Chapter 4

Bella spent the entire next day testing the limits of her golden cage.

She woke up determined. She would not let Lucian Cross break her spirit. After breakfast (which she ate in silence while he watched her like a hawk), she waited until he disappeared into his home office for a conference call. Then she made her move.

The mansion was huge. There had to be a way to get a message out. She found a small study room on the second floor with an old desktop computer. Her heart raced as she powered it on, praying it wasn’t monitored as heavily as the main systems.

She managed to open a web browser and started typing a desperate message to her best friend’s private email — just a few words: “I’m with Lucian Cross. Please tell Dad I’m okay but I need help.”

The screen suddenly went black.

A deep voice behind her made her jump. “Did you really think it would be that easy?”

Bella spun around. Lucian stood in the doorway, arms crossed, expression thunderous. He looked like he hadn’t slept much either. Good. Let him suffer too.

“How did you—”

“Every device in this house is monitored,” he said calmly, stepping inside and closing the door. “I told you not to test me, Bella.”

He crossed the room in three strides and gripped her arm, pulling her up from the chair. Not painfully, but firmly enough that she couldn’t pull away. He towered over her, radiating controlled anger.

“I was just trying to—”

“Trying to get yourself killed?” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “Your father’s enemies have people watching for any sign of communication. One wrong message and they trace it back here. To you.”

Bella’s defiance cracked a little, but she lifted her chin. “I don’t trust you. You hate my father. This whole ‘protection’ could be a lie so you can use me against him.”

Lucian’s jaw clenched. For the first time, she saw real emotion flash in his eyes — something dark and painful. He released her arm but didn’t step back.

“Your father betrayed me twelve years ago,” he said quietly. “He stole millions from our joint venture and left me to take the fall with the authorities. I lost everything — my reputation, friends, nearly my life. I built all this back from nothing. So yes, I hate him. But that doesn’t mean I want you dead.”

Bella stared at him, shocked by the raw honesty. “Then why agree to protect me?”

“Because no matter how much I despise Victor, I made a promise. And because…” He stopped himself, eyes darkening as they roamed her face. “Because the thought of someone else touching you makes me want to burn the world down.”

The confession hung between them like smoke. Bella’s pulse thundered in her ears. She hated how her body reacted to his words — a traitorous warmth spreading through her despite everything.

“I want to go home,” she whispered.

Lucian’s hand came up to cup her jaw, forcing her to look at him. “This is your home now. Until I say otherwise.”

The tension was electric. Bella could feel the pull — the dangerous, magnetic attraction she desperately wanted to deny. Lucian’s thumb brushed her lower lip, his eyes dropping to her mouth.

Just as he leaned in, a sharp knock sounded on the study door.

“Mr. Cross. Emergency. We have a situation.”

Lucian cursed under his breath and pulled away. He opened the door to find Marcus looking grim.

“It’s Victor,” Marcus said. “He’s been compromised. They found him. He’s asking for you… and for Bella.”

Lucian’s entire body went rigid. He looked back at Bella, eyes stormy with conflict.

“Get ready,” he told her. “We’re going to see your father. But if this is a trap… I will lock you in this house for the rest of your life if that’s what it takes to keep you safe.”

Bella’s heart dropped.