MasukZayden’s POVI stepped out of my room and leaned against the wall, waiting.Last night replayed in my mind like a film I couldn't stop watching. Her confession. The crack in her voice when she said the words I never thought I'd hear."I think I love you too."It wasn’t exactly a declaration of love but it was close.I had always told Bella she would come to me. I believed it. But I never imagined it would be like this. Never imagined she would give herself to me so completely that she would confess her love in the middle of the night, broken and raw and honest.The door to her room opened and pulled me away from my thoughts. She stepped out, and my breath caught.She was wearing a mini red dress. It clung to her waist and fell free at the hem, showing off her legs. Her hair was down, soft waves framing her face. She looked like sin wrapped in silk.One wrong move from her and I would completely tear her apart. She smiled at me. "Do you like it?"I walked toward her, pulling her clos
Bella’s POVI woke up wrapped in warmth.For a moment, I didn't move. I just lay there, my cheek pressed against something solid and warm. The steady rhythm of a heartbeat beneath my ear. The weight of an arm draped across my waist.Then I remembered.Last night.The confession. The kiss. The way he had held me like I was the only thing keeping him alive.His lips brushed the back of my shoulder in a lazy kiss.“Buongiorno Bella,” he murmured, voice rough with sleep.I smiled despite myself. “Good morning.”He pulled me closer, turning me in his arms until we were face to face. His green eyes were soft in the morning light, his hair messy, his lips curved into a rare, genuine smile.He leaned down and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. Then my nose. Then my lips.I giggled against his mouth. "You're in a good mood.""I have reason to be." He kissed me again, slower this time. "You're here. You're mine."I pulled back slightly. "I've always been yours. I was just too stubborn to admit
Bella’s POVI took in a deep breath before I finally stepped out from behind the hedges. Zayden looked different tonight. He was dressed in all black. He looked angry yet calm at the same time and his eyes were hardened that if looks could kill, I would have dropped dead by now.“What are you doing out here Bella?” He asked.“I got your package.” I raised the box.His gaze glanced toward it then back to me. “Good.” He said. “Keep it!”Then he turned to walk away. “Please don't walk away when I’m talking to you.” I went after him. “Bella…” he said, not stopping. “I’m really not in the mood tonight.”“Are you ever in the mood, Zayden?”He didn’t answer me. He just kept walking, back into the house, down the hall, up the staircase and into his room. He tried to shut the door behind him but I stopped it and went in after him. I held the box up. “These are Marco’s fingers aren’t they?”“Yes.”My chest tightened. “How could you?”“How could I what?” He said, nonchalant.“How could you
Bella’s POVSleep never came.I lay in bed for what felt like hours, staring at the ceiling while my thoughts refused to quiet. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him standing beside my bed.“Bella… if you’re awake, I want you to know I’m sorry.”The apology should have comforted me.Instead, it only made everything more confusing.With a frustrated sigh, I threw the blanket aside.“I can’t do this,” I muttered.Gianna, who had been arranging fresh flowers near the window, looked over immediately.“Bella, everything okay?”I nodded. “I want a bath please.”“Of course.”Within minutes, the large marble bathtub was filled with steaming water scented with lavender and jasmine. Chiara helped undo the buttons of my dress while Gianna gathered fresh towels.The warm water wrapped around my body the moment I stepped inside.For the first time all day, I allowed myself to breathe.Neither maid spoke much. They quietly washed my hair while I scrubbed away the tension that seemed to cling to ev
Zayden’s POVThe whole villa was chaotic. Men ran from all angles, securing every possible escape route.The place was on full lockdown until I had Marco squirming and pleading for mercy at my feet. I sat on a wooden chair in a secluded room far from the main house. I looked at my watch. It’s been over forty minutes since Nico had left to look for Marco, yet he hadn’t returned.Suddenly the doors burst open…Nico and two other men held Marco by both hands. He was tossing and shoving, looking dishevelled. Like he tried to escape but was caught and beaten down.“Let me go!” He yelled. “Get your hands off me.” What’s going on? I’ve done nothing.”Nico pushed him to the chair opposite me, binding both his hands by the side of the chair.He looked up at me. “Boss…what is happening? These men came to attack me. I’ve done nothing. Please just tell me what is going on.”I stared at him. Observing quietly. Not saying a word yet.“Marco,” I said finally.His eyes turned softer. “What is it?”I
Zayden’s POV"Zayden," Nico said gently.I didn't respond."Zayden, what is it?" He asked me. "You look like you've seen a ghost."I looked up from the file in my hand. "Lock the villa down.""What?" Tomás said."I said lock the fucking villa down. No one leaves. No one comes in." I ordered."Okay, okay." Tomás raised his hand. "But can you at least tell us what's going on?"I threw the file to him."Giovanni Russo. Does he look familiar?"Tomás and Nico looked at the image at the same time.Tomás shook his head. But Nico hesitated for a bit, then looked up at me."This is Marco. The new security who went through Enzo." Nico said."Exactly." I breathed. "How did one of Hiram's men waltz his way into my home and no one even checked twice to see where he came from?"Neither of them could answer me."And now he's parading the environment. Talking to my wife. Who knows what else he's done?"They remained silent.I looked at Tomás again."I said lock down the villa. Why the hell are you st
Bella’s POV I lay on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, feeling the weight of my father’s words crush me over and over again. Ten days. Ten fucking days to become Matteo Moretti’s property. Ten days to lose my freedom, my future, my name. He kept acting like this was normal—like sellin
Bella’s POVI woke to the sound of my bedroom door creaking open. Rosa slipped in carrying a garment bag over one arm and a silver tray of cosmetics in the other. The smell of fresh espresso and warm cornetti followed her, but my stomach still turned.“Buongiorno, mija,” she whispered, eyes soft w
Bella’s POV The flight back to Venice dragged like a death sentence, but I didn’t sleep. I kept picturing my mother’s arms around me the second we landed. She was the only one who never obeyed Dad’s order to cut me off completely. Secret bank transfers. Burner phones at 2 a.m. just to hear
Bella’s POV The loud pounding on my windshield cut through my sleep like a gunshot. My eyes flew open, my heart slamming against my ribs. For a second I didn’t even know where I was—just the cold glass, the smell of my own breath, and the ache in my neck from sleeping upright. “You can’t park h







