Jumping off a building suddenly seemed like a better solution, Bella thought grimly. Maybe... I could just fake my death. That's it. But I'd have to plan it carefully—wait for the right moment, cover my tracks.
Meanwhile, I could just go along with these impossible demands Josef keeps throwing at me—pretend to be reformed, ask for my mother and grandmother's forgiveness, entertain him the whole time, and work until I retire.
Ugh! I hate that bastard, she thought.
She clenched her fists, trying to suppress the rising tide of fury.
"Okay," she said, voice steady despite the chaos inside. "Pretend to be reformed until our fifth anniversary, ask for your mother and grandmother's forgiveness, entertain you the whole time, and work for you until I retire... what happens after our fifth anniversary?"
Josef's eyes flickered at the phrase "our fifth anniversary," a subtle hint of longing—if only it was real.
He hesitated for a split second before speaking, his tone cold and precise. "Of course... divorce."
The word felt like a chisel carving into something fragile in his chest.
Bella's heart skipped a beat, but she kept her face neutral. "And after that?"
Josef's jaw tightened. "Fix yourself. They're coming."
"Who...who's coming?" Bella's voice wavered, a flicker of panic flashing across her face.
Her mind raced—who could it be? Her stomach clenched with suspicion and dread.
---
Bella sat rigid at the small, round dining table, her hands trembling slightly as she clenched her fork so tightly her knuckles whitened. Josef lounged casually on her side, a smirk playing on his lips, clearly reveling in her discomfort.
Across from them, Madame Anne, the grandmother, sat with an air of regal disdain. Her silver hair was perfectly coiffed, her posture upright—an unspoken command for respect. Her eyes, sharp and commanding, swept Bella with a mixture of disdain and curiosity.
Beside her, Mrs. Elizabeth Harlington, the mother, leaned back with a smirk that oozed condescension. She took a slow sip of her wine, then set the glass down with deliberate slowness, eyeing Bella as if she were a specimen under a microscope.
This was the most uncomfortable situation Bella had ever faced. Her insides were frantically panicking—her stomach churned, her hands shook uncontrollably. She could barely hold her fork steady, her mind racing for a way out of this nightmare.
Josef, meanwhile, was all smiles—an unsettling, almost predatory grin that made Bella want to scream.
Madame Anne finally broke the tense silence, her voice calm but edged with anger. "So, imagine our surprise, when we learned you've returned. What guts you have," she said sharply, her eyes narrowing.
Elizabeth smirked loudly, a cruel laugh that echoed across the table. "We admire your courage, woman."
Bella's heart pounded so loudly she feared they could hear it. She knew she had to do something—anything—to survive this. She forced a weak, pitiful smile and looked down at her plate, voice trembling as she feigned remorse.
"I have nothing to say," she whispered, "but I am so, so sorry."
Elizabeth's eyes flashed with fury. She slammed her hand on the table, her voice rising. "Sorry?! That's it? All the humiliation you brought to this family? Sorry?"
Bella flicked her gaze to Josef, silently pleading for help, for some sign of support, but he didn't even bother to look her way. His expression remained indifferent, almost amused by her suffering.
Her jaw dropped in disbelief. So this was her punishment—justice denied, her pain dismissed. A punishment for something she never did.
Bella's voice wavered as she spoke, her tone trembling with simulated remorse. "I don't know what to say. As much as I wanted to repay everything, I can't. I'm not sure if you knew, but I don't remember anything now." She forced herself to sound genuine, playing the amnesia card with desperate hope. "Just tell me what I need to do to earn your forgiveness."
Maybe, if I kneel, they will forgive me? she thought.
Without hesitation, Bella pushed back her chair and rose swiftly. She dropped to her knees beside Madame Anne, her hands trembling as she rubbed her palms together, saying sorry over and over again, her voice thick with fake tears.
Oh, I should've wet my eyes with water, she thought bitterly. I can't cry.
Madame Anne's face twisted in anger. With a swift, brutal shove, she pushed Bella's shoulders, making her collapse onto her elbows. Bella grimaced, pain shooting through her side.
Elizabeth, seeing her vulnerable, threw a glass of wine across the table—an act of cruelty that Bella barely registered. Thanks, now I don't have to cry, she thought darkly.
But inside, a storm was brewing. She was on the brink of breaking down, tears threatening to spill as her mind spiraled with questions—what did I do to deserve this?
Elizabeth's angry voice shattered the silence. "Even if you cry an ocean, we will never, ever forgive you."
"How about you leave Josef," Madame Anne snapped, her voice trembling with rage, "never ever show your face again?!"
"Grandma! Mom!" Josef suddenly interrupted, stepping forward with a firm, commanding presence.
"That's enough," he said sharply, voice cold but steady.
He rushed to Bella's side, reaching out to help her up, but she pushed his hand away sharply.
She pulled herself upright, her face drawn and exhausted. She quickly wiped her face with trembling hands, a small victory inside her—an unspoken message: Go away.
A faint flicker of triumph danced in her chest, but she masked it well, feigning deep sadness.
"If that's the only way for you to forgive me," Bella said softly, her voice trembling but resolute, "then I will."
Both women looked at her expectantly, waiting for her to break, to fight back. Yet Bella remained silent, her posture resigned.
Josef's voice was a whisper, urgent and conflicted. "What the hell are you doing?"
Bella shot him a hurtful gaze, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. She acted as if she was about to cry, clutching her side, the pain real now—her aching foot limping as she moved.
She turned away from them all, her heart pounding, knowing she had to play the part—just long enough to survive.
The old ladies were chatting away celebrating their triumph. Huh, well, I won, too, Bella thought.
Josef ran after her and stopped her before she could reach the door. "You know very well, this isn't what we agreed," Josef demanded. "I think this is enough for tonight, Josef. I'm tired," Bella sighed in resignation. She closed the door of the private dining room behind her.
Outside the restaurant, Bella stood trembling, the cold night air slicing through her as she finally let the tears come. Her body shook with silent sobs, each one a release of years of pain, betrayal, and helplessness. She had always been strong—at least, she had to be—but tonight, she felt like breaking entirely.
Suddenly, Josef's voice shattered her fragile moment. "Mirabella!" he called out urgently, voice strained with emotion.
Startled, Bella snapped her head around, furious, eyes red and swollen from crying. "What!" she retorted sharply, her voice thick with rage and despair. Tears continued to stream down her cheeks.
Without warning, Josef swiftly removed his coat, draping it over her shoulders. His eyes reflected a mixture of sorrow and helplessness. Bella, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions, shrugged off his coat and threw it to the ground in frustration. Her heels clacked sharply against the pavement as she stepped on it, the sound echoing her anger and despair.
"Fucking leave me alone!" she shouted, voice cracking, her face streaked with tears. Her voice was raw, echoing her pain.
Josef stepped closer, reaching out instinctively, but she pushed his hands away with force, cursing under her breath. "I fucking hate you," she spat bitterly, her voice trembling with venom and heartbreak.