chapter fourteen

A tear dropped from Bella’s eyes. Her heart was shattered in pieces. Fear filled her soul. What had she done to this man for him to hate her so much, she wondered, a second tear falling like a slow confession from his heart.

A sharp stab pierced through Riven’s chest. For a moment he was taken aback by her tears in that cold, stone heart, a fire burned. That fire made his pulse strike at an unusual tempo. His anger vanished and, for that split second, he felt remorse an emotion he hadn’t known for a very long time.

Bella looked down at her hand the hand Riven had held forcefully. Her wrist throbbed where his grip had been. She looked back up at him again. With no words left, that was the only way she could plead, the only way she could communicate: a silence that spoke louder than any sentence.

Without breaking his gaze, he gently let go of her wrist. Tears spilled from her eyes as she clasped her hurting hand. She looked at him one more time before turning away and walking off, leaving Riven stunned, confused, mostly breathless.

What just happened? he asked himself. What is happening to me? Why am I feeling like this? I don’t like her it’s impossible for me to like anyone. I hate everyone. But where is this feeling that rises when I’m near her? Her silence drives me crazy.

Is it right that I should marry her? She’s innocent after all. No no, what am I thinking? She is my greatest enemy’s daughter. Her father killed my parents. I must not get attached. Women or no women. I can’t hurt her physically, but surely I can hurt her emotionally.

Riven thought this foolishly to himself, his ego masking whatever scraps of humanity remained.

“Don’t you want to see your father?” Riven asked, turning to look at Bella seated on his bed.

“Father?” Bella’s eyes widened. Did he kidnap him? Did he do something to my father?

“If you want, you can come. Your father is eagerly waiting to see you downstairs,” Riven said, and began to walk toward the stairs.

Has my father come to get me? Does he perhaps know this man? Bella’s thoughts tumbled and tangled. Why would my father come here? Why does he seem so calm about it?

…

Mr. White and Ace glared at each other until Riven descended the staircase. He shifted in an instant — from the emotional wreck of minutes before to a cruel businessman, a mafia man whose expressions were as cold and sharp as blades. Mr. White rose from his seat, but before he could speak, Riven raised a hand and closed the distance between them with measured steps.

“Mr. White, I didn’t call you here to have a conversation or hear your pathetic opinions. I speak business. Only business,” Riven said.

“I want to see my daughter,” Mr. White answered through clenched teeth.

“Daughter…” Riven smirked as he crossed his legs.

“You really want to see her after she learns that her cold, pathetic father is here to sell her?” he mocked.

“You’re messing with the wrong person, Riven, and you will regret it,” Mr. White fumed, fury trembling at the edges of his voice. Riven laughed a mocking sound that curled into a smirk, then sank into a face gone completely cold.

“Look who’s threatening me. If you look around, Mr. White, it’s you and your thousand bodyguards, and I only have one with me. And you think I’m afraid of you. How pathetic,” Riven uttered in scorn.

“You have forgotten me, Riven ” Mr. White began, but Riven cut him off. “I didn’t call you here to chit-chat, Mr. White. Business. Business,” he repeated, his voice shallow, deep, dangerous.

“You forget I could change my mind,” Mr. White challenged, testing him. It was like pouring water over a duck’s back Riven was not easily moved.

“You know me very well, Mr. White. I don’t think twice before destroying someone completely. I make sure. You could lose everything and when I say everything, I mean every single penny. You will have nothing. You’ll end up a poor man begging on the streets with your daughters weak and ruined. I’ll make sure I send them to mental hospitals — especially the mute, cursed one,” he mocked, and Mr. White was cut short.

“Don’t you—” he threatened, but Riven’s stare silenced him.

“I drew you here to test me, and you will see how brutal I can be,” Riven promised.

Mr. White’s heart pounded; his soul trembled at the look in Riven’s eyes. He could not afford to lose everything. Not his empire.

At that moment, Bella’s footsteps were heard on the stairs. She came down looking miserable, drained of color and breath.

“I think it’s time to finalize the deal,” Riven said, smirking.

“Less than twenty-four hours with you and you’ve drained her soul,” Mr. White said, holding back tears at the sight of his daughter.

Bella looked up and for a second relief washed over her she screamed, ran down the stairs, and flung herself into her father’s arms, sobbing. Riven rolled his eyes.

If only she knew what kind of monster her father was. But soon enough she would see, Riven thought.

“It’s okay, my daughter. I’m here. Nothing will happen to you. Daddy is here,” Mr. White murmured into her hair as Bella broke down on his shoulder. She was too weak, too empty to speak; her tears said what words could not.

Mr. White held her tight as Riven’s glare chilled the room. In just a moment, the man Bella had trusted with her life would shatter her and betray her into pieces.

The warm sight of father and daughter brought a fresh sting to Riven’s chest. He couldn’t help but remember painful memories his younger sister, the way she would run to him when she was sad, the way he stood to protect her at any cost.

But in one night, in one moment, Mr. White had taken that from him. Now the time had come to take what was his.

“That’s enough,” Riven said, irritated. Mr. White broke the hug. Bella looked up, confused.

“Mr. White, care to join and explain to her why you are here? Why all this is happening? Or do you want me to explain?” Riven asked, voice cunning as a blade. Mr. White’s heart pounded. He glanced at his daughter where would he even begin?

Bella’s confusion hung thick in the air, heavy as the silence that followed.