The Billionaire's unwanted wife

Chapter 9 : The strength within

Alexander Kingston paced the length of his study, his jaw clenched so tightly it ached. He barked out orders into the phone, his voice icy and commanding. “I want every single one of those pictures wiped off the internet and out of circulation. Call the editors. Pay them off. And find out who’s behind this, who leaked those photos. I want their name, now.”

He slammed the phone onto the desk, his chest heaving with fury. Across the mansion, chaos simmered in a hushed, anxious silence. Staff members moved quietly, eyes downcast. None dared speak unless spoken to.

Meanwhile, Isabella locked herself inside her room. She hadn’t eaten, hadn’t slept. Her world had shattered overnight. The cruel headline replayed in her mind like a broken record:

“The Billionaire’s Wife and Her Mistress, Shocking Photos Leak Online”

Her half-nude images, photos she had no idea even existed, were plastered across news sites and social media platforms. The media had gone into a frenzy, spinning malicious narratives and dragging her name through the mud.

She sat curled on the floor beside her bed, still wearing the oversized shirt Alex had given her the night before. Her eyes were puffy and red, lips dry, and her face ghostly pale. No matter how tightly she closed her eyes, the images haunted her.

Grandfather Kingston had tried to coax her out gently, his voice trembling with uncharacteristic tenderness. “My Bella, please come out. Just eat a little something, darling. Then you can go back inside, I promise.”

Even Celeste, who had never particularly warmed up to Isabella, was pacing the hallway, eyes glassy, quietly murmuring prayers under her breath. “Please, God. Don’t let her do anything to herself. Please…”

When Alex finally returned home in the evening, the tension inside the mansion peaked.

“What’s going on?” he asked, his voice quieter than usual but trembling with contained emotion.

Celeste turned to him, her eyes brimming with tears. “She hasn’t come out. Not once. She hasn’t eaten either.” Her voice cracked. “We’re all worried. What if, what if she does something to herself?”

Alex’s face turned to stone. He clenched his fists, trying to suppress the wave of dread flooding through him. Without saying a word, he strode past everyone and stopped in front of Isabella’s door.

He placed his hand on the wood, leaned in, and said softly, “Bella... please open the door.”

To his astonishment, the lock clicked almost instantly. Isabella stood there, her small frame trembling, eyes sunken and wide like she hadn’t slept in days. Her lips trembled as she looked up at him, then without a word, the dam broke.

She collapsed into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably. Alex wrapped her tightly in his embrace, his heart squeezing painfully at how broken she felt in his arms. He ran a hand gently through her hair, kissing the crown of her head.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered. “I’ve deleted the footage. It’s all gone.”

Isabella calmed slightly but kept her face buried in his chest. She murmured, her voice barely audible. “Do you know who did this to me?”

Alex stiffened. “We have the man in custody. But he hasn’t talked yet.”

She slowly sat upright, her voice gaining the faintest edge of steel. “Can I see him?”

Alex blinked, taken aback. Before he could answer, a loud commotion erupted outside. He rushed to the window and his blood ran cold, paparazzi were gathered in droves at the mansion gates, shouting, shoving, cameras flashing.

“I thought I paid them off…” he muttered, fury rising again.

Behind him, Isabella sat motionless, eyes locked on the wall. “I still want to see him.”

Alex turned to her, heart racing. “Bella, I don’t know if you’re ready for that. Psychologically, emotionally”

“Take me,” she said firmly, this time looking him in the eyes.

After a long pause, Alex sighed and nodded. “Alright.”

To avoid the press, they slipped out through the back exit and into Alex’s black SUV. The drive was long and silent. Isabella stared out the window, arms crossed tightly across her chest. Alex glanced at her from time to time, concern etched into his every line.

The warehouse was located on the outskirts of the city, an abandoned, concrete structure Alex had repurposed for “private dealings.” As soon as Isabella stepped inside, a pungent metallic smell assaulted her senses. Her heart thundered. She hadn’t realized how nervous she was until her legs began to tremble.

Alex stopped just before the door to the holding room. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

She didn’t respond at first. He repeated, firmer this time, “I want to hear your voice, Bella.”

“Yes,” she breathed. “I’m ready.”

Inside the room, a man sat tied to a chair, bloodied and bruised. One eye was swollen shut, several fingers visibly broken. He looked like he’d been beaten within an inch of his life. Isabella stared at him. Recognition struck her instantly.

Ruby.

The man who had tried to assault her weeks ago. The man who had smirked at her, threatened her, stolen her dignity.

Ruby lifted his head and his bloodied lips twisted into a grin. “Oh, my sweet Bella. I knew you’d come.”

One of Alex’s guards stepped forward and slammed a rod across his jaw. Ruby spat out blood.

Isabella’s chest heaved. She walked forward slowly and took the rod from the guard. Alex didn’t stop her. He watched silently, arms crossed, face unreadable.

She stood in front of Ruby, her hands shaking but her gaze unwavering. “This, ” She slammed the rod across his leg. “Is for trying to touch me without my consent.”

Another hit. “This, is for the trauma I still carry every night.”

Another. “This is for the world seeing parts of me I never agreed to share.”

Another. “And this, is for you refusing to name whoever paid you.”

She dropped the bloodied rod. Her hands were trembling. Her heart was racing. But in that moment, she had never felt more powerful.

She turned and walked out without a word, Alex right behind her, stunned into silence.

The ride back was quiet again. A soft tune played from the car speakers. Isabella leaned her head against the window, finally allowing herself to breathe. The pain was still there. But something inside her had shifted.

As they neared the mansion, she spoke. “Can we stop at the park?”

Alex glanced at her, surprised. “The park?”

She nodded. “Please.”

He turned the car in that direction without asking further.

The park was nearly empty, bathed in soft moonlight. Isabella walked over to the swings, the ocean breeze playing with her hair. Alex followed and sat beside her.

They both stared at the waves in silence.

Finally, he spoke. “Are you okay?”

She exhaled slowly. “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”

Alex smiled slightly. “You’re incredibly strong, Bella.”

The wind carried her laugh gently across the empty space. It was the first time he’d heard her laugh in days, and it warmed something deep inside him.

She looked up at him with soft eyes. “Thank you… for today.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I’ll always protect you.”

As she smiled again, she didn’t realize she’d leaned into his chest. Alex’s arms wrapped around her naturally. They sat like that for a while, no words, just comfort.

Her phone rang, breaking the silence.

She sat up quickly, a little flustered. Alex chuckled softly. “Easy, I don’t bite.”

She checked the caller ID and froze.

Unknown Number.

Her fingers trembled as she answered.

“My dear Bella…” The voice on the other end sent a bolt of ice through her spine. “Have you not missed me?”

Her eyes widened in horror. Her mouth went dry.

It was him.

Lorenzo De Luca.

“Did you think you could run from me forever?” his voice was smooth, almost amused. “Tsk, tsk. I saw what happened with the photos. You look beautiful, even humiliated.”

Tears sprang to Isabella’s eyes. Her grip on the phone tightened.

“I’ve missed you, Isabella,” Lorenzo continued. “And I think, it’s time we meet again.”

A beep sounded. A message came through.

Alex, noticing her expression, grabbed the phone from her hands and opened the image.

It was a photo of Isabella, taken that same morning.

In her bedroom.

While she was asleep.

A red circle had been drawn around her heart.

And underneath it, a caption:

“Next time, I won’t miss.”

Alex’s jaw tightened.

Isabella gasped in horror.

Their nightmare was far from over.