novelnext Chapter 13
Chapter 13
Mark's stern expression softened as Bella's gentle touch worked its magic. He knew her sudden attentiveness was her way of offering peace, quietly trying to mend things between them. Yet, despite knowing that, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of anger and sadness. How could his precious Bella have let someone hurt her like that? His heart ached, and tenderness welled inside him.
"Fine. I'm not angry anymore," he said, his voice softening.
I gently finished cleaning his wound, tenderly tending to him. When I heard his words, my heart melted, and my defenses crumbled.
Mark lifted his gaze to meet mine. His hand gently wrapped around my arm.
"Don't be soft-hearted again. Don't forgive him," he urged.
I knew I'd never be moved by Sonny's pleas again. The person who stirred my heart now was someone else. But I didn't say that. Instead, I nodded and looked down, feeling the weight of the moment.
"I know. I won't go back. I don't regret my choices."
Mark's POV
Finally, Mark relaxed a little. He released my hand, feeling reassured. He hadn't expected me to come back to his side, but he couldn't bear the thought of me being unhappy or mistreated. As long as I was happy, he would let go.
When I had heard my harsh words to Sonny earlier, Mark had almost lost it. How blind and foolish did Sonny have to be to fail to cherish someone as amazing as Bella?
"Get some rest," Mark said as he stood to leave. He didn't cross any boundaries, didn't take advantage of my vulnerability. Before he left, he glanced around my apartment.
"Do you need anything?"
I shook my head. "Everything is complete. I have all I need."
I walked with him downstairs. As we reached the door, I noticed his hesitation, his unspoken words. It stirred something deep inside me, a mix of warmth and sadness. I had never expected that after all these years, Mark would still love me so deeply. Today's events had shown me just how much I meant to him. It was comforting and overwhelming at the same time. There was someone who truly cared about me, someone who saw me. All the neglect and delayed affection from Sonny had been replaced by Mark's quiet devotion. I realized then what it truly meant to be loved.
In the following days, Bella's project with Shine Co. progressed smoothly, nearing its final stages. She hadn't seen Sonny or Mark since that night. Though Sonny occasionally sent messages to her work account, she hadn't blocked him, since it was a work account, but she never replied. On the other hand, Mark seemed to have disappeared completely, leaving Bella occasionally lost in thought, wondering about him.
One day, after the project wrapped up, Bella was taking a break when Lisa burst into the office, closing the door behind her with a mischievous expression.
"Miss Wendell! I just heard from a colleague at Shine Co. They said their financing fell through!"
"What?" Bella's voice betrayed her surprise. She checked her phone, noticing Sonny hadn't messaged her in quite a while.
"Shine Co.'s entire funding chain has collapsed," Lisa continued, clearly relishing the gossip. "If they don't fill the gap soon, they'll have to declare bankruptcy!"
Bella's mind raced. "How did that happen? Our follow-up plans were solid. I even heard multiple companies were interested in investing in Shine Co.," she said, recalling how well-received her final proposal had been. Shine Co. had even paid their last installment promptly.
"It's true! Our plan was solid, and the interest was high," Lisa agreed, her eyes widening. "But apparently, Sonny's sister snuck into his office and stole the bidding documents. She leaked the base price to a rival company!"
"What?" Bella's jaw dropped. "Why would she sabotage her own brother like that?"
Lisa shrugged, half-shocked and half-amused. "Who knows? But she really screwed him over. Shine Co.'s hanging by a thread now. If they don't secure new investment, they'll be bankrupt."