Chapter 125 Discovered, Quarrel
Bella had just driven Debra away when her phone rang. It was James.
"Hey, Bella. How've you been?" James's voice was as clear and pleasant as ever.
Bella knew James was still in the hospital. She glanced at the clock; it was still early. Should she go visit him?
Sterling had finally let her go back to work. If he found out she went to see James, he'd be furious. She'd have to sneak out early and visit James on the down-low.
When Bella got to the hospital, she found James lost in thought, leaning back on his bed.
James looked up, surprised. "Bella, I didn't think you'd come."
Bella just smiled. "How are you holding up?"
James grinned. "I'm alright, just a broken bone. No big deal."
"That's good to hear," Bella said with a nod.
But she couldn't help herself. "James, did you break off your engagement with Amara because of me?"
Amara had told her that the Savoy family called off the engagement because of Bella, and that the Savoy Group was acquired because of her too. Bella felt the weight of it all.
She didn't want to be caught in the crossfire between James and Sterling. She wasn't a prize to be won.
James gave a helpless smile. "Bella, what do you think?"
"James, it's pointless. I'm married now, you know that. We can't go back. When you get better, you should leave, or at least stay away from me," Bella said softly, looking down.
James felt a pang in his heart. His eyes glistened with tears and a hint of bitterness. "Bella, I've been through so much and never felt pain. The Savoy Group was taken over, I was forced into an engagement with Amara, and now it's off. Isn't that enough? But your words, asking me to leave, hurt the most."
Tears welled up in Bella's eyes. "You know Sterling won't let any man near me. You can't stay."
James looked at her, as if he had so much to say but couldn't find the words.
"Is he good to you?" James suddenly asked.
"Of course. He takes me to work every day, and he..." Bella started.
James cut her off. "As long as he's good to you." He didn't want to hear about another man treating Bella well.
"I'm sorry, James. I let you down, but this is how it has to be," Bella said.
James shook his head. "Bella, I'm not leaving you or this city. Even if it's just as a friend, I'll stay. Even if I can't see you or know about you, I'll always be here."
Bella was in tears. She knew she and James were never meant to be. She wasn't worth all this.
"James, the Savoy Group is already gone. Don't you see what Sterling is capable of? If you keep this up, you'll end up sacrificing yourself," she said.
James said coolly, "Bella, I get it. If we keep meeting, it's just gonna cause you more trouble. So, let's just leave it at that."
They'd stay in the same city but never cross paths again.
Bella wasn't sure how she made it out of the hospital. Her mind was a mess, and by the time she got home, it was already late.
Nia suddenly popped out from behind her. "Bella, where'd you go after work today? I wanted to ask you to go shopping, but when I went to your office, you were already gone. I don't have your number."
Bella felt a pang of anxiety. "Oh, it's nothing. Next time, just have someone from the office call me, or we can exchange numbers now." She pulled out her phone.
Nia didn't seem to mind, and they swapped contact info. Just then, Sterling appeared at the staircase, making Bella jump. His face was anything but happy.
"You're just getting back now. Where were you this afternoon?" Sterling asked, his tone sharp.
Sure enough, Sterling said the next second, "Bella, come upstairs with me."
Bella glanced at Nia, feeling uneasy. "I'll go up first," she said.
Nia noticed Sterling's mood and didn't want to stir the pot. She patted Bella on the shoulder. "He seems upset. He was like this when he got back this afternoon."
"I know," Bella replied, nodding.
As soon as Bella stepped into the study, Sterling's stern voice hit her. "Did you leave work early on purpose today to visit James in the hospital? Bella, you're really something, doing bad things and getting caught by me."
Bella's nerves were on edge. "Bad things? Sterling, do you think I don't know you have people watching me, that you put a tracker on my phone? Do you think I'm clueless?"
Sterling was taken aback for a moment. "Bella, I'm just trying to protect you. Don't be so sensitive."
"Sensitive? What? Aren't you monitoring me? I just went to see a friend. Do you have to blow it out of proportion?" Bella shot back.
Sterling's eyes narrowed. "You know in your heart whether James is just a friend."
"Sterling, do you have to pick a fight with me to feel better?" Bella's voice was stern. She felt he was being completely unreasonable.
Sterling's temper flared. "Yes, we've barely had a few days of peace. You're the one provoking me. I said you can't see James again, or I'll make sure he regrets ever being born."
Bella was furious. "Sterling, if you do anything to James, I will never forgive you."
Sterling sneered. "Do I need your forgiveness? Bella, get it straight. I didn't bring you back to argue with me and then sneak around to see another man."
Bella's face went pale with anger. This was the first time Sterling had said something like this.
She looked at him, her eyes filled with sadness. "Then why did you bring me back? Wouldn't it have been better to let me die out there?"
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