chapter 5

Bella remained in the study, still standing there long after the door had closed.

She couldn’t believe what her father had just said. The words kept replaying in her mind. Her chest felt tight, like the air had been sucked out of the room, leaving something heavy and suffocating behind.

Evelyn was still there, seated on the sofa with that same calm, poisonous composure. She rose smoothly to her feet, her expression unreadable but her tone as soft and measured as ever.

“Let me give you some advice, Bella,” she said lightly. “Fighting him only makes it harder on yourself.”

Then she left, closing the door behind her with quiet finality.

Bella stayed where she was for a moment longer, disgust and exhaustion rolling through her in slow waves. She was tired, tired of the fake concern, the quiet manipulation, the way they spoke about her like she was something to be managed.

Without another thought, she turned and walked straight to her room, slamming the door hard enough for the sound to echo down the hall.

Inside, she sat on the edge of the bed, trying to steady her breathing. It didn’t help. The room felt too tight, the air too heavy.

She pushed herself back to her feet, not trying to escape, she just needed air.

Bella stepped out again and made her way downstairs. The shift was immediate. Staff noticed her, their movements growing careful, the air tightening as eyes quietly turned away. No one wanted to be caught in the middle of whatever mood her father was in.

She kept walking, the moment almost feeling normal, until she reached the exit and the guards stepped in front of her.

Not aggressive, just controlled and firm

“Miss, we’ve been instructed not to let you leave.”

Bella stopped, the words taking a second to settle. “What?”

“Your father’s orders. Sorry.”

There was no anger in their voices. No hesitation either.

She didn’t argue.

The realization settled in again, heavier this time, there wasn’t a single part of her life he wasn’t controlling.

Bella turned without another word and walked back inside, her steps quieter now, before heading upstairs and returning to her room.

After a while, one of the maids knocked softly on Bella’s door.

“Dinner is ready, miss.”

Bella didn’t answer right away. She stared at her reflection in the mirror for a second, then stood up, smoothed her dress, and walked downstairs.

The dining table was already set. Crystal glasses, silverware laid out perfectly. Evelyn was already seated, back straight, looking every bit the lady of the house.

Her father wasn’t there yet.

Bella pulled out her chair and sat down without a word.

A few minutes later, Alex Seneca walked in. No greeting. No look in her direction. He simply took his seat at the head of the table.

They started eating in silence.

The clink of forks against plates was the only sound.

After a few moments, Alex set his fork down. He wiped his fingers slowly with the napkin, then spoke without looking at either of them.

“The meeting with the commissioner and the others will be held again in a month. All arrangements will be finalized then.”

Bella didn’t react immediately. She kept picking at her food, pushing pieces around her plate.

“I already told you,” she said quietly. “I’m not agreeing to anything.”

Alex looked at her properly now, giving her a stern look. He tried not to raise his voice too much, but he was slowly losing his cool.

“Your agreement was never necessary.”

Bella’s jaw tightened. “It is necessary. Because I’ve made it clear I’m not doing it.”

Alex’s voice rose a little with anger, but he still kept some control. “You will.”

The energy in the dining room shifted. Evelyn kept eating, minding her own business, but the silence became thicker, more awkward.

Alex reached for his glass again, like the matter had already been settled in his mind.

“By the way,” he said, calmer now, “a friend of yours, Angela I think, personally told me that you went to a lounge the other night. And that you didn’t leave alone.”

Bella’s grip tightened slightly around her fork. Why would Angela tell him that?

Alex watched her, not sharply, just observant. Like he was waiting to see how she would react.

He let the silence sit.

Then he asked, “Who was it?”

Bella’s eyes stayed on the table for a moment longer. She really struggled to answer. She didn’t know what her father would say or think. Maybe he was already angry that she had a one-night stand with a random man at a lounge.

There was a long hesitation before she finally answered.

“…Lorenzo De Luca.”

The name landed clean.

For the first time since the conversation started, Alex paused.

Not dramatic. Just a slight stillness.

Evelyn’s brows lifted faintly, like the name had caught her interest.

Alex leaned back a little in his chair. “I see.”

He didn’t question how. He didn’t ask why. He didn’t even get angry or try to correct her like a normal parent would.

“That’s not an insignificant name,” he said calmly.

Bella’s interest piqued at his tone.

“If you were going to involve yourself,” he continued, almost thoughtfully, “there are worse choices you could have made.”

Evelyn let out a soft hum, like she was quietly agreeing. “At least it narrows things,” she added lightly. “It’s not entirely… random.”

Bella’s fingers curled slightly against her palm.

Evelyn glanced at Bella, her tone gentle, almost reassuring. “You do have a tendency to make things difficult for yourself,” she said softly. “But this could have been far worse.”

A small pause. Her smile returned, faint and composed. “At least there’s some… value in it.”

Bella didn’t argue. She didn’t even bother anymore. They didn’t ask what happened. They didn’t ask if she was okay. Instead, she had been traumatized, and they were already trying to take advantage of it.

They were close to finishing dinner. Alex reached for his glass again.

“Anyways, We’ll proceed as planned and you'll do as I've just said.”

He called the maids to clear the table. No one spoke after that.

After a while, Alex left the table. Evelyn followed shortly after, nothing but a smirk on her face.

Only Bella remained, staring at her half-eaten plate.

She realized there was no space in this house that wasn’t controlled. And if she continued to stay here, her so-called father and manipulative stepmother could ruin her life completely.