Chapter 126 He Loves You
Bella snapped, "Yeah, you raised me, and I'm thankful for that. But you keep me on a leash, torment me, you hate me, you don't love me, and I don't love you either. So why are we doing this to each other?"
Sterling's face twisted with rage the moment he heard Bella say she didn't love him.
His heart clenched, and he spat out, "I took you in to torment you, to get revenge. Isn't that my right? Bella, do you even know what a plaything is? You're just something I picked up, and I'm not done with you yet. How could I let someone else have you? The fact that I didn't kill James when I found you two together is already me being generous. What, are you still ignoring me? I told you not to see him, but you never listen. Bella, you brought this on yourself."
Bella's heart ached even more when Sterling dredged up the past. She had given her virginity to Sterling; couldn't he feel that?
Now he was bringing up her and James again. Nothing had happened between them, but she wanted to explain, though she knew Sterling probably wouldn't listen.
Sure enough, before she could get a word in, Sterling sneered, "Don't tell me nothing happened between you two. Were you just chatting under the covers?"
With tears streaming down her face, Bella shouted, "Yes, I'm your plaything, your pet, is that enough for you?"
She continued, "I thought if you didn't love me, at least we could be like family. I didn't expect you to think this way."
Sterling's eyes were cold as ice. "Bella, how could you ever think of me as family? I hate you too much for that. You're right, you're just a pet I picked up. If I tell you to go east, you can't go west. The fact that I didn't kill the guy who touched you is already a mercy. Bella, stop thinking you can outsmart me. I've told you many times, if I catch you again, James won't just end up in the hospital; he'll end up in the morgue."
Bella was constantly under Sterling's threats. She screamed, "Sterling, you're a bastard. You're so heartless. I hate you."
She ran out, and Sterling, in a fit of rage, swept the documents off the table, the noise echoing loud enough for Zoey downstairs to hear.
Bella ran out crying, her heart shattered. She had thought of Sterling as family, and over the years, they had shared some warmth. But today, she realized how Sterling truly saw her.
She hated him, wishing he would die. Why did Sterling take her in and raise her? What had she done wrong?
Bella felt like she and Sterling could never go more than a couple of days without fighting, and this time, it completely ignited Sterling's fury.
She sat on the swing outside; it was already evening. She was so angry she didn't eat, and this time, Sterling didn't call her for dinner either. She sat there, crying until she was exhausted, leaning against the swing, lost in thought.
Before long, Nia plopped down next to her. "Bella, you really know how to push buttons. I've never seen Sterling this mad. But honestly, he went too far this time. Even I got a little pissed listening to him."
Bella stayed silent.
Nia looked at Bella's tear-streaked face and sighed, "Why do you always fight with Sterling? I've seen it happen so many times."
Bella snapped, "Do you think I want to fight? It's him. Didn't you hear what he said? He only sees me as a plaything. What did I do to deserve this humiliation?"
Nia shook her head. "Bella, have you ever thought about the root of the problem? Sterling isn't like that."
Bella retorted, "What do you mean? I've known what kind of person he is since I was a kid."
Nia said, "No, you don't get it. You didn't know Sterling before he was 18. He used to be a gentle guy, the kind any girl would like. Bella, think about it. Sterling's rage just now only erupted after you said you didn't love him, right?"
She continued, "With his abilities and resources, he wouldn't waste his life marrying you if he truly hated you. And he raised you from a young age. Do you think, as a man and a person in power, he just wants to be your family? You said you see him as a family; it's no wonder he's angry. Don't you realize? He wants to be your husband, but you want to be his family. Where does that leave Sterling's pride?"
Bella was confused by Nia's words. "Nia, it's not like that. He simply hates me."
Nia sighed deeply. "Maybe he used to hate you, but can't you feel it? Everything he does for you. As a woman, I can tell Sterling's words just now aren't true. Before, I thought he didn't like you, so I tried to win his heart. But recently, I've realized he loves you; he just doesn't know how to show it. I don't know what happened between you two, but I know Sterling loves you."
Bella started to doubt herself after hearing Nia. Had she misunderstood? Zoey always said Sterling liked her, but she never felt that kind of affection.
Other people's marriages were sweet, but all she felt was torment. Why?
Bella had never heard of a man tormenting the woman he loved.
The more Bella thought about it, the more impossible it seemed. "Nia, I know you're trying to comfort me, but you don't understand. I've gotten used to it since I was a child. Even if he hit me one day, I wouldn't be surprised. But things between us are too complicated. Sometimes, I don't even understand."
She continued, "You say he likes me, but why would he humiliate and torment me? Don't you think this kind of love is too bizarre and twisted? And when I came to The Windsor Villa, I was only 8, still a child. He raised me, and I feel like he's a brother or a father. Talking about love with him feels too unrealistic."
Nia gave Bella a knowing look and said, "Is that really what you think? Then when you're in bed with him, making love, do you also see him as a brother or a father?"
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