Chapter 419 Scandal
Sitting in the back seat, Sable grinned at Sterling. "I've done my homework. Every order our company placed before, including yours, Mr. Windsor, was handled by Mrs. Windsor. Except for the one just now. This means we were right; she does have reservations about us."
Sterling nodded slightly, mulling over Sable's words. He asked again, "So when can I go see her?" His tone carried a hint of urgency, clearly showing his concern about the matter.
Sable shook her head gently, her gaze fixed on Sterling's face, as if trying to read more from his expression. "You can't go see her," she said firmly. "We need to hold our ground and wait until she reacts or makes a move. We have to stay calm and not rush."
Sterling remained silent, seemingly lost in thought over Sable's words, or perhaps reminiscing about his past with Bella. He didn't notice Sable's gaze lingering on his face, filled with affection and anticipation.
Suddenly, Sable reached out to adjust Sterling's tie, a gesture that made him frown slightly, clearly unaccustomed to such intimacy. But given the situation, he said nothing and accepted it quietly.
"Mr. Windsor, would you like to have dinner together?" Sable suggested, her tone carrying a hint of expectation.
Sable had a plan. They needed some rumors to divert the media's attention and hoped to make Bella notice their "relationship," thereby affecting her.
Sterling thought for a moment and found Sable's proposal reasonable. He nodded in agreement.
In a high-end restaurant, Sterling and Sable had dinner together. They chatted and laughed, creating an atmosphere of close intimacy. Sable occasionally served Sterling food, and their actions appeared natural and affectionate.
All of this was captured by the media reporters from afar, who took photos and prepared to report the scandal. Sterling and Sable knew this would cause quite a stir.
After dinner, Sterling and Sable walked out of the restaurant together, looking like a sweet couple. Under the media's flashing lights, they smiled at the cameras, enjoying this moment of "happiness."
However, they both understood that it was all just a facade. Their "relationship" was merely to divert the media's attention and make Bella see their "scandal."
As Sable predicted, the news of Sterling and Sable's dinner quickly spread across major media outlets. The reports not only detailed their dinner scene but also subtly hinted that Sterling's marriage was in trouble, suggesting that he and "Mrs. Windsor" Bella might have already divorced, and now he had an ambiguous relationship with his secretary, Sable.
The news caught Bella's attention and also reached Colin. He immediately called Sterling, his tone filled with teasing and curiosity: "What's going on? Is this part of your plan or are you serious?"
Sterling listened to Colin's words and smiled helplessly, asking back, "What do you think?"
Colin answered without hesitation, "It's definitely to mess with Bella. You wouldn't give up on her to fall for someone else. Sable's been around you for so long; if you really wanted her, you would've acted long ago, not waited until now."
Colin's words carried a mix of teasing and trust. Sterling didn't explain much, just smiled lightly, agreeing with Colin's assessment. He knew that sometimes too much explanation was unnecessary; true friends would understand without many words.
Colin clicked his tongue in amazement. "Didn't see that coming. Your emotional intelligence isn't low after all. I thought your only flaw was being clueless about relationships, not matching your IQ. Didn't expect you to have a high EQ moment. Well done. If I were Bella, I'd definitely feel uncomfortable."
Colin's tone carried a mix of praise and teasing, clearly approving of Sterling's move.
"You think she'll really..." Sterling hesitated, unsure.
Colin confidently replied, "She definitely will. Women are like that, no exceptions, unless she's not a woman! I actually thought of this method long ago, but I was afraid you wouldn't cooperate, so I didn't bring it up. Now you've saved me the trouble."
Sterling looked at Colin's confident expression and felt a bit swayed. He started to believe that Colin might really understand women, understand Bella. After all, they had known each other for years, and Colin's experience in relationships was indeed much richer than his.
"Do you really think she'll react because of this?" Sterling asked again, his eyes showing a mix of hope and anxiety.
Colin nodded firmly, "Of course, I'm sure. Think about it, Bella seeing you with another woman, she'd definitely feel uncomfortable. It's human nature. Plus, you two have so many unresolved issues; she can't possibly be indifferent."
Sterling felt a surge of complex emotions. He hoped Bella would react to his actions but also feared she might misunderstand him even more.
In a dessert shop, soft lighting fell on Bella's face, adding a touch of gentleness to her complex expression. She held her phone tightly, unable to look away from the news on the screen.
In the photos, Sable and Sterling sat together, smiling brightly, with Sable showing a hint of shyness, while Sterling focused on the menu, not showing much emotion, but their close proximity clearly suggested an unusual relationship.
Bella's mood hit rock bottom. She had thought her feelings for Sterling had faded, but seeing this scene stirred up waves in her heart again. She recalled their sweet moments and arguments, now all turning into a painful ache.
She sighed softly, put her phone back on the table, and looked out the window. Pedestrians hurried by, each busy with their own lives, while she was trapped in an emotional whirlpool.
"Bella, what's wrong? You look troubled." A familiar voice interrupted her thoughts; it was Serafina.
Bella forced a smile and shook her head, "Nothing, just saw some news and felt a bit emotional."
Serafina asked with concern, "Is it about Sterling? I saw that news too, but don't take it too seriously. It's probably just gossip reporters making things up. Who knows?"
Bella sighed, "Yeah, maybe you're right. It's just... seeing him with someone else, it brought back a lot of memories."
Serafina nodded sympathetically. "I get it. It's tough. But you know, sometimes the media blows things out of proportion. Maybe it's not what it looks like."
Bella appreciated Serafina's attempt to comfort her, but the images were hard to shake off. "I hope so. I just need some time to process everything."
Serafina reached out and squeezed Bella's hand. "Take all the time you need. I'm here for you."
Bella smiled weakly, grateful for her friend's support. "Thanks, Serafina. I really appreciate it."
As they sat together in the cozy dessert shop, Bella tried to push the troubling thoughts aside, focusing instead on the warmth of her friend's presence and the sweetness of the moment.
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