VINCENT“What the fuck did I just hear?” Bianchi’s voice cracked through the room like a whip. “Why are you doing this? I thought we talked about it. We agreed, you were going to keep your distance. And now what? You’re taking her to school?”His eyes blazed with anger, his hands clenched at his sides like he was fighting the urge to punch something.“Why are you so worked up about it?” I shot back, trying to stay calm, though my jaw tightened. “It’s normal for us to get close again, Bianchi. She’s carrying my child.”He stared at me like I’d grown another head. “We don’t even know if it’s yours!” he snapped. “And need I remind you that she nearly got you killed? She is not good for you. You need to stay away from her.”I let out a long sigh, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “I know you don’t like her, man. But she’s changed. Anyone who’s been held captive, manipulated, and lied to would react the same way she did. She was scared and misled. But she knows better now. She
VINCENTFor the first time in a long time, my mind was at peace. I walked out of Bella’s room with a calm I hadn’t known I’d missed, ready to end the night on that rare, peaceful note.But the universe had other plans. Just as I reached for the doorknob to my room, a voice cut through the quiet like a whip.“There you are,” Fabiola said.She stepped out from the shadows of the hallway like she’d been waiting. Her arms crossed tightly over her chest, irritation flashing hot in her eyes.“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you all day! You didn’t pick up once. What happened? Where were you?” Her tone was sharp and demanding, like I owed her an explanation.I stared at her blankly, unwilling to feed the fire. “I’m tired, Fabiola. I just want to sleep. If you’ll excuse me…”I tried to walk past her, but she moved faster, stepping directly in my path and blocking the doorway with her body. Her perfume was too strong, her presence suffocating.“What do you mean you just want to sleep? I
BELLAVincent held out his hand, and I placed mine in his. His grip was warm, steady, grounding in a way I didn’t expect. He helped me down from the car with the kind of care that made my chest ache.I managed a soft smile as he handed the keys to the valet, and then we walked into the restaurant. Luxurious didn’t begin to describe it. Crystal chandeliers, soft golden lighting, and the kind of elegance that made you lower your voice instinctively. I felt like I didn’t belong, like I was walking through someone else’s dream.But Vincent, he didn’t seem to notice, or maybe he didn’t care. He pulled out a chair for me in a quiet, secluded corner. Away from the noise, the stares, the judgment.“Thank you,” I said, surprised at how breathless I sounded.He gave a small nod, lips tugging into the barest hint of a smile as he sat across from me. The waiter approached moments later and took our orders, speaking to Vincent like he was someone important. Someone respected.I waited until the wa
BELLA “It’s not what you think. I would never abandon you for some petty revenge. I had an emergency at work, and I didn’t think it was going to take long. I’m sorry I didn’t send someone earlier. I thought I’d be able to finish everything quickly and come get you myself. I also got stuck in traffic on my way here. I’m sorry,” Vincent pleaded as he walked closer and gently cupped my cheeks. A shiver ran down my spine at his touch, but I refused to acknowledge it. “You’re not sorry. And get your filthy hands off me! Don’t touch me with your dirty hands,” I snapped, smacking his hands away from my face. “Don’t touch me with the same dirty hands you used to touch another woman,” I spat, anger flaring in my chest. “What do you mean?” Vincent asked, confusion lacing his voice. “Oh, please. Don’t pretend. I know what you’ve been doing, sleeping with Fabiola, trying to hurt me. I know everything,” I said bitterly. “I know I fucked up. I was wrong, and I’m sorry, but you can’t blame me
BELLAI stepped out of the house, expecting the usual quiet ride to school. But there he was, Vincent leaning casually against the car door like he hadn’t turned my life upside down just days ago.I stopped short, refusing to meet his gaze. I stood there, arms folded, silently willing him to move. I wasn’t going to ask. If he wanted to play games this early in the morning, he was on his own.“I’ll be picking you up after school,” he said out of nowhere.My brows knit together. “What?”“Don’t even think about coming home on your own,” he added, his voice low and firm. “I’ll be there. Wait for me.”“I’m fine with the driver,” I said flatly, still not looking at him.“Well, the driver won’t be coming today,” he replied with a shrug. “And don’t get any bright ideas about calling a cab either.”My patience thinned. “Why are you doing this? You’ve made it very clear you can’t stand being around me, so why force it? Just send the damn driver and let’s avoid unnecessary drama. I don’t want to
BELLAI was drenched in sweat, breath ragged from the morning run with Amira. She’d peeled off to her room the second we stepped into the mansion, leaving me to climb the stairs alone, body aching, mind blank.But as I reached for my door, the one across the hall swung open. I looked up and froze.Fabiola stepped out, draped in barely-there silk, her hair tangled like she’d wrestled sleep all night or someone else.She spent the night in his room.My heart dropped. My hand fell from the doorknob.She noticed me instantly. Her lips curved into a smirk as she slinked toward me, every step deliberate, cruel.“What a night,” she purred with a fake yawn, her voice thick with mockery. “I feel so tired.”I clenched my fists. My jaw, too.“Oh, Bella, I didn’t even see you there,” she added sweetly, standing way too close, her scent heavy in the air. She stretched, arms above her head, letting out a sigh like she was reliving it all.“I feel like I took a ride on a horse… if you get what I mea
VINCENTI stumbled through the house, barely able to walk straight. Each step up the stairs felt like a mountain climb. The whole place was drowned in darkness, and my eyes stung with exhaustion as I dragged my body to my room.I pushed the door open, squinting as soft light from the table lamp met my face. I froze. I don’t remember turning it on. So why the hell was it glowing now?That’s when I saw her, the silhouette sitting on my bed, calm and unmoving.I let out a breath, more annoyed than surprised.“Bella.”My voice cracked through the silence. “What are you doing here? I thought I told you to stay out. Weren’t you the one who asked me to leave your room earlier? So what the fuck are you doing in my bed?”She didn’t respond. Just stood up slowly, stepping down from the bed and walking toward me.I took a shaky breath and ran a hand over my face. “What are you doing here?” I repeated, louder this time. “God, you’re making this so much harder than it needs to be. I’m already losi
BELLAI was pissed.Vincent stood there like a statue, letting her spin her ridiculous story while I stood accused. He didn’t interrupt. He didn’t defend me. He just watched, jaw clenched, eyes burning with some emotion I couldn’t read, and I didn’t want to.She sat there on the couch, voice all sweet and broken, like she wasn’t the same woman who just threatened to kill me and my unborn child. She looked like a wounded little puppy. And Vincent, like a fool, was falling for it.I hated her.“Bella, why…” he started, but I shot to my feet, not giving him the satisfaction of finishing whatever garbage he had to say.I stormed out of the living room, rage pulsing in my veins. I knew what he was going to say, and I refused to sit there and be scolded like a child while the real manipulator sat pretty, playing her twisted game.“Bella! Get back here!” Vincent’s voice boomed behind me.I didn’t stop. I moved faster, my feet pounding against the stairs, my heartbeat matching the thunder in
BELLA“You can go in now, Mr. Castello,” the nurse said with a professional smile.Vincent and I stood, silent but in sync, and followed her down the quiet hallway into the doctor’s office. My heart beat a little faster with each step.“Good morning, Mr. and Mrs. Castello,” the doctor greeted, looking up from his desk with a warm expression.“Good morning,” we both replied, our voices overlapping slightly.“Please, have a seat while I briefly check your file,” he said with a small nod, already flipping through the pages.We sat side by side, the silence between us heavy but not uncomfortable. He skimmed through the notes, humming lightly.“From what I’m seeing here, everything looks great. You’re eating well, sleeping enough… that’s exactly what I like to see,” he said, glancing up at me with a nod of approval.I smiled politely, but in my head I laughed. Why wouldn’t I be fine? Amira had practically made it her full-time job to hover over me like a mother hen. Miss one meal, and she