~Bella's POV~

Before I could even open my mouth, he cut me off. “I don’t want to hear you talk about it again, Bella.”

His tone was cold and final.

I swallowed my frustration and forced a smile. “But.. But..”

"I meant it, when I said I don't want to hear you talk about it"

I slowly nodded my head and whispered "okay"

Satisfied, he walked into the bathroom. When he emerged, he wore nothing but a towel loosely tied around his waist, droplets of water trailing down his sculpted chest.

Antonio approached me, and cupped my chin as he kissed me deeply. His teeth grazed my bottom lip before he bit down just enough to make me wince. A faint taste of blood mixed between us.

“Just forget about it, Bella,” he murmured against my lips. “I don’t want us to fight...”

His thumb brushed over the sore spot he’d just bitten before he pulled away.

“I’ll be back soon. I have a few matters to settle.”

And just like that, he dressed swiftly and left, not giving me a chance to say another word.

Frustration bubbled hard in my chest. This was not how I wanted my second day as a married woman to go. This wasn't the love he had shown me when he was wooing me...

Broken and hurt an in need of an escape, I went to the piano room. The room Antonio had made specially for me so I could play for him whenever he was in a bad mood.

The moment my fingers touched the keys, a sense of calm washed over me. I started playing the keys slowly, delicately, letting the notes fill the empty space around me.

Then, as frustration simmered inside me, my fingers moved faster, more erratic, pouring my emotions into the melody. The sound was beautifully haunting yet it was powerful.

Then I heard footsteps coming in closer.

"You play wonderfully." The evil brat spoke loudly

I didn’t stop. Instead, I played harder, letting the music speak for me.

Filthy.... Common

Antonio’s words from earlier rang in my head, stinging worse than they should have.

Was that how he saw my career? The very thing that had brought us together? The very reason that had made us get married?.

My fingers pressed harder against the keys, my hands starting to ache, but I didn’t stop. I refused to stop.

Suddenly, Sebastian was beside me. He grabbed my hands firmly, halting my movements.

"Stop you foolish woman. You’ll hurt yourself."

I snapped my head toward him, eyes burning with unshed tears.

"Why do you care?" My voice wavered between anger and frustration. " You should be happy that I’m in pain. Hell, you probably wish I’d just die from it!"

His eyes widened, as if my words had physically struck him. For a moment, he looked… confused.

"No. Well Yes.. ," he said, his voice uncharacteristically soft. "But I can't have you die in front of me now can I? What would my father say.. not that i care"

I stared at him, trying to understand this sudden niceness and gentleness. This was the same man who had choked me against a wall not long ago.

Why was he being kind now?

Then, out of nowhere, he asked, "You really want to attend that competition?"

My breath paused for a moment. What was going on? But still...

"Of course I do," I whispered. "It’s my dream."

His grip on my hands loosened.

"Then you will."

I blinked at him in disbelief.

“What?”

Sebastian leaned against the piano, arms crossed, a smirk playing on his lips. “Yes, you will. All you need is a miracle... and that miracle is me.”

I stared at him, trying to process what he was saying.

He shrugged. “I’ll be around for a while. I can cover for you. We can figure out how to hide this from my father.”

My heart pounded. “Antonio would never allow this.”

“Exactly. Which is why he won’t know.” His smirk widened. “The competition is about skill, not your face. If you wear a mask... Say you have a scar or something. Who's gonna know"

I narrowed my eyes on him. “How do I know you’re not just setting me up?”

Sebastian let out a dry laugh. “I’m not.” He hesitated for a second, something unreadable flashing in his dark blue eyes. Then, quieter, he added, “You just remind me of someone, and I…”

His jaw clenched as if he’d caught himself saying too much. He shook his head. “Anyway, just sign up for it. It’s online, right? Use a fake identity.”

I swallowed. This was crazy. Dangerous. If Antonio ever found out…

"A fake ID? Where am I supposed to get..."

Sebastian leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a near whisper. “I’ll help you get one.”

"Thank you… thank you," I whispered.

Sebastian smirked and leaned in, his lips brushing just behind my ear before pressing a light kiss there.

"We say ‘you’re welcome’ like this overseas," he murmured.

A shiver ran down my spine, and before I could react, he stepped back.

"Come find me in my room this evening," he said casually. "The fake ID will be ready by then."

I nodded, still processing everything, as he walked away.

Then slowly I made my way towards my room I needed a hot bath as well as a nap to get my head thinking straight.