Chapter 88

**Bella-Rose POV**

A month passed in undisturbed silence. There was not a peek from "you-know-who".
Even the media left me after that day. There was not an article or a photo of me and James. I checked. What? Would you believe your brother when he said something? Then you're a greater person than me. If Scott said something he did, you must check just to be sure. That's my golden rule. Brothers!

The panic of crowds is still there, not completely driven out of me. Baby steps. So, with the help of my family, I took my mental health seriously and started seeing a therapist. My very own therapist, yay me! Some of them (Mom's nemesis Stella and co.) had palpitations when they learned of my decision. But I didn't care. This is my life and I don't take things lightly anymore.
It made a difference. In only a month I was able to shed my deep fears. I no more flinch at people's laughter.

After my initial panic attack, I hardened myself. I refuse to be a blubbering mess because of a certain person. I refuse to drown in this barrel of my misery and heartbreak. This is my life. No one has any right to mess with it and its high time I take it back.

That numbness that served me in those days still lingers within me. I smile, I laugh, I joke... but, in the dark, my mask slips. I cried the first two weeks. Now, even my eyes got tired of my crying. They refused to shed any more tears.

In all this, Nana was a big help. If it was any other boss, she would have gladly fired me. Now I understand the importance of working for a family. Or the benefits.

Nevertheless, since she hired the new chef, I was at somewhat loose ends. I still work there. But the work is not as hectic as it used to be. I'm in charge of the kitchen and front desk for only three-morning shifts now.

With free time on hand, that deep feeling which I used to have before achieving something in my life, sparked once again. I'm no longer satisfied with just baking.

But I need the family now more than ever. Venturing on a new business when they supported me at my lowest is not the repayment, I want to give them. So, I kept mum once again.

Sometimes I feel like I saw HIM following me. Once I followed a man for two blocks only to realize that I'm being silly. Why would he come to me when he has Ja-, I stopped myself from uttering her name? Even in my thoughts.

I'm calm now. And with calmness came the questions that my mind never thought of before. The most niggling one being -why? Why would he target me? What's so special about me? What's their endgame? How did the media learn about us? What were they saying about breaking into their home?

And I refuse to check them online. The media has done me more harm than good. I would be a hypocrite if I trusted their words again.

Alas, there was no one to answer those questions. Why would he bother? What was I to him?

I never met and will never meet someone like you Bella. You are the most important woman in my life.

Automatically, my right palm found its way to my chest, pressing as it would somehow magically fix my broken heart.

I quickly shoved that voice along with my unanswered questions into the darkest corner of my mind.

Instead, I started baking pies for the soon to arrive breakfast crowd in the bakery. Don't scoff. I would gladly eat a pie for breakfast. But to attract the customers and not make them feel conscious of the calories, I make them as mini pies. The ones that could easily fit in one's hand.

With my baking duties done, I started handling the front desk when the jingling of the front door made me lift my head.

The pie I was about to serve on the plate slipped from my hand. Thankfully, it landed on the plate albeit somewhat clumsily.

The person standing before me was in equal shock for a few seconds before he opened his mouth and commented loud enough to be heard by everyone, "condom girl!"

Every person within a 10-meter radius turned to look at me. A deep flush crept up my face. I curbed the urge to hide my face with my hands. Oh, why did I think my life is undisturbed!
Fates must be cackling their evil laughs. I will remember this humiliation and kick those old biddies in the butt, who have nothing else to do other than meddle in people's lives when the time comes.

For now, though, I stood like a statue before the guy blinking my eyes like an owl.

"Hey" he playfully snapped his fingers before my face, bringing me back to the present.
"Uhmm", I stammered like a fool.

"You remember me, right? The other night we met where I-"
I cut him off before he could blurt out in what condition he handled me to the customers.


"Hello. Nice meeting you here. I never got to say thank you for the other night. Thank you for what you did that night", I said from the bottom of my heart. I was in no state of mind to think about my safety then. If not for him, who knows what would have happened to me?

"No need to mention. It was my pleasure to take care of a beautiful woman like you", he said with an accent where every syllable is carefully enunciated making my blush intensify.

I must have looked discombobulated that he changed the topic by saying, "you never mentioned your name that day. It would be really embarrassing if I continue with 'condom girl' every time we meet. What's your name beautiful?"

"Bella-Rose", I stuttered as I felt the eyes of the customers on me. They are watching as if a new discovery has been made. Come on, surely, they have seen guys flirting with me! Well... at least once... let me think... okay. I got their point. But do they have to make it so obvious?

I would have jumped on him if he flirted with me before. Now, I don't know what to say, how to act. My heart is still numb.

He reached out and to my chagrin, took my hand and said, "A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. It suits you"

If possible, my blush intensified at his words. Every single person scoffed in some way. Some eye-rolled while some narrowed their eyes. Me... I stood like a fool before him not knowing what to say. Relax Bella, it's not like he is asking your hand in marriage, I thought trying to cool down my jumbled thoughts.

"Sorry, forgot to introduce myself. Hello, I'm Chris Grant. It was a pleasure to meet such a beautiful woman", he slathered the butter again. Don't know what he is hoping to get from me... maybe he needs a free cookie and is trying to impress me with his words.

That must be it. I opened my mouth to inform him not to strain his brain muscles thinking about good things to say about me, he can have his free cookie. I would even throw another one for him to shut this guy... no, Chris Grant up. Wait, Grant... Why do I feel like I heard that last name before?

However, he stunned me with his next question by asking with a straight face, "Bella-Rose, will you marry me?"

A plate must have slipped from someone's hands as it shattered loudly making me aware of the stilled silence in the bakery.

"Excuse me?"

Are the only sensible words I could utter as I stared at him with my mouth wide open.

He gave a chuckle as he gently put two fingers under my chin to close my open mouth. "Since Jack is nowhere in sight, I thought why not try my luck. What do you say, Rose, will you marry me?"

"Now listen here-"

I was cut off by the jingling of the front door once again and in came Mathew.

"What are you doing out of the house?" I asked Nana who followed him

Nana waved her hand as if swatting a fly and replied, "you guys worry a lot. A good walk will do me good. There is nothing to fear"

"Nana, it's still too early to walk around like this"

"It's ok Bella. Let her get out of the house once in a while. I can't watch William's depressed face any longer", Mathew joked about dad getting irritated because he is not able to spend time with a mom like before.

"Ewww.... thanks for the visual Mathew. I need bleach to clean it", I said, scrunching my nose.
Mathew however, faced Chris whom I have forgotten about, and asked, "what are you doing here?"

"Wait! You know each other?" I questioned looking at either of them.

"Of course! He is my nephew", Mathew replied

"And how do you know Rose, Uncle Matt?" Chris asked, turning towards Mathew as he leaned his arm on the counter.

"She is my granddaughter", Nana chimed with a glint in her eye. Oh no! I don't like the spark in her look. It is screaming evil and bad things to me. I want to hide away before she can cook some concoction with me and Chris.

The said guy turned to me and said with a mischievous wink to me, "so... will you marry me, step-second cousin?"

Mathew had a calculated look on his face while Nana smiled a big smile that lit up her entire face as if she has won a lottery.

Me... I was just thankful that Amanda is not here to crank up some daddy jokes, pun intended.