"Please don't do it here, Mr. Edward. There are a lot of your business associates here. I'm embarrassed," Bella whispered softly, her eyes slightly closed as Edward's right hand had already entered and slipped under her g-string.
Edward continued to play his middle finger wildly under Bella's dress, which he had lifted under the table, and sat Bella on his lap.
That night, Edward again invited Bella to a business meeting with major CEOs from across the country. It was unknown how many times Edward had brought Bella along on his business trip, but this time he was crazier than the previous days. Before leaving, he forced Bella to drink orange juice that, unknowingly, had been mixed with a large dose of aphrodisiac powder.
"Mr. Edward, shhh... ah... please don't do it here. I'd be embarrassed if anyone saw," Bella whispered a little louder because instead of stopping his actions, Edward opened her legs even wider.
Edward smiled, amused by Bella's voice, which was mixed with a slight moan.
Some of Edward's business associates, who witnessed his crazy antics, instead of being annoyed, smiled and raised their middle fingers, expressing their appreciation for his crazy behavior.
"Just enjoy it, Edward. I know your wife is incredibly beautiful, and it's impossible for you to stay away from bed for long when she's around," said one of Edward's business associates, who clearly witnessed Bella's crazy behavior.
"Yes, Mr. Louis!" Edward let out a low, cold laugh, his rough hand still gripping Bella's waist as if he were proudly showing off a living trophy. "This is my beloved wife, Bella. My addiction. I'm absolutely obsessed with her. Especially when she moans and screams… because of me."
Those words slashed at Bella's dignity, as if her body no longer belonged to herself but was merely an accessory to that man's ego. But she stayed silent. Silent because she knew, even the slightest move could burn down the ruins of the palace she once called her life.
Louis, a wealthy man with a sly smile behind his wine glass, shook his head slowly. "You're always so excessive, Ed," he said, walking away toward the more serene diplomat's table, leaving Edward with the gaze of a predator still fixed on Bella's body.
Edward's hand moved up Bella's back, forcing her down onto his lap, roughly, but masked as affection in front of the important guests. Meanwhile, Bella remained passive, her face pale, her body tense, and her eyes blank as she stared at the grand chandelier swaying gently above the ballroom.
But the mood shifted abruptly. A phone rang, cutting through the mingled scent of alcohol, expensive perfume, and the murmurs of politicians and mafia elites filling the hall.
John's name flashed on the screen,, Edward's most trusted man. He answered it lazily, though suspicion flared in his eyes.
"…What?!"
His tone changed instantly. His fingers clenched, veins on his neck bulged, and his gaze darkened as if hell itself erupted from within his pupils. He didn't say much, just one short sentence before ending the call:
"Okay. I'm coming there now."
Without a word to the other guests, Edward stood abruptly and yanked Bella's hand so hard her body stumbled out of her seat.
"W-What happened?" Bella whispered in panic, nearly dragged by the man's long strides.
"We're leaving. Now!" Edward growled, ignoring the stares of the guests, who were now whispering, watching the most feared man in Europe seemingly losing control.
***
"My dearest Bella, you must stay here. I won't be long. Outside… there's something I need to take care of immediately," Edward said in a calm yet sharp voice, laced with undeniable authority. His eyes were wild, like a predator catching the scent of blood from afar.
Bella looked at him with fear in her eyes, unable to protest. Her breath trembled.
"But I'm scared to be here alone, Mr. Edward…" she whispered softly, genuine, but full of anxiety.
For the past several minutes, the sound of explosions had echoed from outside. Not fireworks. Not firecrackers. But the sound of war. Real war.
Edward didn't answer. His eyes remained fixed on the door, which was now being knocked from the outside. He moved quickly, opening it and allowing two men in black to enter the lavish room where Bella sat. Their faces were expressionless, with rifles slung across their bodies. No smiles. No hesitation.
"You two," Edward commanded his bodyguards, "watch my wife. No one is allowed in. No one is allowed to touch her. Neither of you is allowed to breathe too close to her."
He stepped closer, locking eyes with them.
"Every strand of her hair is worth more than your lives. If anything happens to Bella, even the slightest scratch, I will skin you alive myself."
The men lowered their heads obediently.
"We understand, sir."
Edward turned back to Bella. His gaze softened slightly, but his smile turned wicked. He leaned in and whispered in her ear, his voice chilling her blood.
"Wait for me, darling. Once I'm done out there… I promise you'll be moaning and screaming in bed until your body forgets what it's like to stand."
Bella held her breath. Her eyes widened. Her body burned. The subtle poison Edward had slipped into her drink earlier had started to take effect, clouding her thoughts with desire while her fear kept her grounded in reality.
He pressed a quick kiss to her lips, grabbed his coat, and strode out of the room with firm steps. The door closed behind him. The lock turned.
Bella was alone. Only the two armed strangers stood in the corners of the room, watching her in silence.
Another explosion sounded outside. Closer. Louder. As if the villa's walls might collapse at any moment.
Bella hugged herself. Her knees began to tremble.
"What's really happening out there?" she wondered.
But before her thoughts could find an answer, a scream rang out. Then the unmistakable sound of rapid gunfire, bullets raining like a storm.
One of the bodyguards turned to the door.
"Mr. Edward's been out there too long."
The other walked toward the window, parting the thick curtain slightly. His breath caught in his throat.
"Shit… This isn't just a skirmish. They're here. They're at the villa!"
"What?! But this was supposed to be a safe zone! We have private military guarding this place!"
Bella stood up abruptly, her eyes wide with panic.
"What do you mean?! Who's here?!!"
The guards exchanged glances. But before they could answer, a thunderous bang hit the door. It shook violently. Once. Twice.
And on the third blow, the doorknob exploded. Literally blown apart by a shot from outside.
Bella screamed. The two guards raised their weapons, aiming at the now half-open door. Smoke filled the entryway… and through it stepped a masked man, holding a shotgun. He fired directly into one guard's chest.
"Get down!! Protect Miss Bella!!" the other shouted.
But it was too late.
Bella screamed as one of the guards collapsed in front of her, blood spraying across the marble floor. The second tried to return fire but was shot clean through the neck. Both bodies dropped, lifeless and soaked in red.
The masked man stepped forward slowly, shotgun still smoking. He said nothing. He just stared at Bella, as if he knew exactly who she was.
Bella backed into a corner, trembling, her voice lost. Her mind blank. Her tongue frozen.
"Who… who are you?" she whispered, barely audible.
***