Twisted Ties of Love (Izabella Salotti and Brett) novel Chapter 598

Indeed, one was a wealthy heiress, the other a country girl fresh from the outskirts.

Nathaniel often observed how Bell constantly kept her head down, despite her striking beauty, she seemed reluctant to show it off.

Bell had been with him for six months, yet he couldn't seem to rid her of that rustic air; it clung to her still.

"Do you realize what you did wrong?" he asked, his tone mild yet carrying the authoritative weight of Windham lineage. Even as an illegitimate son, his presence was undeniably more commanding than others.

"I shouldn't have taken a part-time job in secret..."

Nathaniel saw her genuine remorse and stood up, "Good, as long as you know. It's not like I'm short on cash or can't provide for you. Just stay home, attend your classes, cook, and do the laundry. Look at you, in this heat, you're wearing clothes that are both dirty and smelly."

Nathaniel had a penchant for putting people down, and Bell became his favored punching bag. No matter what he said or how outrageous his words were, Bell would never mind, let alone get angry. Even if he slapped her, she would still be there the next day, making him breakfast and tending to his needs.

Such a person was not so much good-tempered as foolish!

Tears welled up in Bell's eyes, whether from the pain of the fall or humiliation from Nathaniel's words.

She knew she wasn't skilled at much; after high school, she didn't go to college and ended up in J City. In this bustling metropolis, she felt out of place.

That Nathaniel took her in was a stroke of luck she thought she'd earned over a lifetime. He rescued her from the abyss, offered her security, and gave her a "home." He patiently taught her how to survive in this new world.

All she could do to repay him was to take care of the household chores and prepare his meals daily.

Nathaniel's anger subsided, "Alright, go take a shower, clean up, and put on that red dress I bought you yesterday. I'll wait for you in the study."

Bell nodded eagerly and scurried back to her room, rummaging through the closet for the dress Nathaniel had purchased for her.

He'd bought her many red dresses, saying the color suited her well and she looked beautiful in them.

Bell also found them beautiful. She had no concept of designer brands, but judging by the craftsmanship, she guessed the dress must be expensive. She was reluctant to wear something so costly.

She had never worn such fine clothes before. Back home, she'd wear hand-me-downs or even her brother's clothes.

Perhaps it was her thriftiness from days of hardship that made her reluctant to wear the new clothes, even though she had many. She still preferred shopping at the street stalls, where she could buy T-shirts for a few dollars that would last from one year to the next, or even longer.

Bell washed her hands before carefully taking out the dress and heading to the bathroom. After a thorough shower, she cautiously slipped into it.

The red dress, with its backless design, revealed her curves and added a touch of allure to her freshly bathed skin. Bell wasn't used to wearing such revealing clothes and would instinctively cover herself with her hands.

She remembered the first time she wore such a revealing dress; Nathaniel had insisted on it.

With no time to dry her hair, she approached the study door with wet locks and knocked.

"Come in."

Only after Nathaniel's response did she dare to enter. Inside, he lounged on the couch with his leg casually resting on the coffee table, a violin resting not far from his feet.

Bell's hands trembled at the sight of the violin.

Nathaniel gestured her over as if summoning a pet and pointed to the violin on the coffee table, "Let's see how your violin lessons have been coming along."

Bell nodded and picked up the violin, getting ready to play.

He was losing interest in tormenting someone so meek and foolish.

But now, his temper flared. First, she had worked behind his back, and then, she couldn't learn to mimic Izabella.

His violent nature erupted, and Nathaniel lit a cigarette, "Come here."

Bell didn't move.

Nathaniel's voice grew colder, "Do I need to invite you?"

The expensive violin was destroyed in an instant, and Bell panicked. Before she could react, a sharp pain shot through her back.

"Ugh..." Bell whimpered, her body shaking pitifully like a blade of grass in the wind.

Tears spilled from her red, moist eyes as she tried to free herself, but Nathaniel held her firmly in his grip.

Twisting her waist and turning her head, her face was taut with the anxiety of a startled animal.

"Mr. Krueger..." she whispered, her voice trembling.

Bella tensed up, holding herself as still as a deer caught in headlights, not daring to make another move.