CHAPTER 39: BELLE'S SECRET

Rian's POV: I pulled Belle upstairs.. to my old room and to the terrace. We seated at the outdoor table set across each other. My eyes never leave her face. "Rian.." "Belle.."  We both called our name in unison. We both smiled and she let me talk first. "I didn't know you're my brother's fiancee. You didn't mention it since we met again last week." "Yeah." She smiled, and I noticed the sadness behind that smile. "I remember you told me before that you have a brother, but I never thought it was him." "Yup. It's Dani. Daniel Kelley." I paused and take a long and deep breath before I asked her again. "Belle, could you please tell me your reason on why did you accept this agreement? And why are you marrying my brother?" "Rian.."  I don't know yet her reason but I can see through her reaction that it's something I already know, so I tried to ask it though. "Is it something about your past?" She looked at me. "Is it about Joseph?" Her face turned pale. And by that looks, I know it is. "Belle, tell me the truth.. is this about that man, who tried to rape you?" She closed her eyes tightly and then she nodded. "Yes. It's because of him. It's because of that fucking bastard!" she gritted her teeth. "Oh my God! Why didn't you tell Daniel?" The first question that came to my head. Why she didn't tell Dani, so he can't continue to judge her and insult her? So he can understand why she needs to marry him.. and not for his money.  "No, Rian!" she said shaking her head. "But why? He needs to know every single detail of you, of your life." She chuckled but her eyes hold a hidden pain. "Do you think, he would care? He would listen? No, he doesn't even know my full name. Your brother is made of stone coated with ice, Rian." -'Ohh..the thing is, they were both stubborn.'- "No Belle, believe me. He's not that cold when you happened to know him more." "He doesn't smile, all he knows is to smirk and to glared at me!" I bite my lip and smiled. "I agree with you regarding his smile. It's precious as diamonds. But Belle, you're going to live with him for one year under one roof. You need to tell him, at least be friends----" "No. I only agree to this agreement because your mom told me, he needs a 'trophy' wife to get the contract from their biggest investor. And I also agree because I need a place to hide until I get solid evidence, to proof of what that bastard did to me. He deleted all the CCTV footages after that incident. And there's only one person who can be my witness, their maid who saw everything. The problem is, she suddenly disappeared after that." She formed her fists into a ball that made her knuckles turned into white. "Last month, I saw him in the mall. I can't believe that after all these years he can still affect me, Rian! I buried all those horrible memories but when I saw him, those memories hunting me again!" "W-Wait.. how did my mom get involved with your engagement with Dani?" "She's one of my students in my ballroom class. And she happened to saw everything. How that bastard harassed me again in the parking lot of the mall. She helped me with her bodyguards. And believe me, I didn't know she's your mom. She asked me what happened, and because I can find comfort in her as a mother, I told her everything, Rian. My life, my past, my struggles including what that bastard did to me. And she offered a help----" "And that help is for you to marry his son?" I finished her statement. "Yes. She also offered me money, but I don't need it. I just need to use someone's last name to hide my status. So, when he knows that I'm married, he will hesitate to harass me again or to get near me." "Belle..."  I don't know what to say after knowing her reason. But honestly, I understand her. I've known her for being a strong and independent woman. "Can I ask you a favor?"  She asked me after a while. "Y-Yes. Anything." "Can you please keep this to you? All that you know about me and my past, especially my reason on marrying your brother?" "But Belle...." "Please, Rian. Until I solve my own problem, please?" She takes both of my hands that rested on top of the table. "But you need help, Belle. Why don't you tell everything to Dani. He will help----" "No, Rian. You don't understand. If Joseph knows that this marriage is not real, he will try his best to get me again." "But he's going to be your husband. He would surely listen to you." "No..." she continued to shake her head. "Why don't you report this to the police, they would-----" I was cut off by her sarcastic laugh. "Police? Report this to the police? Are you sure they would listen.. they would believe me? I don't have any evidence in me, Rian. The thing that's left was the memory of his touch! Of his filthy hands, of his disgusting saliva over my body! And the only person who witnessed the whole story was missing.. until now. And i don't know how to find her!" "Belle..." "And do you think your brother would listen? The only thing he knows is judged me and accused me of marrying him because of his money! He would never believe my story, Rian. Why? Because my own father never did, so what would I expect from other people?"  "But I do believe you. And I did since you shared to me your story. And my mom, she also believes in you." "Because you and your mom were different, Rian. You would easily understand because you're also a woman." "But Belle..." I bite my lips when I saw the tears flow down on her face.  I stand up and hugged her. I patted her back.. and I didn't notice my own tears is also flowing down on my both cheeks. "Promise me, Rian, please?" I closed my eyes as I nodded. I wanted to help her, but i don't know how? The only thing I know is to tell my brother about her situation, but I can't. I promised her not to. After our moments of sharing and crying, we decided to go back to the living room. When I saw my husband, I don't know but all I want is to hug him. And that's what I did. I walked towards him and hugged him tightly on his waist and buried my face on his chest. He was a bit surprised but he also hugged me and kissed me on my forehead. I smelled his jacket and put my nose in the crook of his neck.  '-Why does he smell so good?'-  I smelled him again and God.. I can't help but to moan. "Hey, baby? What are you doing?" he whispered in my ear. "Hmm? So smell so good, hubby. Did you change your cologne?"  I asked him, not noticing we're in the middle of some of their business associates.. including his father, my dad and Dani. "No. Why?" He asked me although he knows everyone is watching our conversation. "Nothing, you just smell something.. I don't know. I-It's just good."  I hugged him again. He also hugged me back. And when I turned around, it's just then I noticed there were six men watching us with amusement written on their eyes. "Oh my!"  My eyes widened and my face turned into crimson red. "Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered-yelled while glaring at him. But he just chuckled together with the men around us. I am about to walk out when he pulled me and hugged me tightly. "Don't mind them, baby. I love you." he whispered and kissed my hair. A smile formed on my lips and hide my face more on to his broad chest.