Chapter Five

Bella’s POV

Don Great laughed loudly. The sound filled the room and sent fear down my spine. It was not the laugh of a normal man. It sounded dark and cruel, like a man already thinking of how to destroy someone.

He slowly walked toward me, I did not move back.

My fingers tightened around the knife in my hand even though I knew I could never truly stab anyone. I could not even kill a rat without feeling bad. Still, I refused to show fear in front of him.

The guards standing around us watched silently.

Don Great clapped slowly as he stopped a few steps away from me.

"Wow," he said with a smile that did not reach his eyes. "That is good. I like brave women."

His eyes moved to the knife in my hand.

"But bravery alone cannot save you," he continued coldly. "If what you promised me fails, you will pay with your life. Not only you. Everyone connected to your bloodline will suffer too."

His words were heavy.

Any other woman would have started crying but for me I was already tired of fear.

Tired of watching women in my family get treated like objects, tired of men using power to control us, If I backed down now, nothing would ever change.

I lifted my chin and looked straight into his eyes.

"Trust my words," I said quietly. "Not me."

He narrowed his eyes, I took a deep breath before continuing. "I will get you everything you want. But there is something you must do for me too."

The room became silent.

Even the guards looked shocked that I was bargaining with a man like Don Great.

He stared at me for a long moment. "What else do you want?" he asked. "Money? Jewelry?"

I shook my head. "I will tell you after you agree to a planned wedding with me."

Don Great burst into another loud laugh, this time it sounded darker, He turned toward one of the men standing nearby. "Go and prepare the wedding," he ordered.

The man quickly bowed and hurried away. My heart beat fast. I could not believe it worked. I had expected him to throw me out, maybe even kill me.

I slowly lowered the knife. The cold metal slipped from my hand and fell to the floor, the sound echoing through the room.

Don Great kept staring at me. There was something dangerous in his eyes, like he was trying to understand me or decide if I was foolish or brave.

Honestly, I did not even know myself. All I knew was that I needed to save my family.

I turned around and walked toward the door. I could feel the guards watching every step I took. The moment I stepped outside, fresh air hit my face and I finally breathed properly. My legs felt weak, but I refused to fall.

“My lady!” I looked up quickly. Kaida was running toward me. The moment she reached me, she grabbed my hands tightly.

“Oh my lady,” she said breathlessly, “I heard Don Great refused to see you at first. Then suddenly he told your family to prepare for a wedding. What happened inside? How did you do it?”

Worry covered her face. I forced a smile. “He did not have a choice,” I replied

Kaida looked at me carefully. I knew she could tell something was wrong. She had always been able to read my face.

“My lady,” she whispered softly, “you need to be careful around that man. People fear him for a reason.”

I looked away. I already knew that. Everyone in the city knew stories about Don Great. Some said he became powerful because he destroyed anyone who stood against him.

Others said he trusted nobody. There were even rumors that people disappeared after crossing him. But none of that mattered now. I had already stepped into his world, and there was no turning back.

“Whenever you need my help, call me,” Kaida said seriously.

I smiled softly. “Thank you.”

She squeezed my hand. “I mean it. Do not try to carry everything alone.” she said.

Before I could answer, the sound of cars entering the compound filled the air. I turned immediately, my family had arrived.

The car doors opened quickly and my mother rushed out first. “Bella!” she ran toward me with panic all over her face.

The moment she reached me, she held my shoulders and checked my body like she expected to see injuries. “My daughter, are you okay?” she asked shakily.

“Mum, I’m fine,” I answered.

But she shook her head immediately. “No, you are not fine.” Her eyes filled with tears. “Listen to me. We can still leave this place. I will take you away if you want. Just tell me you do not want to marry him.”

My chest tightened. For a second, I almost broke. I wanted to tell her the truth, I wanted to cry in her arms and admit how scared I was. But I could not. This was bigger than fear. I had already made my choice, and nothing would stop me.

I gently held her hands. “I will be fine,” I said softly.

She looked unconvinced. “Bella—”

“All I need right now is for you to help me get ready,” I interrupted with a small smile. “Do not forget. I’m getting married today.”

Her face fell. I could see pain in her eyes, not happiness, not excitement, only fear. A mother should smile on her daughter’s wedding day, but my mother looked like she was preparing for war.

My younger sister slowly stepped out from behind the car. “Is it true?” she asked quietly.

I nodded. She looked down immediately.

Nobody knew what to say.

The servants quickly started moving in and out of the house, carrying boxes and decorations. Everything had already begun. Everything was happening too fast—for me to think, for me to breathe.

Kaida stepped closer to my mother. “My lady, Bella should rest before the ceremony,” she said politely.

My mother nodded slowly. “Yes. Come inside.”

I followed them quietly.

The mansion suddenly felt colder. Servants bowed as I passed. Some looked at me with pity. Others looked afraid. I knew what they were thinking.

Poor Bella. The girl being sent to marry a monster, but they did not know the truth. I was not only doing this for my family. I was doing it for every woman who had been forced into silence.

If I gained enough power through this marriage, maybe I could change things. Maybe girls after me would not suffer the same way.

Inside my room, my mother closed the door behind us. The moment we were alone, she grabbed my face gently. “Tell me the truth,” she whispered. “Did he threaten you?”