Bella's POV
The deeper we descended into the Spinster estate, the colder it became. Each step down the spiral staircase sent a chill through me, not from the temperature, but from the weight of what I was about to do.
Anthony.The brother locked away like a dirty secret. The ghost behind every betrayal that had scarred me.Crystal walked ahead, carrying a torch, humming like this was nothing more than a midnight stroll. Christian trailed behind me, silent, his presence protective, heavy, suffocating.The air grew damp, thick with mold and iron. The faint clinking of chains echoed before we even reached the final step.The dungeon smelled of rust, sweat, and secrets.And there he was.Anthony Spinster.Not the monster I had painted in my nightmares, but a man sitting against the wall, shackled at wrists and ankles. His dark hair fell into his eyes, his sharp jawline dusted with stubble. He looked almost regal despite the chains, his posture unnervingly calm.And when his eyes lifted to mine, a slow, dangerous smile spread across his lips."Well, well," he drawled, voice smooth as honey but laced with venom. "If it isn't the little Princess they tried so hard to keep from me."I froze for a second, forcing my breath steady. "Don't call me Princess."That made him laugh, deep and low.
"Ah... so you've grown claws. Good. That makes this even more entertaining."Christian stepped forward immediately, his voice thunder. "Don't talk to her."Anthony didn't even look at him. His gaze was glued to me. Hungry. Calculating."You're even more exquisite than I imagined," he murmured. "All that fire in your eyes. Tell me, Bella do you know what they've hidden from you? Do you know why I'm really down here?""Because you betrayed me," I spat, folding my arms.He tilted his head, chains clinking as he leaned forward. "Is that what they told you? That I betrayed you?"
Crystal scoffed. "Don't listen to his lies, Bella. He's a snake.
"Anthony's eyes flicked to him briefly, then back to me. "Funny. The liar calls me a snake. Fitting, isn't it?""Cut the games," I snapped. My voice echoed off the stone walls. "What do you want from me?"His smile widened. "What I've always wanted, sweetness. Freedom. And maybe a taste of revenge."Christian growled, stepping closer, but I raised my hand, stopping him. For once, I wanted to hear Anthony speak.
"Revenge on who?" I asked.His eyes glittered like fire in the torchlight. "On the brothers who chained me here. On the family that crowned themselves kings while branding me a traitor. And maybe... on you, for believing them so easily."The way he said it made my stomach twist. Was he lying? Twisting the truth? Or was there something Christian and Crystal hadn't told me?"I don't care about your war," I said coldly.
"All I care about is making sure no one ever controls me again. Not them. Not you."Anthony chuckled, low and dangerous. "Oh, Bella... You think you're free? You're still playing their game. But I can show you how to break it."The words slithered into me like poison.Christian finally snapped, pulling me behind him.
"Enough! She doesn't need your corruption, Anthony. She's not yours."Anthony smirked, leaning back against the wall, completely unbothered. "We'll see."As Christian dragged me toward the exit, I glanced back one last time.
And Anthony, chained and caged, gave me a look that chilled my soul more than the dungeon ever could.Because he didn't look like a prisoner.He looked like a man waiting.And I knew this wasn't the last time I'd face him.
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Bella's POVThe heavy wooden door of the dungeon slammed shut behind us, the echo rattling in my chest long after the lock clicked. My body was moving, but my mind was still trapped down there, in Anthony's eyes, in his voice that coiled around me like smoke.Christian's hand was warm around my wrist, steadying me as we walked the cold stone corridor. Crystal stalked beside us, jaw clenched tight, his torchlight throwing sharp shadows against the walls.No one spoke.Not until we were back upstairs, in the glow of the Spinster estate's grand hall.I yanked my hand free. "Talk."Christian turned to me, eyes soft but cautious. "Bella—"
"No," I cut him off. "Don't 'Bella' me. Not after that. I need the truth. All of it. Right now."Crystal scoffed, running a hand through his hair. "We've told you the truth. He's a traitor. He betrayed us, betrayed the family. That's all you need to know."
I folded my arms, staring them down. "Funny. He doesn't see it that way."Crystal's head snapped toward me, eyes flashing. "Of course he doesn't! He's a manipulator, a liar, a venomous snake! That's why he's rotting in chains!"
Christian's silence spoke louder than Crystal's rage. His shoulders tensed, his eyes refusing to meet mine.And that told me everything.I stepped closer to him, my voice steady, sharp as glass. "Christian. Look me in the eyes and tell me did he betray me? Or is there something you're not saying?"His jaw tightened, his throat bobbed like he was swallowing words he didn't want me to hear."Christian," I pressed, softer now. "Please."Crystal exploded. "Why the fuck does it matter? He's poison! If you'd listened longer, you'd see he's just trying to get into your head, trying to twist you against us. Don't let him win, Princess."
"Don't call me Princess," I snapped, my glare slicing through him. "And stop dodging the question."Christian finally looked at me. His eyes those storm-gray eyes I'd missed were heavy with something worse than lies. Regret.He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's... complicated.""Then uncomplicate it," I shot back.
He hesitated. "Anthony didn't betray you, Bella. Not directly. He betrayed us. The family. He sold information to our enemies that almost got you killed. That's why he's in the dungeon."My breath caught, heat rising in my chest. "So all this time you let me believe it was me he betrayed? That it was personal?"
Christian's face fell. "We thought it was better that way. Easier for you to hate him, to stay away.""Easier?" I laughed bitterly. "You lied to me. You made me carry pain that wasn't even mine!"Crystal stepped forward, voice hard. "And you think he wouldn't twist it if you knew the details? You think he wouldn't use it to get closer to you? He's dangerous, Bella. That's the only truth that matters."But now I wasn't so sure.
Anthony's words echoed in my head: You think you're free? You're still playing their game.I looked between the brothers the man who lied to protect me and the man who lied to control me. And for the first time, I wondered if the dungeon wasn't holding the wrong Spinster.