Dominic's office was quiet, the sound of his pen scratching against paper the only thing breaking the silence. He had a stack of reports to review, yet his mind drifted back to Bella. There was something about her presence that lingered in his thoughts, an enigma he couldn't unravel.
He sighed, setting the pen down, and leaned back in his chair. Out of habit, he glanced at the security feed from the cameras installed in his mansion. His jaw tightened as the screen flickered to show Bella standing by the doorway with a man he didn't recognize.
Dominic straightened in his chair, his dark eyes narrowing. The man young, confidentwalked toward Bella with ease. Her face lit up in a smile, and then she hugged him.
Something in Dominic snapped.
He didn't think twice. He grabbed his keys and stormed out of the office, his anger fueling every step as he drove back home.
---
When Dominic arrived, he didn't bother to park neatly or announce his presence. He slammed the front door open, his footsteps echoing through the mansion as he followed the sound of laughter.
In the living room, Bella sat on the couch, her laughter ringing out as she spoke to Henry.
"Bella," Dominic's voice thundered, silencing both of them instantly.
Bella turned, her face paling when she saw him standing there, his posture rigid and his expression livid. Henry rose cautiously, clearly sensing the tension.
"Who's this?" Dominic's voice was low but dangerous, his gaze locked on Henry.
Bella opened her mouth to speak, but Dominic didn't give her a chance. In one swift motion, he grabbed Henry by the collar and shoved him toward the door.
"You're done here," Dominic growled, his tone leaving no room for argument.
"Wait! Dominic!" Bella shouted, rushing after him.
Henry stumbled as Dominic practically threw him out of the house. Without another word, Dominic slammed the door shut, the sound echoing through the space. He turned, his gaze now focused solely on Bella, who stood frozen in place.
"What were you thinking?" he demanded, his voice sharp.
"He's just a friend!" Bella exclaimed, her voice trembling.
"A friend?" Dominic's lip curled in disdain as he stepped toward her.
Before she could respond, he grabbed her wrist and threw her over his shoulder effortlessly. Bella kicked and shouted in protest as he carried her up the stairs.
"Put me down, Dominic!" she yelled, pounding her fists against his back, but he didn't stop until they reached his bedroom.
Dominic set her down—not gently—onto the bed. Bella scrambled to sit up, but he leaned over her, his face inches from hers.
"You forgot who you married, didn't you?" he said coldly, his tone cutting through her protests.
His intensity made Bella's words catch in her throat. She watched as Dominic grabbed a silk tie from the dresser and bound her wrists to the bedpost.
"Dominic!" she shouted, fear and anger mixing in her voice. "What are you doing?"
"You want to test me? Fine," he whispered, his voice dangerously low. "Let's see how far you're willing to go."
Bella's heart raced as Dominic stared at her, his gaze a mix of fury and something she couldn't quite place. He didn't move closer, didn't touch her further. Instead, he sat on the edge of the bed, his breathing heavy.
"Why do you keep pushing me?" he finally asked, his voice quieter but still laced with anger.
Bella's fear subsided slightly, replaced by confusion. "Pushing you? You think I wanted this? Henry is my friend, Dominic. Nothing more."
Her words seemed to pierce through his anger, and for a moment, Dominic looked uncertain. He exhaled sharply, his hands running through his hair as if trying to regain control of himself.
"I can't have anyone coming into this house without my permission," he said finally, his voice strained.
Bella looked at him, her expression softening. "You can't control everything, Dominic," she said quietly.
For a moment, neither of them spoke. The tension hung heavy in the air, but Dominic finally untied her wrists and stepped back.
"Stay away from him," he said flatly, turning and leaving the room without another word.
Bella sat there, rubbing her wrists and trying to process everything that had just happened. Despite his anger, there was something in Dominic's eyes something vulnerable that she couldn't ignore.
And for the first time, she wondered if there was more to his rage than just jealousy.