My Convicted Wife is My Mate (Bella and Kane) novel Chapter 38

chapter 32
BELLA’S POV

The bell rang. It was the signal for the guests to move to the main dining room. The air shifted immediately. People got up and I could hear the sounds of champagne glasses clinking. Like a herd of pampered sheep, they migrated to the next room.

Jane and Nina didn’t move. Their eyes glittered like two cats who’d just cornered a wounded bird. They stayed behind deliberately. They had huge cruel smiles on their faces. They looked excited, like they couldn’t wait to see what would happen. I could feel their anticipation. This was entertainment for them. They were waiting to see me humiliated.

The room went silent. Most of the guests were gone now. The only sound came from the trickling of water from the pond in the corner. Through the glass doors, I could see the pond’s surface.

I forced myself to keep my shoulders straight as I walked toward Jane. The only way out was through this. I handed her the folder.

“This is the document you asked for.” I told her.

Jane took it with a huge smile.

“Bella,” she said sweetly, “sorry you had to make the trip. But since you were obviously working this weekend anyway, isn’t it nice to get off the streets and into a place like this?” She batted her lashes. “A little change of scenery never hurts, right?”

“Yes,” I replied evenly, “it’s lovely to be reminded how the other half lives.”

Her smile fell, just barely. I turned to leave. But before I could take two steps, a rough hand clamped down on my arm.

Derek.

“Why the rush?” His voice was a low growl, the kind that made my stomach twist. “It’s been years, Bella. This was a reunion. Let’s catch up.”

“Let go of me.”

He didn’t. Instead, he reached for a half-empty glass of red wine from the table and shoved it toward my lips. “Come on, drink up. You used to love wine, didn’t you? Or did you only drink when you wanted to poison someone?”

The taunt made my pulse race. He was referring to my conviction. I turned my head, clenching my teeth. The wine splashed across both of us. It ended up staining his white shirt and dripping down my neck.

The next moment, his hand came across my face. He slapped me…hard. My cheek burned.

“Ugh!” Derek sneered. “Do you still think you’re Damien’s woman? You’re nothing now. Just an ex-con, a street cleaner. You have nobody! Who the hell do you think you are?”

The words hurt a lot not as much as the truth behind them. I forced down the fear rising in my chest. He was right about one thing. I didn’t have my wolf anymore. I was weaker. And in our world, that made me fair game.

He grabbed another drink and threw it at my face. Cold wine splashed down my chin, soaking through my uniform.

Nina laughed loudly. She was watching gleefully. She had her phone in her hand as she recorded us.

Jane smiled. “Bella, why don’t you apologize to Derek? He might forgive you.”

Apologize? To him? The thought made me laugh bitterly.

“That’s not going to happen,” I said.

Derek’s smirk deepened. “Still got a mouth on you.” He stepped closer, crowding me back until my spine hit the edge of a table. “You remember what you did to me, don’t you?”

I did. Years ago, when he tried to corner me outside a charity gala, I had fought back. I had drawn blood. And now he wanted revenge.

I tried to make a break for the door, but his hand caught the back of my overalls, pulling me backward.

“Bella,” he snarled. “Do you really think being Damien’s ex will save you? Even if I rape you right here, no one would stop me.”

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