My Convicted Wife is My Mate (Bella and Kane) novel Chapter 10

chapter 10
BELLA’S POV

For a moment, I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My own father was sitting there in his polished chair, sipping his tea like this was any other evening, asking me to lend them some money to help my sister’s acting career. The same sister who had destroyed my life.

My voice cracked as I repeated his words, “The least I can do?” My hands trembled. My heart was pounding so fast it hurt. “I went to prison for her! For three years, I was tortured while you all slept soundly in this house.”

The color drained from Kathy’s face for a second, but she quickly recovered. She flipped her hair back with that same smug look she’d always worn.

“You always make yourself the victim, Bella,” she said in a cold, dismissive tone. “You chose your own fate.”

I could barely breathe. The walls felt like they were closing in.

“I chose?” I raised my voice “You slept with my mate while I was rotting in a cell!” The words came out shaking. They were full of hurt I didn’t even know I still had in me. My throat burned, my eyes stung with tears, but I didn’t care.

She rolled her eyes. “You were already gone. Damien moved on. We both did.”

“Enough!” Father’s hand slammed against the table, making the dishes rattle. His tone carried the same authority that once used to make me freeze as a child. “You will not speak that way in this house.”

I turned to him. My breathing was heavy. I could feel waves of rage and grief twisting inside me. “Why not? Because it makes you uncomfortable? Because for once, you have to hear the truth?”

My stepmother stood. Her expression was as sharp as a knife.

“You’re ungrateful, Bella,” she hissed. “Hard-hearted. You should be happy your sister found love after all the shame you caused.”

Her words hit me like a blade straight to the chest. I blinked at her, at all of them. I could see it in their eyes - their disgust, their judgment, their self-righteousness - and for the first time in a long time, I saw them clearly. They never felt sorry. They never missed me. They never cared.

My voice shook, but I forced myself to speak.

“I gave up everything for this family,” I said quietly. “I took the blame so you could keep your precious reputation intact. So the Jameson name wouldn’t be dragged through the mud.”

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