~~ LEON'S POV ~~
I arrived home, freshened up, and went straight to bed as I could feel my head spinning. So, I went to bed earlier than usual because I had important things to attend to the next day.
___
I could hear loud music, and the smell of alcohol choked me. I opened my eyes to find Bella in a transparent black nightgown. Her hair was in a bun, revealing her shoulder, and I could feel the lust in me rise. She turned around to look at me, holding a cigarette in one hand and a glass of alcohol in the other. "I thought you were never going to wake up," she scoffed and sat on the couch.
"What do you want? And why are you in my room so early?" I laid back on the bed, covering my face with a pillow.
"Huh, did you say your room? Excuse me, it's also my room since we are married, and it's already 5 am, and you're still asleep," she said.
'Shit.. is this girl mad or she's just drunk? It's just 5 am, and she's disturbing my sleep. Lord, please help me, or I might kill someone.'
"And the reason I woke you up is to give you your rules and regulations," she sipped her drink.
"My rules and regulations?"
"Yes, baby, it's rules night. You see, I saw the way that ex-girlfriend of yours was buzzing around you like a fly, hmm... no, she's a fly."
"So?" I raised an eyebrow.
"That ends now. I know you're a player and do a lot of rubbish stuff, but don't even think you're free to do them now as we're married. Any bullshit you do would affect my name."
If I wasn't told that Bella behaves annoyingly when she's annoyed, I would have tied her up and locked her in a room.
"Rule number one: you aren't permitted to flirt or have intimate relationships with other girls. Don't let them think your wife is a lesbian, okay? Rule number two: You shouldn't try poking your nose into my life unless I might just pull a bullet in your head. Also, I must be by your side if you're going for a business trip. I trust no one with my stuff. Rule number three: You ain't permitted to bring in work into this room, and failure to abide by these rules, you'll get punished."
I sat up, taking a good look at the person I call my wife.
"And what gives you the right to control me?"
"I'm your wife, so I have that right."
"The same wife that left her husband halfway to the reception. Look, Bella, I can understand if you have some expectations from me as your husband. I also have some expectations for you. You can't just try bossing me around," I tried explaining, and she came close.
"And what if I do?" She dropped her glass beside the bed and threw the remaining cigarettes into the waste bin.
"Then am sorry to inform you but you're gonna fail." She came close to me. "Have you heard this saying? The king always rules the kingdom, but the queen rules over the king."
I swallowed hard as our noses touched. "I..."
I was unable to complete my statement as she sealed my lips with hers, giving me an open-mouth kiss. I could taste every part of her mouth, her tongue played tag with mine, and my hands subconsciously moved to hold her waist. Her lips were so intoxicating that I didn't want to break the kiss, and the taste of alcohol filled my mouth. But she pulled away in the next moment.
"Good night, hubby," she pecked me and laid on the bed. I took a good look at myself, and my little brother was already up.
"Nah, this girl is going to be my end," I murmured and went back to sleep.
* * *
"Leave her alone... no mummy," I heard Bella speak in her sleep. I covered my laptop and saw tears rolling down her cheek. "No, let me go... ahh please," she said, and the tears kept flowing. "Bella," I tried waking her up, but she shoved my hand off.
"Bella," I called again, but she didn't wake up. I didn't know what to do. Beads of sweat kept forming on her forehead, and her tears were not stopping. I picked up the glass of water at the bedside and sprinkled a little on her face, making her jerk up immediately. She looked around the room with a face filled with fear. "Bella, are you okay?" I held her shoulder, but she shifted away, wiping her tears. She stood up and made her way for the bathroom. Seeing her like that brought up a wave of emotions in me, which I couldn't explain. Although she's annoying, I still prefer that side of her than the one I'm seeing now. She came out of the bathroom already freshened up and with a cigarette in her mouth. "Must you smoke this early?" I questioned.
"I told you not to try getting involved in my life, and just because you don't smoke doesn't mean others shouldn't. I'll be downstairs," she said in a dull voice and left the room. Bella's behavior and attitude were different from last night and the other days we met. She looked as if something was bothering her, but she didn't want to speak up. Seeing her switch mood and behavior so easily just made me realize I knew nothing about her, which doesn't seem good. I checked my schedule, and thank goodness I was free for the day, so I decided to go visit Bella's mum to at least know a thing or two about her because I know Bella won't be opening up anytime soon.
* * *
I arrived at Carson's mansion and was welcomed by old man Carson. "Good morning, sir."
"Sir, did you just call me sir? Well, I'm very disappointed," he said, and the air suddenly turned tense for me.
"I thought you would have learned to call me GP like your wife does," he said, and I smiled in relief.
"Don't worry, GP, I would never forget it," I said with a smile as he hugged me.
"So what brings you here just a day after your marriage? I hope you aren't here to report your wife?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Hmm, no, actually, I'm here to meet with my mum-in-law," I said, and I could see him sign in relief.
"So how was your first night after marriage?" he asked, grinning from ear to ear.
"Is there another world for horrible? Because if there is, then that was my wedding night." He laughed so hard that I started feeling nervous.
"Well, that's why I'm here, so I can know about my wife," I said, and Mr. Carson suddenly called the chef and whispered something into his ear.
"Why don't we discuss that over breakfast?" he led the way to the dining room. I took the chair beside him and picked up a glass of juice since I wasn't a fan of breakfast; I preferred brunch.
"So what do you wish to know about my grandchild?" he questioned.
"Everything, with only a few hours of living with her, I've noticed her sudden change of mood," I said, and he nodded.
"Well, Bella only has mood swings when she has a nightmare early in the morning. You see, Bella's childhood wasn't really a good one," I could see the color drain from his face.
"Bella was just fifteen when she and her mum came to live with me, and at sixteen, she decided she wanted to become a queen Mafia. I had to hand over my business responsibility to her since my health was failing, and the doctors wanted me to have more rest. But before that, she had always watched her dad beat up her mum and how he brought different ladies home before finally introducing his mistress... I find myself partially at fault for this because if I hadn't arranged Annabelle's marriage with an asshole like my son, then all this wouldn't have happened," he sighed. I could see guilt vividly written on his face, but it was already too late to regret.
"But I'm glad and relieved that Bella has you. You see, Bella only married you because I insisted...she always swore never to get married," he continued.
I couldn't help but feel bad hearing what Mr. Carson said. Who would have known that such a successful and playful person like Bella was going through a lot inside... and yet she doesn't show it.
"Although she looks strong, dominant, and ruthless, she's a loving person. You just need time to understand her," he said with a half smile.
"I understand if she's having some trust issues, but what prompted her smoking? She smokes before going to bed and first thing in the morning when she wakes up," I said, and he smiled.
"As for that, I'm clueless as she's the only one who can give you the answers you're looking for. Even her mum tried to stop her from smoking but failed," he said and returned to breakfast.
Like seriously, of all people, I'm the one to be patient? Patience is like an impossible thing in my dictionary, and why in hell am I even trying to change her? I couldn't explain the sudden change of feeling I had toward Bella.