Episode 40Bella’s POVI drove into the estate just as night fully set in. The sky was dark, and the stars were hidden behind clouds. The air felt heavy, like something was about to happen. I held the steering wheel tightly and looked around as I slowly passed through the gate.Just like he said, Scout was already there standing tall with his phone in his hand. But his eyes looked tense. As soon as he saw my car, he put his phone away and started walking toward me.I parked, turned off the engine, and barely opened the door before he reached me.““Bells,” he said softly, and without thinking, I stepped right into his arms.His hug was warm and steady. His arms wrapped around me like he was trying to shield me from everything outside. I hadn’t even noticed how tense I was until my shoulders finally relaxed. I didn’t plan to hug him, not that fast, not without a second thought, but it felt so good that I didn’t let go.Scout’s hand moved slowly down my back. “You’re safe,” he whispered.
Episode 39Bella’s POVIt had been two days since the incident.Two whole days since Laura publicly humiliated me in front of the entire general office. Since she threw words like slut and opportunist in my face, as if I didn’t bleed red like her. As if I hadn’t spent nights worrying that walking into this building meant walking into a trap. And it had been two days since Scout stepped into that room and silenced the world with one sentence:“She’s my wife.”My chest still tightened when I remembered it.Not because I was embarrassed.No.Because, for a moment, I’d felt safe. Like I could hide behind his strength. Like the stares and whispers couldn’t touch me anymore. But feelings like that were dangerous. Especially for someone like me.So I buried them.Again.I sat at my desk in the general office now, pretending to focus on the spreadsheet glowing on my monitor. My fingers hovered over the keyboard, but my mind was somewhere else, stuck in that moment, Laura’s words echoing in my
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.