ISABELLAWe almost kissed.... and it took my breath away for a second. He'd simply walked away, not saying a word. He was clearly annoyed, probably because he was interrupted. I must be driving him crazy. Well, I'm not going to give him what he wants that easily; he'll have to work for it.If manipulation is this easy, then maybe, just maybe, I can finally get my revenge.He's a mafia boss, a killer. He's not a good man. I shouldn't feel guilty. I can only trust myself. Everyone will betray me, in the end, even him.I rose and headed into the hallway, needing to assess the mansion's layout, find any secrets, any potential escape routes should he decide to kill me. I turned and saw three maids staring. Their gazes were cold, unwelcoming.The brown-haired maid rolled her eyes, and they began to whisper, not even bothering to hide it. "She's the Sterling heiress... the broke heiress.""Oh, I've heard about her," another chimed in. "The boss probably bought her. It's obvious what she offe
ISABELLA"Why? Am I banned?" I asked, my voice soft, though a hint of annoyance crept in as I looked at Danica and Caspian. They really do deserve each other, I thought.How could I have fallen for such a repulsive man? I'd convinced myself he was perfect, but it was a lie. I'd been so focused on him that I'd fallen in love with the idea of marrying him, not with him as a person.Danica chuckled. "You're with Mr. Belluci? Did you really satisfy him enough for him to bring you somewhere like this?"I sighed. Dante was still in his car, talking on his phone with his capo. It must have been something important, because he'd told me to go in ahead of him. And then I'd run into these two leeches.I raised an eyebrow. "Danica, I'm not like you. I don't need to climb over people to get what I want."Caspian’s eyes shot on me, glaring at me like I hurt his little doll. “You have no right to insult, Danica!” "So, she has the right to insult me?" I retorted. "How ironic." I paused, glancing at
ISABELLAHe carefully placed the band-aid on the edge of my lip, then smiled, a gentle expression that seemed to erase the violence of moments before. "There. You're alright now."Dante and I stepped out of the car, and we went to another jewelry store. The manager recognized Dante immediately, and they rushed to attend to us, treating us like VIPs. The manager then proceeded to show us an array of incredibly expensive rings. I've never been one for jewelry, but when something catches my eye, I usually don't care about the price. Now, though, it was different. My bank account was frozen, leaving me with nothing. Damn it.Except for my father, I'd never asked a man to buy me a gift. But for the first time, I was experiencing what it felt like to be truly spoiled by a man. I glanced at Dante. He seemed completely unfazed by the prices, simply saying, "Choose whatever you like..."I smiled at the manager who was patiently waiting for me to choose. “Can I try it?” She smiled at me, “Of c
ISABELLAOne week later, I held my hand up, just stared at the diamond on my finger, lying there on the bed, and smiled a little. It'd been a whole week, and Dante was practically a ghost. I knew it had to be about that whole 'waiting a year' thing he'd said. But seriously, why? Was he some kind of stalker just waiting to claim me?This was messed up. Seriously messed up. And I wasn't about to just roll over and play nice because he thought he owned me. He wouldn't turn me into some puppet, making me do whatever he wanted. A loud thud made me gasp. I wasn't sure where it came from, but I got up, slowly creaked open the bedroom door, and stepped out. Curiosity, as always, got the better of me.I opened the living room doors that led to the grand garden, and my breath caught in my throat. Dante was standing there, gun in hand, surrounded by his men. The gun was pointed at a bloody man kneeling on the ground, begging for his life.Dante's gaze snapped to me, shock on his face. "Bella..
Isabella’s POVJacob Smith? He's dead to me. Dante's got the whole mess now. What's the point of yelling about the money he swiped? He blew it, anyway. Gone. Today, I just... I needed to go home. Dad's place. My old house.The guards smiled and waved me through like nothing had changed. They were always good people, those who worked for him.My driver waited outside, engine humming, while I went in. I had to get Dad's urn. It's not safe here anymore, not with Caspian and... Jessica. Danica's mother. Can you believe it? He gave her this place? The sheer nerve of them.I barely stepped inside, and then—"WHO LET YOU IN?!" Jessica's voice, sharp as broken glass, echoed through the halls."I paused, turning my head slowly. "Oh. Jessica..."The click-clack of her heels on the marble floor grew louder, a predatory rhythm as she rushed towards me, hand outstretched, aiming to grab my wrist. I wasn't having it. I sent her stumbling back with a sharp push, almost losing her balance."YOU!" she
ISABELLA"Hey," I said, backing up a step, forcing a bright, totally fake smile. "Just, uh, picking up my dad's urn." I gave a nervous little laugh.He stood up, walked straight towards me, and said, "I don't like not knowing where the hell you are.""Uh, nothing happened," I mumbled, shrugging like it was no big deal.His gaze dropped to my shoulder, and I couldn't stop the nervous sigh that escaped me. He scanned me, every inch until his eyes narrowed on the red mark on the back of my arm. He lifted my arm and examined it, and his eyes darkened. "Are you sure nothing happened?" he asked, his voice low."N-nothing," I stammered."For every lie you give me, I'm going to punish you," he said, and then he scooped me up, carrying me like I weighed nothing. He gently laid me on the bed, following me down until he was hovering over me. I could smell the faint scent of alcohol on him. "What are you doing?" I whispered."You lied to me, Bella," he said, using that nickname again. Maybe, ju
Isabella’s POVA soft smile played on my lips as I walked out, only wearing baggy jeans and a white t-shirt. o use showing my hand; they knew I wanted this meeting.And if manipulating Dante, was this effortless? Well, then, I'd happily play the part.Dante's smile was instant, warm, almost lovable. But a trace of suspicion chilled me. What did he really want, after returning something that was rightfully mine? "Let's go," he said, extending his hand.I took it, and we headed to his car. The destination? My father's company building. As we walked in, Dante exuded an unnerving calm, like he held all the cards.The conference room was packed with familiar faces. Eyes widened as I entered, and I offered a gentle smile, letting them assume I belonged. Which, technically, I did.Caspian Thorne rose, adjusting his tie, a sigh battling his rising anger. "I was expecting to meet with the majority shareholder...""No," Dante corrected, his gaze shifting to me. "We're meeting with the true he
Isabella’s POV"So, where are we going now?" I asked, a little bounce in my voice as we settled into his car. He pulled over at an abandoned city park, tucked deep within the forest. It was so quiet and empty, it felt like a secret, magical place.I practically skipped a few steps, a wave of unexpected joy bubbling up inside me. I turned back, grinning when I noticed Dante hadn't moved. He stood by the car, a soft, happy smile on his lips, his eyes sparkling as they met mine."Aren't you coming?" I asked, my smile widening.He walked towards me, hands tucked into his pockets, and for a moment, the world narrowed down to just him and me. It was a strange, comfortable feeling, even though I barely knew him. He treated me with a familiarity that made me wonder if he saw something in me I didn't see myself."Why did you stop here?" I asked, as we strolled along the quiet path."Don't you like it?" He glanced down at me, a soft smile playing on his lips."No, I mean, yes, I love it here.
DANTEThe silence in the mansion was heavy, like a thick blanket. Her being gone was real, a hole in the air of every room. I gripped the letter, reading it again. The fancy writing was a mean reminder of what she'd done. “You wanted to own me, Dante. Now you own nothing.” The words cut me deep.I was angry and felt betrayed. How could she do this? After everything I did for her, after the way I… cared for her, she used me. She played me like I was stupid. I pictured her leaving with that other man, the one Flora described. It made me burn with a cold anger.My men were looking everywhere – airports, ports, every lead. I had people watching, but she had just disappeared. This General, Enrique McCullen, was like a ghost. No recent trips, no friends outside the army. It was like he made her vanish.I couldn't even sleep. Her face was in my dreams, changing from scared to defiant. I remembered how she felt when I touched her, the way she sometimes looked at me like… like she cared. I was
ISABELLAThe cold Icelandic wind hit my face hard. It was so different from the humid air of the mansion I had left. This cold stung, but it also felt clean. I leaned against the porch of the small cottage. The expansive, dramatic view stretched out before me like a painting. Snowy mountains touched the gray sky. And the air felt quiet and old.Enrique and I had been here for three weeks. For three weeks, the air didn't feel dangerous. The quiet wasn't scary. My body started to relax. The tight feeling inside me from before was starting to go away.Granny Elín was Enrique's grandmother. She was strong. Her hands were rough but gentle when she helped me exercise each morning. Her Icelandic language sounded like music. I was slowly starting to understand it. It filled the cottage with stories and laughter. She accepted me without asking too many questions. She always offered strong coffee and her tasty rye bread.The first few days were tiring. I still felt like something bad was going
DANTEI softened my gaze, offering Flora a semblance of warmth, though my eyes held a silent, menacing demand. "Now, tell me, Flora. What do you know?"Flora dissolved into quiet sobs, as if her very life was draining away with each tear. I clicked my tongue, the sound sharp in the tense silence. "Flora, I don't want to kill you or anything… but you most certainly won't die if you just tell me the fucking truth!"Her body trembled uncontrollably. I gestured to one of the guards, who offered her a bottle of water. She gulped it down, her thirst evident, before whispering, "Sir, please… I really don't know…""Flora, you know me," I said, my voice low and dangerous. "If you lie to me again…" I pulled my phone from my pocket, the screen illuminating her tear-streaked face. "Your son is going to pay for what you've done."Her eyes widened, overflowing with fresh tears. "Please, sir! Don't touch my son! He's only in high school, his life hasn't even begun!""Oh, really? Then why are you lyi
DANTE"Sir, we can't reach Miss Isabella's phone," my secretary blurted out as he rushed into my office. A dark frown immediately creased my forehead. Why wasn't Isabella answering? I understood that the tension between us, the awkward distance, was a consequence of what had happened. But right now, all I wanted to know was if she'd eaten, if she'd done her exercises, if she was alright.Last night was… complicated. One of my business partners had unexpectedly brought his new secretary, Danica, to our meeting. She'd been hired just the other day, and we'd taken some photos for the deal's announcement. Never in a million years did I think she'd plaster them all over her Instagram, making it look like we were some kind of couple.I sighed heavily, rubbing my face in frustration. "Then call the fucking mansion. Ask what Isabella is doing." The anxiety twisting in my gut was a cold, unwelcome guest.My secretary's face drained of all color as he looked at me, his eyes wide with a fear tha
ISABELLA“Yes.” He wasted no time, tossing his things into the trunk. "Let's go. He's probably already trying to figure out where you've gone. We need to hurry," he said, quickly pushing my wheelchair back to the van. He carefully lifted me into the back seat, securing my seatbelt. "You don't know the kind of man you're dealing with, Isabella.""Oh, I know exactly the kind of man he is," I replied, a weariness in my voice. "More than you can possibly imagine. And you're right, he's likely searching for me right now. And you're the only one who can help me, Enrique."He nodded grimly, then hopped into the driver's seat, immediately making a call. "Ready the plane for me, please."The voice on the other end responded instantly, "Yes, General."Enrique hung up and started the engine, pulling away from his house. A wave of relief washed over me. This was it. I was finally going to be free!I felt guilt as we arrived at the secluded airfield where a private jet waited, its sleek lines gle
ISABELLAEnrique listened intently as I recounted the past few months, his expression shifting from concern to shock to a deep, simmering anger. When I finally finished, a heavy silence filled the car."Isabella, I'm so sorry…" he finally said, shaking his head, his voice thick with emotion."I thought you knew about the Sterling's scandal, the embezzlement news?" I asked, a sliver of hope flickering within me.He frowned. "Well, it's possible that someone in the underground organization paid a large sum of money to suppress it, to take it out of any source, any news, to delete it from everyone's mind and internet history." He paused, then his gaze sharpened. "So, this Dante… is he your boyfriend?""No. Not exactly," I replied, a bitter taste in my mouth. "We had an arrangement. I felt more like his auctioned bride. He… he bought me at an auction held by my ex-fiancé.”Enrique nodded slowly, his jaw tight with barely contained fury. He reached out and gently squeezed my hand, his touc
ISABELLAA soft gasp escaped my lips, and then a sob tore through me. Tears streamed down my face as I choked out the truth. "Yes…"A bitter smirk twisted his lips, but his eyes held a deep, raw pain. "I knew it. I'm not that much of a fool not to see it. Because why would you, right? Why would you ever like someone like me… I'm a monster." He offered a small, heartbreaking smile before turning away and walking towards the door.The words I wanted to say, the confusing tangle of feelings that had taken root, remained trapped in my throat. Maybe it was better this way. Maybe he needed to hate me. Just hate me, Dante.I lowered my head, the sobs wracking my body, echoing in the silence of the room. My heart ached, a dull, heavy throb as if I had physically wounded him. And in hurting him, I realized with a sickening certainty I had hurt myself too. I hated this. I truly, deeply hated breaking his heart.I wiped away the last of my tears with the back of my hand and called out for the ma
ISABELLAThree months. For three agonizing months, I'd been trapped in this body, a prisoner in my own skin. Seeing Dante flit around, effortlessly handling business, laughing with some new woman in the living room while I lay here, a useless weight, only amplified the crushing feeling of being a burden. I could move, yes, with Herculean effort, but the most straightforward tasks felt like climbing mountains.My days were a monotonous cycle. Physical therapy every morning, a humiliating two hours of pushing and stretching. Then came lunch, the maid patiently spoon-feeding me like a child because my own hands refused to cooperate. Sometimes, if Dante wasn't consumed by his world, he'd take over, a forced smile on his lips as he narrated some random story, his eyes occasionally betraying a weariness I couldn't ignore. I pity myself. What if he grew tired of this? Of me? The thought was a cold dread that settled deep in my chest, a constant reminder of my helplessness."I'm sorry…" I wh
ISABELLA"Miss Sterling," the doctor said gently, "the examination reveals partial paralysis, specifically quadriparesis, or tetraparesis. This means you're experiencing weakness in all four of your limbs. It's a consequence of the severe accident you were in. Please know that in many cases, partial paralysis is treatable, and people can regain varying degrees of movement and strength. Recovery can take time, potentially several months, as your body heals and we work through rehabilitation."The doctor's explanation swung in the air. I didn't even know how to react. The trauma of the accident, the very violence of it, hadn't fully registered, yet here was this new reality: partial paralysis. I stared blankly at the wall, a profound sense of weakness washing over me, eclipsing any other emotion. This moment, this diagnosis, felt like the day I lost a part of myself. Was this my destiny now?"I'm really sorry." The female doctor left after explaining everything, but none of it registere