Chapter 46 She Will Pay For It
BELLA
David’s eyes stayed locked on me, his brow furrowed with worry. He didn’t say a word, but I could feel the tension in the way his hand tightened around mine.
“I’ll handle it,” he said finally, his voice steady and firm. “I’ll make them pay for what they did to your father.”
I pulled my hand away, shaking my head. “No. This is my fight, David.” My voice cracked, but I refused to let the emotion stop me. “He’s my father. I need to do this myself.”
His jaw clenched, and I knew he wanted to argue, but I didn’t give him a chance.
“I’ve seen the news,” I continued, stepping closer. “The scandal you stirred up it’s brilliant, and I appreciate everything you’ve done. But this isn’t about Roy. It’s about his daughter. She’s the one who hurt my family. She’s the one who needs to pay.”
Anger bubbled in my chest, fierce and unrelenting. My hands trembled as I balled them into fists. “She thinks she can destroy my father’s name and walk away? I’ll show her what a mistake that was. I’ll make her regret ever crossing me.”
DAVID
I’d never seen Bella like this. Her face was pale, but her eyes burned with a fury I didn’t know she had. For the first time, she looked dangerous.
I should’ve been focused on her, but my mind drifted. The name Roy was like poison on my tongue. I’d started all this because of Lizzy, but now it wasn’t just about her it was about me. About what Roy took from my family.
“David.” Lizzy’s voice pulled me back to the present. She stood beside me, hesitant, her hands fidgeting. “Can I… can I see my dad?”
For a moment, I considered saying no. But then I nodded, taking her hand and leading her down the hall.
The hospital room was suffocating, the steady beep of machines the only sound. Bella froze when she saw her father. Tubes and wires snaked around his frail body, his face gray and lifeless. She collapsed onto the cold floor, her sobs breaking through the silence.
Guilt twisted in my gut. I turned away, my hand already reaching for my phone. As I stepped into the hallway, I dialed Sam.
“Release Mike’s scandal,” I said, my voice low.
“Yes, sir.”
I hung up and leaned against the wall, gripping the phone so tightly it felt like it might snap. I’d planned to wait, to let Roy’s scandal simmer before throwing his son into the fire. But not anymore. Let them burn together.
My phone buzzed, pulling me from my thoughts. Her name flashed on the screen.
Lizzy.
I answered, pressing the phone to my ear.
“What are you doing, David?” Her voice was sharp, each word dripping with venom.
I smiled. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Don’t play dumb!” she snapped. “You’re ruining my family! Why? What did we ever do to you?”
“What did you do?” I repeated, laughing softly. “Should I start with your father? Or your stepbrother? Or maybe with you, Lizzy. Should we talk about how you tried to ruin my wife’s life?”
“I love you, David,” she said, her voice breaking. “Can’t you see that? Everything I’ve done is because I love you. But please, leave my family out of this.”
Love. The word felt bitter. How had I ever loved this woman? How had I ignored the truth about her family?
“I don’t love you,” I said coldly. “And I warned you don’t mess with Bella. You crossed the line, and now you’re paying for it. As for your father’s scandal, shouldn’t you be focused on fixing it? Or maybe checking the news about your stepbrother?”
Her sharp intake of breath made me smile. “What did you do?” she whispered.
I ended the call without answering.
A text came in from Sam moments later: I have new information. Roy is linked to your dad.
I stared at the message, my mind racing. The pieces were falling into place, but the picture they created was darker than I’d imagined.