Chapter 42 A Little Flirtation
Since Bella didn't have to pull another late shift, she looked up at the sun as she clocked out and finally cracked a smile.
"Man, freedom feels so damn good," Bella sighed, waiting for the bus.
When the bus rolled up, she hopped on.
It was rush hour, so the bus was packed. After a couple of stops, Bella snagged a seat.
But at the next stop, a lady with a kid got on.
Bella stood up and offered her seat to the woman.
"Thanks a bunch," the woman said, plopping down with her kid, who stared at Bella with big, curious eyes.
"Your kid's adorable. How old is he?" Bella asked.
"His name's Eli Cooper, and he's 3. Eli, say thank you to the nice lady," the woman said, patting Eli's head.
"Thank you. This is for you," Eli said, holding out two pieces of candy.
"Thanks, Eli," Bella said, taking the candy with a smile.
Eli's innocent grin warmed Bella's heart.
Bella had once asked Sterling what she needed to do to get her freedom.
Sterling told her if she gave him a kid, he'd set her free.
Bella had been betrayed by Mira before, she knew how rough a kid's life could be without a mom. So, she never agreed to Sterling's deal.
Finally, the bus stopped a bit away from Windsor Villa.
Bella got off and started walking towards the villa, clutching the candy, feeling a bit down.
"I can't trade a kid for my freedom. I won't be like my mom," Bella muttered, clenching her fist.
Suddenly, a car honked behind her. Bella turned to see Ryan driving up.
The car pulled up beside her and stopped. The back door opened, revealing Sterling's stern face.
"Get in, let's go home," Sterling said.
Bella's legs were killing her from standing on the bus, so she didn't argue and got in.
Ryan drove towards the villa, and the car was dead silent.
Coming from the noisy bus, the quiet was weird, so Bella broke the ice.
"A little boy gave me this candy. Wanna try?" Bella offered a piece to Sterling.
Sterling glanced at the candy, then at Bella. After a moment, he took it, unwrapped it, and popped it in his mouth.
"It's really milky, but way too sweet," Sterling said, frowning.
"Kids love sweet stuff, it's normal," Bella shrugged, unwrapping a piece for herself.
She then turned to Ryan and grinned. "Sorry, Ryan, I only got two pieces, so none for you this time."
"No worries, Mrs. Windsor. I got cavities and don't like sweets anyway," Ryan joked, and soon they pulled into the villa.
When Bella got out, Zoey was already at the entrance, ready to welcome them back.
"Zoey, it's freezing out here. You don't have to greet us at the door every time," Bella said with a smile, grabbing Zoey's hand as they walked inside together.
"It's no biggie. Dinner's served. Mr. and Mrs. Windsor, you can wash up and eat whenever you are ready," Zoey said, leading them to the dining room with a grin.
Bella felt a wave of sleepiness hit her during dinner. She'd been so exhausted lately that she felt like she might pass out any second.
Finally, after fighting off the drowsiness, Bella finished her meal and crashed on the couch, falling asleep almost instantly.
In her sleep, Bella felt someone approach and then a jacket being draped over her.
She figured it was Zoey and didn't think much of it.
Bella had no idea how long she'd been out, but she was jolted awake by a phone ringing. She instinctively reached into her pocket, pulled out the phone, and answered it.
"Sterling, why didn't you come see me today? I'm so lonely and bored. I've been learning to cook. Wanna come taste my cooking?" Debra's flirty voice came through the phone.
Bella snapped awake. She sat up on the couch and saw that the jacket draped over her was Sterling's, and the phone in her hand was his too.
Zoey wouldn't dare cover her with Sterling's jacket, so it had to be him.
"Sterling, why aren't you talking? If you don't say anything, I'll take it as a yes," Debra's voice continued on the phone.
"Sterling's in the shower. If you got something to say, tell me. Also, he's already eaten, so he probably doesn't have the appetite for your cooking," Bella said coldly into the phone.
There was a moment of silence on the other end of the line, followed by a scream. "Bella, why is it you? Give Sterling his phone back. I want to talk to him, not you."
"What a moron. I told you he's in the shower. How can I give him the phone?" Bella sneered and hung up.
Suddenly, Bella felt someone approaching from behind. She thought it was Sterling and was startled, but when she turned around, she saw it was Zoey.
Zoey gave Bella a thumbs up. "Mrs. Windsor, you did the right thing! You're the lady of the house. You can't let some outsider seduce Mr. Windsor!"
Bella gave Zoey a bitter smile. She had no feelings for Sterling. Her dislike for Debra was more because of Mira. Besides, Sterling had smiled at Debra more times than he had ever smiled at her.
"Alright, Zoey, that's enough. I get it," Bella said, trying to change the subject.
At that moment, Sterling finished his shower and came down the stairs, wrapped in a bathrobe.
Bella stood up from the couch and handed Sterling his jacket and phone.
"Debra called you just now. I told her you were in the shower and turned her down," Bella said calmly, though she felt a bit uneasy inside because she knew Sterling didn't like others touching his stuff, especially something as personal as his phone.
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