Bella and Willow arrived at the building. The glass doors shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting their excited faces as they stepped inside. The space was expansive, with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city skyline.
Willow walked slowly, taking it all in—the polished marble floors, the sleek modern furniture that was still wrapped in plastic, and the smell of fresh paint that filled the air.
Bella strolled beside her, equally in awe but with a curious edge. She touched the smooth surface of the receptionist’s desk, her fingers tracing the contours as she nodded in approval.
"It’s perfect, Willow," she said softly, "a perfect place for creative minds to flow freely."
Willow couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride at Bella’s words. "Yes, indeed," she replied, a smile tugging at her lips.
She felt grateful to her brother for choosing such a wonderful location, but she refrained from mentioning that Theodore had bought her this building. She was afraid his name could stir Bella’s emotions. She wanted to keep the atmosphere light and joyful.
"I have bought a new house too," Willow revealed enthusiastically. "It’s in the same location, just a few kilometers away from here. Will you come to see it?"
"Okay, no problem." Bella readily agreed, eager to support her friend. "I’ll come with you."
Willow beamed; her excitement infectious. "Oh, Bella, thank you, thank you!" She took Bella’s hand, and together they walked out of the office building. They hopped into Willow’s car, the air filled with anticipation as they drove toward the residential complex.
When they arrived, Bella took in the scene before her. The complex was expansive, with houses lining both sides of the road. The construction was still in progress, with workers bustling about, hammering and painting, bringing the neighborhood to life.
Willow navigated the car through the streets with a joyful bounce in her heart, her eyes dancing with delight at the prospect of her new home. But Bella fell silent all of a sudden.
She glanced around and felt a pang in her chest. The luxurious homes, the polished driveways, even the sound of laughter from families moving in—all reminded her of the lavish residential complex where Theodore had bought her a house.
She cursed that day. It was the same day Malcolm had suffered a heart attack, the moment when Theodore had transformed from loving to cold, distancing himself from her. Bella would never forget that day, that loss, and the subsequent pain that shrouded her life.
The thought tightened around her heart. ’I’ll never go into that house,’ she resolved silently, fighting back tears.
The car came to a screeching halt, jolting Bella from her thoughts.
"We are here," Willow exclaimed, her face lighting up with a bright grin. "This is the house I bought." She pointed to the white structure before them.
Bella looked at the house, noting how it stood proudly amidst the surrounding homes, which were still in various stages of construction. Unlike those unfinished buildings, this one was complete and exuded a sense of warmth and welcome.
"Let’s go check it out!" Willow beamed, her enthusiasm infectious as she jumped out of the car, her steps lively and eager.
Bella followed, but her steps were heavy with weariness, her heart still wrestling with the turmoil inside.
As they entered the house, a wave of familiarity washed over Bella. It was just as spacious and beautiful as the house Theodore had bought her, with similar layouts and furniture that echoed memories she was trying to escape.
It made Bella feel even worse. She didn’t want to stay there for another minute.
Willow, however, was oblivious to Bella’s internal struggle. She spun around in excitement. "Bella, I love this house!" Her joy was palpable. "I can’t wait to move in!"
Turning to Bella, she added earnestly, "And you can stay here with me if you don’t want to stay at Theodore’s villa. Don’t think that I’ll side with him just because he is my brother. I’ll support you, no matter what."
Bella chuckled. For a moment, her heart softened. "Thank you, Willow, but I am fine at Bridget’s place. But don’t worry, I’ll visit you."
Willow, not ready to let the idea go, pressed on. "Bella, this house is so big! You could stay here and even set up a small studio of your own."
However, Bella’s expression darkened, the smile fading. "No, Willow. I can’t stay here. Theodore may come to visit you, and I don’t want to see him."
The excitement in Willow’s eyes evaporated, replaced by concern. She hesitated, every instinct urging her to reveal everything about Theodore’s struggles, but his warning echoed in her mind, holding her back.
"I know what you’re going through right now," Willow said softly, her voice steady. "But Theodore is also in a mess. He is feeling helpless. He is very close to Grandpa, and the thought of losing him terrifies him. He is afraid Grandpa’s condition will worsen, so he is keeping a distance from you."
Willow stepped closer, gently taking Bella’s hands in hers. "In reality, Theo cares about you. He loves you. Just don’t lose hope. Give him some time. I believe he’ll find a way to convince Grandpa."
But Bella was too afraid to build up hope again. "If that’s the case, why didn’t he explain any of this to me?" she retorted, frustration seeping into her words. "He could have told me everything—his issues, his fears. He could have asked me questions, but instead, he just shut me out. He didn’t give me a chance to explain myself."
Bella shook her head in disappointment, the sting of betrayal sharp and fresh. "He left me alone at the hospital. He doesn’t care about me anymore. He has changed."
Willow’s heart sank at the pain in Bella’s voice. "No, Bella," she said instantly, tightening her grip on her hand. Desperation was evident in her voice. "He still cares about you. It’s just that he is worried about Grandpa."
"Is that so?" Bella sneered, cutting her off with sharp skepticism. "If he really cared about me, why did he leave me alone at the hospital? He wasn’t there when I needed him the most. When Gina came and bullied me, he took her side without a second thought. He didn’t even bother to ask how I was doing."
Tears threatened to spill from Bella’s eyes, but she blinked them away.
"His love for me is just for show, not deep enough," she spat. "A few images were enough to make him lose his trust in me. He believes I’ve been cheating on him. I don’t care if Grandpa, Claudia, or anyone else doubts my devotion to my spouse. But I expected Theodore to believe in me and stand by my side."
A painful smile twisted her lips, revealing the hurt she was trying to conceal. "He didn’t trust me. He chose to believe Claudia’s lies."
Willow stood momentarily speechless, grappling with the turmoil between her brother and Bella. She didn’t condone Theodore leaving Bella alone in the hospital, but she understood the pressure he was under and why he had sided with Gina. It was a part of his plan to bring Claudia and Franklin down.
"Claudia is a vile woman," Willow said, her mouth twisting in rage. "She destroyed our family. And now she is trying to ruin Theodore’s life. Believe me, Bella, he is trapped."
Bella didn’t want to agree with that, but Willow’s words compelled her to give Theodore benefit of doubt. What if he was truly in trouble? Could be that Claudia had threatened him with Malcolm’s life?
She shook her head, dismissing the thought. If he were really in danger, he would have confided in her. They were married, loved each other, and vowed to stand by each other’s side. But he broke that promise. He didn’t trust her enough to share his burdens.
"I don’t want to talk about him," Bella said curtly. "If you’re done here, I want to leave."
"Alright, we’ll leave. I’ll just use the bathroom first."
"I’ll wait outside." With that, Bella stormed out of the house as if she felt suffocated being there. As soon as she stepped outside into the open sky, she took a deep breath. Despite her efforts to stay indifferent, tears still rolled down her cheeks.
’Why, Theodore? Why aren’t you telling me anything if you really are in trouble?’ she thought, frustration mingling with sorrow.
The idea that he was hiding things from her only deepened the ache in her heart. She longed for the trust they once shared, for the connection that now felt so far away.
As Bella stood there, lost in her thoughts, a figure across the road observed her with a mixture of disbelief and fascination.
Philip, who had come to inspect the progress of construction, suddenly froze in his tracks, his breath catching in his throat as his gaze locked onto Bella. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
’Rose!’ his mind screamed, his ears buzzing. ’What kind of joke is it?’ He felt as though his brain had blown up.
Was he seeing a ghost?
Philip clearly remembered burying Rose three years ago. He had grieved for her, mourned her loss. How could she be alive?
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