Chapter 154 A Different Kind of Feeling
Sterling gave Bella a quick peck on the cheek and got up to head to the bathroom, but Bella instinctively grabbed his arm and said, "Don't go."
Sterling grinned at her, feeling his heart melt. He sat back down and wrapped her in a hug, saying, "Don't worry, I'm not going anywhere."
He gently laid Bella back on the bed and waited until she drifted off to sleep again before heading to take a shower.
When he came out, he found Bella awake once more. He smiled and asked, "Why aren't you sleeping?"
Bella didn't say a word, just reached out and hugged Sterling as he climbed into bed. She had no idea how she had managed to get through the past week. She hadn't wanted to burden Sterling with Anna's issues, not wanting to add to his stress.
She was worried Sterling couldn't handle his own problems. She avoided contacting him to keep from adding pressure, but her longing for him grew stronger every day.
Sterling seemed to pick up on Bella's unease. He hugged her tight and patted her back soothingly, saying, "Bella, I'm not going anywhere, as long as you don't want me to."
Bella fell asleep again in his arms. The company's problems were a real headache, and he would have stayed at the office if he didn't have such a strong urge to see Bella tonight.
Now, feeling her warmth, Sterling felt alive again. Bella's impact on him was deeper than he had ever imagined.
In the morning, when Bella woke up, she instinctively reached out to the side and found it still warm. She finally remembered that Sterling had really come back last night and it wasn't just a dream.
She immediately got up and went downstairs, not even bothering to put on her slippers. She wanted to see Sterling, afraid he had left.
She didn't know why she was so eager to see him, but just the thought of seeing Sterling made her heart leap with joy, like it was filled with honey.
She had long known about this change in her feelings, but she was still puzzled. She thought that after spending so much time with Sterling, she would only feel familial affection, but now she knew her feelings had grown beyond that, though not yet to love.
Sterling was at the dining table, reading the news on his tablet. Hearing the noise, he looked up to see Bella standing on the stairs in her pajamas, her hair down, staring at him. Bella's eyes were filled with longing and affection.
Sterling smiled at her, put down the tablet, and beckoned her over with a finger, his voice tender and affectionate, "Come here."
Bella smiled, feeling like it wasn't a dream. She quickly went downstairs and ran to Sterling's side.
Sterling looked down and said, "Why aren't you wearing shoes?"
Bella then realized she had been in such a hurry that she forgot to put on shoes. Sterling stood up and suddenly picked her up, making Bella jump. He sat her on his lap.
Sterling wrapped his arm around her waist and said, "Why don't you sleep a little longer?"
Bella, afraid that Nia and Zoey would see, buried her head in his shoulder, "Put me down, what if Zoey sees us?"
Sterling chuckled, "Zoey would love to see us like this."
Bella playfully swatted at him, and Sterling picked up a spoon, feeding her some porridge. "Bella, I gotta go on a business trip today. Be good while I'm gone, okay?"
Bella blushed at his tone, like he was talking to a naughty kid. "When am I not good?"
Sterling chuckled, and Bella realized what he had just said. "Wait, you're going on a business trip again? So suddenly?"
She remembered Micah mentioning Sterling had to go abroad for work. "Let me help you pack."
Sterling shook his head. "No need. It's already done."
Bella nodded but then remembered something. "Sterling, can you do me a favor? Anna doesn't want to work at Colin's company anymore. Can you help her find a job, or maybe there's a spot in your company for her? And can you keep Colin away from her? She's really scared after what happened. It's so unfair for her to be treated like that."
Sterling smiled. "You really care about her, huh? Always thinking of everything for her."
"Of course, I consider her family," Bella replied.
Sterling raised an eyebrow. "She's your family, but what about me?"
Bella suddenly remembered their previous argument, where Sterling said he didn't consider her family. She muttered softly, "You don't consider me family either."
Sterling lightly smacked her on the butt, making Bella look at him in disbelief.
She glanced around to make sure no one saw, then said, "What are you doing?" She was both embarrassed and angry.
Sterling nonchalantly pinched her cheek. "Say that again, and I'll spank you."
Bella shyly buried her head in his shoulder.
Sterling fed her a few more bites of breakfast, and when Bella said she was full, he carried her back upstairs.
Bella was left speechless by his actions. After carrying her upstairs, Sterling prepared to leave for the airport.
He pulled out his suitcase, ready to go. When he turned around, he saw Bella looking at him with eyes like a lost puppy. He kicked the suitcase aside and rushed to her.
Sterling picked Bella up and closed the door, pressing her onto the bed.
Bella was startled by his actions. She pushed against his chest and said, "Sterling."
Her misty eyes made it hard for Sterling to control himself. Without thinking, he kissed her, filling the room with an intimate atmosphere.
When they were done, Bella was drenched, and doing such things so early in the morning made her blush.
But Sterling, after freshening up, looked refreshed and satisfied, his eyes filled with joy as he looked at her, making Bella even more embarrassed.
Sterling walked over, pulled up the blanket to cover her shoulders, and said softly, "Bella, be good and wait for me at home."
Bella admitted she felt pleased. She hadn't felt Sterling's tenderness in a long time.
Exhausted from his attentions, she could only softly ask, "When will you be back?"
Sterling responded, "In about a week."
With Sterling on his business trip, Bella's life returned to its usual calm. She went to work every day, and after work, she either went shopping with Nia or Anna.
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