Arthur’s POV Bella stares at her phone even though it’s 2am and her phone finally starts ringing and the sound startled her but there’s a smile on her face when she sees ‘Mason’ on the screen.She picks up, chewing her lip and holding back her smiles.“That was fast, were you waiting for my call?”Bella can hear the amusement in the man’s tone.“I just happened to be with my phone.”“Sure, I believe you. How are you?”“I’m fine, I guess, I'm just anxious. What about you?”“I’m okay, what’s making you anxious?”Bella sighs at the question, cuddles closer to a pillow.“What I’m doing, with you. It’s- Ughmm- it’s wrong.”“Don’t overthink it and I won't do whatever you’re not okay with. Gabriel won’t find out either, I promise.” Mason says and Bella can hear the sincerity in her voice and she believes him.“Okay.”Bella stays silent because she’s awkward this way and she doesn't know what else to say."Saint?""Mhmm?""You looked so pretty today by the way."Their conversation afterwards
Author’s PovBella turns back at the door, giving the poor wooden door a dirty look and if it was a living thing, it would've shied away from the look Bella was giving it.Bella doesn't waste time dressing up because the last thing she wanted was getting scolded for being late.Twenty minutes later, She was dressed a black satin shirt dress that exposed her cleavage a bit and didn’t exactly hug her figure as she didn’t want Gabriel to think she put in effort to look good for him. She completed the look with black heels.Her outfit fit like a second skin and she couldn't be more appreciative to God for making her all-round beautiful.Gabriel was already outside, leaning on his car and waiting and if they didn't have such an odd relationship, Bella would've felt like those female lead characters who are stepping out of their house while their Prince Charming is leaning on his car, patiently waiting for her.And then, their eyes will be on their female leads, raking over their body and n
Arthur’s POV Bella is back on her seat. Mason had something to discuss with Gabriel and they moved to a quiet corner to talk about it but she didn't miss the looks she was getting from Mason.She couldn't help it, she was smiling because she liked the way Mason was looking at her then at her plate of untouched steak. She starts eating anyways, regaining back her appetite only because she wants to do something too, for Mason.*"I'm coming over tomorrow. I don't need too much stuff since I'm only staying at your place for a week." Mason tells Gabriel and the man nods, his eyes stopping at Bella who's now eating.Mason followed the trail of Gabriel’s eyes and smirked when he could see Gabriel watching Bella."What did you say to her in the bathroom? She’s suddenly eating." Gabriel inquired with his eyes never leaving Bella who's now drinking her water, a pout visible on her rosy lips."She was crying and then I asked him why, she said it was nothing and she was overreacting. I asked if
Arthur’s POV She wants to focus on anything else and not at the two men standing in front of her husband's home office, saying things she can't hear.She looks at them again and Gabriel's hand is around Destiny’s waist, caressing it."I have a nice and small waist too, good enough to hold." Bella mumbles to herself, she's pathetic at this point. She drops the cup in the sink, reaching for the can of orange juice in the fridge and drinking directly from the can. She stops drinking to look at the two figures again and this time, her eyes are wide when she sees them kissing.It's not a rough kiss but—but they're kissing like lovers. Bella swallows when Gabriel meets her eyes, she doesn't stop kissing the woman in front of him who's now exploring Gabriel's chest with her smaller hands and Bella wants nothing more than to be in her position.She finally gives up and takes her orange juice outside to take a walk and maybe water the gardens to take her mind off what she saw.She feels hot
Arthur's POVIt's Saturday and that meant one thing, both Bella and Gabriel weren't going to work, and usually Bella would be happy to stay home, but after seeing her husband with another woman last night, she dreaded seeing him this morning.She couldn't stay in her room forever, so she went downstairs. Hair a little wet from her shower, and she's just in brown slacks and a nude singlet.Cute.She doesn't see Gabriel in the dining room like always. He's always the first one to wake up, and Bella smiles bitterly.He's probably still asleep after whatever he did with Destiny—the woman's name makes Bella click her tongue in irritation.But that doesn't mean she doesn't tag Destiny as being lucky, waking up next to Gabriel and getting greeted in a sleepy groggy voice must feel really nice.Bella really needs to stop thinking so much about it, or she'll keep ripping the bandage off old wounds.The head housekeeper, Caroline, sees her approaching the kitchen, and she smiles sadly at her.S
Arthur's POV Caroline was Bella's friend, she's been away for a while and she hasn't been reachable so Bella has no one else to talk to, to vent to, except Caroline.She understood her, she listened to her problems, she cuddled her to sleep whenever she cried longer than usual, she never judged Bella for acting so desperate for Gabriel's love and attention, she never belittled her whenever she continuously and shamelessly kept throwing herself at Gabriel like a bag of chips tossed and shared amongst friends.She was her only alibi, that one person that genuinely cared about her.Her parents were more focused on rebuilding their food company, and Bella didn't want to be a burden. She would hear the same thing, how she's a grownup and needs to fix her own problems by herself.It wasn't a lie, she's not a child, and nobody is going to come running to her to wipe her tears when she falls and scratches her knee on the marble floor.No. She has to get up, wipe her knees clean, wipe her tea
Arthur's POV Bella stays indoors like what feels like eternity, crying her emotions out. She doesn't know how long she was locked inside her room and she didn't bother checking the time on her phone. When she felt tired and sticky, she cried even more with the shower on, with her clothes on. She's a mess. She knows what she wants from Gabriel isn't just intimacy. She wants Gabriel to acknowledge her, treat her like she exists, not like she's invisible. She knows she has feelings for Gabriel. She knew after the first year of their marriage and she managed to keep her feelings hidden because the fear of rejection can also be the beginning of wisdom. She knew she couldn't handle being rejected by Gabriel so she focused on something else, fantasizing about the sheets tangled around her and Gabriel's body. She desperately wants to get rid of this feeling but she has tried, the poor girl has really tried. She's visited clubs, more of gay clubs, wishing for someone to just come and s
Arthur’s POV It's Sunday evening and it's the official first day of Mason staying at Salvatore home. Bella refused to discard her parents' name and answer Gabriel's instead; at least, they let her keep her parent's name even though they didn't know they were throwing her in the lion's den. The name 'Salvatore' has gone places. The family name, as heavy as it sounds on the tongues of peasants, it's a name that reflects the blood that runs through the bearer's name. Before you set foot into Gabriel Salvatore's home, you'd get scanned because let's be honest, a lot of people hate the rich ones and would do anything to get their hands on them and be the last ones to take their dying breaths away. The gate of Gabriel's mansion has the initials of his name carved into the gate like she's someone born of royalty. It's a magnificent look to the mansion. Once you successfully step into the compound, you're attacked with pure beauty. The fountain in the center of the huge compound doesn't