HIS WARNING
2000 Words
The drive to Sterling Mansion was silent.
Not peaceful.
Not comfortable.
Bella sat beside Alexander in the back of the black limousine, watching the city slide past the tinted windows.
She had removed her heels.
Her feet hurt.
Her cheeks hurt from smiling.
And her head hurt from pretending she hadn't noticed the way Alexander had looked at her at the altar.
Or, more accurately, the way he had looked away.
She glanced at him.
Alexander sat on the opposite side, one arm resting against the door, his gaze fixed on the city.
His wedding ring caught the passing lights.
Bella looked at her own hand.
The ring felt strangely heavy.
One year.
She turned her attention back to the window.
“So,” she said eventually.
Alexander didn't look at her.
“So?”
“We're married.”
“I noticed.”
Bella stared at him.
“You're terrible at conversation.”
“I wasn't aware conversation was required.”
“It usually is between married people.”
His jaw tightened.
“Fortunately, we're not a normal married couple.”
Bella gave a quiet laugh.
“That's probably the understatement of the century.”
A few minutes later, the limousine turned through enormous iron gates.
Bella straightened.
Sterling Mansion appeared beyond them.
She had seen photographs.
They hadn't prepared her.
The house was enormous, sitting on a vast stretch of perfectly manicured grounds. Warm lights glowed through hundreds of windows. Tall stone columns framed the entrance, while a long staircase led to massive double doors.
It didn't look like a home.
It looked like a kingdom.
Bella stared.
“You're kidding.”
Alexander finally looked at her.
“What?”
“You actually live here?”
“Yes.”
“How many people live here?”
“Usually?”
“Yes.”
“Me.”
Bella blinked.
“You're telling me this entire place belongs to one person?”
Alexander's expression remained blank.
“Technically, there are staff.”
“That's somehow worse.”
The corner of his mouth moved.
Barely.
Bella noticed.
“Did you almost smile?”
“No.”
“You did.”
“I didn't.”
“You absolutely did.”
Alexander looked out the window again.
“You imagined it.”
Bella smiled to herself.
Interesting.
The billionaire did, apparently, have facial muscles.
The car stopped.
A staff member opened the door.
Alexander stepped out first.
Then he turned and offered Bella his hand.
She hesitated.
His eyes lowered to her hand.
“Unless you're planning to stay in the car.”
Bella placed her hand in his.
The moment their fingers touched, Alexander's body went rigid.
The warmth of her skin travelled through his palm with startling intensity.
His pulse jumped.
He hated it.
He released her almost immediately.
Bella stepped onto the pavement.
“You really don't like touching me.”
Alexander's expression hardened.
“Don't make assumptions.”
“I'm not.”
She looked pointedly at the hand he had just dropped.
“You just keep proving my point.”
He walked toward the entrance.
“Come inside, Bella.”
She followed.
The doors opened into a breathtaking entrance hall.
Marble floors.
Crystal chandeliers.
Paintings worth millions.
A sweeping staircase disappearing toward the upper floors.
Bella slowly turned.
“This is ridiculous.”
Alexander removed his jacket.
“Why?”
“Because no human being needs this much space.”
“I didn't design it.”
“Did your grandfather?”
“My great-grandfather.”
“Of course.”
A woman in her fifties approached with a warm smile.
“Welcome home, Mrs. Sterling.”
Bella froze.
The words still sounded wrong.
She smiled politely.
“Thank you.”
The woman turned to Alexander.
“Your room has been prepared.”
Alexander's gaze shifted to Bella.
“Hers ?”
“Yes, sir. As instructed.”
Bella's eyebrows rose.
“You prepared a room for me?”
“Obviously.”
“Separate?”
“Yes.”
Bella relaxed slightly.
“Good.”
Alexander studied her.
“You sound disappointed.”
“I sound relieved.”
“Same difference.”
Before Bella could respond, another voice came from the staircase.
“Finally!”
Amelia came rushing down.
She was still wearing the elegant dress from the reception, though she'd abandoned her heels.
She hugged Bella.
Bella laughed in surprise.
“You're still here?”
“Of course. I wasn't going to let my brother drag you into this mansion without supervision.”
Alexander sighed.
“Amelia.”
“What?”
“Go home.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I like her.”
Bella smiled.
“I like you too.”
Amelia looked triumphantly at her brother.
“See?”
Alexander looked between them.
“I've made a mistake.”
“Several,” Amelia replied.
Bella covered a laugh.
Alexander gave his sister a warning look.
Amelia only grinned.
“I'll leave you two to get settled.”
She leaned closer to Bella.
“If he starts acting terrifying, call me.”
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
“She doesn't have your number.”
“I'll give it to her.”
“Amelia.”
She ignored him.
“Goodnight, Bella.”
“Goodnight.”
Amelia disappeared through the doors.
Then looked at Bella.
“Don't encourage her.”
“I like her.”
“That's the problem.”
Bella folded her arms.
“Your family is beginning to make me question everything I've heard about the Sterlings.”
Alexander's face changed.
The warmth disappeared.
“Don't.”
Bella caught it immediately.
“What?”
“Don't confuse Amelia's kindness with mine.”
Her smile faded.
“I wasn't.”
“Good.”
He turned toward the staircase.
“Come.”
Bella followed.
---
Her room was beautiful.
Far too beautiful.
Cream walls.
A massive bed.
A sitting area.
Private balcony.
Walk-in wardrobe.
An entire bathroom that looked larger than her old apartment.
Bella stood in the doorway.
“This is my room?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you're my wife.”
The answer was simple.
Bella looked at him.
“That almost sounded genuine.”
Alexander's eyes hardened.
“It isn't.”
She stepped inside.
“Right.”
Alexander remained by the door.
Bella placed her handbag on a chair.
“Where is your room?”
“At the other end of the hallway.”
“Good.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“You're very enthusiastic about that.”
“I enjoy personal space.”
“So do I.”
Their eyes met.
The air changed.
Bella became aware of how close he was.
Alexander noticed too.
His shoulders stiffened.
His gaze dropped briefly to her face.
Then to her lips.
He immediately looked away.
Bella watched him carefully.
“You do it again.”
“What?”
“Pull away.”
Alexander's expression became colder.
“I told you. Personal space.”
“You seem to need a lot of it.”
“I do.”
“Why?”
“Because you're standing too close.”
Bella looked down.
There was nearly a meter between them.
She looked back up.
“I'm not.”
His jaw clenched.
He had no answer.
Because the truth was worse.
She wasn't standing too close.
He was simply too aware of her.
Her perfume.
Her voice.
The way the soft waves of her hair rested against her shoulders.
The tiny diamond at her ear.
The curve of her neck exposed by the dress.
Every detail was becoming an unwanted distraction.
Alexander hated every second of it.
He forced his eyes away.
“Get some sleep.”
Bella crossed her arms.
“That's it?”
“What else?”
“We got married today.”
“Yes.”
“Don't married couples usually talk?”
“Not this one.”
She studied him.
“You're really determined to make me hate you.”
His gaze returned to hers.
“I don't need to make you hate me.”
Something about his tone made her chest tighten.
“Why?”
“Because eventually you'll understand why this marriage exists.”
Bella's eyes narrowed.
“I already know why.”
“Do you?”
“Revenge.”
Alexander didn't deny it.
Bella's voice became quieter.
“You still haven't told me exactly what you intend to do.”
“Not yet.”
“Then tell me now.”
“No.”
She stepped closer.
His entire body reacted.
His fingers curled at his sides.
Don't.
She stopped a few feet away.
“You brought me into your home. You married me. You made promises in front of hundreds of people.”
“I kept my promises.”
“Then what am I supposed to be afraid of?”
Alexander looked at her.
For the first time, something dangerous entered his eyes.
“Everyone.”
Bella's expression changed.
“What?”
“You're looking for answers that powerful people have killed to protect.”
Her pulse quickened.
“I already know that.”
“No.”
He stepped closer.
This time, she didn't move.
“You don't.”
His voice lowered.
“Someone has been watching you.”
Bella's breath caught.
“Since when?”
“I don't know.”
“Then how do you know?”
“I have people watching the people watching you.”
Bella stared at him.
“That's comforting.”
“It's not supposed to be.”
His gaze held hers.
“If you notice anything strange, you tell me.”
“I can handle myself.”
“I know.”
“Then why—”
“Because being capable doesn't make you untouchable.”
The words were quiet.
Almost gentle.
Alexander seemed to realize what he'd said.
His expression immediately hardened.
“You are my wife now.”
Bella's stomach tightened.
“That sounds less comforting than you intended.”
“It wasn't meant to be comforting.”
“Then what was it?”
His eyes darkened.
“A warning.”
He turned toward the door.
Bella watched him go.
“Alexander.”
He stopped.
She hesitated.
“Thank you.”
He looked back.
“For what?”
“For warning me.”
For half a second, he looked almost human.
Almost vulnerable.
Then it disappeared.
“Lock your door.”
And he walked away.
Bella stared after him.
The door closed.
She slowly exhaled.
She didn't know what frightened her more.
The possibility that someone was watching her...
Or the fact that Alexander seemed genuinely concerned.
---
Alexander reached his bedroom and closed the door behind him.
Then he dragged a hand through his hair.
What the hell was wrong with him?
He had brought Bella into this house for a reason.
She was supposed to be a means to an end.
Yet the moment she had thanked him, something inside his chest had tightened.
He didn't like it.
He loosened his tie and walked toward the window.
Across the grounds, security lights swept through the darkness.
Everything was protected.
Everything was monitored.
No one got inside without permission.
And yet...
Alexander's eyes narrowed.
A tiny movement caught his attention near the far wall.
He reached for his phone.
“Sebastian.”
“Yes?”
“Increase security around Bella's room.”
A pause.
“Why?”
Alexander looked toward the darkness.
“Because someone is watching us.”
He ended the call.
Tonight, for the first time, he wasn't sure whether he was protecting Bella because she was useful...
Or because the thought of someone hurting her made something savage rise inside him.
He clenched his fist.
No.
He wouldn't allow himself to think that way.
Bella Hart was still his enemy.
His wife was still his revenge.
And he would not let attraction—or anything dangerously close to concern—change the plan.
Not ever.
But somewhere outside Sterling Mansion, hidden beyond the reach of the security lights, a figure stood watching the house.
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