Lahat ng Kabanata ng His Dark Desire: The Devil’s Bride : Kabanata 21 - Kabanata 30

Bella’s POVI woke up to sunlight bleeding through the curtains, my body still aching in my shoulders and cheeks as a result of my father’s anger.The first thing I did was grab my phone.No new messages. No missed calls.Nothing from Zayden.I stared at the screen, thumb hovering over the voicemail I’d left last night.The silence felt like a slap.I tossed the phone onto the bed and buried my face in my hands.Why did I even send it?Why did I think the man who wanted my family destroyed would suddenly become my saviour?I dragged myself out of bed, showered, and dressed in something simple—jeans and a soft sweater—because I couldn’t face another day in a dress that made me feel like merchandise.Downstairs, the smell of coffee and fresh bread drifted from the dining room.I paused at the bottom of the stairs, my father was on the phone, his voice—low, clipped, and serious.He was talking to Matteo.I crept closer, staying out of sight behind the doorway.“I told you Zayden was lyin

Bella’s POVI had waited for everyone to fall asleep before I begged Rosa to help me sneak out of my house. I told her I was going to see Lucia. I needed to clear my head and talk to someone who could understand.She looked at me with something like pity in her eyes but she helped me either way.“I’d stay by the kitchen door so when you come back, I can let you in without any fuss.” She said softly.I nodded and gave her a brief hug before quietly slipping through the back door. I couldn’t believe I was doing this. Don't I learn? Going back to the same man who has threatened my family time and time again.I don’t know what I expected to get from the encounter. It’s not like our last one gave me any answers. But anything I could get was fine by me.When I busted out onto the main street, a car pulled up, stopping me short.The windows wound down and a man peeked his head out. He looked tall, with tanned skin and his long hair tied into a sleek low ponytail. I had seen him somewhere, bu

Zayden’s POV The back door of the warehouse closed behind me with a heavy thud.Her voice still echoed in my ears — “Zayden! Zayden!” — desperate, cracking, the way a child calls for someone who’s already gone.I kept walking. Didn’t turn back. Didn’t slow down.If I had, I might have broken.I slid into the back of the car. My driver didn’t ask questions. He just pulled away, tyres crunching gravel, the villa lights shrinking in the rearview mirror.I leaned my head against the window and closed my eyes.The truth was out now. She knew.I don’t know what she planned to do with it and I couldn’t care less. But she knew.She knew her father had sold my family to save his own. And still she begged me to stop.Still, she looked at me like I might be the one who could save her from him.I laughed — once, bitter, alone in the dark backseat.Fate really is a cruel bitch. I pulled out my phone.No new messages or texts begging me for what I didn’t even know.She was probably crying in the b

Bella’s POVI woke up early, earlier than I normally do.My body felt heavy, sore in places I didn’t want to think about.The massage gun sat on the floor where I’d kicked it last night, silent now, but it might as well have been screaming. I had no idea why I let him control me like that but I wouldn’t waste another second on that thought.I couldn’t stay in bed. So I pulled on my trainers, leggings, and a loose hoodie, tied my hair back, and slipped out the back door before anyone could ask questions.The air was cool against my face when I was running — slow at first, but every time I remembered his voice and the way I moaned to his command, I ran faster like I could outrun the memories.Zayden’s voice rang in my ears. The hum of the gun.The way my hips rolled against it even when I begged him to stop.I pushed harder and my lungs burned.“Come on, Bella, slow down.”Lucia’s voice cut through the heaviness of my breathing.I glanced back — she was jogging to catch up, her ponytail

Bella’s POVI pushed open the front door, my heart still pounding and my fingers pressed against the spot where Matteo had put his gun.I checked the time on my phone and it was way past dusk. Lucia and I had run rounds across the city and stopped for breakfast, lunch and possibly dinner. “Bella? Where have you been?” I heard, the minute I stepped in.My father sat cross-legged on his chair, not looking up from the newspaper in his hand.I forced my voice steady. “I went for a run.”He studied me for a moment, then nodded. “Okay.”Before I could say another word, The front door opened again and my mother and Rafael stepped inside.This time he finally looked up, closed the newspaper and stood. “So it seems like the whole family was out without telling me.”“Not now, Alejandro.” My mother said, " I'm tired.”“Where are you both coming from?” he asked immediately.My mother answered without missing a beat. “We went out to get a few things in place for Bella’s wedding. Final touches.”