Bella closed the door to her room softly, her heart still racing from the tension downstairs. She leaned against it, exhaling deeply. The cold, unreadable look in Dominic's eyes when he caught her sneaking out lingered in her mind. She couldn't tell if he believed her excuse or if he simply chose not to press her further.
Crossing the room, she picked up her phone from the bedside table. Her father's earlier message flashed on the screen: "come eat with us if you can, we'll wait for you, I Hope you are managing?." Bella frowned, her fingers hesitating over the keyboard. She knew what he was trying to say, but sneaking out for something so simple had caused more trouble than she expected.
She typed quickly, her thumbs flying over the screen. "I can't come out again, it's already late, I'll find time to have dinner with you again. It's too risky now and I'm fine ." She felt sad because she really missed her family even though it hasn't even been up to two weeks since she came here. Her intention was to sneak out and return early the next day..but that failed.
The message was short, but the weight of it pressed on her. She hit send and tossed the phone onto the bed. Bella wrapped her arms around herself and sat by the window, staring out at the vast estate.
Her father's intentions were good, she reminded herself. He just wanted to maintain some semblance of connection, to remind her that she wasn't alone in this new and frightening world. But Dominic's suspicious gaze earlier made it clear she was already treading dangerous waters.
---
Dominic stood in his private study, the soft glow of his desk lamp illuminating the sharp lines of his face. His thoughts lingered on Bella. She had looked genuinely scared when he caught her by the gate, but Dominic had learned long ago not to trust appearances.
Angelo's call replayed in his mind: what were those messages from her father, suspicious but not yet cracked. Why was her father sending and deleting communications? And what role did Bella play in all of this?
He poured himself a glass of whiskey, his eyes narrowing as he considered the possibilities. If Bella was involved in her father's schemes, she wouldn't escape his wrath. No one who crossed him ever did.
---
The next morning, Bella woke early, hoping to avoid any awkward encounters with Dominic. As she moved around her room, her phone buzzed. Picking it up, she read her father's reply: "Understood. Be careful."
Bella let out a sigh of relief. She hoped this would be the last time she had to handle such a delicate situation. The less Dominic knew, the safer she and her family would be.
But little did Bella know, Dominic wasn't one to let things slide. He had already decided to keep a closer eye on her. If her father's messages meant anything more than what appeared on the surface, Dominic would uncover it and Bella would have nowhere to hide.
Bella descended the grand staircase the next morning, determined to act as if the previous night had never happened. She wore a soft blue dress that swayed gently as she moved, her hair loosely braided over her shoulder. If she wanted to survive in this house, she needed to appear calm and unbothered even if Dominic's icy demeanor made it a challenge.
The dining room was quiet, but she found Dominic sitting at the head of the table, reading a document while sipping his coffee. He was dressed sharply, as always, in a crisp black shirt that highlighted his commanding presence.
"Good morning," Bella greeted brightly, forcing a smile as she sat across from him.
Dominic didn't look up, but he gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.
Undeterred, Bella glanced around the room, her gaze falling on a glass display cabinet along the far wall. Inside were several ornate artifacts an antique dagger with an emerald-studded hilt, a gold pocket watch, and a porcelain figurine that looked centuries old.
Her curiosity piqued, Bella broke the silence. "Those look expensive," she said, gesturing to the display. "Are they yours?"
Dominic finally lifted his gaze, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. "Why?" he asked, his tone clipped.
Bella shrugged, trying to appear casual. "They're beautiful. I've never seen anything like them before. That dagger especially it must be worth a fortune."
Dominic set his coffee cup down, his expression unreadable. He studied her closely, his mind already spinning. Why was she suddenly so interested in the artifacts? Was this innocent curiosity, or did it tie back to her father's suspicious messages?
Bella, oblivious to his growing distrust, continued. "Do you collect these things? Or are they family heirlooms?"
"They have history," Dominic said curtly, leaning back in his chair.
Bella leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with genuine interest. "Like what? Are they from your travels? Do you know how much they're worth?"
Dominic's jaw tightened. The questions were innocent on the surface, but they set off alarm bells in his mind. The timing was too perfect her sneaking out last night, the encrypted messages from her father, and now this sudden fascination with the most valuable objects in his home.
"You seem very interested in things that don't concern you," Dominic said, his voice dangerously low.
Bella blinked, caught off guard by his tone. "I was just curious," she said quickly. "I didn't mean anything by it."
Dominic didn't respond. Instead, he rose from his chair, his towering frame casting a shadow over her. "Curiosity can be dangerous, Bella," he said, his words cold and deliberate.
Bella's heart raced as she watched him leave the room. She hadn't meant to upset him, but she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd just stepped on dangerous ground