty-four hours with Bella, he had somehow managed to break his entire body.

"I'm in love with this girl," Ace uttered to himself, pleased. To him, this was a good thing not because he enjoyed seeing his friend in pain, but because he had a feeling this was the start of a journey, like in every movie and story. Except this one was... maybe a little different.

Ace waved at Bella. He already knew she was mute after all, he was the reason Riven had found out every single last detail about her: where she lived, where she was born, and even when she was born all in just five minutes. He was a walking artificial intelligence in human form… maybe even better.

Bella looked at him, her heart pounding. Who is he? she thought to herself. If he's this cold man's friend, then he's not to be trusted.

But in the midst of the disaster, she strangely felt at peace.

"Hey, my name is Ace. I won't hurt you. I'd like to be your friend," Ace hand-signed to her while moving his lips. Yes Ace knew sign language; his brother, Rv, was mute after all. Mute, full of humor… but born from a bloodline of danger.

Bella did not respond; she just looked at him. He looks nice and friendly, I guess. But why should I trust him?

Maybe it's because he hasn't killed me yet, her subconscious uttered to her. With a frown on her face, she just gave a small wave.

"Baby steps," Ace smiled to himself.

"Are you hungry?" Ace asked, giving a hand sign.

Bella second-guessed saying yes. She was starving, but trust was something long gone to her. She shook her head.

"Come on, I know you're hungry. I'll make you pancakes with chocolate syrup ,your favorite," he offered, signing politely with a goofy expression. Bella couldn't help but break into a small smile and giggle.

Wait how does he know that's my favorite breakfast of all time? Bella squinted her eyes and signed, 'What about your dangerous monster friend?'

"Him? Nahhhh, don't worry about him. If you can manage to put a bullet in his body and throw him down the stairs, I'm pretty sure he's afraid of youuu," Ace signed back with a playful grin.

Bella laughed. To Ace, that laugh was as good as a yes.