Ken's words struck a chord in Bella's mind. She had been so desperate to save her brother that she hadn't thought through the potential consequences of her actions.
"What do you know about Ethan Black?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
Bella shook her head. "Not much. He's wealthy and influential, and he's willing to pay for your treatment in exchange for our marriage."
Ken's eyes narrowed. "That's not enough, Bella. You need to know more about him. What's his business? Who are his associates?"
Bella felt a surge of unease. She had been so focused on saving her brother that she hadn't thought to ask questions about Ethan's background.
"I'll find out more," she promised Ken. "But for now, let's just focus on getting you better, okay?"
Ken nodded, but his expression remained skeptical. Bella knew she had to reassure him, but she couldn't shake off the feeling that she had made a deal with a stranger, and she had no idea what the consequences would be.
time moved quickly and soon the sun set, Bella's nerves began to flutter. She had spent the day with her brother, trying to push aside her doubts and worries about her contract marriage to Ethan.
But now, as the evening drew near, she knew she couldn't avoid him forever, she had no idea what to expect. she said goodbye to her brother promising to visit him soon and after kissing his cheek she left.
She descended to the hospital lobby lost in thought, she saw Ethan waiting for her, hey eyes revealed that she was shocked with his presence, she tried looking around for the driver she came with but he was nowhere in site. Ethan's tall frame and piercing eyes were impossible to miss. He was dressed in a tailored suit, his dark hair perfectly styled, and his presence exuded an aura of power and confidence.
"Ready?" he asked, his voice low and smooth, as he approached her. bella looked at him
"wh...why are you here and where's the driver"
"he left, i was at the office and thought we'd go home together" he said leaving bella uncomfortable with his words.
Bella nodded, feeling a shiver run down her spine. She did not know how to communicate with Ethan, even if she did all she wanted was to keep her distance from him and focus on her brother solely. Looking at Ethan she had no idea what the night held, but she knew she had to play her part.
As they walked to the car, Ethan's hand brushed against hers, sending a spark of electricity through her body. She pulled her hand away, trying to maintain some distance between them.
But Ethan's eyes seemed to gleam with amusement, as if he knew a secret she didn't. And Bella couldn't shake off the feeling that she was in over her head.
As they drove through the city, Bella couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. She was going home with a man she barely knew, a man she had married in a contract marriage
As they reached home they stepped inside,
Ethan smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners.
Bella felt a shiver run down her spine as she realized she was now living with this man, this stranger who seemed to hold so much power over her.
"Where's my room?" she asked, trying to sound calm.
Ethan gestured down the hallway. "You'll be sleeping in the master bedroom with me," he said, his eyes glinting with amusement.
Bella's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected that. "I thought we had an agreement," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.
Ethan chuckled. "Oh, we do, Bella. But I think you'll find that our arrangement is going to be much more...intimate than you anticipated."
Bella's mind raced as she tried to process Ethan's words. Intimate? What did he mean by that? She thought they had agreed on a contract marriage, not a real relationship.
"Ethan, I don't think that's a good idea," she said, trying to sound firm.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why's that?"
Bella hesitated, unsure of how to explain. She didn't want to be close to him, didn't want to get tangled up in his life. But she couldn't deny the spark she felt when he looked at her, the way her heart skipped a beat when their hands touched
"I just think it's better if we keep things separate," she said finally.
Ethan chuckled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Separate? Bella, we're married. We're supposed to be together."
Bella felt a surge of frustration. Why was he pushing this? Didn't he understand that she didn't want to be close to him?
But as she looked into his eyes, she saw something there that gave her pause. Something that looked almost like...loneliness.
And in that moment, Bella wondered if she had misjudged Ethan Black entirely.