Semua Bab 90 DAYS WITH BELLA.: Bab 11 - Bab 20

ALEX’S POV.The office was quieter than usual. My staff, sharp enough to read moods, worked with hushed voices, eyes carefully down on their screens. Not that it mattered I wasn’t doing much of anything. A stack of reports sat untouched on my desk, the kind of work I normally devoured before lunch.Instead, I leaned back in my chair, staring at the city skyline through the glass wall. The hum of traffic below was oddly soothing, a reminder of control, of distance. Distance from Bella, my so-called wife.I wasn’t fool enough to pretend I didn’t notice her. Of course, I had noticed her since the moment she walked into the chapel in that simple white dress. No jewels, no elaborate lace, no excess like every other woman who’d tried to catch my attention over the years. Just… her. And that was enough to make my chest tighten in ways I didn’t want to admit.Which was precisely why I’d buried myself in the office today. If I stayed home, I’d be forced to endure her presence—the endless chatte

ALEX'S POV.“The door at the very end of the west hallway. You are never to open it. Do you understand?”The words left my mouth colder than I’d planned. I didn’t like raising my voice, but with Bella, sometimes sharpness was the only thing that cut through her endless questions. My tone was clipped and final, designed to leave no room for argument. But she is Bella, of course she didn’t take it that way.Bella froze mid-step, blinking at me with her wide brown eyes that always seemed to dance with some mischief. A grin tugged at her lips. “Why? What’s in there, Alex?” she asked, voice light and playful. “A treasure chest? Your secret stash of chocolates? Or—” she gasped dramatically, pressing a hand to her chest, “—oh my God, don’t tell me you’ve got a mistress locked in there or.”I didn’t so much as blink. “It’s none of your business,” I said flatly.Her grin faltered. For a moment, there was a flicker of something sharper curiosity, yes, but also defiance. I could see her mind spin

BELLA'S POV.“Bella?”The voice wrapped around me like a ghost I hadn’t expected to ever hear again. My whole body went stiff before I even turned, as though some part of me already knew. And when I finally looked up, my suspicions proved right.Ethan? I blinked at him in shock, barely believing my eyes. My ex-boyfriend. Standing there in the middle of the charity gala, looking unfairly good in a tailored suit that probably cost more than my old car. He hadn’t changed much same sharp jawline, same boyish grin that used to make me melt. But there was something different too, a new air of confidence that practically screamed, I know I look good, and so does everyone else.Before I could say a word, Ethan stepped closer, took my hand, and pressed a soft kiss to it. My jaw nearly hit the floor.“Oh my God,” I breathed. “Ethan?”His smile widened, his blue eyes crinkling at the corners. “I thought that was you. I almost didn’t believe it when I heard your name. But here you are looking…” H

BELLA'S POV.If life had a cruel sense of humor, mine had just delivered the punchline.One second, I was staring up at Alex Blackwood, my supposedly cold, untouchable husband, while his face hovered dangerously close to mine. My heart had been doing gymnastics, my lips tingling with anticipation, my brain screaming, Yes, finally, this is happening!And then RING RING RING.My phone, of all things, of course. Because why not let modern technology ruin the one moment I wasn’t sure I wanted ruined?I scrambled for the clutch, answering with a too-bright voice just to cover up the way my pulse was still tripping all over itself. The whole time, Alex stood and straightened his shirt, cool and composed like nothing had happened. Meanwhile, my insides were melting into goo, my lips aching from the almost.I wanted to throw the phone out the window.By the time I hung up, Alex had already disappeared down the hallway toward his room. No teasing remark, no smirk, not even a good night. Just si

ALEX’S POV.I’ve sat through board meetings that have decided billion-dollar acquisitions. I’ve faced men twice my age who underestimated me until I dismantled their companies piece by pece. I’ve been challenged, threatened, and praised by investors from every corner of the globe. But nothing felt as volatile as the room I walked into today.The emergency meeting had been called less than twenty-four hours after the numbers dropped. The moment I entered the conference hall, I could sense the tension. The shareholders weren’t even pretending to smile; their faces were drawn, impatient, and worse they were angry.I set my briefcase on the polished mahogany table, slid into my chair, and let my expression turn into the mask I’d perfected years ago: calm, unreadable, detached. Inside, I was already preparing for war.“Mr. Blackwood,” one of the older investors barked before I’d even opened the agenda, “how the hell do you expect us to sit here quietly while Kingston Industries is eating u