46

Bella’s POV

I stood by the tall window in my room, my fingers gripping the curtain so tightly the fabric wrinkled in my hold. 

My reflection stared back at me from the glass, perfect, composed, but my eyes betrayed me as they burned.

“I won’t lose,” I whispered to myself, my voice low and sharp. “Not to her, not to Livia.”

But it seems the more I said it, the less convincing it sounded.

Then the thought of Perry flashed in, he had been avoiding me for a while now, and that alone was enough to make my blood boil.

I had called him again and again, but no answer. I have sent messages, tried to arrange meetings, but in all he ignored and declined them all.

Each rejection felt like a slap to my face as I wondered what could have changed. I paced my room, my heels clicking aggressively against the marble floor as I replayed our last conversation.

“He’s hiding something,” I muttered, my lips curling. “You think you are clever, Perry?” I asked, staring into space.

I grabbed my phone again, dialing his number for what felt like the hundredth time. It rang and rang again before it was then declined.

I froze for a moment, silence filled the room, and then she let out a sharp, humorless laugh.

“Oh, so this is how it is now?” I muttered silently to myself.

My grip tightened around the phone. “You think you can shut me out?” I snapped, my voice rising. “After everything I have done?”

I wanted to smash the phone against the wall in my anger but I held myself.

No, I can't lose control like that. Instead, I inhaled slowly, forcing myself to calm down.

“Fine,” I said coldly. “Play your game.”

My eyes darkened. “I will win anyway,” I said confidently.

***

Time moved too fast, and before I could tighten my grip on the situation, the day of the luncheon arrived. 

The very event Zach had forced into existence. The very event that could destroy me if care is not taken, and what angered me more than anything was Zach, or rather, his absence.

He had been in the house, yes, but not with me; it was never with me as it seems I was like a ghost in the house to him.

I stood outside his room one night, my hand hovering just above the door. I could feel him inside. I always could, but I didn’t knock because something inside me already knew he wouldn’t open for me.

“He’s avoiding me…” I whispered, my chest tightening, and then the thought came sharp and poisonous. Livia.

My eyes darkened instantly. “It’s because of her,” I said, my voice trembling with suppressed rage. “It’s always because of her.”

The rare moments I saw him were even worse because he didn’t look at me the way he used to. Not with desire, not with pride and not even with annoyance. It was just once I caught his gaze, and for a split second, my heart lifted.

“Zach…” But then I noticed his eyes as they weren’t on my face. They were on my stomach, and that made me go still.

My hand instinctively moved to my abdomen, and that was when it hit me hard, cold, and cruel.

“That’s it… isn’t it?” I whispered, my lips parting in disbelief as my voice broke slightly. “That’s all I am to you now.”

Zach said nothing as he simply looked away, and I felt something inside me crack.

“If I wasn’t carrying your child…” I continued, my voice shaking now, anger mixing with something dangerously close to pain, “I will be nothing to you.”

There was still no response, and my eyes were filled with fury.

“Say something!” I snapped, stepping forward. “Deny it!”

Zach’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look at me and that silence said everything.

I laughed bitterly. “Unbelievable…” I muttered, shaking my head. “I fought for you, I chose you, and this is what I get?” I asked with teary eyes.

Zach’s voice came out low and detached. “You have said enough, Bella.”

That was it, that coldness and distance. It cut deeper than any insult.

I stepped back slowly, my pride forcing me to hold my head high.

“Fine,” I said quietly. “Remember this moment, Zach.” My eyes hardened. “Because I won’t forget it.”

I hissed and walked away from him.

***

The day of the luncheon came and I stood in front of the mirror, dressed flawlessly. My gown hugged my body perfectly, elegant yet powerful. 

My makeup was immaculate, my hair styled to perfection even with the slight curve of my stomach, I looked stunning, untouchable or at least… That’s what I wanted the world to believe.

I turned slightly, examining myself very well. “I’m still the one they will look at,” I murmured. “I’m still the one they will fear.”

But deep inside me, something uneasy stirred before leaving, I decided to find Zach.

We were supposed to arrive together, appear united, powerful and unbreakable.

I walked briskly through the halls, my heels echoing sharply. “Zach?” I called out, my voice controlled, but there was no answer.

My brows furrowed as I checked his study but it was empty, and my irritation flared instantly.

“Where the hell is he?” I muttered, and then through the window I saw it.

Zach was already outside and about to step into his car.

I froze for a moment, my mind refused to process what I was seeing, but then reality slammed into me, and my voice rose sharply.

“Zach!” I called but he didn’t turn; he did not hesitate even for a second and did not care to look back.

I stood there, my chest rising and falling rapidly as my nails dug into my palms and my entire body trembled.

“Are you serious right now…?” I whispered, my voice dangerously low, and my eyes burned with humiliation, rage, and with something darker.

“They were supposed to see us together there,” I said, my breathing uneven. “They were supposed to see me beside you.”

My lips curled slowly into a cold, terrifying smile. “Fine…” I said, and my voice dropped into a whisper and a deadly stare.

“If you want to play this game, Zach…” I said, my eyes gleamed with something unhinged.

“Then let’s play.”