"Where are you coming from?" Ben asked, his voice sharp, but with a flicker of curiosity he couldn't quite hide.
"I… I went to visit my parents. I was bored and missed them," she replied, her voice small, carrying the mix of guilt and affection she felt for them.
He stood there in silence for a few minutes, his tall frame rigid, eyes dark and unreadable. Then, without another word, he turned and walked back to his room, leaving her alone in the hallway with her chest rising and falling rapidly.
As Ella headed toward her room, she froze at his next command: "Come and sleep in my room after you freshen up. My parents are visiting, and we'll have to share a room for that period."
Ella's stomach twisted, but she nodded, forcing herself to comply. She moved quickly, letting the warm water of her shower wash away the tension, her mind spinning with unease. After dressing carefully, she knocked lightly on his door.
"It's open," Ben said, his voice neutral.
Ella stepped in, and her breath caught. The room was imposing yet mesmerizing. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed a breathtaking view of the city, lights sparkling like scattered stars. Inside, everything was draped in black; from the curtains to the rugs, to the heavy bedsheets, a space both elegant and intimidating.
Ben gestured to the bed. "Sleep there," he said casually, reclining on the couch.
"Oh no, sir. I'll sleep on the couch. This is your room," Ella suggested, her voice betraying her fear.
"Shut up and sleep," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument.
The arrival of Ben's family was chaotic, a whirlwind of voices, laughter, and subtle scrutiny. He held Ella's hand with a practiced, wide smile as he welcomed them, his eyes flicking to her with unreadable calculation.
Later, at dinner, the table was laid out with lavish food, sparkling drinks, and soft, calm music intended to smooth the tension. For a fleeting moment, the scene seemed almost peaceful.
Until Ben's cousin broke the silence.
"Why her? There are so many more classy girls from very rich families," he sneered.
"Look at her, she looks poor," Ben's aunt added, tossing her judgment like a dagger.
Laughter rippled around the table, sharp and cruel. Ben remained silent, unmoving, allowing the humiliation to settle on Ella like a heavy cloak. Her cheeks burned, her heart sank, but she uttered no word in defense. She sat, quiet and composed, her entire body stiff with controlled restraint.
Days passed. The mockery, embarrassment, and disgrace continued, but Ella never spoke up. She endured it all with a quiet dignity.
Ben observed her throughout, silent, calculating, his dark eyes tracing her movements, noting her composure and resilience. The moment the family finally left in the morning, the tension lifted slightly, leaving just him, Ella, and the domestic staff.
During dinner, he stylishly studied her across the table, his gaze intent, almost predatory but she noticed.
"Why do you keep looking at me like that?" Ella asked, her voice soft but firm.
"Don't speak unless I ask," Ben said sharply.
Ella nodded and retreated to her room, seeking solace and space away from him now that his family was gone.
Every time Ben communicated with his father, he referred to him only as "Dad," never mentioning a name. It was subtle, but it made it almost impossible for Ella to connect the dots about the man responsible for her family's downfall.
Ben was in his home office when one of his boys came in, panting and hurried. "Boss, McDon wants to speak to you. It's very important."
Ella overheard their conversation, curiosity igniting inside her. She was just a young girl when her father's betrayal occurred, with little knowledge of his former business partner, McDon. He rarely visited, and her father met him only in private locations.
Determined, she dug deeper, searching through old files and photographs. Eventually, she uncovered an old picture of McDon. With her heart hammering, she sneaked back to her parents' house.
When she showed them the photograph, confirmation from her mother and father shattered her soul.
"Ella, where did you get this from?" Maleek asked, voice thick with disbelief.
She lied, whispering that she had found it in her boss's office.
Her heart sank under the weight of betrayal, she had married the son of a man so cruel, so wicked, it felt like her world had been turned upside down.
"How could I not recognize him on our first meeting?" she asked herself over and over, anguish twisting her chest. We'd had a few encounters, but I never paid him any real mind…
Her mind raced, the reality pressing down on her: she had stepped into a life intertwined with the very architect of her family's ruin.