Chapter 19: I'll Start To Believe It

Bella thought she misheard Dominic's request that she bear his child. She believed he'd lost his mind. As he approached, she retreated until her back was against the window. Pressing her trembling hands against his chest, she whispered in a shaky voice, "Don't do this. It's not what you think. I didn't do it for money."

"Then what is it? Tell me!" he demanded through gritted teeth.

His furious outburst left her speechless. She wanted to leave him, but couldn't bring herself to say it. Dominic pinned her hands, buried his face in her neck, and growled, "Don't cry and tell me you're doing this for my benefit. If I hear it enough times, I might start to believe it."

He continued, "Since you want money, I'll give you as much as you want if you give me a child. Isn't that more dignified than enduring humiliation just to acknowledge Simon for a million dollars?"

Bella had a complete breakdown. Saying anything would only enrage him further. Silence seemed the best option. "Brother, please… let me go," she pleaded. She had once longed to be closer to him, but now she could only beg for release.

Hearing the word he despised most, his gaze softened slightly. "I'll let you," he said.

Bella's anguished cries filled the room, then subsided. The calm was short-lived, however, as her cries resumed. Sylvia, hearing the commotion, discreetly postponed dinner but didn't intervene.

Dominic finally left late that night. Bella hid her face in her pillow and cried until she fell asleep. The following day, she left before he awoke. After the previous night's events, she couldn't face him.

Simon, unaware of what transpired, called to urge her to complete the paperwork. Lacking the energy to speak, she simply said, "You should forget about this matter and worry about how he'll deal with you."

She hung up. He called back immediately, but she blocked him. Things wouldn't have turned out so badly if he'd been reliable enough to help her leave. Bella knew she shouldn't have relied on him.

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