After Love

Bella and Claire decided to shop at an establishment owned by the Valdez family. Unfortunately, they met another person they would rather not see at all, who asked, "Why are you here?"

It was Daryl Stelter—Dakota's younger brother. Annoyed, Bella ignored him.

Daryl was irritated by her sullen treatment and tried to grab Bella by the wrist. Claire caught it before Daryl succeeded, glaring and questioning him, "What were you trying to do?"

He swung his hand away from her grip with a glower of his own. "Why are you putting on airs, Bella? Because your daddy's filthy rich? Is that why you're ignoring me?"

Bella glared at him icily. "Why should I give a nobody even a second of my time?" she snarked.

The shopkeeper noticed the hostility between her boss and the customer and stepped in. "Excuse me, sir, but please leave our shop."

It was humiliating to be booted out of the shop while everyone watched. An angry Daryl stepped closer to Bella, but before he could do anything to her, security was already blocking his path.

Even more irritated now, Daryl shouted, "Why are you doing this to me?! What the hell is this even for, huh? No wonder Damian calls you 'A Drama Queen.' You seriously think you're some hot shit!"

Claire turned to Bella instinctively. She was worried about how Bella would feel about this.

Bella shook her head at her and patted Claire's hand comfortingly. Then, she turned to Daryl, hardening her gaze. "Do you honestly think you deserve to talk to me at all if it weren't because you're one of Damian's associates?"

Daryl's face was red from rage, but security effectively blocked him from any physical response. In the end, he was forced out of the shop. No one could hear whatever verbal vomit he threw out as he was taken away.

Bella returned home and received a text from an unknown account. It was a video taken by someone who was filming in secret. It appeared to be in a club or a bar.

Damian was the subject of the video. Dakota sat so close to him that their skin touched.

"Looks like it's from Bella. Are you sure you don't wanna pick it up?" she asked, eyeing his ringing phone.

"Hell no. She never stops pestering me. She's so unbelievably self-centered," Damian replied. His apathy and aloofness were undeniable. "I wish she were as considerate as you."

To hear a voice—one that was once used to bring comfort and security to Bella—demean her like this hurt.

Once upon a time, whenever Bella suffered from insomnia, Damian would call her himself, no matter how busy he was. He would talk to her and tell her tales until she fell asleep. He did not change that even when he was busy finding his footing in the company shortly after he inherited it from his family.

For once, Bella realized honey could be poison. She felt as though someone had run a knife into her chest and twisted it.

She remembered how many times he had refused to answer her calls these days. He would later tell her he was just busy with work and told her not to overthink it.

Bella trusted him all the time. She would even tell him to take care and get some rest. She really believed he was trying to not let his work interfere with their relationship, but now she knew—he simply thought she was annoying and self-centered.

Bella returned to her room in a trance. She started smashing all of the things from him she had hoped would last forever—she now wanted them broken and gone.

By the time she regained her senses, her room was already filled with glass and ceramic shards. She had not even noticed the accidental cuts on her arms and legs from her rampage. She was bleeding.

Stella had come rushing to her room following the commotion. She threw her arms around Bella, sobbing, "Oh God, my baby girl… What did you do? You're hurt!"

Bella stared at her mom silently.

All her life, she lived in Damian's shadow. When her parents were busy, Damian was her companion. When she was being picky with food, Damian was the one who managed to make her eat. Damian was the one who taught her homework. Damian knew everything she liked and disliked.

He was the one who loved her the most. And now, he was the one who hurt her the most.

-

The next day, Robert and Margo Fox hurriedly returned from their business trip. As promised, Rodrigue and Stella took Bella with them for a visit.

To Bella's surprise, Damian was there. He had even brought Dakota along.

He was greatly stunned by the Valdezes' appearance. He started to panic. "B-Bella! Mr. and Mrs. Valdez! I…"

"Please don't misunderstand us! I'm just here to get a work folder from Damian," Dakota quickly interjected.

No one paid her any attention at all.

Damian hurried toward Bella and tried to grab her hand, but she swung it away. He approached her anyway, lowering his voice in equal parts anxiety and reconciliatory, "Don't act like that, Bella! I know you're still mad, but why didn't you answer my call last night? I've been worried sick about you!"

Bella took a brief glance at his face and ignored him. Instead, she addressed his parents. "Mr. Fox, I want to cancel my engagement with your son."