Chapter 35
BELLA
Song- Take Aim, Sleep Token
I’m doing what feels like the walk of shame, except this time it’s worse.
A whole lot worse.
I have to explain to my fiancé that I almost fucked his brother.
And that, if I’m honest, I want to.
Each step toward the door feels heavier, the guilt clawing higher up my throat.
I told Rowan I wanted to do this alone.
I’m not property of either of them.
But I’m the one who lives with Reggie.
I open the connecting door quietly and freeze when I hear the low hum of the TV.
Tiptoeing closer, I look into the living room, and my heart stops.
There he is.
My cruel, impossible fiancé.
Cuddled up with the cutest, fluffiest little kitten I’ve ever seen in my life.
He slowly looks up, those brown eyes full of restrained fury.
I close my eyes and inhale. “You got a kitten?” My voice comes out soft, shaky.
He grunts in response. “I got you a kitten. Well, adopted her this afternoon.”
I press a hand to my chest, my legs nearly giving out beneath me. “Y-you adopted me a cat? Why?”
He drags his thumb along his lip, like he’s thinking about something darker than words.
“You said that first day you wanted one. Something to keep you company.”
He pauses. “And I regret what I said the other night. I’m sorry I missed the steak dinner. I guess this is my way of apologizing. I will stop fucking this up, Bella.”
I take a step into the room, and his expression shifts, still, unreadable.
His eyes drop to me, narrowing. “Is that Rowan’s?”
Jesus. Fuck.
I want to throw up.
I was so certain I was doing the right thing, handling this like an adult.
But seeing his face now, watching the way he looks at me in his brother’s T-shirt, I’m not sure of anything.
A lie forms on my tongue, but I stop myself.
“We didn’t have sex,” I say quickly.
His jaw tightens. He nods once, too calm.
“But we did…”
His head tilts, a warning and a dare. My heart hammers against my ribs.
“You did what, Princess?”
The way he says it makes my pulse stumble.
“Stuff,” I whisper, looking away.
He stands abruptly, closing the distance until we’re toe-to-toe, the air between us electric.
His eyes stay on mine, completely cold and unreadable. I can see the muscle in his jaw jump as he clenches it.
“Stuff,” he repeats, his voice quiet but cutting into me. “You’ll have to narrow that down for me.”
I swallow hard. “It wasn’t what you think.”
“That right?” he says, stepping closer. “Because what I think is that you went next door and gave my brother something that was supposed to be mine.”
“Yours?” I snap, the guilt burning into anger. “I didn’t know you cared enough for me to belong to anyone.”
His nostrils flare. “Don’t twist my words.”
“Then don’t twist my choices.”
The kitten mews softly from the couch, breaking the silence. For a heartbeat, we both glance at her, tiny and innocent, like a reminder of everything neither of us knows how to have.
Reggie drags a hand down his face and mutters, “Christ, Bella. You drive me insane.”
I take a step back, my throat thick. “You don’t get to be angry. You made it clear that this marriage is an arrangement, a deal. I was just… doing what I do best. Surviving it.”
His gaze flicks up, stormy. “You think that’s all this is?”
“You told me that yourself.”
He exhales through his nose. Then softer, almost broken, “I shouldn’t have.”
The admission hangs between us like a truce neither of us can accept.
I cross my arms. “You’re confusing, you know that?”
“Occupational hazard. It’s not just you who has had their life turned upside down with this.” He steps back, just far enough for me to breathe again. “You hungry? There’s food left. I made that roast dinner for you.”
I shake my head. Guilt eating me up; he cooked for me. He got me a damn kitten and apologized. Maybe I am being too harsh on him. “No. Thank you, I’m not hungry. I’ll eat later.”
He nods once, like that’s safer than whatever else he wants to say.
“Bella,” he murmurs.
I look up.
“Next time you want to hurt me,” he says quietly, “just do it with words or even your fists. Not my brother.”
I take a step towards him and, by instinct, place my palm softly on his chest. He looks down like my touch burns him.
“I didn’t do it to hurt you, Reggie. That wasn’t what it was. I couldn’t do that to Rowan either.”
He sighs, placing his palm over mine.
“I know, Princess. That’s what makes it even fuckin’ worse.”
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
His eyes darken and I swallow the lump in my throat.
“No, you aren’t. And you shouldn’t be either. This is my fault.”
He removes my hand and then he turns and walks out, leaving me alone with the kitten and the ache in my chest.