All Chapters of Before the Bells Ring: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

I picked out the wedding date myself, bright and early.It was supposed to be the day Samuel Gordon would shout our love from the rooftops for the whole world to hear.My dad even skipped out on a deal worth millions, flying in from Francoria just for me.However, Samuel's offhand comment made it all meaningless.I stared at the snowflake melting in my hand, a bitter ache spreading through my chest."So, Samuel, when are you going to break the news to Claire?" asked the guy next to him in the private room.Samuel flicked his hand, clearly annoyed."Why bother telling her? She's been all in on this wedding lately; she's probably figured it out by now."He checked his watch. "The fact she hasn't come after me just proves I'm right. Claire will go along with whatever I decide."The guy lifted his glass in a salute, "That's our Mr. Gordon. Remember how Claire turned Twilight City inside out to get your attention? And now, just a few years later, you've got her eating out of your h

Word got around fast, and Dad wasted no time in getting word to the Smiths. He always dreamed of me marrying into their family, the perfect match in his eyes, and they owed him big time for saving their hides once. However, I was head over heels for Samuel and kept saying no. I can still hear Dad's voice, heavy with meaning, as I walked out the door, "Claire, are you sure about this?" I did not have an answer. I did not even meet the Smith guy. However, there was no way I was going to let Samuel off the hook that easily. I wanted to see him squirm, to watch him lose every ounce of his cool in front of everyone we knew.My phone shattered my reverie with its shrill ring. It was the cops. Samuel got himself into a brawl. My heart skipped a beat. He bleeds out over paper cuts, for crying out loud. After a moment's hesitation, I threw on my coat and braved the snowstorm. By the time I got there, my hair was a frozen mess. I did not even step inside when I heard the shouting.

"What do you mean you're getting married? To who? You can't mean- You're not saying you're marrying someone else on our wedding day, are you? Claire, have you lost your mind?""Yes, I've lost it completely." I gazed out at the sea of guests below and exhaled slowly."You pushed me to do it."You play with dates, I play with grooms."No more talk. My real groom is waiting."I ended the call and, in a fit of despair, tossed my phone into a wine glass. It plunged into the red depths, the screen's frantic buzz of missed calls fading to a final, sizzling death rattle. Five years of memories, then sinking to their watery grave.Samuel redialed until the lifeless tone informed him the phone was off. Frustration boiling over, he slammed his own phone to the floor, his chest rising and falling with ragged breaths.'What was Claire trying to tell me? She's getting married? To someone else, just because the date's been changed? This is madness!' he seethed internally.His parents, witness

"Samuel, did you know I've only been hurt twice in my life?"Once, I willingly took bullets for you."Once, I was stabbed three times by an enemy, and I deeply regret that."All these years, I dulled my edges for you, thinking I'd earn your love, but all I got was your exploitation, your betrayal."While I was dragging myself to your car for help, you were inside, kissing another woman. While I was in the ICU clinging to life, you were out celebrating another woman's birthday."Samuel, you've forgotten what June 4th means, so I'm here to remind you."That wasn't Janet's birthday. It was the day I took three bullets for you, the day you first told me you loved me."Samuel, you owe me more than you can imagine."Fate showed me mercy, granting me a second chance at life."This time, I'm living for myself, and I'm going to reclaim everything you owe me."I poured out my heart, and with each word, Samuel's face turned a shade whiter.Those who came to beg for him were silenced by

Ever since I walked out that day, I never laid eyes on him again.He quieted down, but the guards told me he had etched my name into the walls so many times that I could not count them all.I did not let it bother me. I had my own life, and it was plenty busy.Soon after tying the knot, I took the reins of the family business without a hitch.The cutthroat power plays were exhausting, but they were a heck of a lot more thrilling than my days spent with Samuel.The other families kept their distance, wary of Charles's ruthless reputation.Yet, this man, with blood on his hands, would nestle against my neck at night and tenderly call me his honeyed wife.Day by day, my love for Charles grew hotter.No matter how worn out I was by daylight, he would wrap me up in his arms at night unless I pleaded for a break.It was not long before I was expecting, and I let Charles take the wheel of the family empire.He was not like Samuel, using me for his gain. His own family was just as po