My Convicted Wife is My Mate (Bella and Kane) novel Chapter 21

chapter 19-1
KATHY’S POV

Ever since that night at the country club, I hadn’t been able to shake this uneasy feeling crawling up my spine.

Something about the way Assistant Director Henry acted that night—how he went from praising me to slapping me, from desiring Bella to shoving her away… it just didn’t make sense.

I kept replaying it in my head, every strange detail, every sudden change in his expression.

One minute, he was all charm and sweet words, whispering about opportunities and screen time. The next, he was annoyed and scared.

It was supposed to be a simple evening. He got what he wanted. I got what I needed. And Bella… well, she should’ve just gone along with it.

I leaned back in my chair, letting out a deep breath.

“It was a win-win,” I muttered to myself. Or at least, it was supposed to be.

But no. Of course, Bella had to ruin it like she ruins everything. She should’ve been grateful, honestly. After all, she’d been in prison for years. She was lucky anyone even noticed her now. Nobody wanted her. Not with that record. Not with her name stained and her wolf gone.

She didn’t even try to shift that night. She didn’t even fight back properly when Henry got rough.

Pathetic.

Either her wolf was gone for good or she’d just gotten disgustingly weak.

I rubbed my temples. “Damn it, Bella.”

There was nowhere lower for her to go, and yet she still acted like she had pride left. She should’ve seen Henry as a chance, a good one. Instead, she caused a scene, and now… I still wasn’t sure what the fallout was.

Days had passed since then. Henry hadn’t come to the set once. His older brother—the Head Director—had also disappeared. He was replaced without warning. Nobody knew why.

It came as a shock to everyone, including me. The crew whispered about it during lunch breaks, but no one had answers. It didn’t make sense.

Then I overheard something that made my stomach twist.

While on set today, one of the actors leaned over to me, whispering like it was a scandal.

“Did you hear? Assistant Director Henry’s in the hospital. His right hand is completely ruined. He can’t even move it anymore.”

I froze. His right hand? That’s the same hand he’d used to slap Bella that night.

For a second, I couldn’t breathe. My pulse started to race in my ears.

“That’s… that’s impossible,” I said, forcing a shaky laugh. “You’re joking.”

The actor just shook his head. “No joke. I heard it from wardrobe. They said the injury was… unnatural. Like it wasn’t from an accident.”

I didn’t say anything. I just stood there, smiling like it didn’t bother me, but inside I was spiraling.

How could this be?

Bella was a nobody. She was a convict. A rogue. She didn’t even have a pack. Once Damien rejected her, everyone else followed. She was alone. Completely alone.

So how did something like this happen to Henry?

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the panic rising inside me. But the feeling wouldn’t go away. I kept thinking about that night, about the way Henry’s face had twisted in pain just before Bella ran out.

What if… no. No, it couldn’t be.

Unless… Unless Bella had someone behind her. Someone powerful.

The thought sent chills through me. Who could it be? And why would they help her?

I shook my head. That was impossible.

“No way,” I whispered. “If she had someone powerful behind her, she wouldn’t still be out there sweeping roads every day.”

Right?

His words hit me hard like a punch to my face. My stomach turned.

Okay, so he knew more than he let on.

I bit the inside of my cheek. I wasn’t going to admit anything else. Let him think what he wanted. He couldn’t prove a thing. My father might not be close to Bella, but if he knew what Director Henry was going to do to her, he would kill me for letting another man assault my sister.

“As I said,” I muttered, “it was only a few drinks.”

My father glared at me. My mother stepped in again. Her voice was sweet and soft, the perfect distraction.

“Come now, Alex,” she said, rubbing his arm soothingly. “Kathy was thinking of the pack. A good role for her means money and fame for all of us.”

I lifted my chin proudly. “Exactly.”

My father said nothing, but his shoulders relaxed a little, and that was good enough for me.

Still, something in me itched. The question that had been haunting me for days spilled out before I could stop it.

“Dad… do you think Bella might’ve found someone to help her?” I asked.

He frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Well,” I said carefully, “she rejected Assistant Director Henry’s drink offer that night. And now he’s in the hospital. His right hand’s destroyed. Doesn’t that sound… strange?”

My mother gasped softly. Her eyes went wide. She turned toward my father.

“Oh, Alex, can it be true?” she said quickly, touching his arm again. “You’re her father. You should ask her about it. If she has someone powerful helping her, she should tell the family. We deserve to know.”

I blinked. That was good. Better than I’d hoped. This was the perfect excuse. I could turn this situation in my favor.

Mom continued, her voice shaking just enough to sound worried. “What if she’s involved with bad people? You know how it was in prison. She could’ve met anyone in there! Criminals, rogues, even witches!”