Mirabella remained silent for a long, agonizing moment. Michael opened his mouth, hesitating, but no words came out. Undeniable anger flickered across her face, her jaw clenched tightly as she looked at him with cold, unyielding eyes.
"Leave," she said, almost devoid of emotion, her voice hollow and distant.
Michael nodded silently, without a word, and turned away. He left, his heart heavy with pain—just as wounded as she was. Mirabella was the sweetest, smartest girl he had ever met. For a brief time, they had been close—best friends, confidantes. If he was honest, she had been his first love. He loved everything about her. But then he studied abroad, and life pulled them apart. He searched for her for years, only to hear she was married to his father's client. That news shattered him, and slowly, he moved on.
When he took over his father's practice, he was stunned to learn what Mirabella had done. He couldn't believe it—deep down, he knew she couldn't be capable of such things. Yet, reviewing her file, she seemed like a stranger—someone he no longer recognized. Today's meeting flooded him with memories, yet the indifference he'd built up over time still held firm. Still, seeing her—so pretty, so distraught—hurt him in ways he couldn't entirely understand.
When he gently dropped his jacket over her shoulders before, he fought the urge to pull her into a tight embrace, to hold her and never let go. But professionalism—duty—reminded him that Josef was more than a client. They were brothers in spirit, bound by shared struggles and unspoken understanding.
Leaving her in that fragile, broken state shattered him twice. If only they hadn't met before—if only fate had been kinder—maybe, just maybe, they could have been together.
Bella stood with a fierce resolve burning in her eyes. "I've been through a lot, and I can handle this too. I can fix it." After a moment of quiet resignation, she reminded herself that this couldn't be the end of everything. She had suffered so much, yet somehow, she had risen stronger.
She whispered to herself, almost as a mantra, "I'm smart. I can find my way through this. Maybe I should just tell him the truth, right? I mean, it wasn't me who betrayed him. I was a victim, too. Maybe he'd understand. But—what if he doesn't? What if he seeks revenge and makes me suffer for my sister?"
Her mind spun in circles. "Shit. I could just pretend... but I need to be more submissive, more fragile. Maybe then, he'd pity me and let me go. And maybe, we don't need to have a baby because we don't love each other, right? I mean, I'm a virgin, and my dignity's on the line... right?"
A dark voice suddenly echoed through the kitchen, making her jump. "You're not."
Shit. Did I just talk to myself too loud? How much did he hear? she thought.
"You're not a virgin," Josef's voice was cold and steady, with a hint of teasing. "Just in case you forgot or lied to yourself."
Bella raised an eyebrow, trying to keep her composure. Oh, wait—I had to behave.
"Well, I'm sorry if I didn't remember. Could've been forgettable," she retorted, forcing a casual tone.
Stop, Bella. Don't provoke him, she thought desperately.
Josef's expression darkened as he stepped towards her, towering over her with his intimidating presence. "Darling, I promise you, that's not what you say every f***ing time we've done it," he said with a smirk that held both amusement and menace.
Bella squirmed, a shiver running down her spine, picturing her sister and this man together. Her mind urged her—this is the moment to start her plan. So, should she tell him or not?
Ugh, I can't decide, she thought, her heart pounding.
Josef now blocked her path, his height and presence overwhelming. "So, has my lawyer made it clear to you?" he asked, voice low and authoritative.
Bella looked away, exhaling a slow, resigned sigh. "Yes."
"So… I can't pay you that amount. Never in this lifetime. I barely have any money," she pleaded, her voice trembling with desperation.
"That's not my problem," Josef replied coldly, with a dismissive shrug.
"But… how am I supposed to pay you? I can't have a baby with you. I'm not the same person you loved before. Do you want a kid that's unwanted by her mother?" she thought, forced to play her part, to keep her composure.
"Then, pay me," Josef snapped, his eyes narrowing. "Do you know how much humiliation and heartache you've caused me? Honestly, no amount of money in this world could repay that. A hundred million dollars is nothing to me. But to you—it's enough to make you suffer."
His voice darkened further, cold and cruel. "I don't care if you remember or not. I'll make sure not only you, but everyone you know, will suffer."
Bella's heart clenched painfully at his words. It almost broke her. So, even if he knew it wasn't really her, nothing would change. The sense of betrayal, of powerlessness, gnawed at her.
She thought bitterly, So it's my womb, my dignity—my baby—those are the only things left that could pay this off and solve this problem.
"And if I give you an heir? You'll let me go?" Bella asked, her voice trembling with a flicker of hope, desperate to find some way out.
Josef's eyes narrowed, a cold smirk curling on his lips. "As if I'll ever let you near me again," he retorted, his tone dripping with disdain.
Bella's eyes widened in disbelief. So, I've got nothing now—nothing to free me from this nightmare, she thought, her heart sinking.
"What? So, what happens now?" she demanded, voice cracking. "If you're that disgusted and furious at me, why am I even here? Even if you sell me—my body and my soul—I don't think I could ever pay you!"
Panic surged through her, tears stinging her eyes. Her mind raced for an escape, for a reason to hold on.
Josef looked at her, his expression cold and dismissive. "That's true," he said with a cruel smile. "You're not even worth a thousand dollars."
Bella's breath hitched in her throat. "F*** you!" she spat, pushing against him in a desperate attempt to create space. Her push barely moved him; he remained unyielding, like a wall of ice.
Whatever. Right now, all she needed was to get away—just to be left alone, to breathe.
Josef barely noticed the jacket she was wearing before, but now, his eyes caught it. Where did she get that? Was it Michael's? No matter how furious he was, a flicker of jealousy stirred within him.
"Okay," he said, voice controlled but with a hint of something darker. "Do you want to pay me back? To free yourself?"
Suddenly, Bella's eyes lit up with hope, and she nodded eagerly.
He fought to hide the smirk tugging at his lips. "First, take off that horrible jacket."
Bella clutched the jacket closer, hesitating. "Hey, I thought you don't want me?!" she protested.
"Of course not," Josef replied coldly, "Just take it off. It hurts my eyes."
She hesitated for a moment, then carefully peeled the jacket off, folding it neatly before hanging it on the chair.
Josef observed her, puzzled by her actions. Why did she do that?
"Now," he continued. "And?" Bella asked cautiously.
"Well," Josef said, trying to hide her eagerness, "first, you have to let me work in your company until I retire."
Bella raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Sure, at least I can retire."
Josef's expression grew more serious. "Second, you have to pretend to be my wife until the fifth anniversary."
Bella blinked in surprise but nodded, still lost in thought.
"And lastly," he added casually, "you have to convince my mom and grandmother that you regret what you've done— that you only did it because you were a gold-digger."
Bella's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wha-what? A gold-digger? Isn't that too much? I mean, if I am a gold digger, you shouldn't have accepted me back."
Josef shrugged nonchalantly. "Well, they actually wanted you dead. So, it's better this way."
Her breath hitched. "No! It doesn't change that they wanted to kill me. Oh my God! You brought me back so they could kill me? That's it?!"
Josef's tone remained cold. "That's why you have to convince them you've changed."
Bella's voice trembled with anger and frustration. "Ah, I see—you're just being entertained. You wanted me to suffer for your amusement."