All Chapters of His Dark Desire: The Devil’s Bride : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Zayden’s POVThe cough came without warning.It tore through my chest, forcing me forward as my hand braced against the edge of the bed. Another followed, deeper this time, dragging something raw up my throat.The nurse was already standing opposite me, bag open on the table.“Mr Romano,” she said calmly, but her eyes were sharp. “You need to take it easy. Have you been taking the medication exactly as prescribed? No skipping doses?”“I’m fine,” I rasped, pulling on a fresh shirt. “It’s under control.”She didn’t look convinced, but she knew better than to push. She gave me the injection in my arm, the familiar sting barely registering anymore.“This should hold you for the next couple of weeks,” she said, packing up. “If the coughing gets worse or you feel short of breath, call me immediately. Don’t wait.”I straightened slowly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand before reaching for the glass of water beside me.“I said I’m fine.”There was a pause. The kind filled with things

Bella’s POVFor a second, my breathing stopped. I couldn’t believe my eyes.My mother’s body jerked from the impact, her breath catching in a way that didn’t sound human, and then she collapsed—right there, right in front of me—like something inside her had simply… given up.“Mom!”The word tore out of me before I even realised I was moving.I dropped to my knees beside her, my hands shaking as I reached for her, not knowing where to touch, what to do, how to fix something that already felt beyond repair.There was blood—too much of it—spreading across her dress, seeping through my fingers the moment I pressed my hand against her chest.“No, no, no… Mom, stay with me—please, stay with me…”Her breathing was uneven, shallow, each inhale like it cost her something. Her lips parted, but no sound came out at first, just a faint, broken gasp that made my chest tighten painfully.“Rafael!” I cried, my voice cracking. “Rafael, do something!”He was there in seconds, dropping beside us, his h

Bella’s POVI woke up with a pounding headache, the kind that felt like someone was hammering nails into my skull.For a second, everything was blurry. Then I sat up slowly and looked down at myself. I was wearing a fresh white dress. My skin felt clean, like someone had washed me while I was unconscious. The thought made my stomach twist.I stared at the bandage wrapped around my palm. The moment I saw it, the memories crashed back in.Blood.Gunshots.My mother falling to the ground.Her eyes going still.“No…” I whispered, shaking my head. “No, no, no… that didn’t happen.”But it did. I could still hear my own scream echoing in my ears.It couldn't be real. It had to be a nightmare. A terrible, cruel nightmare that I would wake up from any second.But I was already awake.And downstairs, voices were arguing.I recognised my father's voice first. Loud and desperate. Then another voice — one that made my stomach turn.Matteo.I threw the covers off and stood from the bed too quickly.

Zayden’s POV The study was quiet. Too quiet for a man who had survived an assassination attempt two nights ago. But my men had cleaned up the mess, patched the holes, and scrubbed the blood from the marble floors. The villa looked almost normal again. I sat behind my desk, a glass of whiskey in my hand that I hadn't touched. I was looking at the space across from me. The chair where Bianca Mendoza had sat just days ago, making her deal. Nico walked in without knocking. He knew better than to announce himself when the door was already open. "Boss," he said, settling into the chair across from me. "You wanted an update?" I nodded once. "What's happening at the Mendoza house?" Nico pulled out his phone, scrolling through messages. "Bella woke up in the morning. She's been conscious for a few hours now. Her friend Lucia is with her." I exhaled slowly. "And how is she?" Nico's eyes flicked up to meet mine. "From what I hear… not good. She's grieving. Angry. Her father's

Bella’s POVNight had fallen by the time I stopped crying.I lay on my bed, staring at the ceiling, my body too heavy to move. My eyes were swollen. My throat felt raw. The pillow beneath my head was damp with tears I hadn't bothered to wipe away.Something cold lingered on my chest and my hand instinctively moved. The necklace — I hadn’t remembered to take it off and for some weird reason, I didn’t want to.A growl came from my stomach. I hadn't eaten all day. I hadn't wanted to. But my body didn't care what I wanted.I pushed myself up slowly, swung my legs over the side of the bed, and stood. The floor felt cold beneath my bare feet but I didn't bother with shoes.The house was quiet as I walked downstairs. Most of the lights were off. But through the archway leading to the dining room, I saw a warm glow.Rafael and my father were sitting at the table.They had plates in front of them — half-eaten pasta, bread, and a bottle of wine between them. The picture of a family dinner, if y