Bella had spent her whole life feeling invisible. No matter how much she longed for love, it always slipped through her fingers. How could it not, when her twin sister, Ella, was the perfect one? The one everyone adored? The one who could do no wrong? And Bella? She was just there. A painful reminder of the sister they lost ,Isabella. The sister whose death was somehow Bella’s fault. The stares, whispers, anxiety, sleepless nights, sleepwalking that blurred the line between dreams and reality, but she had learned to live with it . But then, Ella’s wedding changed everything. Ella was supposed to marry ,scout Cromwell. Cold. Ruthless. A man people feared more than they admired. But the night before the wedding, she disappeared. No warning. No goodbye. Just gone. And Bella? They didn’t ask her. They made her take Ella’s place. From the moment she met Scout’s gaze , she knew she was trapped. Those dark, unreadable eyes held a silent promise,I own you now. No escape. Hatred turned into something else. Something dangerous. It crept in slowly, in stolen glances and quiet moments. In the way his touch, once ice-cold, started to linger. In the way he looked at her like she was finally worth seeing. For the first time in her life, Bella felt wanted. And just when she dared to believe it was real. Ella came back. Now, they all expect her to step aside. To diappear like she always does . But how can she, when ,for the first time ,someone is finally seeing her? When, for the first time, she’s the one being chosen? Is she really supposed to disappear again? Or will she finally fight for the love she never thought she’d have?
View MoreEpisode 1
Bella’s POV The morning sunlight peeked through my curtains, forcing me awake. I groaned, turning to the other side, wishing I could sink back into my dreams where things made sense, where I wasn’t just existing. But reality had other plans. I stretched, yawning loudly as i listened to the muffled sounds coming from downstairs. Laughter. Excitement. Voices overlapping. I didn’t need to guess why the house had been like this . Ella’s wedding was in two days. Ella, my twin sister. The perfect daughter. The one everyone adored. I sighed, swinging my legs off the bed. It wasn’t jealousy, at least not anymore. I had long accepted my place in this family. I was the extra, the unwanted, the one people barely noticed until something went wrong. My stomach rumbled, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since yesterday. I stepped out of my room and headed downstairs, hoping to grab something quick before anyone could notice me. As I reached the kitchen, I heard my mother’s excited voice from the living room. “Oh, this dress is absolutely stunning!” I rolled my eyes. Of course, she sounded thrilled. She always did when it came to Ella. I couldn’t remember the last time she had spoken about me like that. Shaking off the thought, I opened the fridge, looking for something to eat. Just as I reached for a carton of juice and bread , the door slammed shut with a loud thud. I froze. Then, slowly, I turned. Aunt Lucy. Her arms were crossed, her sharp eyes scanning me with that familiar look of disapproval. She had never liked me, and the feeling was mutual. As a child, I used to cry whenever she scolded me. Now? I didn’t have the energy to care. “You’re not taking anything from the fridge,” she said. I blinked at her, confused for a moment, then let out a short laugh. “And why not?” “Because I said so.” I sighed, shutting my eyes briefly before opening them again. “Aunt Lucy, can you please move?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady. She didn’t budge. “When did you become so disrespectful?” she snapped. “This is exactly why no one likes you.” I clenched my jaw, my fingers curling into fists. I didn't need anyone to like me, I thought. People's opinions and their approval,none of it mattered anymore. I had survived without their validation long ago, I only know and love myself, and anything else doesn't matter. I calmed myself as Aunt Lucy's words sank in. “Look, I’m hungry. I just want to eat,” I said, keeping my voice low but firm. “I said no,” she repeated, as if she had any real authority here. A bitter chuckle escaped me. “Last time I checked, this isn’t your house. You don’t get to tell me what to do.” The room went silent. By now, people in the living room had noticed the argument. I could feel their stares, their curiosity. Aunt Lucy’s lips pressed into a thin line. “Did you just talk back to me?” I met her gaze, unflinching. “Did you want me to repeat myself?” A shocked gasp came from somewhere behind her. I knew how this looked, I was supposed to be the quiet, obedient one, the girl who never spoke up. But I was tired. Tired of being treated like nothing. Before Aunt Lucy could reply, my mother stormed into the kitchen. I barely had time to react before her palm collided with my face. The sting burned instantly, but I refused to flinch. I had felt this pain before. “You ungrateful brat,” she spat. I already knew what she would say next, so I decided to save her the trouble. “And you regret having me. You hate me. You’ll never forgive me,” I recited, my voice dripping with sarcasm. My mother blinked in surprise, as if thrown off by my words. I smirked. “Isn’t that what you were going to say?” She opened her mouth, then closed it. But her eyes burned with the same hatred I had seen all my life. Before I could say anything else, a rough hand grabbed me by the throat, shoving me back against the wall. “You bastard,” my father hissed, his fingers tightening around my neck. I coughed, forcing out a chuckle. “Funny. Last time I checked, you were the one who made me.” He shoved me harder. My head slammed against the wall, and a sharp pain exploded at the back of my head. Warmth trickled down my neck. I reached back, touching it. Blood. I barely reacted. Pain was nothing new. “Are you okay?” Ella’s voice was soft, filled with concern as she knelt beside me. I swatted her hand away. “Do I look okay to you?” I snapped. She flinched but didn’t argue. she will always act timid when everyone is around but when we are alone ,her real character comes out. The room was dead silent now. No one spoke. No one moved. I pushed myself up, straightened my clothes, and walked out of the house. No one stopped me. They never did. Outside, the evening air was cool, the sky painted in soft shades of orange and pink. I inhaled deeply, letting the fresh air calm my nerves. I love how calm and peaceful the environment is. I was enjoying every bit of it when my phone rang. I pulled it out, seeing “Mom” flash on the screen. I debated ignoring it but answered anyway. “Ella hasn’t come home since she went looking for you,” my mother’s voice came through, sharp and accusing. “If anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive you.” Then the line went dead. I scoffed, shaking my head. Of course. Ella wasn’t a child. She would come back when she was ready. But why had she gone looking for me in the first place? she had never done that before . Rolling my eyes, I turned and started walking back home. But as I moved through the empty streets, an uneasy feeling settled in my stomach. Something didn’t feel right.Episode 38Scout’s povI left the house earlier than usual that morning. Had a meeting lined up with an overseas client, one of those sensitive deals that couldn’t wait. Before I stepped out, Bella stood by the door with that look on her face, half worried and half trying to fake confidence.“I know everyone will continue their gossips today,” she had whispered, fiddling with the edge of her blouse. “That intern saw us, and they’ll put the pieces together.”I kissed her forehead. “Let them talk. You didn’t do anything wrong. And if anyone dares to say otherwise… they’ll answer to me.”She didn’t reply, just nodded like she was trying to believe it. But I saw the tension in her shoulders. The way she kept glancing at her phone after I left.Still, I thought she'd be fine. Bella wasn’t one to let people step on her. I mean, I’ve seen her glare down at me when she’s angry, and I’m not an easy man to intimidate.But I was wrong.After the client meeting, I didn’t go back home, so i went
Episode 37Bella's POVI knew the day was going to be awkward the moment I walked into the office.The stares.The whispers.The fake smiles that vanished the moment I passed by.I tried to act normal, tried to pretend I didn’t notice how heads turned, and necks craned. But it was hard,really hard. My heels suddenly felt too loud.I sat down at my desk, praying that Sarah wouldn’t…….. but here she was. “Bella!” she half-whispered and half-shouted, sliding into the seat beside me like she was starring in a spy movie.Oh God, I muttered.“You have no idea what the whole office is saying this morning,” she started, eyes already glinting with mischief.I sighed and dropped my bag. “Please, Sarah. Not this morning.”But she was already leaning closer.“One intern said he saw you and the boss… like… in a not so friendly position yesterday. I mean… he couldn’t have, right?” She leaned back with a dramatic gasp. “It’s not possible! It’s Scout Cromwell we’re talking about. Untouchable, col
Episode 36Bella’s POVLately, everything felt good. I don’t mean just okay or manageable, I mean, really good. For the first time in forever, life felt calm and peaceful.Scout was showing me love in ways I never thought I deserved. Morning kisses, gentle forehead pecks, random “I miss you” texts in the middle of the day, back rubs when I complained about work, even the way he looked at me was different. Like I was his favorite person in the whole world.My parents hadn’t bothered me since then. I’d completely cut them off from my life. They forced me into marrying Scout, thinking it would ruin me, but it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.Even Scout’s mother hadn’t popped up recently. Maybe she finally got tired of trying to break us apart. Or maybe she realized I wasn’t going anywhere. Either way, I wasn’t complaining. Peace was rare in my world, and I was soaking in every bit of it now.I was at work, minding my business, going through some files, and reply
Episode 35Bella’s POVI got home before Scout, and the house was so quiet, I didn’t even bother changing. I just went straight into the kitchen and started cooking. I made jollof rice and fried some chicken. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it smelled good.After that, I finally went upstairs to freshen up. I kept thinking Scout would walk in while I was bathing or that I’d come out and find him sitting on the bed like he usually does when his back from work. But nope. Nothing.I didn’t want to eat without him, so I just sat on the couch, scrolling through my phone. Before I knew it, my eyes got heavy, and I fell asleep.A soft kiss on my forehead woke me up.I opened my eyes slowly and saw him leaning over me, his face soft and tired. “Scout?” I mumbled.“Yes, babe,” he replied.I sat up and blinked at him, still half-asleep. Then, without thinking, I leaned in and sniffed him. I know, it looked weird, but I had to be sure. I’d been thinking about what Sarah said earlier at lunch. Abou
Episode 34Bella’s POVScout and I were getting ready for work. I had barely zipped up my dress when I heard him say, “You’re coming with me in my car.”I froze.“Scout,” I called out, grabbing my bag, walking towards him. “You know if we arrive at work together, people will start talking. Gossip spreads like wildfire in that office.”He raised a brow. “So?”“So, we can’t go together, not yet. You have to understand,” I said gently, hoping he wouldn’t take it the wrong way.His face softened. “You want to keep this a secret?”“Yes. At least for now.”He stared at me for a bit, then nodded. “Anything you want, baby.”And just like that, he leaned in, gave me a soft kiss that left my stomach doing flips, and left for work. A few minutes later, a new driver showed up to take me. He had called me earlier, probably sorting out a backup because I guess my formal driver had quit.The drive to work was quiet, and I spent most of it trying to calm my thoughts. Being with Scout was amazing, bu
Episode 33Bella’s POVI woke up feeling different.The air around me was warm and heavy. My body ached in places I didn’t even know could ache. And then, I remembered last night.Heat rushed to my cheeks immediately.I blinked slowly, adjusting to the soft morning light peeking through the curtains. My head was resting on something firm.Scout.His arms were wrapped tightly around me like he was afraid I’d disappear if he let go. His chest was bare against my back and his breathing was deep and even, his body radiating a heat that made me want to melt all over again.I bit my lip, my heart thudding painfully against my ribs.What have I done? I tried to move carefully, inching away from his grip without waking him. I was too embarrassed to face him.But the moment I lifted the blanket, his arm tightened around my waist."Where do you think you’re going?" His voice was deep and rough from sleep, and way too sexy for this early in the morning.I froze. "Uh… bathroom?"He chuckled, his
Episode 32Scout’s POVI watched her standing there as she wrapped her arms around herself like she was trying to hold her heart together or something.There was something different in her eyes, though... something soft like she was finally letting herself melt a little.I couldn’t resist anymore.I moved closer in a slow and careful way, giving her every chance to pull back if she wanted to.But this time, she didn’t moveShe stayed right there as I moved towards her.My hand found her cheek, and I cupped it gently, feeling how warm her skin was under my palm.She leaned into my touch without even thinking about it.God,My thumb brushed her cheek so lightly, and I swear my heart was about to explode in my chest.I leaned in slowly, feeling her breath mix with mine. And then finally I crashed my lips on her.At first, it was slow,And I was being careful like we were both scared that moving too fast might break whatever thing was happening between us.But then she kissed me back.
Episode 31Scout’s POVI woke up feeling like crap.I was hot and weak, like a truck ran me over. I had seen the signs yesterday, headache, and body pain,but I overlooked it. Thought it was stress, so I thought I was strong enough to brush it off like always.Clearly, I wasn’t.I tried to sit up, but my body didn’t even listen. My head was pounding, and my throat was dry. Everything felt too bright and too heavy.And in the middle of all that, there was bella.I smiled weakly, just thinking about her. For the past few weeks, she had changed. The cold walls she built around herself had started falling. Little by little, I saw it, and I felt it.New York had done something to us. It pulled her closer. It made her laugh around me, roll her eyes when I teased her, push me when I got too cocky. She wasn’t just enduring me anymore. She was starting to see me.And today?She was treating me like a freaking baby.She forced me to eat, nagged me to take my meds, and tucked me in like I was fi
Episode 30Bella’s POVI thought I was dreaming at first. The weight on me, the heat… it didn’t make sense. My eyes fluttered open, and it hit me. Scout was sick . His body was pressed into mine, his arm around my waist like he couldn’t sleep without me anymore.But it wasn’t the closeness that startled me. It was how hot he felt.It's really hot.I shifted carefully, turning to face him. His lips were slightly parted, sweat glistening across his forehead. His brows were pulled together like he was in discomfort.I touched his cheek.“God, you’re burning up…”I sat up quickly, panic bubbling in my chest. He should’ve left for work by now, but here he was, still in bed, sick and barely awake.“Scout,” I whispered, shaking his shoulder gently. “Hey, wake up.”He groaned, eyes barely opening. “Bella… it’s too early…”“No, it’s not. You’re sick, Your temperature is really high,” I said, already reaching for my phone to check the time. Almost 8:30. “You were supposed to leave for work two
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