Unexpected protection
1272 Words
CHAPTER 3
The next few days passed in a blur of silence and distance. Bella tried her best to stay out of Alessandro’s way, just as he had ordered. She spent her time reading, walking in the large, beautiful garden behind the mansion, or sitting quietly in her room. She was always polite, always obedient, but she kept her head down and her words few.
She told herself it was safer this way. The less she interacted with him, the less chance she had of being hurt by his coldness or his cruel world.
But fate had other plans.
One afternoon, a week after the incident with the traitor, Alessandro informed her coldly that they would be attending a dinner that evening. It was a business gathering with other powerful families — people he did business with, people she needed to be seen beside.
"Be ready by seven," he had said, not even looking at her. "Wear the blue dress the maid will give you. Smile. Speak only when spoken to. And do not embarrass me."
Now, standing in the grand ballroom of one of the city’s most luxurious hotels, Bella felt smaller and more nervous than ever. The room was filled with wealthy, dangerous people — men in sharp suits, women in expensive gowns, all talking, laughing, and drinking, but with sharp, calculating eyes.
Alessandro stood beside her, tall, dark, and commanding every inch of the space. Even here, surrounded by equals, he was the king. People came to him, bowed slightly, spoke to him with respect and fear. He answered them with that same cold, unreadable expression, his hand resting casually on the small of Bella’s back.
His touch was light, but it felt heavy. It was a claim to the world: She is mine.
As the night went on, Bella tried to stay hidden in his shadow, just as instructed. But eventually, Alessandro was pulled away by an older man with grey hair and a stern face — someone important, clearly discussing serious business. He glanced at her briefly, signaling her to stay put, before moving toward a quiet corner with the man.
Bella stood alone near the edge of the room, holding a glass of juice, feeling incredibly out of place.
Suddenly, a man stepped in front of her.
He was shorter than Alessandro, rounder, with greasy hair and eyes that looked her up and down in a way that made her skin crawl. She recognized him — Mr. Moretti’s business partner, Mr. Rossi. She had heard Alessandro mention his name with clear dislike.
"So you are the new wife," Mr. Rossi said, his voice slimy and low. He stepped closer, invading her personal space. "Such a shame… a beautiful, sweet young thing like you, married to a stone-cold monster like Alessandro Moretti."
Bella stepped back, uncomfortable. "He is my husband, sir."
"Husband?" Rossi laughed, a nasty sound. "He doesn’t know how to be a husband. He knows how to rule, how to kill, how to make money… but love? Warmth? Kindness? That man has none of it. Everyone knows he bought you just for show."
He leaned closer, his breath smelling of alcohol. "You deserve someone better, little wife. Someone who knows how to treat a woman properly. Someone like me."
He reached out, his dirty hand trying to touch her arm.
Bella flinched away, her heart pounding. "Please, sir… step back."
"Don't be shy," he smirked, moving even closer, trapping her against the wall. "Alessandro won't care. He doesn't want you anyway. He told everyone himself — he will never love you. You are nothing to him. So why not have some fun?"
His hand grabbed her wrist, tight and painful.
Bella opened her mouth to scream, but before a sound could come out…
CRACK.
In less than a second, Mr. Rossi was ripped away from her and slammed violently against the wall.
Alessandro stood there.
He had appeared out of nowhere, moving faster than anyone his size should be able to. His hand was wrapped around Rossi’s throat, lifting the man slightly off the ground. His face… his face was terrifying.
The coldness was gone. The calmness was gone. In its place was pure, unmasked fury. His eyes were black fire, his jaw clenched so hard the muscles stood out, his whole body trembling with rage.
"Touch her again… and I will cut your hands off."
Alessandro’s voice was low, but it echoed through the quiet space like a gunshot. People nearby froze, staring in shock.
Rossi was choking, eyes wide with terror. "Alessandro… I… I meant no disrespect… I just…"
"You touched what belongs to me," Alessandro growled, squeezing harder. "You spoke to her like she is trash. You thought because I do not love her, she is unprotected?"
He leaned in closer, his voice deadly and sharp.
"Listen well, you worthless worm. I may never love her. But she is MINE. And no one… absolutely no one… has the right to hurt her, touch her, or even look at her with bad intentions. She is under my protection. And to harm her is to declare war on me."
He threw Rossi to the floor like garbage, wiping his hand on his suit as if the man had dirtied him.
"Get out. Before I change my mind and kill you where you stand."
Rossi scrambled to his feet, terrified, and ran away without looking back.
The room was dead silent. All eyes were on Alessandro. But he didn't care. He turned immediately to Bella.
The rage in his eyes vanished the moment he looked at her. It didn’t turn to warmth… but it turned to something softer. Something worried.
He stepped closer, his large hands gently taking her wrist where the other man had grabbed her. His touch was incredibly careful, gentle, almost tender — the complete opposite of how he had treated Rossi.
"Did he hurt you?" he asked, his voice low and rough, different from how he had ever spoken to her before.
Bella was shaking, her heart racing so fast she thought it would burst. She looked up at him, into those dark eyes that had just burned the whole world down for her.
"You… you said I was nothing," she whispered, confused and breathless. "You said I was just a possession. You said… you said you would never love me."
Alessandro stared at her. He didn't let go of her wrist. He looked at her face, her eyes, the fear slowly turning into something else.
He let go and stepped back, instantly putting his cold mask back on. But this time, it didn't fit perfectly. There was a c***k in it.
"Love is weakness, Bella. But protection… protection is duty. It is pride. It is honor."
He turned away, hiding the emotion he didn't want her to see.
"I protect what is mine. That is the only reason. Do not read anything else into it."
He offered her his arm stiffly. "Come. We are leaving."
As she walked beside him out of the hotel, her hand resting on his arm, Bella realized the terrifying truth.
He said he didn't love her. He said he had no heart. He said it was only duty.
But a man does not burn the world down, does not lose his calm, does not look at a woman with such intense, possessive fear for her safety… just because of duty.
He says he never loved… Bella thought, looking at his strong, cold profile. But his actions are shouting something his mouth refuses to say.
And that… was more dangerous to her heart than anything else.
- Writer
