Chapter 40

Hours before the encounter.

“Welcome to the Louis Vuitton red carpet in Paris, Miss Coachely. You look stunning tonight.”

“Thank you very much.” She kissed the camera while the night breeze of Paris gently moved her hair.

“Tell us, Miss Belladona, who is your handsome companion tonight?” Belladona took my arm, pulling me closer to speak into the microphone.

“A very important person in my life. I’ll keep the details to myself,” she said with a playful tone that made the interviewer ask again.

“So, is it not true what they said in that newspaper about your relationship with Cesar? Won’t you be getting back together?” My face turned more serious, and I grabbed Belladona’s hand, pulling her away to leave, but she held me back, annoyed.

“Newspaper?”

“Belladona, let’s go!”

“No! Shut up…” she snapped, looking at me angrily, then turned to the interviewer with a smile and asked, “Excuse me, what are you referring to?”

“So that’s not you in the photo from the newspaper at the clothing store?” the woman asked, confused.

“That’s not me…” Belladona said, furious, in a way I hadn’t seen in a long time.

“It’s not? Are you sure about that, Miss Coachely? I can show you the photo—it looks a lot like you.”

“We don’t have time, excuse us,” I said, taking Belladona’s hand and quickly walking away while the cameras followed us.

“I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life…”

“Belladona, calm down.”

“Calm down?! Shut up!” she snapped, pulling away from my grip. “You lied to me… You said you didn’t know anything about that girl. Is that what you were hiding from me?”

“I didn’t know anything either. I don’t understand why Cesar is with that girl and allowing himself to be photographed.”

“Who is this Belle...?”

“Why does it matter… Cesar left you! He abandoned you in that hotel room, sending you money as if you were nothing more—” She slapped me and got into the car while the cameras kept flashing. I got into the car as well, and the driver quickly drove off.

“Belladona, listen to me…”

“I’ve bought two tickets to the United States for tonight.”

“You’re really going back as if nothing happened. I don’t understand you.”

“I messed up, Kyelef… He ended things with me, and I’m not going to let another…,” she trailed off, letting out an irritated laugh.

“But you said Cesar was cruel to you… does that mean you lied to me?”

“You’re the last person I want to hear from right now. You lied to me… so I’ll find out who that imposter is myself.”

♡

Present

“Belladona… what are you doing here?” She walked over to him with firm steps, and without warning, she hugged him. I snapped out of that hypnotic vision and quickly slipped away to the consultation, thinking that if that woman was here, Kyelef would return, and maybe I would have a chance.

♡

“You’re lucky the bone was able to heal, because in other circumstances, we might have had to operate,” I breathed a sigh of relief, and then the doctor added,

“But don’t get overconfident. Now that the bandages are off, you can’t do any strenuous exercises. The bone is still healing.”

“But I have to work.”

“I understand that you have to work, but please take care of yourself,” he said. Nervously, I hurried to say,

“Please, could you keep this result confidential? I don’t want Mr. Montenegro to find out. I don’t work with them anymore. In fact, I’ll pay for this consultation… though I’m sure it’s very expensive. I just need a little time.”

“I understand, but… from what I gather, you came with Mr. Cesar. I’m not sure he’d be pleased if you don’t tell him the state of your… your…”

“I’m not his employee.”

“Oh, I wasn’t going to say that… it’s just that I saw the photos in the newspaper this morning.” My cheeks turned red, and I stood up nervously, blurting out,

“That’s also false. Have a good day,” I said hurriedly as I left, thinking that not only had I seen those photos, but Mr. Kyelef might have as well. What would he think of me? I took out my phone and sent him a message.

“Mr. Kyelef, if you saw some strange photos in the newspaper… they’re not real. Someone took a photo of us without us knowing. I think no one knows it’s really me, but I’d like to talk to you.”

“Wait, Miss Belle, let me go with you.”

“Okay, but is there something else you need to tell me?” I asked, following the old man toward the elevator.

“Mr. Cesar called me. He’s waiting for you in front of the hospital, and I’d like to take the opportunity to say hello.”

“What? He hasn’t left! Doesn’t that man have work to do?” I said, scandalized, letting out a laugh, remembering that he was next to me.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t worry. Mr. Cesar can be a complicated man, but I suppose we’d all be that way if we had the life he’s had,” the doctor said with a chuckle. I scoffed; that man had no idea what a hard life was.

“I highly doubt it.”

“I’ve known him since he was just a teenager playing the role of an adult,” the doctor said, turning to look at me, and when the doors opened, he added,

“I just hope that the kindness he’s shown to this hospital will be returned to him.”

“Kindness? That man has kindness?” He turned to look at me and smiled.

“Discover it for yourself.” I lifted my gaze and saw Cesar still accompanied by Belladona. Why did this have to happen to me?

“Mr. Cesar, Miss Belladona, it’s a pleasure to see you both back at the hospital,” the doctor said, shaking his hand. I quickly slipped away in silence, glancing at them for a second, and my eyes met Belladona’s. I took off my cap to lower my gaze when I heard,

“Hey, you, little girl! Why don’t you introduce yourself properly? You’ve been staring at us for quite a while.” I looked around, wondering who she was calling.

“Me?” I asked, pointing to myself as I saw her approaching with the doctor.

“Wait a moment, don’t you already know each other… considering how much you look alike,” the doctor said curiously. Fearfully, I looked up at her, and I saw her frown slightly. She looked me up and down, and I felt embarrassed by my old work uniform.

“Here we go again with those comments. I already told you, they don’t look alike at all,” Cesar said, approaching with a look of annoyance.

“In that, we agree, Cesar. We don’t look alike at all. Belle is much more charming than I am.” My eyes widened, and I quickly shook my head.

“That’s impossible, Miss… So let me introduce myself. I’m Belle… nice to meet you.” I extended my hand to shake hers, but she just stared at it. She removed her sunglasses, placing them under my chin to look at my face.

“Just some of my features…” she murmured, then smiled at me, taking her sunglasses away and crossing her arms elegantly before saying, “Pleasure to meet you.” I clenched my fist and placed it behind me, looking away in disgust, feeling just as unwanted as when I first met her… I looked at Cesar, and my expression shifted to surprise when I saw him glaring at Belladona with anger.

“By the way, Mr. Cesar, I’d like to talk about the investment in the cancer section.” He sighed deeply and said,

“Yes, let’s talk,” then he looked at me and said, “Get in the car first. I’ll come after.”

“What? No, I’ll take the bus. There’s a stop nearby, and besides…” I glanced at Belladona out of the corner of my eye, and as I had sensed, she didn’t take her eyes off me, and it was starting to wear on me.

“Bus?”

“Yes, it’s a form of public transportation, haven’t you heard of it?” I said with a small smile that quickly faded as he frowned.

“I know what it is, don’t be pretentious. The car is much faster, so stop saying stupid things. Didn’t you say you had to get back to work?”

“Yes, but…” Without waiting for my response, I heard him say as he walked away,

“I’m not going to say it twice.” Frustrated, I stomped on the ground, letting out a heavy sigh. I looked to my side, and Belladona was staring at me. Oh no… don’t leave me with this woman.

“I was always told you had a lost twin in the world,” she said with a smile, and I nodded awkwardly. “Except I got the good luck, and you got the bad…”

“I have a lot of good things despite everything…” I heard her chuckle, biting my tongue.

“I’ll be direct—you’re not a Coachely.”

“What?” I asked, frowning at her.

“I’m saying this so you don’t get any strange ideas or let any weird rumors start circulating. I’m an only child, and I know this because my father had a vasectomy after having me. So it’s impossible that you exist. Oh well… maybe if you’re that bitch’s daughter, you were born.” I stared at her in shock, my breathing quickened, and I said, shaken, not knowing how to respond, and what if it was true… I had never wanted to ask, I had never wanted to know my origins, and what if what she said was true.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I… I’m an orphan. Besides, I don’t care about your family. I don’t want anything from you, and I wasn’t planning on asking for anything either.”

“Well, it’s better to be safe than sorry… I’ve met many of your kind.”

“My kind? You don’t know me…” I snapped, angry.

“Tell me something… Belle, Belle… Belle, have you kissed Cesar?”

“W-what?” I stammered, my face heating up, turning red.

“It was just a silly comment, but your reaction said it all.”

“Have you done anything else? Like, for example… sex?” What was wrong with her? How could she ask such personal questions?

“No!”

“For some reason, I imagined it… you’re too naive. Cesar likes women who are more forward,” she said with a biting smile.