Chapter 13
<Chapter>Chapter 13: Nine Bulls** </Chapter>
Gianna looked at her with a detached expression, "I don't think you're in any position to ask me that."
After her terse reply, Gianna turned to head up the stairs, but Bella's icy voice stopped her.
"Stop right there!"
Gianna displayed a cold smirk on her lips as she glanced back at Bella with a mocking expression. "You've got some nerve, strutting around like that. You're the first 'other woman' I've seen with such gall."
Bella's expression changed as she glared at Gianna. "Felix loves me. No matter what tricks you pull, he'll never love you. If you had any sense, you'd divorce him quickly."
'And stay away from us for good!'
Gianna nodded with an arched eyebrow, "Sure, hand over fifty million, and I'll divorce him on the spot."
Bella's pupils contracted as she hissed through clenched teeth. "Haven't you squeezed enough money out of Felix over the years?! Don't be so greedy, Gianna!"
"If you're so eager to get me out of Felix's life, shouldn't you be willing to demonstrate your feelings with a little sacrifice?"
"You!"
Gianna looked at Bella with a mean look. "Seems your love for Felix isn't worth much after all if you're not even willing to part with fifty million."
Bella was about to argue when she saw someone coming down the stairs, and her mood changed to one of distress.
"Sis, it's not that I'm unwilling to give you the fifty million, but Felix will be furious if he finds out."
"Why let him know? Just keep it between us, simple as that."
Bella was at a loss for words.
During the silence, a cold voice descended from the top of the stairs.
"Gianna, here I thought you had some strategy to amass that fifty million, only to realize you're trying to make Belle play the sucker!"
Gianna faced Felix's cold stare with calm composure. "I believe Bella would be more than happy to part with the fifty million, so I'm offering her the opportunity."
As they kept talking without paying attention to her, Bella clutched her dress tighter, a hint of darkness appearing in her eyes.
"Felix, what was that fifty million dollars all about you mentioned to sister? If she's really strapped for cash, I can lend her some," Gianna said with a meaningful glance at Bella.
Felix furrowed his brow and responded calmly, "That's none of your business. And if she hits you up for money again, just say no."
Frustrated, Gianna pressed her lips together as the simple fifty million slipped away. Done dealing with the two, she went upstairs to get some more sleep.
But as she passed Felix, he suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her close. "Gianna," he hissed in her ear, "if I ever catch you shaking down Bella for money again, you could win the lotto for all I care, and I still wouldn't sign those divorce papers."
Downstairs, Bella's eyes turned red with anger as she witnessed their close interaction.
With a quick motion, Gianna pulled her wrist free and stepped back, her voice cold. "Noted. Keep your distance next time. I have an idiot-phobia."
Felix narrowed his eyes, a dangerous glint flashing through them. "Don't push me, Gianna."
Ignoring him, Gianna walked into her bedroom and locked the door.
Furious, Felix glared at the door to the guest room, his gaze seething.
"Felix..." Bella's voice brought him back to the moment. He went downstairs with a furrowed brow to confront her. "What brings you here so early?"
Biting her lower lip, Bella sensed the displeasure in his tone. "I was worried about you. I didn't know she was back, or else I wouldn't have come."
Felix felt a twinge of irritation. "Belle, Gianna is my wife."
Tears filled Bella's eyes. "But we love each other. You don't have feelings for her. Why stay in a loveless marriage?"
A pause followed as Felix gazed at her sincerely. "Whatever we had is history. Whether I like it or not, she's my wife, and that's not gonna change."
Bella's tears fell in disbelief. "Is it because she married you when you had that accident, that your side is her for two years, that you've fallen for her?"
"I don't love her, but I'm not going to divorce her either."
"Why not?!"
"After my accident, when I couldn't stand for those two years, she was the one who stuck by me."
And deep down, just the thought of divorcing Gianna made Felix's skin crawl with an inexplicable restlessness.
Bella's tears glistened like dewdrops on flower petals as she cried, choking out, "How can you be so ungrateful, and what about me? You kept your car accident a secret from me, and by the time I found out, you were already married to her. Do you have any idea how I felt?"
"I wanted to come back here and confront you, but then I realized it was pointless. If you wanted to thank her, you had plenty of other ways. Why did you have to commit your whole life to it?"
Felix, with an indifferent look on his face, said to Bella, "I admit I've wronged you. That's why when you returned, I agreed to let you stay at the villa. You wanted MY FASHION, and I'm working on acquiring it for you. But I can't give you what you want when it comes to feelings.”
With that, Felix left without waiting for Bella’s reaction.
Through tear-blurred eyes, Bella observed his retreating figure, her heart filled with defiance. She wasn't going to let go. No way.
Gianna went downstairs and found both Felix and Bella had left. Unconcerned, she went straight to the office.
As soon as she got to her office, she called Faith over.
"I'm going to be away for a few days starting tomorrow; I'll need you to handle things here at the company. For anything that can't be resolved, just wait until I get back."
"All right, I've got it," Faith acknowledged.
Noticing that Faith hesitated, Gianna looked up, "Is there something else?"
"Yeah, Aidan might give you a hard time at today's meeting. After laying off those staff members in his department yesterday, he threw quite a tantrum in the office," Faith informed her.
Gianna nodded, "Okay, get back to work now."
After Faith left, Gianna went back to looking at the papers on her desk, not bothered about the upcoming confrontation.
The meeting started precisely at 10 a.m.
Gianna quickly reviewed the latest work plans and priorities, then calmly looked over the attendees, "If there's nothing else, that'll be it for today. Meeting adjourned."
Just as Gianna was about to finish, Aidan spoke up, "Gianna, I need to discuss something."
Gianna looked at him calmly, "What is it?"
Aidan flashed a smile, "There's been a partnership deal we've been trying to close without success. If you could step in, I'm sure we could make it happen. Plus, you've been away from MY FASHION for three years; we all want to see your capabilities. After all, we can't have someone without proven skills running such a big company."
Gianna responded with a faint smile, nodding, "All right, then bring the contract to my office later."
Aidan was surprised by Gianna's quick agreement. He stopped, bewildered, before speaking. "All right then, I'm looking forward to seeing you close the deal soon, Gianna!"
After the meeting, Faith followed Gianna into her office.
"Gianna, I've warned you about Aidan. Why would you fall for his tricks?!"
