novelnext Chapter 11
Chapter 11
My anger simmered just beneath the surface. I despised Sonny's manipulative tactics. To force my presence here, he had no problem causing trouble for innocent people. He just couldn't separate personal emotions from business.
"There's no issue on our side…" I said flatly, my directness catching Sonny off guard. He couldn't understand why the woman who once put him above everything now seemed so different. But deep down, I knew he still preferred the gentler version of me.
"Then let's go ahead and sign the contract," I concluded, maintaining my calm exterior.
After the contract was signed, I stood up, Lisa following suit. As we prepared to leave, I turned to Sonny and spoke without hesitation, "I hope Mr. Simmons starts taking work matters more seriously. If there's an issue, address it privately instead of making it personal."
"Lisa, wait for me outside," I told her, then turned around, only to find Sonny had caught up.
"Have you been doing well?" he asked, his voice heavy with conflicting emotions. His eyes, full of surprise and reproach, met mine.
I couldn't help but find his question absurd. I didn't hesitate to shoot back, "Can you stop deceiving yourself already?"
Sonny's POV
"It's too late, Sonny," Bella said, her beautiful eyes glittering with disdain. Her contempt for me was clear.
We had once been so close, on the verge of marriage even. We'd talked about wedding plans, but my sister, Nicole, had done everything in her power to destroy it. She'd thrown tantrums, faked self-harm, and ended up in the hospital multiple times. Though I never said it out loud, deep down, I blamed Bella for it.
I couldn't bear to see my sweet sister turn into such a toxic person, so I pinned it all on Bella. That's why I turned a blind eye when Nicole hurt her. I shut down any attempts Bella made to explain herself and killed the last bit of hope she had in me.
Looking back, I realized that from the start, I had never chosen Bella. I'd intentionally neglected her, postponed our wedding indefinitely, and used her as a vent for my frustration. But I never thought she would actually leave. I never imagined she would disappear from my life entirely.
Sometimes, I woke in the dead of night, reaching out instinctively for her warmth, but all I found was emptiness. Bella's comforting embrace was gone for good.
I couldn't accept it. Desperate, I tried everything I could think of, hoping she'd come back.
"You're disgusting."
Bella's harsh words cut me to the core, and as she turned to leave, I grabbed her wrist tightly.
"Let me go," she demanded, clearly repulsed by my touch. Her struggle was violent, and when her jacket slipped off her shoulders, she reached to grab it. In that moment, I tightened my grip, refusing to let go.
"Bella!"
A sharp voice interrupted us. We both turned in surprise. Mark stood at a distance, his posture firm and commanding.
Distracted, I let go of her hand, and Bella quickly walked toward him.
"Are you okay?" Mark asked, his concern evident as he examined the angry red marks on her wrist. His expression softened with worry as he gently draped his jacket over her shoulders, taking her hand protectively in his.
I stared at them, suddenly piecing things together. So, this was the person who'd stepped in to resolve the issues with Bella's father's company. This also explained her elegant appearance and her decision to work in Lagado City.
The realization hit me hard, and a surge of jealousy I hadn't expected coursed through me.