Bound By Revenge Redeemed By Love

Chapter Two : The Mask Slips

Isabella’s POV

“You’re two minutes late,” Alexander’s voice cut thunderously through the silence of the dining hall, it was a cold encounter, and sharp as steel.

I froze at the entrance, not able to take one more step. He didn't even care to take his eyes off his food, he was more than concentrated that he cares less of the person with him. He was just deliberate and precise at aiming cruel words that would break me into pieces, directly at me.

“I didn’t know breakfast in this mansion of yours comes with a curfew,” I replied, doing my best to put on a smile, and not show how much his words affected me. If I do, it would only mean one thing; he's already winning. I ensured my voice came out casual like I cared less, while from inside, I was boiling out of rage. Every meal I shared with him on same table was like dinning with the devil himself.

Finally, he decided to lift his gaze, those intimidating stormy gray eyes, and the first place they landed was on me, thoroughly raking me like a predator. “In this house, everything to be done has rules.”

“Even breathing air?” I asked, though I was already nervous, but I carefully slided into the chair opposite him.

His lips curved into something sinister. “Don’t tempt me this early.”

From the corner of my eyes, I swear, I saw a maid wiping off lipstick stain from Alexender's glasses before disappearing to another corner of the mansion. The lipstick wasn't mine, who could be the owner?

I watched him eat silently like he was harmless, like he wasn't the person who took my freedom from me. The silence went on untill I couldn't stand it anymore.

“Tell me something I didn't know, Alexander,” I started l, trying to get him annoyed. With my arms folded, I continued. “Why go through the stress of making me your wife, if at the end, you would end up treating me like an inconvenience?”

His fork hung on the air. He couldn't take the food to his mouth, then stared intensely at me, not out of affection, not even out of anger which I was expecting, but he was amused.

“Because, Isabella,” he started on a soft note, but there was still a mockery in his gentleness. “sometimes, when a Man becomes successful like me, he doesn’t need a wife. All he needs is just a symbol. And most times, that symbol need to be in close range for monitoring. Remember, invisible eyes are on you in this house.” Was that a threat, or a warning?

I didn't know when I realed a bitter laugh. “So that’s clearly all that I am to you? Just a symbol? A pretty accessory which you would parade around at will, while you carefully keep the real parts of your life hidden away from the eyes of the public?”

He leaned back, already getting furiously with my analysis. “Be careful with your utterances.”

“Or what would happen?” I pressed on, though I was wondering where I got the energy to challenge him from was.“You’ll plan and get me locked up, at least, not in an cheap cage, but one of your expensive golden cage, and proceed to throw the keys far away beyond anyone's reach? Face me like a man, Alexander, I didn't turn out to be a mute doll as you expected, and will never be. You just married your downfall."

I waited for some time, thinking maybe he would do something rash, hit me, or shout out of annoyance, or do the most; give me a punishnent as had become a norm in the homes of rich people, but no, he did none of that. Though I saw something like anger in his face, it didn't last long, as the next minute, he had resumed chewing his food like I wasn't there with him. “You should know your place, Isabella. That way, you will Avery much trouble from befalling you. Your presence in this house was because I permitted it. Don't push me to the point of taking it out on you."

The words stung more than I admitted. I wanted to scream at him, to put him in his place, to remind him of my rights, but I didn't see the voice. I couldn't tell him to his faces that I wasn't a charity case he could dispose at will when he's bored and no longer interested in me.b

Instead, I found myself saying the strangest thing so sweetly, “Enjoy your breakfast, my darling. I've suddenly lost appetite for your food."

I stood up and left to my room, though I was expecting him to stop me, but he did nothing.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That evening, still foaming from the encounter with him at the dinning in the morning, I decided to take a stroll around the mansion. Maybe, I will be able to calm my nerves, and fill the emptiness I was feeling in me. I wandered aimlesslt, until I heard it

It was a familiar voice, same voice that has brought nothing but pain to me, now chatting intimately with someone.

The door to the study room was slightly open, and I needed no one to tell me it was Alexander.

“Victoria… I don't think this is a good time,” he murmured, and surprisingly, his voice was very soft and gentle. I never for once imagined such tone could ever come from him. But even at that, the lipstick stain on his glasses was gradually making sense. It was really hers. Victorian's

Victoria Hale, yes, that's the name. The woman on everyone's lips, one every news that he planned to marry, before he engaged in this revenge plan.

“Don’t give me e the energy that you don’t miss me,” her voice purred smoothly like honey. “You can keep your little bride just for show as planned, Alexander. But she can never take my place in your life."

I couldn't contain the anger in me as I listened. So I was a convenient mask for their display.

He was silent for some seconds before finally talking. “You know all of this isn’t about her in anyway.”

Not about me? What exactly is he talking about?

Victoria laughed softly, the kind that screams if wickedness. “You’ve always been the master planner once it comes to keeping secrets, Alexander, especially the kind we joined hand to bury together."

Joined hands to bury together? I wasn't having it anymore. What were they hiding?