Why was it so hard to say it? For whatever reason, she couldn't for the life of her, say what she wanted to say; to confess what she had just seen back in The Grove.

She was feeling troubled, her heart started feeling painful until she whimpered and cried. She bawled like she had never before and the truth was, she was no longer bothered about the man who was killed… rather she was more hurt to know about Gael's dark side. How could she live knowing that she had witnessed it and still continue loving him? She thought that it was very stupid and so she cried herself to sleep.

The next morning.

Becca woke up feeling stuffy as she stirred about in bed. Opening her eyes, she saw Gael sleeping beside her with his arms wrapped around her. She felt the urge to snuggle onto him more but when she was about to, she remembered how she still had mixed feelings him.

His eyes opened and he noticed Becca looking at him with sad eyes, "Good morning… are you feeling better?"

She snapped out of her daze and immediately backed away from him as much as possible. Feeling so nervous, Becca clutched the blanket close to her.

"You're still mad at me.", he stated. "I understand."

"Let me go and I'll forget what happened.", she bravely said.

Gael looked away and got up from the bed, "That's not possible. You are staying here, no more negotiations."

"You don't own me, Gael! Why do you insist on keeping me in here? I promise I won't say anything to anyone, I swear! I will delete the video too!", she promised.

With brows scrunched up, he stared into her eyes, "You recorded it?!", he hissed.

Becca froze, she didn't know that Gael wasn't aware of that. 'Now that you know, what are you going to do about it?', she pondered. She was actually afraid that he would hurt her especially because of the accidental recording.

Seeing that Becca looked fl.u.s.tered, he breathed out and turned away. "Do whatever you want with it, I don't care. As long as you stay here, I don't care about anything else."

'This man is crazy! What if I sent this to the police? He still doesn't care?', she sneered in her thoughts.

"Tell me everything.", she spoke faster than she could stop herself. She didn't want to at first but a part of her thought otherwise.

He stopped in his tracks and contemplated before he went back to bed, "Are you sure about this?"

'No, I am not. And I think I will still want to leave you after knowing about the whole truth.', she thought but didn't say out loud.

Thinking about it, Gael decided to tell her what she had to hear and maybe… just maybe… she will still be okay with it.

Becca was very shocked at what she heard after knowing that De Luca family is a well known Mafia in Country T. For regular citizens, this is a fact that is unknown to them. Becca had stayed in Country T for almost a year now and she had not heard about it. Gael was definitely not who she thought he was and she couldn't handle the truth despite having feelings for him, it was very hard for her to just turn a blind eye.

"This is why after what you have witnessed, I can't let you go out. This world is dangerous Becca. It will not be safe for you.", he told her.

"How is this any different than me not knowing about it before? Wasn't I already in danger while being with you back when I didn't know all these things?", she reasoned.

He looked away, "You're right and it is my fault for putting you in danger like this. But it is the truth. And now that you know everything… it is more dangerous for you. Becca, the less you know the better. But after what you have seen, it is only right that I explain myself."

"You don't have to worry about me anymore. We are over, Gael. Once you let me out of here, I will not appear in front of you anymore and I won't speak of you or your family's secret to anyone."

"That is not possible. Knowing and not knowing something makes you act differently despite being good at concealing your thoughts. You are not used to this life, and you will eventually slip up. I don't care about what will happen to me or my family if this secret was out but I care about what it will do to you. You have no choice, you will stay here. My words are final.", he concluded and spoke like a king in that last sentence before going to the bathroom and closing the door.

Becca was indeed conflicted. Gael still allowed her to continue being an influencer like she always did but she had to be more careful and she can only go out with Gael or some bodyguards with her.

After several weeks of the same routine, Becca had become more distant with Gael. She requested for a different room in which he complied despite being unwilling. And she was also not in the mood for making new content for her channel. Therefore, her drive to become an influencer was affected. She was just mostly quiet and stayed in her room. Whenever she goes out, she doesn't stay out for too long because she had become a little paranoid that someone might be out to get her.

Becca was determined to escape Gael's mansion. Her heart can't take it anymore. She was torn between accepting the man she had feelings for and rejecting him because of who he is and what he has done.

One night, Gael came home a little intoxicated and found Becca in the master bedroom. She was trying to look for her pa.s.sport and she had just found it when she heard the door open.

"You're here.", he said in a low dangerous voice which startled Becca as he slowly approached her. Holding her hand and drawing her close to him, he whispered on her lips. "h.e.l.lo, my love."