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Chapter 30
Bella's POVI looked at the video on the phone that someone handed over. On the screen, the girl with heavy makeup danced energetically with a coquettish smile on her face.
The bar was full of all kinds of people, yet Nicole seemed unfazed and let everyone gawk at her.I was stunned. I was surprised Nicole would be willing to take over Sonny's debts.I had a feeling that Nicole herself was not sure whether it was brotherly and sisterly love or something else.
I had assumed Nicole had gone back to her hometown to find a job, but I never expected she would stay in Chester City and willingly bear the responsibility of paying off Sonny's debts.
"Where is Sonny?"
Anna was very angry when she watched Nicole's degraded appearance.
"Did he just run away and let his sister pay off his debts? How long can he hide? He might as well work hard to pay back the money."
"Do you think he can ever pay it back?" another friend retorted. "He borrowed millions to try to save his company and the interest has probably doubled by now."Everyone chimed in to discuss the situation but then realized Bella had never said anything.
When Anna realized it, she lowered her voice and asked, "Are you okay? What's wrong?"I sighed.
"I never thought he was so irresponsible and he actually chose to leave than face the music."
Sonny probably hadn't expected Nicole to still care about him so much, let alone be willing to shoulder his debts. However, I knew that Nicole couldn't handle the debt alone.
The image of Nicole, who was once spoiled and headstrong, still appeared in my mind. I shook my head to push the thought away.
"Forget it. It's not my problem anymore."The wedding would be held at Chester City after New Year. Mark had made sure to choose Bella's hometown. He even booked a manor to hold an outdoor wedding and only invited close friends and family.
On the morning of the wedding, Bella checked the final arrangements while Mark reviewed the guest list. From a distance, she noticed someone wandering near the estate's entrance.Without making a sound, she walked over. As she approached, she recognized the familiar yet now strange face of Sonny.
He wore a simple shirt and pants. He looked nothing like the polished, proud man he used to be. When he saw her, his eyes lit up briefly before he offered a shy, wistful smile."
Congratulations, Bella," he said.
Bella remained composed, though her heart filled with mixed emotions. "Have you finally decided to come back and settle down?" she asked.A spring breeze lifted Bella's hair and Sonny's face twisted in pain. He instinctively reached out to smooth her hair but stopped himself."Yes," he answered, his voice was hoarse. "I'll pay back the money. Somehow."Bella said firmly, "Nicole has suffered a lot since you're gone. You two siblings should take care of each other.
"Nicole was indeed very kind to her brother but she did make mistakes and hurt Sonny badly.As expected, Sonny's face turned cold for a moment. It seemed he still had some grudge toward Nicole. However, they had bought this upon themselves.Sonny opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just hung his head.Bella did not longer. She turned around and left.The wounds she had suffered from their betrayal had been healed, but she would never forget what they had put her through. Including Sonny's obsessiveness in the aftermath had shown her the ugliest parts of him.If he had not hit rock bottom, Sonny might never have changed.
Bella could bring herself to wish her well. Deep down, she felt Sonny and Nicole did not deserve a happy ending.
Evildoers would be punished by evil. What goes around, comes around.As she walked away, she heard Sonny shouting her name behind her, calling out his apologies but she didn't slow her pace. Forgiving him was out of the question, but neither would she harbor hate. He was simply a passerby in the story of her life, a fleeting presence that the wind had carried away."
Where were you? Your hands are so cold.
"Mark, anxious and worried, rushed over the moment he saw her returning from the door. He wrapped her hands in his own, trying to warm them.Bella did not want to hide anything from him.
She knew he would eventually find out."
Sonny came and said something," I explained."Oh," Mark replied, attempting to sound indifferent, but he held onto her hands even tighter."Why? Are you jealous?
" Bella poked his cheek. His childish and cute expression cured her heart.This reminded her just how much comfort his love brought. She had found someone who could effortlessly erase her worries, all because of one simple word, which was love."
Starting today, you're officially my husband," she teased.Mark was happy. He knew Bella would never look back."Alright," he said. "We should hurry. The wedding's about to start."The dazzling golden light intertwined with the sycamore tree, scattering a thousand patches of brightness around them. Two-person shadows overlapped and intertwined as they ran forward, hand in hand, toward a brand-new ###Chapter of their lives.
(The End)