Chapter 78

Bella could feel her irritation rise as she continued listening to the man..

“Listen…” he was about to continue when, at that very moment, the door swung open and Ethan stood there. Bella ripped the phone from her ear immediately, her head snapping to the open door where Ethan stood, a questioning look etched on his face.

He stepped into the room, and Bella stood, attempting to appear composed, the phone clutched tightly in her hands.

“You’re home early,” she stated almost breathlessly, her words carrying a hint of surprise attempting to deflect any suspicion that might arise from the abrupt end to her secretive conversation.

“Yes,” he replied, his eyes searching her features with a discerning intensity.

“Is something wrong?” he asked, his brows furrowing suspiciously, as if sensing a disturbance in the atmosphere.

“Huh?” she asked, looking up with wide, innocent eyes, a practiced guise of normalcy.

“No nothing,” she denied immediately, attempting to deflect any scrutiny.

You sure? You sounded like you were having an issue.” he queried, his gaze briefly flickering towards her phone, catching the subtle unease in her demeanor as her grip around it tightened even more.

“It’s nothing, just one of the artists. He’s demanding to be paid more for the exhibition where we’re displaying his paintings,” she explained,her attempt at casualness at odds with the tight grip on the phone, casting shadows of secrecy in the room.

Ethan’s features relaxed as he processed her explanation.

“You should arrive at a decision before starting; that’s not legal. Do you need my help? Need me to step in?” he offered, displaying a genuine concern for her predicament.

“It sounds serious,” he observed, his attention fully on her.

she replied immediately, her denial quick and

his name, the name of this artist?” Ethan

worry. I’ll handle it myself. It’s nothing,” she laughed anxiously, attempting to downplay the severity of the issue. Ethan, however, continued to

in his gaze.

her stance, knowing she had to sound. convincing to dissuade

nothing I can’t handle. I’ll take care of this myself,” she insisted, her words laced with determination as she tried to

the room hanging heavy with unspoken tension,

trail of unanswered questions. With that, he turned and headed towards their bedroom, the

across the room, shutting the door he had left

a lingering thread connecting her to the shadows of her clandestine dealings. “Oh, was that Mr. Wild?” Gabriel sneered through the phone, his malicious tone cutting through the silence as he cackled, reveling in Bella’s discomfort and

with sarcasm. “Stop it, Bella said,

said you were done?” he sneered, reveling in

have just told him, he continued, breaking

in her voice as she tried to silence

taunts.

finding amusement

for a moment, you were done with all the lies and tired of our little transactions and wanted to come clean,” he chuckled more then broke into

thousand,” he ordered, his demand cutting through the remnants

now. I can’t use my regular accounts; I’ll use the company’s own, so it doesn’t arouse suspicion. But it has to be tomorrow,” she explained, attempting to reach an agreement and

leaving Bella to deal with the thoughts of how to have the amount wired to his account. She flung her phone away in frustration, releasing an

seventy? You said fifty before!” she thundered the moment he picked up, her irritation evident in

an interest, of course, twenty thousand,” he stated gleefully, his tone indicating a

spouting?” she asked, struggling to comprehend

the money you owe me, so what else do I do? I borrow. So

With a frustrated sigh, she hung up

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