Chapter 462 Friends Who Have a Relationship
"Going back so early, will you be able to sleep?" Sterling's voice was gentle with a hint of concern, as if every word had been carefully chosen, afraid of touching Bella's sensitive nerves.
Bella actually turned her head and gave him a slight smile, one that carried some weariness but still remained gentle: "After cleaning up a bit and taking a shower, I should be able to fall asleep when I'm tired. To be honest, I'm already feeling a bit sleepy now. After all, my daily work is quite tiring. You make money using your brain, but me? I use real physical labor."
Hearing this, Sterling felt a strange emotion surge in his heart. He paused slightly, as if thinking about something, then slowly said: "Actually, you could use your brain too."
Bella tilted her head slightly, trying to joke with him: "Use my brain to be a good Mrs. Mu and let you support me? Come on, Sterling, you know my personality. I've never liked depending on others, and being supported by someone else is definitely not my style."
Hearing this, Sterling's heart trembled slightly. He hadn't expected Bella to respond to his previous suggestion this way. He gazed at Bella, trying to find answers in her eyes, but discovered that those eyes held too many complex emotions, relief, helplessness, and a hint of barely noticeable determination.
"Bella, I..." Sterling was about to say something but was interrupted by Bella.
"Sterling, I've been thinking. Anna and Colin's relationship seems pretty good, they might get married. And you and Colin are so close, we'll be running into each other all the time in the future. I can't keep hating you to the point where it's you or me. But I also can't continue being your Mrs. Mu like before. Would you consider divorcing me so we can just be ordinary friends?" Bella tentatively suggested.
Only then did Sterling understand what Bella had been planning all evening. She wanted to use this so-called "being friends" to erect an invisible wall between them, a wall that would shut out all past emotions and future possibilities.
"Bella." He called out softly, his tone carrying disbelief and helplessness. "Since when did you learn to make jokes like this? It's not funny, you know?"
Sterling's voice was deep and magnetic, each word seeming to come from the depths of his heart, carrying indescribable emotion.
Hearing this, the smile on Bella's face gradually faded. The look she gave Sterling held more complex emotions.
Bella understood that her suggestion to "be friends" was undoubtedly a difficult proposal for Sterling to accept.
But she also knew this was the best solution she could think of. It would protect herself while minimizing the hurt to Sterling.
"Sterling, I'm not joking. I'm serious." Bella's voice, though gentle, was unusually firm.
Hearing this, Sterling's lips curved into a bitter smile. He shook his head: "Bella, if being friends means keeping this kind of distance, then I'd rather not. If it's the kind of friends who can have sex, I might consider it, but just ordinary friends, the kind where I can only look but not touch. Forget it."
Bella's emotions completely lost control at this moment. She whipped her head around, staring at Sterling with blazing eyes, unable to hold back her angry shout: "Sterling! How can you be like this!"
Sterling, however, seemed unconcerned by her anger. Instead, he lightly curved his lips into a playful yet confident smile. He said slowly, "Bella, you started teasing me first, so you can't blame me. Let me tell you the truth. I don't just want your body, I want all of you. You promised yourself that you wouldn't bring up divorce, so as long as I don't leave, you'll always be Mrs. Mu."
His tone carried a hint of dominance and determination, as if declaring his claim and resolve to Bella. However, such words only angered Bella more.
"You're completely unreasonable!" Bella shouted in exasperation. She didn't want to keep arguing with Sterling. This was clearly heading toward a complete breakdown. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her emotions, then said coldly: "Take me home, or let me out and I'll go back myself!"
Seeing Bella's angry expression, Sterling felt an inexplicable sense of satisfaction rise in his heart. He knew that although Bella was angry, she hadn't completely let go of him in her heart. So he started the car, a triumphant smile playing at his lips: "Of course I'll take you. Taking my own woman home is only natural."
His tone carried a hint of ease and teasing, as if telling Bella that no matter how angry she got, he wouldn't change his mind.
Bella was furious, her chest heaving violently, as if a nameless fire was burning inside her.
To vent her dissatisfaction, she yanked hard on the seatbelt, with such force that it seemed she wanted to pour all her anger onto this innocent seatbelt. She didn't need Sterling constantly reminding her of her status. She had her own dignity and pride.
Sterling sat in the driver's seat, watching Bella's actions, but his lips couldn't help curving upward slightly. He didn't know why, but he just found Bella's angry look very cute, carrying a child-like innocence and stubbornness. He didn't mind her behavior at all; instead, he felt this version of her was more real, more captivating.
"Go ahead and pull it, that thing's not worth much anyway." He said softly, his tone carrying a hint of indulgence and helplessness. He knew Bella was just venting her emotions.
The car slowly started, moving forward along the road in the night.
Inside the car, Bella remained silent, her gaze cold and distant, as if trying to shut Sterling out of her world.
When they reached the apartment building, Bella gave Sterling a cold look, then got out of the car without hesitation.
When closing the car door, she showed no mercy. A loud 'bang' that even made her wince. This was Sterling's most frequently used and favorite car, otherwise he wouldn't have brought it to this city. She knew in her heart that this loud bang wasn't just venting on the car door, but also a silent protest against Sterling.
Sterling sat in the car, hearing that loud sound, but didn't feel angry at all. Instead, he felt that Bella's stubborn streak made her even more vibrant, and he liked her even more.
Sterling silently started the car, preparing to leave.
However, before leaving, he couldn't help but look at Bella through the car window. He saw her standing in place, her back to him, hands clenched into fists, as if trying hard to control her emotions.
In that moment, Sterling's heart ached slightly. He knew Bella's emotional knot wouldn't be so easily untied, but he wouldn't give up either.
Sterling had just driven out of the complex when his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID. It was Owen.
"What is it?"
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