Chapter 16

"Wait a minute… they don't know I'm married to Alexander Epix."

I whispered to myself, only to hear a low whistle from behind me.

"You're joking, right? Alexander—the billionaire professor? You're his wife? I can't believe it."

The voice belonged to Lyson. Of all people, why was he here in the ladies' room? Something was definitely off with this guy.

"You bastard, how dare you follow me here?" I hissed, gripping my phone tightly and preparing to strike him with it. I hadn't noticed that I'd answered the call.

"Calm down, sweetheart. I just wanted to check on you," he said, raising an eyebrow as he grabbed both my wrists. In an instant, he had me pinned against the wall.

"Let go of me, or you'll regret it," I shouted, struggling to free myself from his grip. He dodged my kicks with unnerving ease.

"You're really something else," he said, his tone amused as my phone slipped from my grasp, falling to the ground and cracking its screen.

Before I could react further, someone struck him over the head with a vase.

"No one messes with my friend. Got it?" Ayor screamed, tears streaming down her face as she continued kicking him even after he collapsed.

I ran over, pulling her away before she did something irreparable. Our shouting had drawn the attention of the restaurant's security. Standing there, catching my breath, I couldn't believe what had just happened.

I could've been assaulted if Ayor hadn't intervened.

For the first time, I felt truly vulnerable. I'd always thought of myself as strong, but now I realized how fragile I really was.

---

Bella's Point of View:

"Are you sure about this, Bella? We've just gotten married, and I don't want to pressure you," he whispered, his hot breath grazing every inch of my skin. His kisses left a burning trail from my neck down to my chest, lingering at my waist, sending an uncontrollable swarm of butterflies through me.

"Ah… don't stop. Please," I begged, desperate to erase Alexander from my mind.

Every thrust of his hips against mine, every tremor in the bed, and my nails digging into his back—it was unlike anything I'd ever felt before. My eyes darted around the room as he flipped me onto my stomach. The position left me mortified, my face buried in the pillow.

"Relax," he whispered, spanking me hard.

"Ah! Harder… please!"

I didn't care if I sounded shameless. If bearing his child was the only way to make Alexander forget me, then so be it.

"You don't know how long I've dreamed of this moment. Ever since I first laid eyes on you three years ago…"

"Ah… damn," I gasped, overwhelmed by the intensity of his movements.

I reached for his lips, capturing him in a kiss. But he wasn't finished—not even. But it seemed he wasn't done yet. How many more times would he continue? I couldn't feel my legs anymore, unsure if they would even hold me. How many positions did he want to try?

"Come on, Bella, moan my name. Beg me to make you scream with pleasure," he whispered into my ear.

Ah, mercy—I can't keep up with him.

... 

"I'm sorry, Teal. I caused you so much trouble. Lison seemed like a respectable young man—I never expected him to stoop so low. I mean, oh... how foolish I was," Ayor spoke, tears streaming down her face. She wiped her tears after tending to my hand, which had been injured when shards from the vase I smashed over Lison's head flew everywhere.

"It's okay, darling. Everything is fine. It's just a minor wound," I said as I massaged my scalp. It was already late.

"Miss Teal, your lawsuit against the celebrity Lison will be reviewed," the officer said. I nodded at him, determined not to let him get away with what he did. He might repeat it—or worse, do it to another girl. Holding him accountable was the right thing to do. I glanced at my shattered phone and sighed.

I've always believed that laws exist to bring justice to those wronged. But Lison's dark gaze, unblinking as he stared at me, felt like a warning—implying that even behind bars, he could still do whatever he pleased.

We encountered his six friends at the station. I overheard them saying, "Damn it, Lison. We warned you to stay away from that weird Teal. Wasn't Ayor your target from the start? What changed your mind?"

Oh, how I wanted to punch them all and teach them a lesson. But Lison's response infuriated me even more: "Just looking at her body triggers every primal, lustful instinct in me. I couldn't stop myself."

Damn it—has this man completely lost his mind?

"Teal!" Ayor's shout brought my focus back to her. "I'm sorry. I should have walked you home, but I just got a message from my brother. He's at the airport and needs me there. You know how he is."

I flashed a bright smile and waved at her as I took a taxi. I didn't know what had happened to her car, and I didn't ask because I knew it had something to do with her foolish brother.

Lost in my thoughts, a black limousine stopped, and its door slowly opened, revealing a polished figure. His facial features were cold. "Get in."

I breathed heavily as I sat next to him, and the car sped off at full throttle. My feet were shaking, and I didn't know why, but seeing him so distant made every hair on my body stand on end. Five minutes passed, and neither of us said a word.

'I need to tell Alexander what happened to me today. He's my husband, and he has the right to know, but how do I even begin?' I was lost in thought when the car stopped in front of the house. The servant greeted us, but I wasn't in the mood to respond, so I gave a thin smile. My body was still tense from the way Lyson had cornered me against the wall.