Chapter 369 Confession Leads to Leniency
The message hit Colin like a boulder crashing into a calm lake, sending ripples through his mind. He was out shopping with Anna, but the message struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Colin's face turned serious in an instant. He glanced quickly at Anna, who was engrossed in shopping, and felt a surge of complex emotions.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to keep his voice steady as he replied to Lily: [You didn't spill anything you shouldn't have, right?]
Lily received the message and felt a mix of emotions. She knew she should stay silent, but her inner struggle and resentment made it hard to decide.
After a moment of hesitation, she finally gave Colin a clear answer: [I said what needed to be said. Deal with it yourself. I'm heading back to Harborvale tonight.]
Colin stared at his phone, Lily's name sitting quietly in the message thread. He didn't reply. A deep sense of regret spread through him, and he began to question his past decisions.
"What's wrong? Who messaged you?" Anna noticed Colin's change in demeanor. Her eyes were filled with gentle concern, making Colin feel even more guilty.
Colin instinctively put his phone back in his suit pocket, a flicker of panic in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Nothing, just some work stuff. I might need to take care of it now. How about we head back to the hotel for today?"
Anna bit her lip lightly, thinking for a moment before saying, "Why don't you go back to the hotel and handle your work? I'll just head home. I can't help with your work anyway, so I might as well go home and sleep. You can come find me after you're done, or we can meet up tomorrow."
Colin thought for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. If Anna went home now and Bella told her about Lily, things could get even more complicated.
With that thought, Colin's expression turned a bit unhappy. He looked at Anna, his tone firm and unyielding, "What do you mean, go home and sleep? I came all this way, and you can't even stay with me for a bit? I'll be done soon, it won't take long."
Anna saw the slight frustration and disappointment in Colin's eyes, and her heart softened.
She sighed, half-amused, half-exasperated, and finally nodded, "Alright, I'll just buy some snacks and wait. You handle your work, and I'll keep myself busy with food so I won't get too bored."
Back at her apartment, Bella gently pushed open the door. She changed her shoes, set down her bag, and went straight to the living room sofa.
Having been away from the Windsor family for so long, she had been trying to adapt to life without Sterling, avoiding disturbing him and not letting herself get lost in past memories. But today, she had to face reality and reach out to Sterling.
Taking a deep breath, she decided against calling and opted to send a message instead.
Bella took out her phone, her fingers gliding over the screen to find the number she knew by heart. This number had once been a forbidden zone for her, but now she had to muster the courage to face it.
She didn't call directly but sent a message: [Tell your people to back off. I don't need them.]
After sending the message, Bella waited nervously for a reply, her emotions in turmoil.
Bella sat on the sofa, staring blankly out the window. She didn't mention Lily and Colin's situation because she knew how complex and sensitive it was. Ultimately, she feared Anna couldn't handle such a blow.
Bella understood that this matter was for Colin to resolve, not her. She just needed to sort out her own issues and untangle her relationship with Sterling.
Meanwhile, Sterling saw Bella's message. He stared at the words, as if trying to etch them into his memory. This was the first time Bella had reached out to him since she left.
Sterling looked at the message, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, his expression complicated. He didn't reply, unsure of what to say.
Instead, he fell into deep thought. He hadn't expected Bella to not only reach out but also discover the situation with Lily, and even know about Lily and Colin.
Taking a deep breath, he tried calling Colin, but the call was immediately declined.
Shortly after, Colin's message came through: [Don't call. Anna's with me. Bella reached out to you, right? She found out about Lily, and she knows about Lily and me. Why did I ever think it was a good idea to put Lily near Bella? Your woman is as sharp as you, couldn't keep it hidden. Now I'm in a tough spot. Anna will find out eventually. How do I explain? My head's a mess, don't lecture me.]
Sterling read the message and shook his head in exasperation. He knew the situation was already very tricky, and Colin's tone was filled with frustration and helplessness, which made Sterling's head ache too.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to give Colin some space and time to calm down. He replied: [Take a moment to calm down and think about how to explain to Anna. I'll handle the Lily situation, but you need to take responsibility for your actions. We all need to face this issue, not run from it.]
After sending the message, Sterling fell into deeper thought. He knew this situation affected not just his relationship with Bella but also Colin and Anna. If not handled properly, it could hurt everyone involved.
Colin took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound more calm and sincere. He slowly approached Anna, who was engrossed in a TV show, holding a skewer of grilled meat, occasionally taking a bite, barely paying attention to Colin's words.
"Anna, I need to talk to you about something." Colin spoke again, this time deliberately slowing his speech to catch Anna's attention.
Anna's eyes remained glued to the screen, responding absentmindedly, "Go ahead, I'm listening." Her mind was clearly still on the show, not paying much attention to what Colin was about to say.
Seeing this, Colin shook his head in resignation but decided to continue. He took a napkin and gently wiped the corner of Anna's mouth, his movements tender and meticulous. This small gesture seemed to catch Anna's attention slightly. She looked up at Colin, a hint of curiosity in her eyes.
"Anna, this is important," Colin said, his voice steady but serious. "I need you to really listen to me for a minute."
Anna finally turned her full attention to Colin, sensing the gravity in his tone. "Okay, I'm listening. What's going on?"
Colin took another deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "There's something I need to tell you about Lily and me. It's complicated, and I should have told you sooner, but I didn't know how."
Anna's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "What do you mean? What happened with Lily?"
Colin hesitated, searching for the right words. "Lily and I... we have a history. It's not something I'm proud of, and I never wanted to hurt you. But Bella found out, and now it's all coming to light."
Anna's eyes widened, and she set down the skewer, her appetite gone. "You and Lily? Colin, why didn't you tell me?"
"I was afraid, Anna. Afraid of losing you, afraid of how you'd react. But I realize now that keeping it from you was a mistake. I'm sorry," Colin said, his voice filled with regret.
Anna took a deep breath, trying to process the information. "I need some time to think about this, Colin. This is a lot to take in."
Colin nodded, understanding. "Take all the time you need. I'm here when you're ready to talk."
Anna stood up, her mind racing. "I'm going to take a walk. I need to clear my head."
Colin watched her go, feeling a mix of relief and anxiety. He knew the road ahead would be difficult, but he was determined to face it head-on.
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