Chapter 31 Chapter 0031

Chapter 31 Chapter 0031
•ISABELLA•

“No, Bella, I told you to stop messing with Antonio. He won’t like this one bit,” Sarah protested over the phone, her voice tight with concern.

I continued pacing around my room, gripping the phone in one hand and a small piece of paper in the other with Peter’s number scribbled on it.

“You’re not listening to me, Sarah. This is my only way to get myself away from Antonio. My father is out of the picture right now, and I have no one else to help me.”

There was a pause on the other end before Sarah sighed. “I hear you, but what you’re planning feels reckless. It’s like walking straight into danger on purpose.”

I stopped pacing and stared down at Peter’s number, my chest rising and falling as I took a deep breath.

Despite Sarah’s warnings, my mind was made up. If Antonio found out I was interested in someone else, he might finally let me go.

“I’m doing this,” I said firmly. “I don’t want to spend another week under the same roof as Antonio. It feels no different than being held hostage by Dante. They are the same type of man with the same agenda to control and use me.”

Sarah exhaled slowly. “Fine. I understand why you want freedom, but please be careful. And what about Tom? Don’t you think he could help you better than some random new guy?”

I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me. “Let’s forget about Tom. I’ll call you after I speak to Peter.”

She chuckled softly. “He'd better be worth all this trouble.”

After hanging up with Sarah, I dialed Peter’s number. It rang for what felt like forever before he finally answered.

“Hey, is this Isabella?” he asked.

“Yes, it’s me. Are you still good?” I replied, sitting down on the bed.

There was a brief pause before he spoke again. “Yeah. I was thinking about your beautiful smile.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks instantly. “Please don’t make me blush,” I laughed nervously.

“So, are we still going on that date?” he asked.

I was about to respond when my bedroom door suddenly opened and Antonio stepped inside. I quickly hung up the call and stood up from my bed.

“I heard about your father. Is he okay?” Antonio asked as he walked toward me.

I swallowed and nodded. “Yeah, he will be okay.”

He moved closer, and my heart began pounding in my chest. Even though I despised him, his presence still affected me in ways I hated to admit.

“I’m sorry I didn’t send someone to check on him sooner,” he muttered. “But I promise you he will be safe from now on.”

I managed a small smile. “Thank you.”

For a split second, a vivid memory of us together in the club restroom flashed through my mind, and I quickly averted my gaze, unable to meet his eyes.

“Dinner will be ready soon,” he continued, gently lifting my chin with his fingers so I had no choice but to look at him again. “I hope you’ll be joining me.”

My breath hitched, my knees suddenly feeling weak under his touch.

He studied my face for a long moment before finally letting go and leaving my room.

I stood there in a daze, breathing in the faint trace of his scent lingering in the air.

When I finally snapped out of it, I went to the bathroom, fixed my makeup, and changed into an elegant evening gown.

A few minutes later, Kyle knocked on my door to inform me that Antonio was waiting in the dining room.

I straightened my posture and headed downstairs.

The moment I stepped into the room, Antonio’s eyes found me immediately.

He sat at the head of the table, watching intently as I moved to take a seat at the opposite end.

“You look beautiful,” he said.

I held his gaze, making sure I looked composed and confident. “Thank you, Antonio.”

When the chef arrived with the food, Antonio barely glanced at him. His attention remained fixed entirely on me.

Just as we were about to begin eating, Melo entered the dining room and whispered something urgently into Antonio’s ear. His expression darkened instantly.

Without another word, he rose from his seat and followed Melo out of the room.

Curiosity and unease twisted in my stomach. I stood up and quietly followed them into the hallway, eventually reaching the living room.

There, I saw Tom being held back by security guards.

The moment he spotted me standing behind Antonio and Melo, his fury exploded.

“I’m here to see my girlfriend, Antonio. Tell these idiots to let me go,” he shouted.

Antonio turned and noticed me watching everything in confusion.

“Bella, go back upstairs. I’ll handle this,” he ordered calmly.

But Tom wasn’t finished. “She’s not going anywhere, Antonio. She’s mine, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Antonio’s voice turned sharp. “Bella, leave us now.”

Fear shot through me, and I rushed upstairs to my room, but instead of staying inside, I stepped out onto the balcony and looked down at them.

Antonio moved closer to Tom, his tone icy. “Leave my house, Creed, before I do something I won’t regret. You were warned to stay away from my wife and me, and I will not repeat myself.”

Tom glared back at him. “She will never be yours. She belongs to me, and I’m leaving with her.”

Without hesitation, Antonio pulled out his gun and aimed it straight at Tom.

Panic ripped through me. Realizing Antonio was fully capable of pulling the trigger, I sprinted down the stairs and rushed between them.

“Antonio, please, let him go!” I cried, standing in front of Tom with tears streaming down my face.

Antonio’s jaw clenched. “Bella, I told you to stay out of this.”

“I can’t let you kill him,” I said shakily. “I am your wife, and there is no reason for anyone to die tonight.”

Then I turned to Tom, my voice breaking. “Leave and don’t ever come back. It ended between us the moment you decided to ignore my existence for months.”

His expression hardened. “It’s not over for me, Bella. I will come back for you.”

The guards dragged him away, his voice still echoing through the house as he was taken outside.

I stood there trembling, caught between fear, anger, and heartbreak.