novelnext Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Deep down I knew that if life hadn't dealt Sonny such a harsh blow, he might never have looked back and realized what he had lost. Maybe it was just regret, or perhaps it was the desperation of a man who, after losing everything, now sought a shred of comfort from the one person who had once cared for him."Sonny, there's no way back for us," I said then stepped aside. As I tried to leave, he blocked my path once more.
"Bella, please. My mother is here, in Lagado City. Could you meet with her, just once?" he pleaded.I finally agreed. I figured it might be the perfect chance to say a final goodbye, to make it clear to his family that everything was truly over.
Sonny's father passed away years ago, so his mother had to raise him alone. Later, with the addition of Nicole, she faced even more hardships. Despite it all, Sonny had managed to work hard, get into college and build his own business from the ground up. He and Nicole had moved to Chester City, while his mother remained in their old hometown.I did not love Sonny anymore but I did have a soft spot for his mother. The older woman had always treated me kindly.
She sent care packages and small gifts and frequently called to check-in.
She treated me as if I were already her daughter-in-law.Now that my relationship with Sonny was over, I felt it was only fair to meet his mother and say goodbye properly.The three of them gathered in a private room at a small restaurant. I didn't waste time and laid everything out as clearly as I could.
The moment I finished; Sonny's mother slapped him across the face. The impact echoed through the room and his head snapped to the side, his cheek instantly turned red."I've told you time and again not to spoil your sister so much! Nicole has so many bad habits!" she shouted with a trembling voice. "Bella had been with you for five years! How could you treat her like this?"Tears welled up in her eyes and she turned to me and grasped my hands desperately.
"Bella, it's his fault, I know. However, he's sent Nicole away now. Please, forgive him," she begged. "Listen to me, just give him one more chance, won't you?"I just shook her head with a sad smile and said in a gentle but resolute voice, "
Auntie, I've already given him so many chances," I said. "We can't go back to how things were and I don't regret my decisions.""I don't regret being with him, but I also don't regret leaving him," I added.
Seeing how determined I was, Sonny's mother turned back to him, her grief transformed into fury."Look at you now! Your company is gone, your wife is gone and this is all you are doing!" she scolded. "What will you do with your life now? You've ruined everything!"Sonny, who had remained silent until then, suddenly lifted his head with a bitter laugh."You're right. I'm awful. I know I've crossed the line and hurt her beyond forgiveness," he said, his voice cracking. "I don't deserve to be forgiven.""Yet what can I do?" he shouted, as tears streamed down his face and his entire body trembled. "I can't let go! I had to come and try to get her back!"This was the first time I had ever seen him break down like this.
In all the years we had been together, he had always been composed and authoritative. The only moments of vulnerability I had seen were when it came to Nicole.
It was never for me.Now, he was a shattered version of himself, weeping openly for me.Even his mother fell silent, stunned by his outburst.Sonny dropped to his knees in front of me. It seemed he was about to collapse."Please," he begged, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Forgive me. Marry me. I'll work hard. We can start over.""Please … please give me another chance."