Chapter 288 Leaving
Sterling listened to Bella's words, taking a deep breath and slowly closing his eyes, trying to calm his emotions.
He wanted to tell Bella that it was Sienna who did those things. Sienna, who was depressed and couldn't find peace, hated Richard's infidelity so much that she wanted to drag him down with her.
That plane trip was the perfect opportunity. But in Sterling's heart, Sienna was just as important as Bella.
His mother was sacred, and now, how could he tarnish Sienna's purity?
Beck, however, always thought the plane crash was Sterling's doing, believing he hated Richard and wished him dead.
But the misunderstanding had already taken root, and now nothing could be undone.
Sterling realized that regardless of who did it, he owed Bella a debt.
From being the daughter of a criminal to the daughter of a victim, this sudden shift left Bella feeling shocked and suffocated.
She had always thought she owed Sterling, but in reality, it was Sterling who had been indebted to her all along.
This revelation made Bella question whether Sterling's decision to adopt her was out of kindness or guilt.
For so many years, she had lived a repressed and cautious life, but for what reason?
Sterling's constant look of hatred towards her might not have been directed at her, but at someone else.
Her presence forced him to confront those painful memories, yet he paradoxically kept her in his life.
What terrified her the most was that Sterling, at just eighteen years old, had the ability to orchestrate a plane crash. This tragedy not only took the lives of his family but also her innocent dad!
Bella could hardly believe that such a complex and meticulous plan could come from an eighteen-year-old.
Filled with fear and confusion, Bella instinctively asked, "Why? Why did you do it?"
Sterling clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with anger. "My mother dedicated her life to the Windsor family, and yet, in my father's final moments, he did something unforgivable, even letting my mother know the truth. I couldn't forgive him. Yes, that's who I am, and I've always been this way!"
Bella didn't doubt Sterling's words for a second. Although he always presented a perfect image to outsiders, no one ever spoke ill of him.
But at home, Sterling's attitude towards her had always been terrifyingly strict. That was the real him.
Bella had only one thought in her mind: to escape from the terrifying Sterling.
She stumbled towards the door, dragging her suitcase. When Sterling tried to stop her, she screamed, "Don't come near me! Please, stay away!"
Sterling's steps halted, a flash of panic in his eyes as he tried to persuade her, "Can we talk about this tomorrow? It's getting dark, and it's not safe for you to go out alone."
But Bella felt that Sterling's concern and gentleness were all fake. She couldn't trust him anymore.
Bella shouted angrily, "Stop pretending to care about me! What's the point of your daily hypocrisy?"
With that, she rushed out without looking back, clutching the crumpled letter tightly in her hand.
The maid curled up in the corner, too scared to make a sound, filled with fear and unease. She had handed the letter to Bella herself, never imagining it would lead to such severe consequences.
Owen and Zoey heard the commotion and hurried into the living room, witnessing the scene. They stood there silently, knowing that some matters were beyond their control.
Sterling slowly walked to the sofa and sat down. His face was lifeless, his hands trembling as he clutched his chest.
It felt as if he had been stabbed a thousand times, the pain piercing his heart. His worst fear had come true.
After half a minute, Sterling managed to steady his breathing. "Have someone follow Bella and make sure she's safe."
Owen nodded and quickly left with the bodyguards to carry out his orders.
Bella felt isolated and helpless. The only person she could rely on now was Anna.
She walked to the street, flagged down a random car, and gave Anna's address, not noticing the black Rolls-Royce silently following her.
When Anna opened the door and saw Bella crying at the doorstep, her heart sank.
Bella's face was streaked with tears, and she seemed to have lost the strength to drag her suitcase. Her shaky body was caught by Anna.
"Bella, what's wrong? What happened? Did Sterling do something to you?"
Anna was shocked; she had never seen Bella like this.
But Bella couldn't say a word, only throwing herself into Anna's arms, crying her heart out.
Bella had thought she and Sterling could live happily ever after, that everything was moving towards a beautiful future.
She had tried to love him, to accept and embrace him, but all the happiness seemed to be just the calm before the storm, a premeditated plot by Sterling.
Downstairs, Owen saw this and immediately called Sterling.
On the other end, Sterling's voice sounded lifeless as he coldly instructed, "Have someone monitor Bella's whereabouts and safety 24/7. Once you've arranged it, come back."
Owen sighed deeply, leaving the bodyguards behind and driving away.
Once Bella's tears had subsided and her emotions had stabilized, she told Anna everything.
Now, it wasn't just Bella crying alone; it was two people crying together. Upon learning what Sterling had done, Anna's tears couldn't help but flow.
She choked up and said to Bella, "Bella, I suddenly feel like I've been so wrong. I shouldn't have dated Caleb, but at least I didn't marry him. If I had, I would never forgive myself."
"But why did Sterling do this? He seems so successful on the outside, yet he can do such dirty, despicable things. What did you do wrong? What did your dad do wrong? What did I do wrong? For all these years, everyone thought you were the daughter of a criminal, but the real culprit was him!"
"Sterling went to such lengths to marry you, to be good to you, always looking at you with love. What was it all for? Did he really fall for you? Or was it guilt, trying to keep the truth hidden? Now, no one can find peace!"
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