Angelo approached Bella, who was still standing in the same spot, her hand trembling slightly from the encounter.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his tone uncharacteristically gentle.
Bella nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'm fine," she said, though her voice wavered slightly.
He hesitated for a moment, his sharp eyes studying her. "You handled that well," he said finally.
Bella managed a small smile. "Thanks, I guess."
Angelo nodded, his usual stoicism returning as he stepped back. "Let's finish up here. Dominic won't want you out for too long."
Bella didn't argue. She collected her purchases and allowed Angelo to escort her back to the car. As they drove back to the mansion, she couldn't help but replay the incident in her mind. For the first time in a long time, she'd stood up for herself, and it felt strangely empowering.
What she didn't realize was how much of an impression it had left on Angelo and how Dominic would react when he heard about it.
The ride back to the mansion was quiet. Bella sat in the back seat, her hands gripping her shopping bags tightly. She could still feel the sting of Clara's slap and hear her venomous words, but what lingered most in her mind was her own boldness.
Angelo, seated stoically in the front, didn't say much. She occasionally caught him glancing at her in the rearview mirror, his expression unreadable. Bella couldn't tell if he admired her for standing her ground or if he thought she'd overstepped.
As soon as they arrived at the mansion, Bella hurried out of the car. "Thank you, Angelo," she said quickly, not waiting for his reply. She darted up the stairs and into her room, closing the door behind her with a soft click.
Angelo, however, took his time. After parking the car, he made his way to Dominic's private chamber, his footsteps firm and deliberate. He found Dominic seated on the balcony, a glass of whiskey in his hand, the city lights casting a glow over his face.
"Boss," Angelo said, stopping at the doorway.
Dominic didn't turn around, but he gestured for Angelo to continue.
"There was a… situation," Angelo began. "Bella ran into someone she knew at the boutique. A girl from her high school. Things got heated."
Dominic's grip on the glass tightened slightly, but he remained silent.
"The girl slapped her, accusing Bella of hitting on her boyfriend. Before I could step in, Bella slapped her back." Angelo hesitated, then added, "She said, and I quote, 'I don't need your boyfriend when I have a perfect husband.'"
At that, Dominic finally turned his head, his dark eyes locking onto Angelo.
"Did she?" he said, his voice low and sharp.
"Yes, boss," Angelo confirmed. "She handled herself well. I thought you'd want to know."
Dominic waved him off, his expression unreadable. Angelo bowed slightly and left, leaving Dominic alone with his thoughts.
---
Bella stayed in her room for the rest of the afternoon, her nerves still rattled from the encounter with Clara. She kept herself busy unpacking her new clothes, arranging them neatly in the spacious wardrobe Dominic had provided.
As evening fell, her stomach reminded her she hadn't eaten since breakfast. Gathering her courage, she left her room and made her way to the dining room. Dominic was already seated at the head of the table, his usual spot.
Bella hesitated for a moment at the doorway. His presence was overwhelming as always, but she forced herself to walk in. She took her usual seat at the far end of the table, opposite him.
Dinner was served, and the silence between them was heavy. Bella focused on her plate, stealing occasional glances at Dominic. He ate with the same precision and control he seemed to apply to everything in his life.
After finishing her meal, Bella stood up, gathering her plate and utensils. "I'll handle the dishes," she murmured, more to herself than to Dominic.
She walked into the adjoining kitchen, turning on the sink and rinsing off her plate. The sound of water running filled the space, so she didn't hear Dominic's footsteps behind her.
"So I'm the perfect husband?"
His voice was deep and smooth, but it carried a sharp edge that made her freeze mid-motion. Her heart leapt to her throat as she slowly turned around. Dominic stood in the doorway, his arms crossed over his chest, his dark eyes boring into hers.
Bella swallowed hard, her mind racing for a response. "I… I didn't mean it like that," she stammered, her voice trembling. "I wasn't trying to say"
Dominic stepped closer, cutting off her nervous rambling with his presence alone. "Then what exactly were you trying to say?" he asked, his tone calm but laced with challenge.
Bella set the plate down on the counter, wiping her damp hands on a towel to buy herself a moment. "I didn't mention your name," she said carefully, her voice steadier now. "I only said that to avoid a misunderstanding. Clara accused me of hitting on her boyfriend, and I needed her to stop."
"And you thought claiming me as your 'perfect husband' was the best way to do that?" Dominic's brow arched slightly, his gaze unwavering.
Bella's cheeks flushed. "It worked, didn't it?" she muttered, more to herself than to him.
Dominic's lips twitched, almost as if he was amused, but his expression remained serious. He stepped even closer, invading her space until she had to tilt her head up to meet his gaze.
"You're lucky I find this amusing," he said, his voice dropping slightly. "But don't think for a second I didn't notice you dodging my real question."
Bella blinked, confused. "What question?"
"Why were you really there?" Dominic asked, his tone suddenly sharper. "Why did you need to shop so badly? And why refuse my card?"
Bella's heart sank. She realized too late that her refusal of his card, paired with her actions earlier, might have seemed suspicious to him. "I just… wanted to feel normal for a while," she admitted softly. "And I didn't want to feel like I owed you for something as small as clothes."
Dominic studied her for a long moment, his dark eyes searching hers for any sign of deceit. Finally, he nodded slightly and stepped back, giving her room to breathe.
"Finish the dishes," he said simply, turning to leave.
Bella watched him go, her heart still pounding. She turned back to the sink, resuming her task with shaking hands.
Despite her relief that the confrontation was over, one thing was clear: Dominic didn't trust her, and she wasn't sure she could ever win him over.