Chapter 372 Life or Death Unknown
The woman in the photo had a gentle smile and clear eyes—it was Bella, the one Sterling had been longing for.
As he gazed at the familiar face, the coldness on his own gradually melted away, replaced by a tender and resolute expression.
He slowly walked to the bedside, sat down gently, and reached out to caress Bella's cheek in the photo, as if he could feel her warmth and touch her reality.
His eyes were filled with deep affection and longing, as if he could convey his love and yearning to her through the picture.
"Bella, I'll come find you soon," Sterling murmured softly, his voice full of determination and anticipation. He knew he had waited too long and sacrificed too much for this moment.
No matter how much misunderstanding and resentment Bella held against him now, he wouldn't give up. He recalled the moments they had shared, those beautiful memories flooding his mind.
He knew he had made mistakes and hurt Bella, but he was willing to spend the rest of his life making amends and proving his sincerity.
"No matter how much you hate me, I'll bring you back to my side," Sterling's voice carried an undeniable resolve.
The night was deep, but Sterling felt no sleepiness. He sat quietly by the bed, looking at Bella's photo, his heart filled with a myriad of emotions, all overshadowed by his longing for her.
The next morning, just as the first light of dawn appeared, Anna quietly packed her things and slipped out of the hotel, returning to her apartment before the night fully faded.
Anna's heart was pounding like a drum. Last night's experience left her both excited and a bit anxious.
Even though she and Bella were both adults with their own lives and choices, she still worried that Bella might have thoughts about her not coming home last night, especially since her relationship with Colin had just been confirmed.
Nothing happened last night; Colin had kept his word. Although they hadn't crossed that final line, they had done quite a bit.
Thinking about it made Anna's face flush with embarrassment. She still felt a bit uneasy, as if she had done something improper.
As she quietly pushed open the door and carefully closed the slightly worn wooden door behind her, trying to minimize the noise, she finally breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she had escaped unscathed.
But then, a gentle yet teasing voice sounded behind her, "Moving fast, huh? Back so early? Looks like things are heating up between you two."
Anna's heart skipped a beat, her body stiffening in shock. She managed to hold back a scream.
Slowly turning around, she forced a slightly awkward smile and said, "Come on, Bella, don't tease me. I'm already nervous enough. We're not at that stage yet, so don't make fun of me."
She waved her hand, trying to dispel the awkward tension in the air.
Bella had gotten up to use the bathroom and, hearing the noise at the door, had thrown on a robe to check it out. Seeing Anna in this state, she had a pretty good idea of what was going on.
With a faint smile, she said, "Alright, stop hiding it. I need to get back to sleep. The store opens in a few hours, and you should get some rest too. Those dark circles are almost as bad as a panda's."
Anna, however, seemed not to hear Bella's words. Her expression suddenly turned serious as she grabbed Bella's wrist, stopping her from getting back into bed. "Bella, do you know about Lily and Colin? Lily seems to have left, and I don't know where she went. I can't reach her."
Bella turned to face Anna, her gaze penetrating as if trying to read her soul. "As long as you're not upset. I promised Lily you wouldn't break up with Colin over this. I know you; you're not that fragile. You won't let the past affect your current happiness. She left because she didn't want to stay and face Colin every time he came to see you. It was too painful for her."
Bella gently patted Anna's shoulder, her tone soothing. "My advice is to let the past stay in the past. There's no need to hold onto it. As long as Colin's heart is with you and he's sincere, that's enough. Everyone has a past in love. What's important is the present and the future, right?"
Anna felt a weight lift off her shoulders as she listened to Bella. She nodded, managing a small smile. "You're right. The past is the past. What's important is now and the future. I'll try to let it go and not let it bother me anymore."
Bella nodded in satisfaction, then yawned, clearly tired. "Alright, since you've figured it out, get some sleep. We have to get up early tomorrow. Don't let this small thing get to you; it's not good for your health."
Anna lay in bed, listening to Bella's even breathing, feeling a sense of relief. She had worried that Bella might have a negative view of Colin because of Lily, but it seemed Bella wasn't upset, which was a huge relief.
With that thought, Anna felt much lighter. She turned over, ready to go back to sleep, having not slept well the night before because of Colin.
Meanwhile, Colin was woken by a series of urgent knocks on his door. He and Anna had stayed up late, and his mind was still foggy.
When the knocking started, he was still lost in the warmth of last night, feeling particularly heavy and drowsy.
Getting up, Colin noticed the spot next to him was empty; Anna had already left. He panicked, thinking she might have gone out early and forgotten her key, getting locked out.
Imagining her waiting anxiously outside, Colin jumped out of bed, not even bothering to dress properly, and ran to open the door barefoot.
"Baby, where did you go so early? Did you forget your key?" he called out anxiously as he opened the door, but he froze mid-sentence.
Standing outside wasn't Anna, but someone he hadn't expected.
The woman at the door wore a simple yet elegant coat, holding a delicate shopping bag, her face showing a mix of surprise and confusion as she looked at him.
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