"What top-tier bachelor! Pfft!"

Bellamy glared at her reflection in the mirror, looking at the red marks all over her body, madly figuring out how to cover them up. "Stupid humans, all blinded by Fraser's face! He's a total beast who doesn't know what self-control means!"

Still fuming, Bellamy got dressed and headed downstairs. By the time she reached the dining room, the table was already piled with a hearty breakfast.

Bellamy usually didn't bother with breakfast, but now that Fraser had pulled her over to the dining table, she got more annoyed just looking at the fancy spread. Perfect excuse to pick a fight.

"My hangover's not even gone yet! Head's still pounding! And you wrecked me last night! You better make it up to me!" Bellamy slammed her hand on the table and started ranting right in Fraser's ear.

Fraser calmly spread jam on the toast like he didn't hear her, shoved the slice onto her plate, and said, "Eat already. Don't start throwing tantrums this early in the day."

Bellamy grabbed the perfectly jammed toast and threatened, "If you don't make me mac and cheese, I swear this jam's going straight to your face!"

Fraser stared at her, utterly speechless. Bellamy raised her chin with a smug look that basically screamed, "Pick: jam on your face or macaroni for me."

Fraser gave up the fight real quick and wandered off to the kitchen. Bellamy happily trotted after him, victory claimed.

He started cracking eggs like a pro, warm morning light falling softly across his face.

For a split second, Bellamy felt dazed-like maybe, just maybe, this was some version of forever.

Fraser dished out the perfect macaroni and even hit her lightly on the head with a laugh. "Why are you so high-maintenance?"

Bellamy stuffed her mouth full of food, grabbed the warm milk he handed over and chugged it down, then confidently said, "Didn't you say to Lydia last night that I'm childish and spoiled? I'm just proving your point!"

She didn't actually care-she just enjoyed messing with him.

He had pulled out all the stops last night, after all...

Fraser rubbed his temples in defeat. So she really was holding a grudge. If he'd known, maybe he should've added another line yesterday: Bellamy has a long memory.

Now to avoid more drama, he lifted his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I was wrong. I'm sorry. From now on, no matter what, I'll tell everyone Bellamy is graceful, thoughtful, and totally put-together. Happy now?"

Bellamy shoveled in more macaroni, letting out two hums, reluctantly satisfied.

So even Lydia's an outsider in his eyes-love it.

Right before heading off to work, Bellamy pulled out her lip gloss to touch up, but Fraser stopped her. "Don't put that on. Not good for you."

Bellamy rolled her eyes and flicked his hand away without missing a beat. "Clearly you don't get women. Our first line of defense is how we look. Can't let anyone else outshine us before we even talk!"

Fraser snaked an arm around her waist, effortlessly pinning her hands. "Cut the nonsense. You look the best without putting anything on. Let's just go like this."

He snatched the gloss from her hand and chucked it into the trash in one smooth move, then bent down and pressed a kiss to her soft, clean lips.

Bellamy smacked her lips a little, savoring the moment, then patted his cheek with a grin. "Guess your mouth's this sweet from all that jam, huh? Fine, since you're so good with your words, I won't put any on today."

Just today though...

Fraser, I know there's no 'forever' for us, so I better learn to armor up before you walk away...

Maybe it was the sweet nothings Fraser whispered to her that morning, but Bellamy felt like she was walking on sunshine. She strolled into the office humming a cheery tune.

Her assistant picked up on her good mood, handed her a cup of coffee, and whispered, "Madam, Sophia is here. She's been waiting in the lounge for quite a while now. Should I let her in?"

Sophia Hawkins, her so-called "cousin," was a nightmare to deal with.

Bellamy kept her smile, nodded without hesitation.

Sophia stormed in like always, not even bothering to knock. She shoved the door open and went off immediately.

"Bellamy! Why didn't you take me with you to Fraser's welcome banquet last night? Fine, you didn't take me-but then you ignored my calls? I had to wait outside without an invite for half an hour and still couldn't get in!"

Leaning back lazily in her chair, Bellamy propped her feet on the desk and looked at her with a smirk. "I'm not your babysitter. Why would I drag you everywhere I go? And do you even realize how many women were dying just to get a glimpse of Fraser last night? You couldn't even handle a half-hour wait? Please."

Since they were kids, Sophia always tried to stir trouble for Bellamy, only to end up humiliated every time.

Years of bickering later, Sophia hadn't changed a bit-still throwing tantrums like a brat. A couple of words from Bellamy was all it took to drive her up the wall.

"Don't go thinking just because you slept with Fraser, you've won the jackpot! You and your low-status self will never make it into the Branwell family! One day, Fraser's gonna get tired of you and toss you aside! But me? I'm a proper lady from the Hawkins family. Grandpa's always said I'd be the one to marry him. We'll see who's laughing then!"

Bellamy couldn't hold back a laugh. "If your grandpa's so powerful, why didn't he get you into that party last night? And what exactly do you mean by 'low status'? I'm the chairwoman of Hawkins Corp. Your whole family lives off the money I make! And you..."

She glanced at Sophia with thinly-veiled disdain. "Just some washed-up third-rate heiress. Even if I couldn't marry into the Branwell family, you think you've got a shot? Keep dreaming. Now run along and finish your homework."

"You shameless little illegitimate-" Sophia's face went white with rage, still trying to throw a tantrum.

Bellamy pressed the intercom. "Security? Yeah, come get Sophia. Seems like her condition's acting up again. Better take her home before it gets worse."

The security guards-men with real muscle-escorted a flailing Sophia right out.

Thanks to her little visit, Bellamy got a bit of morning exercise and felt even more energized tackling her workload.

Hawkins Corp had just won the bid for a huge property on the west side of the city.

For the first time, Bellamy had scored a win without riding on Fraser's coattails-so she was going all in on this one.

If it paid off, Hawkins Corp would finally make its big comeback, and she could walk away from her "deal" with Fraser with her head held high.

While Bellamy was burning with fighting spirit, ready to throw herself into the project, Fraser was back at the Branwell family estate, quietly listening to Marianne's lecture.

"Fraser, I really think you should stop seeing Bellamy. You've done more than enough for her. Now that you're officially the CEO of Branwell Group, keeping ties with her would only hurt your reputation-and drag our whole family down with it."

Marianne sat upright on the couch, her back straight as ever-that calm, composed look on her face had hardly changed. Even when she was giving what sounded like more of an order than a suggestion, her tone stayed warm and controlled.

Only whenever Bellamy was mentioned did her emotions give the slightest twitch.

Fraser let out a soft "yeah", eyes glued to the floor, while his mind was still stuck on how Bellamy looked last night in his arms-soft, sweet, impossible to forget.

She was that tempting. How could he possibly settle for anything less than giving her everything?

Marianne's expression stiffened for a beat, a flicker of sadness crossing her face.

She knew Fraser hadn't been paying attention. That half-hearted "yeah" said it all. The boy she'd poured her whole heart into raising, brought up with endless love and patience, wasn't that same kid anymore-the one who used to cling to her, call her "Mom."

Since he turned twenty, since Bellamy showed up in his life, that changed. Now he just called her Marianne or Mrs. Blake.

Half her life had passed, and there wasn't even someone who still called her "Mom." Was that not tragic?

But... as long as Fraser didn't fall too deep for Bellamy, there was still hope. Maybe there was still a chance to turn things around.

Fraser wasn't the emotional sort-distant, self-contained. Over the years, Bellamy had clung to him like glue, never letting go. But she was headstrong, controlling. Thanks to that, Fraser hadn't really connected with other women.

Once he met a girl who was the complete opposite of Bellamy, he'd see it. He'd realize just how messy Bellamy was-and how wonderful other women could be.

Marianne quickly pulled herself together and smiled again.

She gently placed Fraser's hand into her own, voice soft and full of affection. "The Grants invited our whole family over for dinner tonight. Alexander was out of town yesterday, so this is his way of making it up to you. Oh, and your brother's flying back, too-his assignment's wrapping up."

"It's just a homecoming. No need to roll out the red carpet," Fraser said with a faint smile. But his eyes grew colder.

She said "our whole family" so naturally-it somehow stung.

If they were all one family... what about Bellamy? Where did she fit in?

Right, the Hawkins family never acknowledged her. Who would claim her?

So, Mrs. Blake-how could I possibly walk away from a girl the world refuses to care for?

*****

They called it a welcome dinner for Fraser. In reality, it was more of a setup-a low-key matchmaking dinner with Lydia.

Lydia had ditched her usual classy, conservative vibe for something totally different-a made-to-order fresh, girly dress. She looked like a college freshman-basically a carbon copy of Bellamy back when she was eighteen or nineteen.

Lydia wasn't dumb.

She knew Bellamy was the direct type-bold and blunt, no interest in playing games or faking niceness. That's why Lydia believed every word Bellamy said to her last night.

At most, Bellamy was just Fraser's fling. So why bother going after her? Getting Fraser's attention directly was the smarter move.

Still, Bellamy had managed to stay by Fraser's side for six years, which had to mean something.

Curious, Lydia dug up old photos of Fraser and Bellamy together. Every time, Bellamy showed up in some playful, casual outfit-nothing stiff or fancy.

So Fraser must go for the cute-and-carefree type, she figured.

Lydia kept her nerves in check, forcing herself to smile with grace as Fraser walked toward her.