Chapter 97 An Explosive Argument
Bella and Anna blew through Sterling's money on a shopping spree until they were too tired to keep going and decided to chill at a café.
Bella seemed a bit out of it, so Anna asked, "Hey, what's up?"
Bella sighed, looking downcast. "You know, I always feel like I owe Sterling because of my dad's situation. But there's been zero progress with my dad's case. I'm at a loss."
Anna knew that Bella had always wanted to uncover the truth about Lucas's case. She wanted to clear his name, but she had been making no progress.
Just as Anna was about to say something, Bella's phone buzzed.
Bella checked it and looked a bit surprised.
"Beck Garcia, the guy who emailed me last time, sent another email," she said, smiling as she held up her phone.
Bella's hands shook as she opened Beck's email, but her face fell instantly. It was just a lame statement saying he knew Lucas was wronged but couldn't give more info.
After reading it, she couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Bella thought she was past feeling sad or disappointed, but why couldn't she stop crying?
Every time Bella got close to a breakthrough, something like this happened. Anna took Bella's phone and read the email, feeling super let down too.
Thinking about her situation, Bella felt pretty hopeless. If she had any hope of leaving Sterling before, now she had none.
The whole mess between Bella and Sterling started with Lucas, but now she couldn't clear Lucas's name, so she'd always feel indebted to Sterling.
Bella thought that if she could clear Lucas's name, she could leave Sterling and live a normal life.
But why did it have to be so hard?
Anna could see Bella was feeling down and desperate, she quickly tried to cheer her up, "Bella, don't give up. This is your dad's injustice. Even though we haven't found Beck yet, I'll help you investigate. Don't worry, I'll help you. What you need to do now is keep Sterling calm and not let him imprison or restrain you."
Bella knew how Sterling had tormented her over the years. Even though she seemed like Mrs. Windsor on the surface, no one knew better than her what her life had been like since she was a kid. She didn't want to bring it up because it only led to despair.
But then she thought, 'Yeah, I have money, and I can check Beck's clues myself.'
Bella smiled a bit after hearing Anna's words. "Thanks, Anna."
Anna patted her chest and said with a grin, "Don't worry, I'll definitely help you."
Bella was really grateful to have Anna as a friend. Otherwise, she wouldn't know how to keep going.
To thank Anna, she took her shopping again with Sterling's money, buying lots of clothes and bags. The restrictions and torment from Sterling could only be vented by spending his money.
But after shopping all day, it seemed like they hadn't spent much, which made Bella a bit deflated.
When Bella got back in the evening, she found that Sterling had already returned.
She carefully put down her things and asked Zoey when Sterling had come back.
Zoey said he'd been back for a while and then whispered to Bella, "Mr. Windsor wants you to go upstairs to see him when you get back."
Bella snorted, "No way."
She thought for a moment. If she didn't go to Sterling, he would probably throw away Sunny again.
Then, she reluctantly went upstairs. She pushed open Sterling's study door and found him reading documents, wearing glasses, looking noble and refined, adding a touch of aristocratic temperament.
But thinking about the reality of Sterling's torment, she suddenly forgot her previous efforts to return to her old self.
Looking at Sterling, Bella thought of Beck's email today and unconsciously thought of the lost child.
Bella's anger, unwillingness, grievance, and the humiliation of being tormented by him all rushed to her head.
Without thinking, she coldly said, "What do you want? Why does it always feel like you're ordering me around whenever you call for me? If I didn't come up tonight, would you threaten me again? With Anna or Sunny? Is that the only trick you know?"
Bella felt a bit of relief after saying that.
Sterling put down the documents and then took off his glasses, placing them on the desk.
He looked at Bella and said, "Are you provoking me?"
Bella snorted and turned her head, "You call me just to torment me, don't you? Whether I provoke you or go along with you, in the end, you'll still get angry and torment me. So I might as well make myself feel better. If you find me annoying, you can let me go."
As Bella continued speaking, she felt her mind couldn't keep up with her words. She didn't want this, but she couldn't help it.
Sterling ignored Bella's words, his expression cold.
He got up, poured himself a glass of wine, and said, "So you've been holding this grudge all along. Why don't you vent it all at once and then get back to your room?"
Bella didn't say anything.
Sterling continued, "Bella, I know what you're thinking. You're opposing me and making things difficult for me, hoping I'll find you unbearable and let you go, right?"
He added, "But Bella, don't you know me by now? Do you think I'm the kind of person who would compromise just because you oppose me and play little tricks? Do you think I'll let you go because of that?"
Sterling stepped closer to Bella. "Bella, don't be naive."
Bella held her breath, angrily staring at him. "Sterling, I don't want to live submissively with you anymore. I don't want to accept everything passively. I'm a person, and I have feelings. You've kept me by your side for so many years, and I've had enough. I followed you since I was a child, begging for pity. Even if my dad owed you, did I do anything wrong? You've tormented me for so many years; isn't that enough?"
She ended up sobbing silently. "Did I do anything wrong? Did my child do anything wrong?"
Bella broke down and cried.
Maybe it was because she suddenly found today that the clues ended with Beck. She realized that as long as she didn't clear Lucas's name, she would always owe Sterling and be controlled by him.
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