Episode 20Bellaโs POVTo be honest, I was relieved Scout didnโt bother me at all throughout the day. I knew how dramatic he could be when he wanted to. I was almost certain heโd call me into his office and demand an explanation for talking to a guy, but... nothing. Just silence.Thank God.By closing time, Laura told me I could leave first. I didnโt argue. I packed my things quickly and left, grateful for the escape.The moment I got home, hunger hit me like a truck. I could barely think straight. I dropped my bag, pulled off my clothes, and headed straight for the bathroom. I reeked of sweat and stress and everything in between.After a quick shower, I settled for something comfy and headed to the kitchen. I wasnโt in the mood for anything fancy, so I made some fast toast and eggs and a cup of tea. I ate in silence, letting the quietness of the house wash over me.It was almost 9 PM. when I glanced at the clock. Scout still wasnโt back. I frowned. That was unusual. He rarely stayed
Episode 21Scoutโs POVI walked into my office after a long, draining day, with Laura trailing behind me.I slumped into my chair."You said you had something to tell me?" I asked.โOh wait,โ I paused as my phone rang again for the fifth time that afternoon. โLet me get this first.โโHello, whoโs this?โโItโs Mr. James.โThe name made my eyes flash.Why was he calling after everything? After he terminated the contract I had invested so much into. That single action had wrecked my mood yesterday.โIโve been trying to reach you,โ he said, โI made a mistake about the contract. Someone gave me the wrong information.โโMy personal assistant didnโt inform me of your call,โ I said coldly.โShe wouldnโt. She insulted me and I wouldnโt even have bothered calling again if there wasnโt something in it for me,โ he said bluntly.โIโm really sorry about that. It wonโt happen again,โ I said, trying to salvage the situation.โWeโll talk more tomorrow.โAs soon as the call ended, I sighed. My frustra
Episode 22 Bellaโs POVI still couldn't believe the drama that happened in the car. Laura was becoming more shameless by the day, and it was obvious she no longer cared about keeping her feelings for Scout a secret. The way she was acting lately, you'd think she was the one married to him. And to think, I actually respected her. That respect went out the window the moment she started throwing shade and subtly competing for Scoutโs attention.As we drove into the compound, I was already mentally exhausted. All I wanted was a warm bath and to crawl into bed. But when we stepped out of the car and walked into the living room, my heart nearly stopped.Seated there like royal judges on their thrones were Luciana Scoutโs mother and Kelly, his so-called cousin. Their eyes landed on me immediately, the disapproval in them was clear."Great," I muttered under my breath. "Just what I needed to make today even worse."Scout's brows furrowed slightly. "Mom? Kelly? What are you both doing here?"
Episode 23Bella's pov It felt like morning came too fast. One minute, I was closing my eyes. The next, Scout was already up, standing by the mirror, buttoning his shirt like the world couldnโt wait for him.I sat up groggily, rubbing my eyes. โI thought Scout would have left for work, but here he is, still dressing.He glanced at me briefly through the mirror. โMake sure you pack your bag. Weโll be leaving from the office.โHe adjusted his tie and headed out of the room, tossing over his shoulder, โIโll be waiting downstairs.โโWait, what about the driver?โ I called after him, pushing the duvet off my legs. The idea of walking into the office with Scout made my stomach churn. The kind of gossip that would follow us wasnโt something I was ready for.โHeโs still on leave,โ Scout answered casually.โThen Iโll just drive myself,โ I said.He paused, halfway out the door, and turned to me with a slight frown. โI canโt trust you with my car.โ โThen maybe Iโll just take the bus since you
Episode 24Scoutโs POVTiana insisted we stop by a restaurant just a block from where I had parked. I didnโt want to go, not even a little. But I also didnโt want to create a scene in public. The last thing I needed was her causing drama that would somehow get back to Bella. So, against my better judgment, I followed her in.The place was cozy and half empty, yet I still felt like the walls were closing in. My eyes kept darting to the door. I couldnโt even sit properly, I was already itching to leave.โScout,โ she began hesitantly, stirring the straw in her drink without taking a sip. โI donโt know if this is right butโฆโI didnโt let her finish.I already knew what she was about to say. It was written all over her face, in the way she leaned forward, in how her eyes tried to read mine. Honestly, I was already losing patience.โIโd appreciate it if you respected my wife,โ I said flatly. โWhat you did earlier was out of line. I shouldโve turned you down right away, but I didnโt want to
Episode 25Bella's POV As I slowly opened my eyes, I realized it was morning. Scout was nowhere to be found. I never knew he had this side to him. Perhaps he always did, but I just hadnโt noticed before. I felt grateful to him for what happened yesterday, and I had opened up to him in a way I hadnโt expected. I was deep in my feelings, reflecting on how I had ended up in this situation. I almost forgot who I was. I stood up and looked around for Scout, but he was still missing. Where could he have gone? We had a meeting with the client today. I checked my phone to see if he had texted me, but there was nothing. Thatโs when I noticed the time.my heart skipped a beat as I saw the time.1:00 PM.โWhat the hell?โ I muttered to myself, sitting up so quickly that the sheets twisted around my legs. My eyes flicked back and forth between my phone and the clock on the wall. Outside, the sky was overcast, the weak afternoon sun barely breaking through the clouds.How had I slept this long
Episode 26Bella's POVThe party was already in full swing when we arrived. Lights glowed softly against the walls, music played gently in the background, and people stood in clusters, sipping on wine and sharing laughs. It was elegant and overwhelming, I suddenly felt like I didnโt belong.Scout, on the other hand, blended right in. He looked like he owned the place, like the tailored brown suit he wore was made just for this kind of atmosphere. He had that natural confidence, the one I sometimes envied. He walked ahead of me and greeted a man and a woman with a firm handshake and a nod.I followed his lead, standing just slightly behind him, unsure whether to speak first or wait to be spoken to.โScout! Always good to see you,โ the man said warmly. Scout and the man walked away discussing business.Then, the woman turned to me with a bright smile. โHi, Iโm Sharon.โโIโm Bella,โ I said softly, returning her smile, trying not to look awkward.โYou look so beautiful,โ she said, her
Episode 27Scoutโs POVBella was drunk. Again.But this time it felt different. It wasnโt just the alcohol talking. The way she looked at meโฆ the way she interrupted when I was talking to Riri, something was off.Was sheโฆ jealous? Had she Started falling for me.I wasnโt even trying to make her mad. Riri was just an old friend from high school. Sheโs married now for Godโs sake. I didnโt even think Bella had met her before. I just wanted to say hi and catch up a bit. But before I knew it, Bella had become drunk, talking loud, and then out of nowhere she kissed me.Bella kissed meโฆโฆI froze.It was so sudden that I barely had time to process what was happening. Her lips crashed into mine with a desperation that stunned me. Soft, warm and familiar, even though it wasn't the first kiss. And God, I would be lying if I said I didnโt feel anything, I did. Every nerve in my body responded like a live wire. But still, I knew she wasnโt in her right state of mind.She was drunk ,Way too drunk
Episode 33Bellaโs POVI woke up feeling different.The air around me was warm and heavy. My body ached in places I didnโt 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 Iโd 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 youโre going?" His voice was deep and rough from sleep, and way too sexy for this early in the morning.I froze. "Uhโฆ bathroom?"He chuckled, his
Episode 32Scoutโs 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 couldnโt 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 didnโt 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 31Scoutโs 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 wasnโt.I tried to sit up, but my body didnโt 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 wasnโt 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 30Bellaโs POVI thought I was dreaming at first. The weight on me, the heatโฆ it didnโt 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 couldnโt sleep without me anymore.But it wasnโt 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.โGod, youโre burning upโฆโI sat up quickly, panic bubbling in my chest. He shouldโve left for work by now, but here he was, still in bed, sick and barely awake.โScout,โ I whispered, shaking his shoulder gently. โHey, wake up.โHe groaned, eyes barely opening. โBellaโฆ itโs too earlyโฆโโNo, itโs not. Youโre sick, Your temperature is really high,โ I said, already reaching for my phone to check the time. Almost 8:30. โYou were supposed to leave for work two
Episode 29Bellaโs POVWe landed back home, and it felt... weird. Not bad, just... weird.I had to admit it, though Iโd been fighting this feeling since we left New York, there was something about being around Scout that made everything feelโฆ natural. Too natural. I should hate this, I should be mad, I shouldnโt even have allowed myself to get this comfortable with him, especially after everything thatโs happened. I was forced into this marriage, after all. It wasnโt my choice. It wasnโt supposed to be my life.And yet, here I was, standing in his kitchen, watching him make us breakfast like we were some kind of couple. I hadnโt planned on feeling like this. Hell, I hadnโt planned on anything that had happened since I kissed him in New York.But now? Now I found myself looking at him and realizing that maybe, just maybe, I didnโt mind being around him. The thought made my chest tight. It wasnโt supposed to happen like this. It wasnโt supposed to feel this easy.โHey, stop zoning out o
Episode 28Bellaโs POVI woke up to the sound of breathing. It was slow and steady, For a second, I didnโt move. My head felt heavy, my mouth was dry, and something soft was pressed against my cheek. My brain was foggy. Everything was too quiet, and yet something felt off.Then I noticed it, The rise and fall of a chest under my cheek. Bare skin and warmth that wasnโt a blanket. My eyes fluttered open, and I lifted my head slightly, and there he was.Scout.He was fast asleep, His face was a few inches from mine. His hair was messy,and his lips were parted, one arm wrapped around me like I was some kind of oversized pillow.Panic punched me in the chest.What the hell happened?I tried to remember last night but all I got were pieces, Loud music, Riri, A guy with slick hair who called himself Ray or Roy and then I got drunk, then when I looked towards scout something flash in my head.I kissed him!Oh my God.I was going to die. Not now, but emotionally? I was already halfway burie
Episode 27Scoutโs POVBella was drunk. Again.But this time it felt different. It wasnโt just the alcohol talking. The way she looked at meโฆ the way she interrupted when I was talking to Riri, something was off.Was sheโฆ jealous? Had she Started falling for me.I wasnโt even trying to make her mad. Riri was just an old friend from high school. Sheโs married now for Godโs sake. I didnโt even think Bella had met her before. I just wanted to say hi and catch up a bit. But before I knew it, Bella had become drunk, talking loud, and then out of nowhere she kissed me.Bella kissed meโฆโฆI froze.It was so sudden that I barely had time to process what was happening. Her lips crashed into mine with a desperation that stunned me. Soft, warm and familiar, even though it wasn't the first kiss. And God, I would be lying if I said I didnโt feel anything, I did. Every nerve in my body responded like a live wire. But still, I knew she wasnโt in her right state of mind.She was drunk ,Way too drunk
Episode 26Bella's POVThe party was already in full swing when we arrived. Lights glowed softly against the walls, music played gently in the background, and people stood in clusters, sipping on wine and sharing laughs. It was elegant and overwhelming, I suddenly felt like I didnโt belong.Scout, on the other hand, blended right in. He looked like he owned the place, like the tailored brown suit he wore was made just for this kind of atmosphere. He had that natural confidence, the one I sometimes envied. He walked ahead of me and greeted a man and a woman with a firm handshake and a nod.I followed his lead, standing just slightly behind him, unsure whether to speak first or wait to be spoken to.โScout! Always good to see you,โ the man said warmly. Scout and the man walked away discussing business.Then, the woman turned to me with a bright smile. โHi, Iโm Sharon.โโIโm Bella,โ I said softly, returning her smile, trying not to look awkward.โYou look so beautiful,โ she said, her
Episode 25Bella's POV As I slowly opened my eyes, I realized it was morning. Scout was nowhere to be found. I never knew he had this side to him. Perhaps he always did, but I just hadnโt noticed before. I felt grateful to him for what happened yesterday, and I had opened up to him in a way I hadnโt expected. I was deep in my feelings, reflecting on how I had ended up in this situation. I almost forgot who I was. I stood up and looked around for Scout, but he was still missing. Where could he have gone? We had a meeting with the client today. I checked my phone to see if he had texted me, but there was nothing. Thatโs when I noticed the time.my heart skipped a beat as I saw the time.1:00 PM.โWhat the hell?โ I muttered to myself, sitting up so quickly that the sheets twisted around my legs. My eyes flicked back and forth between my phone and the clock on the wall. Outside, the sky was overcast, the weak afternoon sun barely breaking through the clouds.How had I slept this long