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Chapter 26
It had been a long time since they last met and the once vibrant and carefree girl standing before her looked completely different.Now, Nicole wore simple pants and a short-sleeved shirt. Her face was bare of makeup and her hair was haphazardly tied behind her back. When she saw Bella emerge from the office building, she hurried over to block her path."Do you need something from me?" Bella asked.
She didn't hate Nicole but she could never forgive her for what she had done to her. As she looked at Nicole now, she could still see the ghost of that arrogant girl who had once bullied and belittled her.
However, Nicole's former self-assuredness had vanished. She stood before Bella who looked defeated. Her head bowed down in shame.
"I asked my brother where you work," she began hesitantly.Bella did not have any desire to hear her explanation. She stepped aside to walk around Nicole, but the girl blocked her again.
"Bella, I was wrong before …"
Nicole's voice cracked as tears streamed down her face and fell onto her lips"Please, can you tell me where my brother is?" she begged. "He left me back at our old house. I have to do all the cooking and laundry and I'm barely getting enough to eat. I can't take it anymore. I borrowed money to buy a train ticket to come here, but when I arrived, I found out my brother had moved. Bella, do you know where he went?"Her sobs grew louder and she dropped to her knees, ready to beg.Bella quickly stopped her with mixed emotions."Your brother... he's run off because he owes a lot of money," Bella said, her voice firm but not harsh. "No one knows where he's hiding now."Nicole froze, her eyes wide with disbelief. "Is it true?" she whispered. "Was it really my fault the company went bankrupt, all because I ruined that contract?"Bella chose to be honest with her. She did not want to give false hope so, she spoke calmly, without sugarcoating the truth."That was your brother's last chance," she said bluntly. "The deal was almost sealed, but your sudden interruption made the investors pull out. If he couldn't even keep his personal life in order, who would trust him to manage a business?"Nicole's expression shifted from shock to devastation and Bella took a step back and put more distance between them.You'd better find some work to support yourself," Bella continued. "Your family won't be able to provide for you forever. Don't try to track down your brother. If the debt collectors find you, they might make you pay on his behalf."Nicole stood motionless, her face pale and empty. Bella turned and walked away. She wasn't generous enough to help someone who had caused her so much pain. The only kindness she could offer was urging Nicole to take charge of her own life.
Nicole had once lived in a fantasy crafted by her brother, Sonny, a world where she was pampered and prioritized like a little princess. However, now, that dream had shattered.
Her brother, who had shielded her from every hardship, had gone. Yet Nicole herself had never developed the strength or maturity to stand on her own. If she didn't pull herself together, the future waiting for her would only get bleaker.
Being with Mark was nothing like her relationship with Sonny.Back in university, Sonny had stubbornly cared for her, but he was never gentle or attentive toward her. His pride often led to arguments that left Bella feeling hurt and neglected. Over time, his cold indifference grew and by the time they were discussing marriage, intimacy had become a distant memory.
Yet, it was different with Mark. His attentiveness surprised her.He remembered the smallest things she mentioned in passing. He noted her likes and dislikes, the little details she casually revealed.
By the time Bella noticed, he would be there, like a sly fox, grinning and demanding a reward for his thoughtfulness.Despite his carefree demeanor, Mark constantly showed his love in the most tender, considerate ways.