Twenty

Chapter 20

Zachary’s POV

"On a normal day, I would have ignored this," I said, trying to hold my anger.

"Ignored what?" Bella’s voice had been sharp that evening, but now it replayed in my head like an echo in an empty hall.

"The dress, the attitude, and the late nights." I expressed.

"Oh, please, Zachary. You never ignore anything." She said without giving any concern to me.

I clenched my jaw. "Last time you dressed like that, Perry traced you," I said before I could hold myself.

"Did you have people to follow me?" She asked as I could see the surprise at what I just said.

"You went to a party." I said, ignoring her outburst.

"And?" She asked disrespectfully.

"And nothing, he brought you home and nothing fishy."

"So what’s the problem now?" She asked.

I remember staring at her stomach, but it looks strange.

"This time is different," I replied to her question.

"Different how?" She asked with a smirk.

"You are pregnant with my child," I said.

She laughed, not softly and not kindly. "Your child?" She said,

"Don’t start." I rebuked.

"No, Zachary, you don’t start." She said.

The memory shifted and the argument sharpened.

"Where were you?" I had demanded to know where she was coming from at this early hour of the day.

"Out." She replied plainly.

"With who?" I demanded 

She hissed. That damn hiss is annoying.

"Why does it matter?" She asked nonchalantly.

"Because you are carrying my baby!" I replied.

"And that suddenly makes me your property?" She asked.

"Answer the question!" I demanded angrily.

"What if I were with a man?" She asked unconcerned.

The words had sliced through me. “Watch your mouth," I warned her.

"What if I was moaning with his touch?" She said it almost like a mockery.

Everything inside me froze immediately she made the statement.

"Don’t,"I said angrily.

“What? Does that hurt your ego?" She asked.

"Bella," I called.

"Maybe he touched me better, and maybe I liked it."

That was when it came back flashing, Livia's faint moan, I had heard that night before I smashed my phone against the wall.

Could someone also have done that to Bella, wherever she might be coming from this early morning? 

Who could that be, and where exactly is she coming from?

“What are you saying?” I asked, my voice low but full of range.

Bella was silent for a while as she was just looking at me, knowing that I am already angry.

After observing her for a while, I immediately called on the guards. 

"Guard!" I barked angrily, my voice echoing through the corridors.

"Yes, Alpha." They answered from afar as they ran towards me.

"Call Perry, now," I ordered immediately they got to where I was standing.

"Immediately, Alpha." They replied uniformly.

After the guards rushed out to call Perry, the house felt suffocating, too quiet, and too tense. I became so restless and uncomfortable.

Bella was still standing near the entrance, her handbag hanging stiffly by her side.

I began pacing back and forth, my boots hit the marble floor with sharp, angry sounds.

“Stop staring at me,” I snapped without looking at her.

“I’m not staring,” Bella replied quietly. “I’m trying to understand what’s happening to you,” she said.

“There’s nothing to understand.” I snapped.

“There’s everything to understand!” she shot back.

I stopped pacing abruptly and turned to her, eyes blazing. “I said there’s nothing.”

She flinched slightly but held her ground. “You are shaking,” she said.

“I’m fine.” I replied.

“You are not,” she said, trying to show that she cares.

My jaw tightened, and I suddenly felt too hot in my own skin and too trapped.

Without another word, I walked straight to the bar as Bella’s voice followed me behind. “Zachary… don’t,” she said but I ignored her as I grabbed a bottle of whiskey.

Opened it and took it directly to my mouth as I gulped down some content.

“You have had enough,” she said, her voice firmer now.

I let out a dry laugh. “Enough? I haven’t even started.” I said as I twisted the cap open and took a long, burning gulp straight from the bottle one more time.

Bella stared at me in disbelief. “It’s morning.”

“And?” I replied coldly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

“You were drunk last night,” she reminded me.

“I remember,” I replied.

“You broke your phone because of it.” she added.

My eyes darkened. “I know exactly what I did.” I snapped at her.

“And you’re still drinking?” she demanded.

I took another swallow.

“Zachary!” she shouted.

I slammed the bottle down on the counter, liquid sloshing violently inside. “What do you want from me, Bella?!” I asked, holding the bottle tight.

“I want you to stop destroying yourself!” she yelled.

“I am not destroying anything,” I replied.

“You are!” she cried. “You are angry, you are drinking, and you are pushing everyone away!”

I grabbed the bottle again. “I don’t need a lecture.”

“You need help!” she said.

My hand froze midair.

“Watch your tone,” I warned strictly.

“I’m not one of your subordinates,” she shot back. “You don’t get to silence me.” she snapped.

I took another burning gulp, slower this time.

“You know what’s funny?” I muttered.

“You’re worried about me now.”

“I have always been worried about you!” she said.

“Don’t lie,” I said slowly.

“I’m not lying!” she defended.

I looked at her sharply, still pissed with her dressing. “Where was that concern when you were at the bar last night?”

She stiffened. “Don’t twist this.”

“You wanted to drink while carrying my child,” I said, expressing my displeasure.

“I didn’t drink!” she tried defending.

“You wanted to” I snapped.

“And you’re actually drinking!” she fired back. “What example are you setting?”

I laughed bitterly. “An Alpha doesn’t need to set examples,” I replied.

“An Alpha who can’t control himself?” She challenged me and my eyes flashed dangerously. “Careful.”

“Or what?” she whispered.

Silence fell heavily between us.

I looked away first, lifted the bottle again, and drank longer this time, the whiskey burning down my throat like punishment.

I knew it was the alcohol from last night that made me lose control, and that was why I smashed my phone.

And now that same broken phone held files I urgently needed, important files, and office files. 

I was supposed to be at the office that morning but I decided not to go.

“I’m not going to the office,” I muttered.

Bella frowned. “What?”

“I said I’m not going.”

“You have responsibilities,” Bella said.

“I have a broken phone with critical documents in it,” I snapped. “Until I retrieve them, there’s no point stepping into that office.”

“So you will just drink instead?” she asked, but I ignored her.

The front door opened, and there were footsteps, fast, and concerned.

Perry stepped in.

“You called me?” Perry asked immediately, scanning the room.

His eyes landed on me holding a whiskey bottle at that early hour.

Then on Bella, who was just standing.

He directed his gaze back to me and knew immediately that something was clearly wrong.

“You’re drinking?” Perry asked carefully.

I didn’t answer but instead, I reached into my pocket, pulled out the shattered phone, and threw it toward Perry.

“Fix it,” I ordered.

Perry caught it quickly, startled. “Alpha…” he said, wanting to ask questions.

“I said fix it,” I repeated strictly.

Perry examined the device, turning it in his hand. The screen was completely cracked, and the back was dented.

“This isn’t just screen damage,” Perry said cautiously. “What happened?”

My expression hardened. “That’s not your concern.” I roared.

Bella crossed her arms. “He threw it.”

I shot her a sharp look. “Stay out of it.” I commanded.

Perry straightened immediately. “Yes, Alpha.”

He looked back at the phone. “I can try to retrieve the files, but if the internal board is damaged…”

“Then replace whatever needs to be replaced,” I interrupted. “I want everything recovered today.”

“It might take time.” Perry said.

“You have hours,” I said calmly.

Perry hesitated. “Alpha, with respect..”

Zachary stepped closer, towering over him. “Did you not hear me?”

Perry lowered his gaze. “I heard you.”

“Good, then move,” I commanded.

Bella’s voice cut in sharply. “Stop barking at him!”

Both men turned to her.

“He’s not your punching bag,” she continued angrily. “You’re frustrated, fine. But don’t take it out on him.”

My eyes narrowed. “You’re overstepping.”

“No, I’m not,” she replied firmly. “You’re being unfair.”

Perry cleared his throat. “It’s fine.”

“It’s not fine,” Bella insisted.

“Enough,” I said coldly.

The authority in my voice was heavy and commanding.

Bella stared at him in disbelief. “Is this who you are now?”

“This is who I have always been,” I muttered.

“No,” she said softly. “You weren’t this cruel.”

I looked away briefly, then back at Perry. 

“Why are you still standing here?” I asked, staring at him.

“I will take it to the best technician,” Perry said quickly. “I will prioritize data recovery.”

“You better,” I warned, and Perry nodded.

He turned to leave but paused at the door. “Alpha… maybe you should rest instead of drinking.” 

My expression turned icy. “Are you advising me?” I asked, my eyes turning red.

“I’m concerned,” he replied.

“I didn’t ask you to be.” I fired at him.

Perry lowered his head. “Understood,” he replied and walked out.

The door shut.

Bella exhaled slowly. “You’re pushing away the only people still standing beside you.” she asked.

“I don’t need babysitters,” I replied.

“You’re going to regret this,” she said quietly.

“I regret nothing.” I rebuked.

“You regret everything,” she corrected.

I set the bottle down hard. “Go to your room.”

“I’m not your subordinate.”

“Bella.”

“No.”

His voice dropped lower. “Don’t make me repeat myself.” I threatened.

She stepped closer instead. “Look at you. It’s morning, and you are drowning yourself in alcohol because you can’t handle your emotions.” She mocked.

I grabbed the bottle again, trying to drink from it.

“Stop!” she shouted, and I froze, looking at her.

“For once,” she whispered, tears threatening to spill, “fight your demons without a bottle in your hand.”

My grip tightened around the glass.

“You think I don’t know I messed up?” I said hoarsely. “You think I don’t know I lost control?”

“Then stop,” she said.

“I can’t because you don’t understand!” I roared.

“Go and rest,”  she said quietly this time.

“You need to rest. I said “I will handle what needs to be handled.” I added.

“With alcohol?” she asked.

“With whatever I choose,” I replied.

She stared at me for a long moment.

“You’re going to break more than phones if you continue like this,” she warned. I didn’t respond.

I just lifted the bottle again, but Bella wanted to take the bottle from me as we both fought for it. And then the bottle falls from my hand shattering everywhere.