Chapter 90

Bella-Rose POV

Present-day

"Mom, Nana, leave me alone. I'm not going to budge on this. How could you even think about sending me on a date after what I have gone through?" I asked, groaning and covering my face with my hands.

"We are asking for your own good, Bella," Mom said her famous line of all time. 'We are doing this for your own good, Bella.'

I snorted. I dropped my hands and glared at her. I can't help it. "No, you are asking me because you don't want to lose face before Stella. Admit it"

"Well..." Mom looked sheepishly at me. Nana snickered beside her.

"See? I knew my family was mercenary. But this... this is another level of greed guys. You can't auction your daughter to the first man you came across," I stood and paced before them, flailing my arms widely to explain my point.

"Now Bella, don't include me. I don't like this either", dad interfered, still sour-faced about the date. But he couldn't do anything before mom and Nana who stood adamantly. Another coward. Meet my family, where all men are afraid of their wives. Oh, I can't wait for Scott's turn. Insert evil laugh. I would be enjoying it with popcorn in hand seeing Scott cowering before Sarah.

Said guy is also in this ensemble. Ya, don't get shocked. It's the same guy who wanted to crack the ribs of HIM for dating his sister. The only thing that changed here is Chris is Mathew's nephew and is the major shareholder of a large company. 70% to be exact.

You can say he rules the company. And if Chris becomes Scott's brother-in-law, then, he could be the chief lawyer on his board. Remember when I said about being mercenary? This is a prime example.

You may ask how I knew all that? Well, meet our family's new gossip queen, Mathew. He bestowed his wisdom on Chris to the entire family as if he was preaching in the church. For a minute, Mom's eyes were glazed over imagining a rich son-in-law for her daughter.

That gave the kick needed for my family to launch a new campaign- 'how to make Bella date Chris, the money guy?'

Mom is already in tickles imagining shoving Chris and my relationship down Stella's throat. Yup, my family is a pro in counting their chickens.

"Honey, if you go on a date then it won't be an auction," Mom said while glaring at dad for daring to talk in the middle of her campaign.

"You make it so tempting Mom. I believed you... almost. But I have to say 'no thank you. You can keep the rich guy to yourself," I deadpanned.

"Over my dead body," dad growled glaring at me for mentioning that. It hit him on a sore spot since he learned that his step-cousin is so young.

"Chill, old guy. Not everyone is conspiring to get your wife. You can keep your prize to yourself," I rolled my eyes at dad's remark.

"I damn well keep it to myself. She is mine," dad said, holding mom in a tight embrace. Though I internally flinched remembering someone else saying that to me, I kept a smile on my face and shoved dad playfully with my hip.

"Dad, there are people here. Please stop staring at mom like that. It's making me barf," I made a gagging sound.

"What's new in this?" Scott said unfaltering while eating his bag of chips. One of these days I'm going to hide every food item in the house when he visits. Serves him right for flipping to Mom's side.

Feeling my scrutiny, Scott scanned my expression and with a sheepish look said, "sorry Bells. But between you and Mom, Mom always wins. Just give in to her already"

"I will remember this betrayal, Scott. Vengeance will be mine," I said theatrically, spreading my arms widely and looking up as if I'm playacting a movie scene.

Nana and Mom cleared their throats. I dropped my arms and sighed, giving them both a boring look. "What?"

"Why don't we talk this upstairs Bella?" Mom asked as she looped her arm into mine and maneuvered me towards the stairs.

"What's there to talk about? You all have already decided I'm going on a date with Chris," I said with a wrinkled nose.

"He is not that bad, Bella. Give him a chance. He is coming to get you tonight," Nana said, rubbing my back.

My steps faltered on the stairs. Tonight? So soon?

"No, no, no. I'm not ready for this. This is too soon. Please, Mom, try to understand," I turned to mom and pleaded.

"Well Olivia, looks like you are the only one who can force some sense into this girl," Nana said, shaking her head looking disappointedly at me.

Mom took me to her bedroom for a change and sat beside me on the bed. She then carefully held my hand between her hands and said, "what I'm going to say to you now is a secret. Will you hear it, Bella?"

"Why did you bring us into this room? Don't get me wrong but you guys rarely allowed us in this room when we were young. What's there in this room?" I scanned it to dispel the sudden tension in the room.

"Well, you were young. And your father didn't like when you guys make a mess here. Anyways, I didn't bring you here to talk about the past. Tell me, Bella, why are you hesitating for the date?" She gently rubbed my hand with her thumb

"I'm scared Mom. To try again," I mumbled my fears.

"I didn't raise a coward, honey. You can put the past behind you. You can try to let go and live your life once again. Take charge of it," Mom gently raised my chin with her thumb and forefinger while saying it.

"I'm not ready for this. What if Chris also hurts me like-"

I trailed away, unable to utter his name.

"You won't know until you give it a chance. Sitting here and thinking about what-ifs will leave you with only regrets in the future. You have to experience life's good along with bad to become strong Bella. If you have thought of giving up when you failed to bake your cake the first time, you wouldn't be here as a pastry chef in Nana's bakery. Mistakes happen. You get hurt. But learning to surpass them and enjoying life is what makes you, you. Remember that," Mom said looking into my eyes.

"But Mom, how can I connect with Chris? I loved HIM with everything. Yet, I got betrayed. How can I love another on that level? Can I do that? Do you think I have any love left in me to give?" I asked with a frown

"Oh, Bella! You are the most lovable person in the world. You have more love in you than anyone honey. Never doubt that"

"But what about Chris? How can I stop myself from over imagining things? Seeing things that are not there?"


"Before you were blindfolded, Bella. Now you have experienced life. You are entering with wide eyes. Remember a simple rule Bella- don't expect much. Who knows, life may surprise you"


"How do you know so much mom?" I asked, feeling like I'm talking to a new person.

"You have seen how your father and I love each other"
Wait a minute. Did she mean...?

"Eww. Gross, Mom. I don't want to see it"

"Thank you for letting me know how perverted your mind can get. But no, I'm not talking about that. I'm talking about how much in love we both are. But would you believe if I said that, that was not always the case?"

"Are you kidding me? It can't be. Dad not loving you? It's as believable as Scott going on a diet," I scoffed, thinking mom is playing me.

"No. Not your dad. Me. I was not always in love with your dad"

Sensing a story, I made myself comfortable, put both my palms under my chin, and asked her, "would you tell me?"

"Nothing dramatic. I used to love another guy in my school days. We were high-school sweethearts. Everyone believed that we would end up together. Until he cheated on me with another girl in college"

"What an asshole!"

"Bella, language"

"Sorry. Then what happened? How did you meet dad?"

Mom sighed as if it's a chore to indulge me.

"Well, you can imagine how I was then, recently betrayed, hating all men. Then your dad came into my life barging through the doors. I was not ready to start another relationship. You should know that I came out of a 4-year long relationship. There were so many memories, so many firsts of mine linked with him"

"Gag. TMI, Mom"

Mom playfully swatted my arm and said, "I mean dance, date, prom. We were inseparable. Until he cheated on me. So, it was more hurtful. I straight-out refused your dad's advances"

"Boy, that would have lit a fire under dad's seat"

"Oh, you have no idea. He went and beat the daylights out of my ex"

"Seriously?"

"Very"

"I get it. You must have swooned like in the old movies and fell for his fighting skills"
"No. In fact, I slapped him for hurting another human being"

"Ouch. Then what happened?"

"Well, your dad is no coward. He was adamant. Willing to fight for us. Wait for us. It took me one year to give it to your dad. That one year, your dad waited for me outside my dorm room every single day"

"Wow! Dad is something else. Isn't he?"

"Yes. He is Bella. I'm lucky to have found him. I see that in Chris. Give the guy a chance Bella. He may surprise you. It's not like he is asking to marry you"

Mom is wrong. I once had a guy waiting for me outside too for a long time. That kind of guy can cheat too. But I didn't burst her bubble.

Instead, I said, "but he did. Before the customers. That too with a cheesy line."

"Oh, this is getting better and better," Mom said, clapping her hands. Not for me, I thought to myself.

"Just for my sake Bella. Go on a date with him. Only one. If you don't like him, you can say no afterward," Mom asked with abated breath.

Though I don't want to go, I can't see their troublesome expressions either. Hence, I yielded and said, "fine."

"Oh, this is going to be a blast," Mom jumped from the bed in excitement and went to share the news with the rest of the family.

I followed behind her slowly, my legs dragging when I heard mom talking to dad,

"William, ask her therapist on how to clear her mind of dirty thoughts."

Kill. Me. Now.