Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Chapter 252 Deadly

Lia snatched the box containing the brooch from Bella's hand and angrily said, "Do you have any idea how much the watch he's putting on that woman cost? It's 125 grand, and there's diamonds on it! So, do you really think this gift means anything now? It's not too late to return it!"

Bella shook her head. "There's no need for that. No matter what he buys for someone else, this gift has a different meaning for me. There's no conflict, okay? Let's go."

Once they stepped out of the mall and onto the chilly street, Bella began to shiver slightly from the cold. She anxiously sat in the car and replayed the scene she had just witnessed over and over in her mind. Each time, the memory came with a sharp pain. But what could she do?

As she drove, Lia noticed Bella had pushed the car to about 50 miles per hour. Lia quietly said, "You're usually a timid driver, and you never go over 37 miles per hour. You're acting like nothing's wrong, but you're clearly shaken up."

Bella didn't reply, but her hands shook as she gripped the steering wheel. She wasn't angry, but she couldn't quite pinpoint her feelings. It was complicated and painful....

When they arrived at Lia's studio, Bella walked in and made herself a cup of hot coffee. But despite the warmth, she still felt cold. She trembled as if some mysterious force had drained all her energy. She curled up on the couch, unwilling to move or speak

Lia gently stroked her icy hand. "Bella... Have you ever thought that being with someone who loves you is much better than being with someone you love? What's the point of loving someone who doesn't love you back? After all these years, you must know in your heart how it is, right?

"The hardest thing in a relationship is to deal with something like this. I thought that since he was willing to announce your relationship to the world, it meant you mattered to him. We were too optimistic. There are just some people who will never fall for you, no matter how long you wait for them." Bella finally couldn't hold her tears any longer. "But... he treats me so well. He's completely different from before. He gives me the illusion that we're really in love. Is it really just to get back at me?

"I thought I was mentally prepared for this, I thought I could keep my composure until the end, but it looks like I've overestimated myself."

Lia raked her hand through her hair in frustration. "If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, I might have been able to defend him a little. Like maybe it isn't what we think, or something along those lines. But you saw it yourself, and he's definitely in the wrong!" Just then, Bella's phone rang

Dominic was calling her.

Bella rejected the call immediately. She didn't want to hear his voice right now. She thought he was working hard at the office, but spending time. shopping with a woman was tiring too, right?

Less than a minute later, he called again, and she rejected it once more.

This was the only way she could take control of the situation

After two times, Dominic stopped trying. Looking at her silent phone, Bella felt even worse.

When she returned to Miller Manor that evening, she found that Dominic had yet to return. She didn't even bother asking Sylvia if he was coming home

for dinner. However, Sylvia took the initiative to inform her that Dominic had called and said he would be home late.

Bella nodded calmly, easily guessing where he was, Even if he didn't return home all night, it wasn't like she could do anything about it, right?

After dinner, she took Pudding for a walk alone. After that, she showered and settled down with a book.

It clearly wasn't p

At around 10

time to give the brooch to Dominic today, so she hid the gift box in a drawer where it couldn't be seen to avoid feeling upset. pm, she heard some noise downstairs, and Pudding dashed out barking Dominic had returned.

Bella put down her book, turned off the lights, and went to bed. She feared that if she encountered him, she wouldn't be able to resist questioning him. She didn't have the right to do so and dreaded hearing him say something hurtful like that she meant nothing to him.