Guess what happens next...
Bella's pov I jerked with all my strength to break free, but his grip only tightened, sending a sharp pain through my arm. I winced. “Obey, and it'll hurt less.” He hissed.“No, please.” I tried to slap him with my other hand, but it got caught in the air. He yanked both my hands above my head and shoved me backwards until my back slammed against the rough bark of a tree. Making a wave of pain spread through every inch of my body. Weakness—that's all I could feel. “Please…” I whispered, feeling my strength being drained from my body, giving up on gravity. “Please, don't hurt me.” It left my mouth, quieter than a whisper. My body gave up. My vision became blurry. Warm tears made their way on my cheeks.He held my hands with one hand, and the other made its way to my waist. Moving up to my breasts. I closed my eyes. “Please…” Not even I could hear. Disgust. That's all I could feel.“Bella.” My name was called. Before I could process anything, I heard a loud and sharp hush, the sound o
Bella's pov “You can dress the way you want—A hoodie. A dress. That won't change a thing. You will always be you… that way… I'm sorry I didn't say it early.” Those words. That was all I didn't know my heart was craving to hear. If a heart can hear. For the first time in a year I was feeling… free. Safe, beyond my large hoodies and shapeless pants. If they can't see you, they can't judge you. If they don't know you, they can't hurt you—No one can hurt you if you're invisible. But this… I like it—being… seen. This way. That look he gave me at the stairs. I want it. What was it? What was that in his eyes? The ride was silent. A great piece of silence. This time we took less than half an hour to get there. Green everywhere. A grass that was so perfect I thought was fake. Trees. All kinds. All sizes. Flowers. More than what I know. Colours dancing in a perfect rhythm, creating a perfect frame. “Magical.” It left my mouth. The only word enough to describe the place. “Sure it is.
Edward's pov I came back to my room. It wasn't in my wildest dreams that I would find Bella there. There, but elsewhere—totally lost in her own world—beautiful. Everything about her is beautiful. Especially the way her cheeks flush pink whenever I'm around. That's something I'll never get enough of. I leaned on my bed, closed my eyes, but sleep was something beyond my capacity. I reached for my phone. The one I've been staring at the whole night. The screen lit up, went straight to my gallery, displaying the pictures I took in the amusement park—the picture I took of her in that rollercoaster. That smile. That joy. That light in her eyes. I… I want it. Again and again. I want that moment to repeat, nonstop. That feeling. That warmth—family. “What is this?” I murmured to myself. “This… this is not right.” I shook away the thought. Shoved the phone aside. Closed my eyes and pretended that sleep was an option. *Later* “Where is Bella?” Jared asked, “Look at this… She can't cook
Bella's pov I opened my eyes. Displaying the same blurry room I've been sleeping in for almost a week. My hand reached for my glasses and found them where I always place them. I slipped them on my face and the world cleared. My body felt like a stone. Rigid. Tired. I struggled to sit up, blinking multiple times, and waiting patiently for my mind to process the colours around me. I met my feet bare, jeans, white hoodie… That's when realization hit me hard like a punch in the stomach. “He did it again,” I whispered, “he carried me here.” Heat took over my cheeks as memories flashed on my mind. “Let's go, sweetheart.” His words. His voice. That smile. That tone. It was all printed in my mind. His touch. The way he grabbed my hand. The way his eyes never left me. “Thank you… for everything.” His voice echoed in my mind again. What is he doing to me? Why? Why is he doing this? I pushed myself off the bed and went for a bath. The warm water helped, but it wasn't enough to wash
Edward's pov We weren't even in the first game when Sarah jolted with excitement. “Look at that!” She cried, pointing towards a store not too far from us, bouncing like a ping-pong ball. My eyes followed her finger until they leaned on the innumerous sparkly and glittery accessories they were selling. I glanced back at her—her eyes were shining, unable to contain her excitement. And then… Bella. Frozen at her spot, staring at the store like it was the reason for her existence, “Really?” I arched a brow. Her eyes went to me, almost like pleading. One moment she is a woman demanding respect and condemning misjudgment. The next, she is a five year old girl longing for glitter. “We will be right back.” Bella said with the sweetest smile she could give, whisking Sarah away with her. I stood there, just watching. My words from earlier echoed in my mind. Weird—but somehow… right. The way Bella's cheeks flushed pink when I called sweetheart. That setup. We were just like a fam… My
Christine's pov “What do you mean you couldn’t?” I snapped. My voice echoed against the high walls of the penthouse, slicing through the silence like a blade. It was a simple chore. Get rid of Bella. That was it. What’s so difficult about dealing with a walking disaster in borrowed skin? “She went out…” Carl mumbled, eyes cast downward like a dog waiting for a beating. “And why didn't you follow her, genius?” “She went out… with Edward.” What? With my Edward? The words slammed into my chest like a metal door. My blood started to boil just by listening to that plague’s name again. For a moment I stood there, blinking, trying to control the tremor in my hands. Bella. Bella. That wretched, clingy name again and again. I began pacing the room, my heels thudding against the marble floor. The fury was simmering now, growing hotter with every step. “This is bad,” I muttered. “That Bella person… she’s not just a threat. She’s a time bomb.” I had plotted a perfect plan. A flawless, sur
Bella's pov I opened my eyes—finally a good night of sleep. No idea if it was out of exhaustion or just because of the fact that after such chaotic days I could finally breathe like a normal person. My eyes roamed around. I was in that same blurry and shapeless room, but it no longer felt foreign, out of place. I reached out blindly, fumbling for my glasses on the nightstand. Once I slipped them on, the world cleared. And the first thing I saw? The painting by the window. The Feeling of Home. That’s what I named it. We finished it yesterday. A mix of soft colors and open shapes, the kind of thing that wraps you in warmth—like a hug, or fingers gently brushing against yours. It was everything I wanted this house to feel like. Everything I wanted to give to everyone that will have a place in that sweet project. I sat up and sighed, stretching the heaviness out of my limbs. “Today is going to be different,” I whispered like a prayer. That's when my phone buzzed. The screen lit up w
Unknown's pov “Talk, Cleo.” I snapped, glaring at that useless maid. It has been almost a week and she still hasn't provided a well detailed report of what's going on in that mansion. “Edward keeps working everyday, all day to recover from…” she lowered her gaze. “The incident five years ago.” I took a slow step towards her. The sharp click of my heels echoed through the room, each tap louder than the last. Her body trembled under my gaze. I know perfectly what that look is. That could only mean one thing—fear. “You are hiding things from me.” I stopped just inches from her. “What else, Cleo? You gotta have more than that.” She dug deep into her thoughts, a big frown appearing on her face. “There is a girl… Bella.” The name came out of her mouth like venom. “She is always doing too much, doing chores that are not meant to her… cooks every day. Everyone likes her. She is… dangerous. We have to get rid of her.” A slow, wished smile crept through my lips. “Oh, really? And why is t
Edward's pov Bella was still lost in her own world when my phone buzzed. I pulled it out, glanced at the screen. I was Bryan. He never calls to give good hews. I let out a sigh and answered, “Talk, Bryan.” “Sir. The investor is already on my neck. I have no idea what to do now. They… they don't want to give us time. They want it for two days. That's all I could get. I know you could have got more b… but you didn't show up today.” he paused, “Sir? Sir Wills…” I disconnected the call. My jaw tightened slightly. My hand went to the back of my head, fingers raking through my hair, but nothing could smooth out the frustration building inside me. “Sir…” Bella's voice came gently. I looked at her—opened his mouth, but nothing came out. “Tell me what happened.” She whispered. I sighed. How do I tell her? How do I tell her that I'm a failure? Even after five years, I didn't recover. “I… my company is almost bankrupt.” The words left my mouth at least. “I have no idea what to do.” She f