Se connecterZayden’s POVThe slap stung my cheek in a way that made me feel utterly embarrassed.She had done it again. Once more, Bella had pushed my buttons.I looked up slowly and saw her hand covering her mouth. She looked as though she had committed the biggest mistake of her life… and frankly, she probably had."I… I didn't mean to do that," she said, her voice shaking. "But you did."“I didn’t mean to.” She shook her head.I stepped closer to her. "How many times do I have to tell you not to disrespect me?"Bella stepped back. "I wasn't disrespecting you. I was just—" She paused. "I told you to stop.""And how long do you want to keep saying that?" I asked."As long as it takes for you to understand," she replied.“There’s nothing for me to understand,” I said. “But it seems like you’re the one who needs clarity here.”"Clarity?" She let out a sharp breath. "I don’t need clarity Zayden, you do. You're a man who thinks he can own people. Control them. Break them until they fit into whateve
Bella’s POVWe all watched Zayden go.And then Noemi scoffed. "Typical Zayden."I sat there for a moment, my heart pounding.“What is wrong with you?” Emerald said, angrily. “Nothing is wrong with me Mamma,” Noemi answered. “And it’s been years now, maybe you can finally be my mother instead of always taking Zayden’s side.”“Well for one, Zayden is not an embarrassment to me,” Emerald said sharply. “You always cause chaos, Noemi. End this now.”Noemi smiled, although she was clearly hurt. “Fine. Whatever you say.”I didn’t wait to finish eating. I couldn’t spend another second at that table.After a while, I stood. “I have to go.”They didn’t stop me. I left the dining table and went to my room. I closed the door, but I couldn't sit still. The dinner replayed in my head — the accusations, the pain, the way Zayden's face had gone cold when Noemi mentioned their father.I paced for a while. Then I stopped.He was angry.I didn't know why that mattered. I didn't know why I cared. But I
Bella’s POVThe woman smiled brightly. “Hello, brother.”My breath caught.Brother?I stared at her. The dark hair. The sharp green eyes. The elegant posture.Then recognition slammed into me.She was the woman from the gala.The woman who had sat beside me and spoken to me like we were old friends.The woman who had known things about Zayden.Except now she wasn’t some stranger from a party.She was standing in the middle of the Romano villa calling Zayden her brother.What the hell?“Can you please tell these gorillas to let me go?” she complained. “Their fingers are digging into my arms.”Zayden blinked.For the first time since I’d known him, he actually looked surprised.The guards immediately glanced toward him.“Let her go.” He said.The moment they released her, Noemi rubbed both arms dramatically.“Finally.” She frowned. “What do you people feed them? Steroids?”A few guards looked offended.Noemi ignored them, her gaze fell on Emerald. “Oh, Mamma! It’s so good to see you.”
Zayden’s POVThe car ride was silent.Not the comfortable kind. The kind that sat between us like a wall, heavy and unyielding.I spent all night terrified something had happened to her and now she was sitting beside me pretending I didn’t exist.I watched her from the corner of my eye. She was still angry — I could see it in the set of her jaw, the way her arms were folded across her chest, the way she stared out the window like she wished she were anywhere else.But that wasn't what caught my attention.What caught my attention was her nightgown.Thin. White. Almost transparent in the morning light. The fabric clung to the curves of her breasts, and I could see the hard peaks of her nipples pressing against it. She hadn't bothered to change before we left. Maybe she wanted me to notice.Either way, I couldn't look away."What are you staring at?" she asked without turning around.I didn't answer. I just took off my jacket and held it out to her."Wear this."She glanced at it, then
Zayden’s POV Alejandro stared at me as if he had seen a ghost, which is funny because I wasn’t the one who died in his home last time. “Are you going to invite me in?” I asked, hands in my coat pocket. He didn’t say a word — he simply stepped aside. “It’s been a long time since we saw one another,” I said. “I’m sorry I haven’t been the best son-in-law. Bella and I should have come to visit.” Alejandro scoffed. “What are you doing here Zayden?” “I told you I was here to get my wife,” I answered, walking further into the home. “But now that I’ve seen you. I remember we have a lot to catch up on.” I sank onto the couch and met his gaze now. “Sit.” Alejandro hesitated. “What?” “I said sit down.” He exhaled sharply, then moved to the couch opposite me. “What is this about?” He asked. “None of you called Bella ever since we got married,” I said. “She wouldn’t talk to me but I know that made her feel really sad and lonely.” “Well you're her husband, you’re meant
Zayden’s POVI pulled into the villa driveway and killed the engine.The ride back had been silent. Tomás had asked a few questions — "What happened back there?" "Is she coming home?" "Do you want me to stay?" — but I had answered with nothing but grunts until he got the message. I dropped him off at his home and drove the rest of the way alone.When I got home — I slammed the car door harder than necessary. The sound echoed through the courtyard.I made my way into the villa, my face carved from stone.The staff scattered as I stormed through the halls. Maids pressed themselves against walls. Guards straightened their postures. No one spoke. No one even breathed too loudly.Giulia was the only one brave enough to approach.She stepped out from the kitchen doorway, her brow furrowed, her hands clasped in front of her, holding a paper towel."Zayden," she said carefully. "Where is Bella?"I didn't stop walking. "She's on her way.""On her way?" Giulia hurried to keep up. "What do you m
Zayden’s POVI took a slow drag from my cigarette, watching her from across the table while she processed my last words.Her fingers tightened around the fork.Good.She’s listening now, really listening.For a long moment, neither of us spoke. The silence stretched thick and heavy, filled with gho
Bella’s POVI had waited for everyone to fall asleep before I begged Rosa to help me sneak out of my house. I told her I was going to see Lucia. I needed to clear my head and talk to someone who could understand.She looked at me with something like pity in her eyes but she helped me either way.“I
Bella’s POVI woke up to sunlight bleeding through the curtains, my body still aching in my shoulders and cheeks as a result of my father’s anger.The first thing I did was grab my phone.No new messages. No missed calls.Nothing from Zayden.I stared at the screen, thumb hovering over the voicemai
Bella’s POVLucia walked barefoot across my floor while I sat on the carpet, phone in hand, frantically researching “how to stop your wedding.”I threw the phone down in frustration and leaned back against my dresser.“I told you you weren’t going to get anything useful on there. The internet is la







