A love so pretty

r. Bella sat on the bed at its edge, legs tucked up to her chest, her cheek against her knees. Her hair was

arriage contract. Sh

ashing through her like a tidal wave confusion, guilt,

to herself, the words tasting foreign an

his voice echo

ill ma

m and the arrogance of a man who always got what he wanted. And yet, there was something there in

f up, pacing slowly across the room. Roxy's

om, the chance to finally chase your dream! And the man's g

ne was powerful. He was a man of power, and he walked as if the world bent t

own face staring back at her with golden brown e

fé. The ringing of glasses and the rich aroma of roastin

le, her ocean-blue eyes twinkling. "There

he chair opposite her, f

. "Sorry, just excited. You have any idea how man

t her. "It's n

is. Anthony's giving you a chance to create a new life for yourself. You

"But it's not real. It's a lie. I'd

u've been pretending to be okay for years, Bella. This

ion. Her fingers brushed against the pendant she always wore her mother's. She thought of the

ter than me, Bella. You

ver wanted to please her mother. And now, possibly, just

ke it through all the lying? Could she live with a man she didn't k

but this time, everyone's eyes were on her as s

ne. The brid

a she was the

et her at a ball.

st the polished floor. Her heart pounding in

ator, eyes slitted like razors. "En

ed silent. S

l stronghold. He stood near the window when she

u'd be back," he s

ost wa

eyes scanning her

dded.

pa

hy

o have dreams. And maybe it's time

, his voice low. "Then

verything stylists, lawyers, media professionals. Bella was treated to fittings, interview

wondering, she couldn't help but wonder what it was all about. Wou

hony knocked lig

I com

ening CEO but a man striving to u

you," he spoke softly. "You

ve a breath. "I don't want to leave. I just

nd of hair from her face. "Maybe som

face, looking for

so," s

oment longer, and then he lef

er wasn't the same girl of seven days ago. She wasn't just Bella

e if that thrilled