Chapter 324 New Year's Day
As time went by, Bella gradually got used to this new way of working together. She found that although her relationship with Sterling was complex and subtle, at least now they could handle it in a relatively calm and rational manner.
Sterling being in the same city without interfering with her was a pleasant surprise for Bella. She hadn't expected it, but she was grateful nonetheless.
New Year's Day arrived before she knew it. The entire city was immersed in a festive and lively atmosphere, with every household decorated and filled with holiday cheer. However, for Bella and Anna, this New Year's Day felt a bit different.
The shop was closed for the holiday, and Lily and Serafina had gone home to celebrate, leaving Bella and Anna to fend for themselves in the city. It was their first time spending New Year's away from home, without the company of family and the familiar comforts of their hometown. They had to rely on each other to get through this special holiday.
On New Year's Eve, the city was surrounded by dazzling fireworks. Anna sat on the edge of her bed, holding her phone, and talked to Qiana, who was thousands of miles away, for over an hour.
On the other end of the line, Qiana missed Anna more than ever. They used to argue constantly, but now it seemed like they were silently reconciling, making peace with themselves and with each other. Life, too, was a continuous process of reconciliation.
Qiana asked Anna in detail about her life and work, reminding her to take good care of herself. Anna listened to Qiana's nagging with a smile, occasionally choking up with emotion.
Meanwhile, Bella sat alone on the couch in the living room, watching TV. The screen was filled with laughter and excitement, but her heart was full of loneliness and solitude. She watched the fireworks outside the window, feeling a tinge of sadness. She realized that apart from Anna, she had no one else close to her.
On this special New Year's Day, although Bella and Anna were without their families, they cherished their friendship and warmth even more.
Perhaps, when life takes something away, it compensates with something else. For Bella, Anna was that compensation. She had lost her father and her child, but Anna had always been by her side, unwavering, from their youth to their mature years. Watching Anna on the phone, Bella suddenly didn't feel so alone.
Maybe that was the charm of life. No matter where she was or what difficulties she faced, as long as she cherished the people and things around her, she could find her happiness and warmth. That's how it was with her and Anna.
Bella was immersed in the atmosphere of the New Year's Eve show when her phone suddenly buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. She assumed it was just a typical New Year's greeting and didn't pay much attention, casually picking it up to glance at it. However, when she saw the message, she was stunned.
The message was from Mira, short and sweet, wishing her a Happy New Year. But what surprised Bella even more was the $10,000 transfer attached to it, with a note saying, [New Year's gift, to make up for what I owed you as a kid.]
A wave of complex emotions surged through Bella. She didn't know how to respond to this unexpected gift and greeting, nor how to face Mira's gesture.
She sat quietly on the couch, staring at the transfer record on her phone, her mind racing. She thought of the happy times she had spent with Mira as a child, the care and attention she had once received. But now, everything was different.
In the end, Bella decided to reply with a simple message: [Happy New Year!]
After sending the message, Bella took a deep breath, as if releasing all the complex emotions in her heart. She looked at the fireworks outside the window, gradually feeling at peace. She knew that no matter what had happened in the past, the present was what mattered most.
On the other side of the city, Mira stood by the window, watching the snow fall outside. Bella's reply brought a warm feeling to her heart. Despite the distance, Bella's simple message seemed to transcend the cold screen, bringing warmth directly to her heart. It was the best gift she had received in the new year, making her feel a long-lost sense of warmth and connection.
However, the tranquility didn't last long. An incoming call suddenly appeared, covering the message screen. Mira frowned, feeling a mix of curiosity and unease. She pressed the answer button, her voice tinged with hesitation.
On the other end, Debra's voice was playful and expectant. Her first words were, "Happy New Year, Mom! Where's my gift? Even though I'm not in the country, I still expect my present!"
The sudden "Mom" made Mira pause. She wished so much that this "Mom" had come from Bella.
"Got it, I'll send it to you soon," Mira responded coolly.
Just then, the sound of fireworks came from Debra's side. The unexpected noise made Mira frown. She asked, puzzled, "You're abroad, they don't have a tradition of setting off fireworks at this time. Are you sure you're not still in the country?"
There was a brief silence on Debra's end, followed by her slightly awkward laugh and hurried explanation, "Of course not! My dad got some fireworks from an Aquilonian friend and set them off secretly. I told him not to, to avoid any trouble. Anyway, I have to go now. Don't forget my gift!"
After hanging up, Mira immediately transferred the money to Debra. But the call left her with even more doubts. She knew Dash's personality well; he hated trouble and would never go to such lengths for something as trivial as fireworks.
This only confirmed her suspicion that Debra and Dash might not have gone abroad at all, but were instead living it up in the country with the money she sent them every month.
Thinking about this, Mira felt a surge of anger and disappointment. She had always tried to support Debra's education and life, hoping she would have a better future. But now it seemed her efforts might not have been appreciated.
She picked up her phone, intending to call Debra and confront her, but then she put it down. She realized that saying anything now would be pointless. If Debra didn't want to improve her future, there was nothing more she could do. All that was left in her heart was disappointment.
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