Chapter 396 Scary Late Night
The KTV environment was perfect for everyone to unwind and feel at ease, especially in a small group of familiar faces. It gave them the freedom to relax without worrying about outside judgment.
So, the suggestion was met with enthusiastic approval, and everyone eagerly anticipated the upcoming KTV night.
In the KTV room, Anna drank glass after glass, as if trying to drown her emotions. Her singing carried a barely noticeable tremor, each note a release of her inner feelings.
The songs she chose weren't particularly good or bad, but they held an indescribable sense of repression and release. Her eyes alternated between hazy and clear, as if she had finally found a temporary refuge from her troubles.
Anna had to face the fact that she was leaving, and Bella would be left alone here. How could she be happy about that?
Bella, too, was losing her grip on reality due to the alcohol. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes were vacant. She had often fantasized about life after leaving Sterling, thinking it would be free and full of hope.
But now she realized that freedom didn't mean happiness; it was a deep loneliness and helplessness.
She thought about her moments with Sterling, those memories that had once caused her so much pain now felt like her warmest comfort.
"After this, it'll really just be me," Bella murmured, her voice filled with melancholy and helplessness. She had thought she was strong enough to face life's storms alone, but now she realized she was more fragile than she had imagined.
People hurried by on the street, each with their own direction and purpose, while she felt like a forgotten child in the corner, unable to find her way home.
As they left the KTV, the night was deep, and the city's lights seemed especially blurry in the slightly drunken air.
Bella fought back her reluctance, gently patting Anna's shoulder, her eyes full of sorrow. "I'll head back on my own. You guys have a flight to Harborvale tomorrow, right? Colin, if it's not too much trouble, could you keep an eye on Sunny for me? Send me some videos. She's my only concern now. Please take good care of her. And look after Anna. If she cries, I won't forgive you."
Colin smiled warmly and nodded solemnly. "Don't worry, I'll take good care of Anna and send you videos of Sunny. Honestly, Sunny's living better with the Windsor family than you are. She's well-fed, well-rested, and has Sterling to cuddle with every day. You don't need to worry about her. Just take care of yourself. Alright, I'll take Anna to the hotel now. Be careful on your way home and text me when you get there."
With that, Colin carefully helped the slightly tipsy Anna towards the parking lot. Bella watched them until they disappeared into the night, then turned to head home.
Walking down the empty streets, Bella's emotions were all over the place. She felt sad about Anna leaving, happy for her, and unsure about her own new beginning.
Bella knew she was truly alone now. As she turned, she couldn't hold back her tears any longer. They flowed freely down her face, as if carrying away her pain and reluctance.
In the night, she walked alone on the nearly deserted streets, her steps unsteady, as if each one was on shards of memory, painful and hard to let go.
The streetlights cast long, lonely shadows. She recalled her moments with Sterling, the laughter and tears, the late-night whispers and embraces, all flashing through her mind like scenes from a movie. But as time passed, these scenes grew blurry, shrouded in a thin mist, hard to see and impossible to grasp.
Bella knew this was part of life and a necessary path to growth. Everyone experiences farewells and losses, and everyone learns to face life's storms alone. Though she felt immense pain and loneliness now, she understood that it would all pass. Time would heal all wounds and take away those hard-to-let-go memories.
So, Bella wiped her tears, took a deep breath, and continued walking.
Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching from behind, and her heart tightened with fear. She resisted the urge to look back, quickening her pace to escape the unsettling feeling.
But the alcohol had dulled her senses, making her limbs uncooperative. She stumbled several times, nearly falling.
Bella took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. The empty streets and the alcohol had lowered her guard, but she knew she couldn't afford to be careless. If she encountered danger, the consequences would be dire.
She tried to steady her breathing and stay alert. At the same time, she regretted drinking so much, leaving herself in such a vulnerable state.
Finally reaching her door, Bella was exhausted, sweating from the effort. Her hands trembled as she fumbled for her keys, the alcohol making her fingers clumsy. The key wobbled in the lock, refusing to fit.
Bella's anxiety grew, her hands shaking even more, almost to the point of tears.
The hallway light had gone out at some point, leaving her in darkness, with only the faint glow of her phone screen to light the way.
She didn't dare look back, afraid of what she might see. The fear of the unknown made her even more tense, nearly breaking her.
Just then, a tall figure appeared behind her, casting a shadow over her small frame. The sudden presence startled Bella, making her nearly drop her phone.
The shadow on the door and wall looked like a ghost, eerie and frightening.
Bella's heart raced, and she almost screamed. But she held back her fear, not turning around. She told herself to stay calm.
Taking a deep breath, Bella tried to steady her hand and fit the key into the lock.
At that moment, she felt paralyzed by an invisible force, unable to make a sound or move.
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