Chapter 44 Timid Bella
Bella got yanked and tossed into the car by Sterling. He barked at Ryan to floor it back to Windsor Villa.
Ryan could feel Sterling's rage but kept his mouth shut and just hit the gas.
Bella's heart went from freaked out to totally numb 'cause she knew Sterling was about to go full psycho on her.
Sure enough, as soon as they got home, Sterling threw her on the bed and started ripping at her clothes. Bella fought back like crazy.
"How many other guys you got besides me?" Sterling snarled, tearing her shirt until a scar on her arm showed.
His eyes locked on the scar, a mark she got for him. But now, it just pissed him off more. "You make me sick!"
Sterling stormed out without touching her, which was so not like him.
The door slammed shut, and Bella crumpled on the bed like a broken doll.
She didn't sleep a wink, and Sterling got wasted, but this time, no one called her.
In the morning, Zoey knocked. "Mrs. Windsor, you should eat something. What happened with you and Mr. Windsor?"
Bella curled up in the blanket. "I don't want to eat. It's nothing."
Zoey sighed and let it go.
The phone rang. Bella didn't want to answer, but when she saw the caller ID, she picked up. Just reaching for the phone made her head pound.
Anna's voice came through. "Bella, how are you? Caleb told me everything. Sterling didn't hurt you, did he?"
Bella croaked, "No, I'm fine."
Anna noticed her voice and got worried. "Why's your voice so hoarse? You catch a cold?"
Bella glanced at the open window; she forgot to close it last night. No wonder she felt like crap.
After a quick chat with Anna, Bella hung up. She got up to close the window but suddenly fell and blacked out.
When Bella came to, she was in the hospital.
Zoey was right there.
Seeing Bella awake, Zoey let out a huge sigh of relief. "Mrs. Windsor, you scared the crap outta me!"
Bella stared at the ceiling. "What happened to me?"
Her throat was still killing her.
Zoey frowned. "You had a fever and passed out. When I found you, you were burning up. I was so scared. I just saw the news, and I was really afraid you couldn't handle it."
Zoey stopped, and Bella knew something was up. She pressed Zoey for answers.
Zoey quickly said, "Why don't you get better first and then check the news yourself?"
Bella couldn't wait. She grabbed her phone and checked. The whole thing about Sterling dragging her from the hotel was all over the news, with some sneaky photos. The headline screamed: #Suspected Mrs. Windsor caught cheating with her best friend's boyfriend, Mr. Windsor angrily took Mrs. Windsor away!#
Bella stared at her phone, stunned. She couldn't believe a misunderstanding had blown up this big; it wasn't just between a few people anymore.
The news hit her hard. Her chest heaved, but she couldn't catch her breath, like someone was choking her.
Zoey snatched Bella's phone and said, "Mrs. Windsor, stop looking at that crap! You need to get better first. As long as Mr. Windsor believes you, everything will be cool, got it?"
Bella didn't say anything because she knew Sterling wouldn't believe her.
Zoey's heart broke seeing Bella like this, but she had no idea how to comfort her.
Bella, always the kind soul, didn't want Zoey wasting her energy, so she insisted Zoey go home. She figured she could handle the hospital on her own.
Maybe 'cause she slept too much during the day, Bella couldn't sleep at all that night. She lay there, thinking about everything, feeling like some invisible hand was pulling all the strings.
Suddenly, she felt someone watching her.
She turned to the window and froze.
A face flashed past the small window on the door! Someone was spying on her!
'Reporters? Sterling's crazy fans? Whatever, I can't stay here.' Bella packed her stuff and bolted from the hospital in her gown, not even bothering with discharge papers.
Bella made it back to Windsor Villa, but Sterling wasn't home.
She went to her room, wrapped herself in the blanket, and finally felt a bit calmer. Home was definitely more chill.
Back at the hospital, a figure crept to Bella's old room, gripping the door handle and slowly pushing it open. Seeing the empty bed, the guy stiffened, then rushed to the nurse's station. "Where is she? The patient in bed 23?"
The nurse, startled by his stern face, quickly checked. "I don't know."
The guy snapped, "Check the surveillance!"
Four hours later, Sterling, looking beat, walked into Windsor Villa. It was past six in the morning. Zoey was making breakfast for Bella. Seeing him, she instinctively asked, "Mr. Windsor? You just got back?"
Sterling nodded tiredly and trudged upstairs.
When he got to the room and saw Bella on the bed, he was stunned.
Bella, sensing someone, slowly opened her eyes. "You're back?"
Hearing her hoarse voice, Sterling nodded and turned to leave.
Downstairs, Zoey asked Ryan, who had come back with Sterling, "What happened? Why does Mr. Windsor look so wiped out?"
Ryan whispered, "Last night, Mr. Windsor went to the hospital to see Mrs. Windsor, only to find she was gone. He searched for her for over four hours."
Zoey quickly realized Bella must not have told Sterling she came home.
Seeing Sterling coming downstairs, Zoey asked, "Mr. Windsor, want some breakfast?"
Sterling shook his head. "No."
With that, he left the villa.
When Bella got up, Zoey brought her breakfast and told her about Sterling searching for her for four hours.
Bella was a bit surprised but quickly shrugged it off. "Got it, Zoey. Can you help me with the discharge papers later?"
Zoey nodded and said, "Mrs. Windsor, Mr. Windsor still cares about you. Christmas is coming soon. Maybe you should think of a way to ease the tension between you two?"
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
