chapter two

Just as Bella thought big, fancy, luxurious cars were parked all over the premises. Sleek black vehicles with tinted windows lined the grand entrance, each one belonging to some powerful businessman whose name she didn't know… or didn't want to know.

Men in tailored suits stepped out, flashes from paparazzi cameras bursting across the crimson carpet like lightning.

It was almost blinding, Bella thought with a soft laugh. She slipped on her shades, shielding her eyes. She hated glasses hated how they pinched her nose, how they made her feel small. She'd rather see the world blurry than wear them. Only when she read only when the story grew too good to resist would she put them on.

A bodyguard standing at the velvet rope rushed forward, opening the car door for Mr. White and his daughters, Bella and Lilly.

Bella walked quickly, head down, avoiding the flashes of cameras that seemed hungry for a story. Her sister, on the other hand, turned toward every lens, smiling, posing like it was her red carpet moment. A chance to feel like a queen among kings typical Lilly.

The building itself was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers dripped from the high marble ceiling, scattering golden light like diamonds across the polished floors. Black and gold banners framed the space, embroidered with the logos of old, powerful families. Sculptures of lions, glass roses, and steel emblems lined the hallways. The scent of expensive cologne, champagne, and money hung in the air.

It was luxury at its loudest a playground for billionaires and men who ruled shadows.

As always, Bella headed straight to the bar not for drinks, but for a place to sit. It was the only section with seats; everyone else was expected to stand, mingle, and pretend to enjoy it.

She sighed softly, pulling out her phone and scrolling through her e-book.

"Excuse me, ma'am, may I help you?"

Bella looked up slowly. The young man standing before her wore a black uniform, his skin a warm dark tone, his expression polite but wary. He looked barely in his twenties. She nodded once, wordless, and looked back down at her screen.

"Can I get you something? Wine, perhaps?" he asked again, still polite.

She shook her head, smiling faintly.

"All right then…" he muttered under his breath. Rude brat, he thought unaware she could read his lips perfectly.

Bella just kept scrolling.

More businessmen poured in, the air thick with arrogance and perfume. Some faces she recognized from her father's business events, others from his office men who spoke in whispers and carried secrets heavier than gold.

Only one name truly stood out: Mr. Ra, one of her father's most trusted allies. The kind of man who entered their home without needing an invitation.

But Bella never asked questions. She trusted her father completely. To her, he wasn't just a businessman he was a hero. A man who had loved her mother deeply and stayed strong even after losing her.

She smiled faintly at the thought… until a shadow fell across her.

She looked up to see Lilly standing with a young man handsome, maybe nineteen or twenty, with messy dark hair and a small silver nose piercing that caught the light.

"There you are. What in the world are you doing at the bar?" Lilly signed.

"Sitting. There are no seats anywhere else," Bella signed back with a teasing smirk.

"Can you not socialize for once? You look like a dead, depressed slot if that's even a thing," Lilly signed, rolling her eyes.

The waiter Jason, his name stitched on his chest—watched them quietly, realization dawning. He'd thought she was just spoiled, but now guilt crept in. She can't speak, he realized.

"You both look a lot alike," the boy beside Lilly said aloud.

"Oh, uhmm, she's my sister but she can't talk," Lilly replied quickly.

Bella gave her a sharp look.

"Oh… hi. Nice to meet you," the boy said awkwardly.

"Brandon says it's nice to meet you," Lilly signed.

Bella smiled slightly. 'I heard that clearly. I can read lips,' she signed, making Lilly blink.

Bella already knew this game handsome boys, flirty smiles, fake promises. She could read them all like a page in one of her novels.

"She says nice to meet you," Bella lied, smiling sweetly.

Brandon grinned, completely fooled. "Can I get you something to drink?"

Bella rolled her eyes, picked up her purse, and smiled politely at Jason before walking away.

Jason smiled back, then turned to take Lilly and Brandon's champagne order.

As Bella walked toward the exit, frustration bubbled inside her. I don't belong here. I can't even speak. If I could, I'd tell them all about Jesus the real King.

Her thoughts were cut off when she collided hard into something solid.

Or rather, someone.

It was like walking into a wall made of muscle and arrogance. She stumbled, rubbing her forehead, and looked up.

The man towering over her didn't even glance down. Dark suit, black shades, jaw sharp enough to cut glass. He brushed past her as if she didn't exist, his presence commanding the entire room as he entered.

Rude, Bella thought, frowning. Didn't even say sorry.

She turned, watching him move through the crowd like he owned it like he was the danger everyone whispered about.

I'll teach him a lesson someday, she muttered in her mind, walking outside to catch her breath.

But before she could even inhale the night air, a bodyguard stopped her.

"Sorry, ma'am. The function's about to begin. Mr. Roven would like everyone inside."

Bella nodded quietly and returned to the hall, her steps heavy with boredom. She sat beside her father, but her eyes kept wandering.

Men in black surrounded the area guns tucked beneath their jackets, their faces unreadable. The air felt heavier, charged.

Why are there so many guards? she wondered, unease curling in her stomach. And why does no one here smile?

The lights dimmed.

"Ladies and gentlemen, all mafia queens and kings," the guest speaker's voice boomed, "welcome to the legacy the bittersweet kingdom of power and loyalty."

Mafia? Bella blinked. Did he just say… mafia?

Before she could process it, the speaker continued, "And now, I present the man behind tonight's event a brilliant young leader who has elevated his family's legacy to new heights. Please welcome, Mr. Riven Romano."

The crowd erupted in applause.

A tall, striking man stepped forward. His black suit clung perfectly to his frame, his dark hair slightly tousled, his gaze cold and commanding. Women leaned forward, whispering, eyes following his every move.

All except Bella