MasukBelle’s face peeked out from behind the gym door, a wide smile spreading across her lips. She stepped inside, with Eve following right behind her. Eve wrinkled her nose slightly, the mix of masculine sweat and damp socks making her a little nauseous.
But that smell was normal in a boxing gym—and Belle was used to it. In her heart, Eve swore that if it weren’t for Belle, she would never set foot in that place again. The sacrifice she was making was very real.In theThe scent of perfume, sweat, and the warmth of the blanket wrapped around Belle and Bastian as they lay together on the bed. The atmosphere inside the tiny apartment felt peaceful, filled with love.Belle rested against Bastian’s broad chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. In this small room, she felt safe. There were no threats from Mr. Watson, and most importantly, no sign of Renee’s hypocritical face.Belle traced her fingers over the tattoo on Bastian’s arm.“I’ve been thinking about something.”“What about?” Bastian asked.“About us.”Bastian smiled and kissed the top of her head before pulling her closer into his arms.“So tell me,” Bastian murmured. “What have you been thinking about us?”“When all the chaos in Eastbourne finally dies down… I want us to leave this place. I can finish college somewhere out of town, and we can have a place of our own. It doesn’t have to be big. Just enough for you and me.”Belle smiled softly, already imagining a peaceful future
The soundproof oak door closed with a soft click. A middle-aged man wearing a suit worth thousands of dollars was already sitting inside, slowly swirling the wine in his glass.The moment he saw Renee enter, the man set the glass down and stood up.“Renee,” he greeted warmly.A smile spread across Renee’s lips as she stepped gracefully into the restaurant’s VIP room. She extended her hand, which he welcomed immediately.“It’s good to see you again, Mr. Ward,” Renee said.“Please… Richard.”Richard Ward.A senior politician with massive influence in Eastbourne. He even had direct connections within the police department.“I suppose I should be calling you Mrs. Watson now,” Richard joked lightly.Renee only smiled faintly. “I’d rather you just call me Renee.”“Your marriage to Anthony Watson was pretty sudden… and surprising.”But when he saw Renee’s expression turn cold, her eyes sharpening dangerously, Richard immediately stopped himself and changed the subject.“So… what exactly did
The air inside the back guesthouse felt frozen. Mr. Watson glared at Belle as if she were his worst enemy. Belle clenched her fists, holding back the anger threatening to explode all over again.In front of her, Renee was still clutching her cheek. Her eyes were watery, a perfect performance that only made Mrs. Watson panic even more.“Now, Belle!” Mr. Watson roared.Belle opened her mouth. “Dad, you didn’t hear what she—”“I don’t care what the reason was! You had no right to slap your sister-in-law!”Belle shot a sharp look at Renee, who answered with the faintest victorious smile, barely noticeable to anyone else.Suddenly, Anthony stepped forward and moved in front of Belle.“That’s enough, Dad,” Anthony said, his voice heavy with exhaustion.“Stay out of this, Anthony! Your sister needs to learn some manners!” Mr. Watson snapped.Anthony glanced briefly at his father before turning toward Renee.“I’m apologizing on Belle’s behalf. She’s dealing with a lot right now. Please… forgi
Belle took a deep breath after parking the car in the driveway. She stepped out, carrying her trench coat in one hand, then hurried inside the house. The silence immediately made her frown in confusion.It was Saturday. Normally, her parents would be chatting somewhere in the living room or out back.But today…Everything felt different. Tense.Belle quickly headed upstairs and entered her bedroom. Just as she was about to close the door, it suddenly stopped from the outside.Renee was holding it open.The moment their eyes met, Belle felt the tension instantly. The thin smile on Renee’s face sent chills down her spine.“Spending the night at Eve’s?” Renee asked casually.Belle nodded. “Yeah.”“Really? Because I think I saw Eve downtown last night. And you weren’t with her. Are you sure?”This weekend, Eve has been staying at her grandmother’s house since yesterday af
Bastian lowered his head and kissed Belle’s shoulder, then slowly moved down to the curve of her chest. A soft moan escaped Belle when Bastian kissed her breasts through her bra.Meanwhile, Bastian’s hands didn’t stay still. They roamed over her waist and thighs, applying just the right amount of pressure until Belle let out a low whimper.“Bastian, hurry…” Belle whimpered, her hands gripping the sheets tightly.Bastian chuckled softly, the sound deep and sexy in her ears.“Don’t rush, baby. We have all night, remember? Tonight belongs to us.”Bastian kissed her again, slower this time, deeper. As if he wanted to drink in every breath Belle gave him. Their skin burned against each other, chasing away the cold left behind by the rain outside. Bastian shifted lower, his hands pulling down Belle’s denim jeans. From Belle’s point of view, the muscles in Bastian’s body looked tight with desire.Bastian kissed her once more, slow and deep, and when they finally became one, he pushed inside
Heavy rain poured over Eastbourne that night, masking the sound of Belle’s footsteps in the dim hallway outside Bastian’s apartment. She wore a long black trench coat, the hood covering half of her face.Belle glanced left and right, making sure none of her father’s men or Renee’s spies had followed her.This was a reckless night for Belle.She was lying again, telling everyone she was staying over at Eve’s place. She had even deliberately parked her car near Eve’s house before taking a taxi to Bastian’s apartment.Belle knew it was incredibly risky, but she couldn’t hold back her longing anymore.There were too many things making her worry about Bastian. Especially after finding out he was looking for a new job. Belle couldn’t bear the thought of him returning to the underground fighting world again.Belle paused when the phone in her pocket vibrated. Nervously, she looked at the screen, but the message turned out to be from Peter.“No. 22. Don’t forget, that’s Bastian’s apartment nu
The Eastborough pier wasn’t beautiful at night. The lighting was poor, relying only on a dying streetlamp flickering at the entrance. But for Belle, that only made her adrenaline spike.At least it was safe. And it offered one thing no other place did: privacy.Belle walked carefully, pulling her h
Coming to the gym had been a terrible idea. At least, that was what Belle thought.Still, she wasn’t about to give up so easily. She forced herself to focus on her new routine.Boxing.The dull thud of gloved fists hitting the heavy bag echoed pitifully through the empty gym that morning.Thud. Thu
Smack!A hard slap landed on Belle’s cheek, snapping her head to the side. It was completely unexpected—even for Bastian—and Belle took it full force.The sight instantly sent a surge of fury through Bastian. He stepped forward at once, shielding Belle behind his back. His eyes blazed with anger.“
The hotel’s grand ballroom was dazzling, wrapped in lavish décor. An orchestra played softly, reinforcing the formal atmosphere. Eastborough’s social elite filled the room. For Belle, this wasn’t a party. It was an execution. She stood at the edge of the ballroom, fingers clenched around her clut







