"What do you mean it’s over?" Bella’s voice trembled, her heart shattering with every word. "You heard me. I can’t be with you anymore," Michael said coldly, watching as tears streamed down her face. "I did everything for you. I sent you to school, supported your career, and now I mean nothing?" Bella cried, falling to her knees, her emotions spiraling out of control. "I’ll send you money for your dad’s hospital bills, but you’re not the one for me," Michael replied dismissively. Bella’s world collapses when the man she’s loved for six years walks away, choosing Vivian a woman she once called a friend and the younger daughter of the powerful Copperfield family. Despite warnings from her best friend, Elowen, Bella trusted Michael. Now, she’s left heartbroken and betrayed. Swearing off love, Bella focuses on rebuilding her life and plotting her revenge. But her plans take an unexpected turn when David Copperfield the ruthless billionaire and CEO of Copperfield Group enters her life. Abandoned on his wedding day, David offers Bella a one-year contract marriage, needing her to protect his reputation and restore his pride. How will Bella react when she discovers David has a son with a mysterious mother? With her father’s life hanging by a thread, can she survive this cold-hearted arrangement? And what will she do when she uncovers the ultimate betrayal that the man she’s called her father isn’t her real father, and she’s been living a lie?
View MoreIsabelle woke up early in the morning, realising she had just spent the night on the couch. She sat up and stretched her neck while trying to figure out why she had just spent her night in the uncomfortable couch instead of her bed.
She picked her phone up to check what time it was when she realised that she had been calling her husband Lucas before she fell asleep. "He hasn't called me back?" She said to herself while she ran her fingers through her curly hair as she always did since she was a little girl. "Where could you be Lucas?" In all the thirteen years they had been together, Lucas had never spent the night away from home without informing Isabelle about where he would be, this was new. Isabelle was worried that something could have happened to him. Something terrible. She had called his office the previous night but was informed that he had just left the building at the time, so she waited a few hours before calling his driver who had informed her that Lucas had insisted on driving himself home. Isabelle began to take deep breaths. She put her hand on her chest to feel her heart rate as it increased, she imagined everything that could have possibly gone wrong with Lucas. Lucas Archer wasn't the most perfect husband to ever live. He was an arrogant billionaire who always had his way, but Isabelle loved him unconditionally still. She had known him since she was 16 and had been married to him since she was 19. She loved him, he was her first and he was her only. She never imagined herself with anybody else but him. He was the only man she ever knew and loved. She was his, and he was hers. She stood up from the couch while she scrolled through her contact list, thinking about who she would call, who would know where he was or what had happened to him, if something had happened to him. She paced around while staring onto her phone screen. The door knob turned just as she dialled Lucy's number, Isabelle knew that only his mother would know. She knew everything her son did, Lucas couldn't make any major life decisions without running it through her. Lucas walked in the door. Worry left Isabelle as she exhaled. She had been holding her breath since she heard the door knob turn, but it felt like an eternity. "Lucas! Where have you been? I was worried, " she said to him in a state of both anxiety from what he would say and relief from the panic she had gone through all night and morning. Lucas stood a stone throw away from her. He looked at her but did not show any emotion. His face was blank without an expression. "Lucas! Didn't you hear a word I said? Where have you been?" "I called you all night, I called your office and was told you had left, so where were you?" "I was worried sick Lucas, say something!" Isabelle demanded. There was silence for a moment, the air between them felt so cold, Isabelle stood in place staring at him while she wondered what could have have happened, where he was and why he wasn't responding to any of her questions. She finally moved towards him, hoping that he could speak to her if she got closer, She lifted her hand to touch him, but he stopped her with his eyes. He stared at her so coldly she froze. "Can you just stop?" He spoke even more coldly than he had starred. "Just stop." I don't want you nagging me, and I definitely do not need you touching me." "Lucas, please..." Isabelle started, but he did not let her finish. "I asked you to stop Isabelle," He moved, and he moved away from her, evidently irritated by her presence. "I want you out." He said while trying not to yell. Isabelle was not sure about what she had just heard or what it meant. "Out? Lu.. I..." She sturtead. "What do you mean out? out of what? out of where?" She shook her head and ran her hand through her curls. "Lucas? What happened? Can you tell me what happened?" "Stop! Stop! Stop! Isabelle Stop!" Lucas yelled on top of his voice while he threw his hands around. "I said I want you out!!" He starred at her almost as if she were some kinds of trash. "I want you out of my house, we?" he said, pointing between them, "we are over and getting a divorce." Isabelle shook as tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. "What? Why?" Tears began to roll down her cheeks. She plopped herself down on the couch and barried her face in her palms. "I want you out of here, today and now." Lucas demanded. "Why ar.. are.... you doing this t..to..to me?" She managed to say in-between sobs. "I h..ha...have given my b..best years to..to you an..and this mm.. marriage" Lucas walked towards the bar counter. He poured himself a glass of whiskey. "This marriage?" Lucas scoffed as he brought the glass of whiskey to his mouth. "What marriage, Isabelle? We both know this marriage has been over for a while now." He lowered his tone almost as if he was trying not to embarrass her, "look at yourself Isabelle, you are old now. You look more like my servant than my wife." Isabelle tried to speak, but she couldn't. All she could do was cry out loud. Her whole life had just shattered right in front of her. She knew her marriage wasn't the same anymore, but she hopped they would fix things. She thought all they needed was a little time, but she was wrong. Her whole life was built around Lucas, around being his wife, but that was gone now. Her life had just crumbled right before her.BELLA The room felt suffocating, the weight of unspoken questions pressing against my chest. I stepped out into the garden, the cool evening air offering little relief from the storm inside me. The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the garden in a warm glow, but my thoughts were far from calm. From a distance, Jasper’s laughter rippled through the air, light and carefree. He crouched beside a patch of marigolds, meticulously arranging his toy trucks in neat rows. His small hands moved with focus, his head tilted in concentration—a gesture so achingly familiar, it stole my breath. I leaned against the gazebo, folding my arms as I studied him. Every feature mirrored my own: the same thick, wavy hair and almond-shaped eyes that seemed to hold the world within them. It was like looking into a reflection of my childhood. My chest tightened. Could it really be true? Could he be my son? I swallowed the thought before it could take root. No assumptions, not yet. Pulling my phon
DAVIDBella’s hand slipped into mine, her fingers warm, steady, like a silent anchor in the storm of my thoughts. I could feel her watching me, the way her breath held just a little tighter, as if she were waiting for me to reveal something important, something heavy. Her gaze was soft, patient, but her eyes those eyes were filled with questions. I had to tell her now, before the silence swallowed us whole.“I need to tell you something,” I began, my voice rough, like I hadn’t used it in years. I pulled in a shaky breath, trying to steady my nerves. “You know I’m Jasper’s biological father, right?”She didn’t flinch, didn’t pull her hand away. Instead, she just looked at me, her brow furrowed slightly as if processing my words. Her lips parted, and I could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. “Yes, I know,” she said quietly, her voice betraying none of the surprise I felt. “Nobody knows except... well, except you. You’ve kept that part of your life a secret.”I swallowed, nodding,
DAVID “Who could that be?” I muttered, lowering Bella gently onto the bed. She curled into the sheets, her hair spilling over the pillow, her flushed face glowing with post-kiss warmth. My gut tightened, unease bubbling as I strode to the door.When I swung it open, Mrs. Williams stood there, her perfectly sculpted smile greeting me like a storm waiting to erupt. Her gaze flicked downward for a split second, and a mischievous glint lit her eyes. I didn’t have to look down to know what she’d seen.“Hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said, her voice layered with mock innocence.Heat crept up my neck as I grabbed Bella’s pillow and shifted it in front of me. Her laugh was light but deliberate, like a dagger teasing its target.“Come in,” I said, stepping aside and silently cursing the timing.Bella appeared from the bed, her eyes widening in surprise as she rushed forward.“Mom!” she said, her tone a mix of joy and confusion.Mrs. Williams enveloped her in an embrace, smoothing do
DAVIDThe shrill wail of police sirens cut through the dawn, jolting me from my restless sleep. Groaning, I pushed the heavy duvet aside and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. A knock sounded at the door just as I raked a hand through my disheveled hair.“Come in,” I said, voice hoarse from sleep.The door creaked open, revealing one of the maids. She stood in the doorway, her hands clasped nervously in front of her.“Sir, the police are here. And, um… there are reporters outside too,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.Reporters? My brows furrowed as I processed her words. I remembered calling the police last night to pick up Western and Peter, but reporters weren’t part of the plan. Unless…“Alright, I’ll be down in a minute,” I told her. She bowed and slipped out quietly.Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I dialed the chief of police. He picked up on the first ring.“We’re at the gate,” he said briskly, his voice almost drowned out by the background chatter.“How d
DAVID“You see,” Peter said, his grin widening, his voice dripping with venom, “sometimes the monsters aren’t hiding under your bed. They’re sitting at the dinner table.”Elowen’s face froze, her breath catching in her throat. She looked at Peter, then at her father, who had shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Western’s usual air of defiance was nowhere to be seen; his gaze was fixed on the cold cement floor, his shoulders slumped like a man carrying the weight of his sins.Peter’s voice turned colder, sharper. “Where do I even begin? Should I start from before you were born, Elowen? Do you even know who your father really is? He kidnapped your biological mother. She never left his side never had the chance to because he made sure of it until the day she died.”Elowen stepped back as if Peter’s words were blows, her trembling hand pressed against her mouth. “What are you talking about?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.Peter smirked, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as he g
DAVIDThe sound of gravel crunching beneath the car tires faded as I stepped out into the cool night air. My guards hauled Western out of the vehicle, his body slumped but still exuding defiance. Shadows danced across his bruised face under the pale glow of the outdoor lights. Without a word, they dragged him toward the basement door, the sharp clink of their boots echoing against the stone walls.I turned to the maids waiting by the entrance. “Take Mrs. Williams to a guest room,” I instructed, my voice calm but firm.Before they could move, her soft voice interrupted. “Can I see Sofia before I sleep?”Her words tugged at something deep within me. Sofia. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to hearing Bella called that, even if it was her given name. I managed a smile, masking my unease.“I’ll bring her to your room,” I promised gently.She gave a small nod, her face weary yet hopeful, and followed the maids inside.Beside me, Janet shifted her weight impatiently. Her silence didn’t fool m
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