My Convicted Wife is My Mate (Bella and Kane) novel Chapter 34

chapter 29-1
BELLA’S POV

Across town, I put away my phone and picked up the broom again. My fingers were still trembling slightly from the call, though I tried not to show it.

“Who did you call?” Jasmine asked.

She looked at me as she swept the opposite corner of the hallway.

“My brother,” I answered lightly.

She blinked in surprise. “You have a brother? You never mentioned one before.”

I just smiled, hoping she wouldn’t press further. “We were… close in a weird way.”

She nodded and went back to sweeping, humming softly.

The day dragged on painfully slow. Every tick of the clock seemed louder. It felt like the hands were moving slower. I kept trying to focus on my work, but my thoughts kept slipping back to one person. Kane.

It was silly, I knew. He wasn’t mine. We weren’t anything. But knowing he’d be home that night, after walking out the way he did, it filled my chest with a strange kind of warmth in my chest.

I shouldn’t have counted on him. I’d learned not to rely on anyone. I was independent. I’d fought too hard to build a life again after prison, to stand on my own two feet.

But emotionally… I liked having him around.

He brought a kind of steadiness into the house, even when he barely said a word. Sometimes, he looked at me like he was seeing right through the walls I’d built. And that scared me.

Because one day, he’d leave. I knew that. And I’d deal with it when it happened. But for the moment… I didn’t want him leaving because of guilt. What had happened the night before - it had been an accident.

Still, the memory of his claws slicing through my skin flashed through my mind. I remembered the look on his face. His eye were filled with guilt, confusion and horror. I knew he didn’t mean to hurt me.

I shook my head, pushing the thought away, and swept harder.

When we finally finished sweeping, Jasmine and I walked back into the hospital’s cleaner quarters. A few women had gathered near the television on the wall. Their eyes were glued to the screen.

The news headline flashing across it froze me mid-step.

“Official: The Silvermoon and Monroe Families to Unite.”

Damien Silver. My former fiancé. My first love. The father of my unborn baby.

He was now engaged to Gina Monroe - the woman who had played a part in killing my grandfather. The sister of the woman I was jailed for killing in an accident.

The woman who had smiled as she testified against me, helping the Council strip me of my wolf and throw me into prison.

On-screen, a photo flashed of the smiling couple. In the photo, Damien’s arm was wrapped around Gina’s waist. She was radiant, showing off a ring the size of a small planet.

“…the six-carat pink diamond ring is exceptionally rare and is said to cost around ten million dollars,” the newscaster said.

“Gina’s so lucky” one of the women near me said, stuffing cleaning gloves into her bag. “Beautiful girl. She’s amazing, rich, and her husband’s hot and wealthy.”

I forced a small smile I didn’t mean. “Yeah. Lucky.”

They were beautiful, yes. They were wealthy too. But they were also cruel. Nobody knew just how petty and ruthless they were.

They had ruined my life.

“Justin,” I said, remembering his name. He worked in the hospital fleet. He was one of the drivers.

“Yeah,” I nodded. “My shift’s done.”

He wiped his hands on his uniform pants, looking slightly nervous. “If you’re heading home, I could give you a ride. It’s getting dark.”

I hesitated. He looked so genuine.

“I appreciate it,” I said softly. “But you don’t have to. I’m fine taking the bus or walking.”

He shook his head quickly. “It’s no trouble at all. I’ve got the car out front. I’d feel better knowing you got home safe.”

I smiled politely, shaking my head again. “Thank you, really. But I’ve got someone waiting for me.”

His eyebrows lifted just slightly. He looked curious. “Someone special?”

Damn it. Those words slipped out before I could even think. Why did I say that? What the hell was wrong with me?

I looked away. “Just… someone.”

Shay suddenly piped up from behind us, smirking. “Oh, come on, Justin, don’t waste your breath. Bella didn’t take rides unless it was in a luxury car.”

Justin blinked in confusion.

“Yeah, your car’s too cheap,” she said to Justin. “This is Bella Jameson. She only rides in style. Maybe if you could buy her a six-carat diamond ring, she’d let you drive her anywhere.”

The room went silent. I felt my heart stop for a moment, then start beating again, slow and heavy.

I stared at Shay in disbelief. For a moment, I wondered if I’d heard her wrong. The room had gone so still, it felt like even the air was waiting for what I’d say next.