Chapter 458 No Provocation
Sterling knew that despite Bella's cold and distant exterior, deep down she still had feelings for him. This was an undeniable fact.
Having her hidden feelings so easily exposed by Sterling, Bella felt as if her last layer of disguise had been stripped away, and her emotions instantly became somewhat uncontrollable. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down, and simply admitted frankly. "Yes, you're right, I do have feelings for you. After all, you're the one who raised me. I once considered you the most important person in my life. I gradually accepted the reality of becoming your wife, and even fell in love with you."
At this point, her voice trembled slightly, and a barely noticeable tenderness flashed in her eyes. Those sweet and warm memories played like movie scenes in her mind, making her feel a bit dazed.
However, when she recalled those hurts and betrayals, her eyes quickly returned to coldness and determination.
"But," Bella's tone shifted, becoming firm, "that doesn't mean I'll forgive you, and it doesn't mean we'll go back to how things were. The pain you caused me can't be smoothed over with a simple 'I love you,' do you understand?"
Sterling suddenly smiled, his expression carrying a hint of self-mockery and acceptance. "Then I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. Wherever you are, I'll be there, until the place where I am also becomes your sanctuary."
After saying this, he restarted the car. The wheels made a slight friction sound against the ground, and then the car steadily drove onto the road ahead. His expression was calm and focused, as if the conversation just now hadn't affected him in the slightest, or as if he had buried all his emotions deep in his heart.
Bella was amazed by Sterling's change. He didn't get angry like before, nor did he show any annoyance or fury. Instead, he had become casual and calm, as if he had seen through all the troubles and complications of the world.
What could make such a proud man become so easygoing? Sterling's emotional stability now was so unusual it made her wonder if he was fake.
Bella thought back to her past with Sterling, those arguments and cold wars, those lonely nights filled with longing - all playing like movie scenes in her mind.
Was Sterling really different from before? But so what? Even though Sterling had changed so much, the scars in her heart hadn't healed because of it.
When they reached the entrance of her apartment complex, Bella's movements were quick and decisive. She got out of the car without looking back, as if to demonstrate her determination and desire for distance.
However, just then, Sterling rolled down his window and said to her retreating figure. "Good night, see you tomorrow."
His voice drifted gently in the night breeze, carrying an indescribable tenderness and cheerfulness. Bella shuddered all over, as if touched by some inexplicable force. She couldn't help but stop and look back at him.
However, because it was too dark, she couldn't make out his expression. She had said such harsh and decisive things, so why did his tone sound so relaxed and even cheerful? It was completely different from what she had expected.
Bella frowned, feeling an inexplicable irritation rising in her heart. She had said all that, so why couldn't she make him angry? Instead, he acted as if nothing had happened, which made her feel both angry and helpless.
"You..." Bella started to speak, wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin. She found herself at a loss for words. Faced with Sterling's unexpected reaction, she completely lost her ability to respond.
"I'll wait for you, for as long as it takes." He said softly, then slowly rolled up the window. The car gradually drove away into the night, leaving Bella standing alone, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Watching the car disappear into the distance, Bella took a deep breath. What should she do now?
The next morning, when Bella got ready to go to her shop and opened the door, vivid red burst into her vision.
Placed on the ground at her doorstep was a large bouquet of bright red roses, with crystal dewdrops still hanging on the petals, as if freshly picked from the morning dew, giving off a faint fragrance.
Bella's gaze lingered on the roses for a moment, and a strange sense of familiarity rose in her heart. This bouquet of roses was the same as the one delivered to her flower shop last time.
But unlike the anonymous delivery last time, Sterling didn't hide this time. A delicate card lay quietly on the surface of the bouquet, with smooth and strong handwriting that read. "Good morning, have a wonderful day." At the end was Sterling's name, appearing both carefree and revealing an indescribable depth of feeling.
Bella's heart trembled slightly. She hadn't expected Sterling to express his feelings this way. She gently picked up the card, her fingertips lightly brushing over the writing, as if she could feel Sterling's mood when he wrote these words.
She looked up into the distance. Sterling's car was no longer in sight, but she knew he must have been here.
Bella picked up the bright roses, her heart filled with mixed feelings. She didn't know what game Sterling was playing. Did he think that through this approach, he could make her forget that heartbreaking plane crash, pretend nothing had happened, and obediently return to his side?
This thought flashed through her mind and was immediately dismissed. Sterling must know himself that a few bouquets of flowers and a few sweet words couldn't erase that terrible past.
That plane crash had left a wound between them that was hard to heal. Those painful memories were branded on her heart like a mark, constantly reminding her of the hurt she had suffered.
But she couldn't figure out what Sterling was doing. Was this really just a strategy to win her back?
But wasn't this approach a bit too childish?
Bella really wanted to throw the flowers in the trash to vent her frustration. But on second thought, her "thrifty" instinct seemed to kick in at the critical moment. Logic told her that doing so would be wasteful.
Since childhood, Sterling had taught her to cherish every resource. Wasteful extravagance wasn't her style.
Bella had to admire herself, even at a time like this, she could still remember Sterling's teachings.
Well, since the flowers had already been delivered, why not put them to use? Bella held the bouquet of roses, thinking it would be better to take them to the shop for decoration.
So Bella brought the flowers to her shop and placed a small, delicate vase on each table, selecting two or three of the most vibrant roses to arrange in them.
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