chapter sixteen

Bella sat on the warm carpet; its soft furs comforted her as tears fell onto the vintage, see-through glass table. Her entire life so far had been nothing but a lie a cruel game played in the shadows of her world. None of it was real. The happiness was a lie. The warm hugs, the comforting words, the thoughtful gestures all of it, every single moment, had been part of a savage, merciless lie.

How could he do this to me? she thought. Was my mother also a mafia queen? Did she die because her enemies caught up to her? Or was it truly sickness that took her away? Which part is the truth, and which part is the lie?

But… Mom would never do that to anyone. She taught me how to walk the right path. She was a woman of faith, full of light and joy. But what if even that was a lie?

Sometimes, she would have small scratches on her hands and burns on her wrists though she was a great cook. She always said she burned herself while baking or got scratched while tending to the roses in the garden. I trusted her. I believed her. But deep down, I always second-guessed everything. Still, she was my mother… so I chose to believe her.

I need answers.

But I also don’t want to face that man ever again. He’s a murderer a cold-blooded killer.

And all this time… I’ve been accepting gifts from him. Wearing clothes, eating food everything bought with the price of innocent blood.

Bella buried her face in her trembling hands as sobs shook her body. Her tears soaked the carpet beneath her; her cries echoed softly in the hollow silence of the mansion.

What’s the point of my existence, she thought bitterly, when my entire life has been built on lies? How can I go on living and breathing in the same house as a man who forced me into marriage a man who rules with cruelty, who sees me as nothing more than a pawn?

He doesn’t care if I live or die. He doesn’t care if I break apart completely. But… there’s something in his eyes. A pain. Maybe it’s hate. Maybe it’s revenge.

But why must I pay for my father’s sins? Why must I suffer for mistakes that were never mine to begin with?

Bella wept quietly. Her heart shattered, her soul sinking deeper into despair lost between love, hate, and the haunting question of why her life had to be built on blood.

Maybe I’m also just a lie. Maybe I don’t exist after all, and this life is only a game I must play and perhaps I have reached my end, she thought, comforting herself as tears streamed down her face.

Ace walked through the door. His eyes shattered at the sight of Bella. He had never, in his world, felt empathy for anyone but for Bella it became even more cruel; why did he care when her father had taken everything from him? Luckily, his twin brother had survived that night, or else Ace would have been like Riven: all alone.

Maybe it was the fact that she was mute, or maybe it was the innocence on her face that swallowed him whole. He took a deep breath and whispered, “Bella,” his voice barely audible.

Bella quickly wiped her eyes; her sorrow vanished and anger filled her instead. She stood up, small fists clenched, and slowly turned to look at Ace.

“Don’t ever try to be nice to me when you’re nothing but a cheap dirty rag whatever your name is. And as for your cold friend, I would rather die than breathe the same air as him,” Bella signed angrily, then stormed out of the room.

Her mind was everywhere; she was no longer in her senses. Betrayal had left her crumbling, almost losing herself.

…

Back in the office, Riven sat in his chamber. He stared out the window, watching Mr. White and his convoy leave the premises. This was not the end of his revenge.

He picked up the phone and pressed a number. With less than two rings the person answered.

“What took you so long?” he asked coldly, his voice enough to make the man tremble.

“S-s… s-sorry, sir. It won’t happen again,” the man stammered.

Riven rolled his eyes.

“Mr. White is leaving my forest mansion now. Twelve cars behind him and twelve cars following at the back. The number plate of his car is 634567. Do damage, but don’t kill him,” Riven spoke, each word harsh and ruthless.

He put down the call. Ace stood at the door he had listened to everything. He walked in slowly. Riven showed no guilt, no remorse; his expression was ice cold.

“Yes,” Riven uttered, breaking the silence as he lifted the hand support to brace his still-broken arm.

“Man, don’t you think you’re going too far?!” Ace questioned.

“Too far? What’s wrong with you?” Riven snapped, irritation clear he did not understand the depths of Ace’s concern.

“Bro, I know we wanted revenge, but this has gone too far. I don’t care what happens to Mr. White, but leave his daughters alone. They have no say in this,” Ace tried to reason, but it was like speaking to a wall.

“What, are you perhaps in love with that mute girl?” Riven said, rolling his eyes.

“Her name is Bella,” Ace replied. “And Bella is innocent. She didn’t know her father is a mafia man. You’ve already driven the poor girl into the depths of madness. Now you want to harm her father and sister? She’ll die.” Ace’s voice shook as he tried to reach him.

“That’s my intention, Ace ,killing them without having to touch them,” Riven said coldly. “And if you forgot, must I remind you that this man almost killed your entire family? He didn’t care then. You and your brother survived; otherwise, you would be like me all alone. You know my pain, but not my level of pain. I had a loving, perfect family, and that man took everything away. I will do the same to him, but more brutally, because he made me the monster I am.” Riven’s words cut the air like a blade, his dead stare fixed as he walked past Ace and left him standing in the office in silence.