Chapter 18 You Trying to Break Free From Me?
Bella had no clue Anna had been trash-talking Sterling while she was out cold.
With Sterling's intense stare burning into her, Bella had no choice but to start munching on the food in front of her.
As Bella kept eating, Sterling's gaze slowly softened.
"The doc said your anemia's from not eating right, so you gotta chill at home for a bit. Once you're back to normal, you can hit up school again. I already sorted your leave," Sterling said, but Bella shot back immediately.
"No way, I can't take a long leave. I need to go to school," Bella snapped, glaring at Sterling with a serious look.
Sterling stayed calm, looking right at her. "You wanna go back to school and keep spreading dirt about your jerk brother? Are you making yourself suffer just to put on a show?"
Sterling's words made Bella frown.
"I send you cash every month. Why don't you use it? Why are you riding that old bike? Why don't you even buy some gloves?" Sterling's gaze suddenly shifted to Zoey.
"Zoey, why isn't Bella eating right at home? Haven't you been bringing her meals? Why's she only eating instant crap and drinking cold water at school? Am I that heartless?" Sterling coldly grilled Zoey.
Zoey shook with fear, her eyes darting to Bella.
Bella stood up, glaring at Sterling. "I told Zoey I eat at school. I also told her not to pack me lunch. Sterling, I'm doing all this to break free from your grip!"
Sterling's gaze was sharp as a knife. He squinted at Bella and asked, "So that's your game plan? Not eating my food, not living in my house, cutting down on the stuff I give you, and then slowly paying me back with your tiny part-time earnings to break free from me, huh?"
Sterling finally got what Bella was thinking, but it stung deep.
"I've taken care of you for 10 years. You think you can ever pay that back? Before you can, you'll probably starve to death," Sterling said with a mocking grin. The whole hall went cold, and all the servants dropped their heads, too scared to speak.
Sterling pointed at Zoey and the other servants, saying in a frosty tone, "Starting today, you will eat well and live well. If I find out you're mistreating yourself again, everyone in this house will go without meals. If you go back to the storage room, everyone will cram into that cold little room with you."
Sterling's words made Bella's face twist with anger. He was using her sense of morality to threaten her. Worse, Bella knew Sterling would totally follow through.
Bella took a deep breath and nodded. "Fine, I'll do what you say. Just don't take it out on Zoey and the others."
Sterling's expression softened a bit. He waved his hand, and Zoey and the other servants quickly scattered, leaving just Bella and Sterling in the hall.
Sterling got up from his chair and slowly walked over to Bella. "You think all I've given you is just stuff?"
"What are you gonna do to me?" Bella suddenly felt a wave of tension. She looked up at Sterling, whose gaze was intense and aggressive.
Sterling answered her question with action. He grabbed her chin, lowered his head, and planted a fierce kiss on her mouth.
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