Chapter 434 Let Me Go
Seeing the situation, Sterling acted quickly and decisively, grabbing Bella's wrist just as she was about to turn away. His fingers were long and strong, and with a gentle pull, Bella had no choice but to stop.
"I'll drive you home," Sterling's voice was low and firm, each word carrying an undeniable command.
Bella frowned slightly, looking up at Sterling with a cold, rejecting gaze. "I said I don't need a ride. I can get a cab myself."
Sterling didn't back down. He tightened his grip slightly, silently conveying that this was non-negotiable.
"I said, I'll drive you," his tone was even more resolute, his eyes exuding an authoritative presence that brooked no argument.
Bella looked into Sterling's determined eyes and finally gave in. She sighed in resignation and nodded, agreeing to his request.
However, she didn't choose to sit in the front passenger seat. Instead, she walked around to the back and got into the rear seat.
Seeing this, Sterling's lips curled into a faint smile. He didn't force Bella to sit in the front. He quietly closed the car door and got into the driver's seat. The car started smoothly.
The air conditioning inside the car blew cool air, keeping the outside heat firmly at bay.
Bella sat quietly in the back seat, her gaze drifting out the half-open window, watching the buildings and pedestrians flash by. Her thoughts seemed to drift away, leaving her mind blank.
She couldn't help but feel confused. Why hadn't she stood her ground? Why had she chosen to get into Sterling's car?
If she hadn't been with Anna today, she wouldn't have had the chance to dine at the same table with Sterling.
Just as Bella was lost in her thoughts, Sterling, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, breaking the quiet in the car. "About that night, I'm sorry. I drank too much."
Sterling's voice was deep and magnetic, carrying a hint of barely perceptible apology. Bella's heart trembled slightly at his words, instantly recalling that crazy night.
Bella bit her lip gently, unsure how to respond. Sterling seemed to sense the delicate atmosphere and didn't continue the topic, silently focusing on driving.
The car fell silent again, with only the occasional noise from outside and the hum of the air conditioning breaking the stillness. Bella's heart, however, could no longer find peace.
After a long silence, Bella took a deep breath, mustering the courage to say, "It's okay, it's in the past. But I don't want you to come to me drunk again."
Sterling frowned slightly at her words and replied, "I won't come to you drunk again."
Bella's heart sank. She caught the subtle nuance in Sterling's words. Did that mean he might come to her when he was sober?
Bella had to emphasize her stance, her voice carrying a hint of barely detectable irritation. "I don't want you to come to me when you're sober either. Apart from discussing the divorce, I never want you to come to me. Understand?"
Bella's words were filled with finality. She wanted to draw a clear line between them, making Sterling understand her determination.
At that moment, the car approached a traffic light and slowed to a stop. The numbers on the red light counted down, ticking off some unknown fate. Bella watched the decreasing numbers, feeling a sudden urge to get out of the car and walk back, escaping this oppressive and confining space.
But the car doors were locked, and she couldn't easily open them. Plus, she didn't want to make her emotions too obvious, to avoid drawing more attention from Sterling.
So, she suppressed her impulse, sitting quietly in the back seat, waiting for the green light, hoping to reach the dessert shop soon.
The car fell silent again, with only the changing traffic light and the occasional noise from outside breaking the oppressive stillness.
Bella's heart felt weighed down, unable to find relief.
Time seemed to freeze inside the car, the atmosphere growing heavier and more stifling until Sterling spoke again, his voice carrying an unprecedented seriousness and determination. "I accept starting over, starting from scratch, but I don't accept divorce. You can vent your resentment in any way you can think of, but please don't draw a line between us."
Every word Sterling said seemed carefully considered, each pause filled with strength.
Bella felt her heart race. She could hardly believe her ears. Was this an illusion? Why did she detect a hint of pleading in Sterling's tone?
This was so unlike his usual confident, in-control self. Now, he seemed so vulnerable and uncertain.
Bella was stunned. She looked ahead, her gaze seeming to pierce through the windshield to a distant place. She tried to recall the moments between her and Sterling, the laughter and tears, the arguments and reconciliations. She admitted they had good times, but those were overshadowed by later conflicts and pain.
Bella couldn't understand why Sterling had suddenly become so insistent, even willing to endure her resentment and outbursts just to avoid drawing a line between them. This made her feel suffocated and uneasy.
This wasn't like him.
She could handle Sterling at his worst, but this, this she couldn't handle or accept.
Bella took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions. She looked straight ahead, as if speaking to Sterling, or perhaps to herself. "Can't you just let me go? I'm really tired. I don't want to be entangled in past grievances anymore."
Sterling's gaze lingered on the steering wheel for a moment before he asked, "Can you let me go? Do you think you're the only one in pain?"
He was suffering too, but she had never seen it.
Bella's anger flared again at his words. She gritted her teeth and responded, "Then why didn't you think about letting my dad go back then? He worked for your family for so many years, diligently and loyally. Didn't you know he had a daughter to raise alone? I was only eight, such a small child, and you made me lose my only relative. How can I let you go? How can you be so cruel?"
Her voice trembled, each word squeezed out from the depths of her heart, filled with pain and anger. She couldn't forget those dark days, the pain and despair of losing her father.
Sterling's face turned pale. He fell silent for a while, seemingly recalling the past.
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