Chapter 164: Covering Up the Truth
Julian's face went pale. Trembling, he said, "Felix, I know you're mad. How about this? I'll bring my wife to apologize to the Clinton family tomorrow. Please spare the Redstone family."
Felix showed no emotion. "Julian, if your wife acted unintentionally, I can forgive her. But you know if she did it on purpose."
Realizing Felix wouldn't budge, Julian turned to Gianna. "Gianna, your mother knows she was wrong. Can you..."
Gianna cut him off coldly, "No. She's done this too many times. I tolerated her bias towards Bella, but today she meant harm. I can't forgive that."
Julian's face fell. He knew the Redstone family was done for.
Not long after Gianna and Felix got back to the villa, Bella showed up. Knowing Felix wouldn't see her, she waited at the gate, refusing to leave until he did.
Gianna didn't plan to intervene. After dinner and a shower, she sat in the living room watching TV.
Felix, hearing Bella was outside, went straight to his study to work.
Around eight, it started raining. Gianna saw Bella standing in the rain, drenched, looking pitiful. She wondered if Felix would go out to see her.
Back in the living room, Gianna tried to watch TV but couldn't focus. She kept thinking about whether Felix would go out.
She remembered how Felix used to care for Bella. When Gianna first married Felix, she accidentally knocked over a photo of him and Bella. He was furious and didn't talk to her for half a month.
Even though Felix had shown his feelings for her now, Gianna couldn't help but think he'd choose Bella whenever she was involved.
"What are you thinking about?" Felix's voice startled her.
She turned to see Felix, his dark eyes reflecting her face.
"Nothing," she said slowly.
Felix didn't push the subject. He wrapped his arm around her waist and sat beside her, "What show is this? I'll watch it with you."
After a moment, Gianna couldn't help but say, "Bella's been in the rain for over half an hour. Aren't you going to check on her?"
Felix looked down at her, "Do you want me to go out?"
Gianna tightened her grip on the blanket, eyes lowered, "It's not about what I want. Whether you go or not isn't up to me."
Felix chuckled, "Who says you can't decide?"
Hearing the teasing in his voice, Gianna frowned, "She was someone you cared about. You should at least check on her. If she gets sick, some people might feel sorry for her."
Felix buried his head in Gianna's neck and whispered, "What are you jealous of? If you don't want to see her, just call security to kick her out."
"You don't feel sorry for her?"
"Having you to care for is enough for me. I don't have the energy for anyone else."
Gianna turned back to the TV with a blank expression, but a slight smile tugged at her lips.
After watching TV for a bit, Gianna felt sleepy and whispered, "I want to go to bed."
Felix immediately scooped her up and carried her to the bedroom. He placed her on the bed, kissed her deeply, then tucked her in and kissed her forehead, "Go to sleep. I'm not tired yet. I'll go handle some work."
Gianna mumbled a response with her eyes closed and quickly fell asleep.
Felix chuckled softly, turned off the light, and left the room.
Back in his study, Felix saw Bella still standing at the villa's entrance and frowned.
Bella had once saved him by falling from a mountain, and this had left her very frail. She was bound to get sick from standing in the rain for so long.
After a moment, Felix grabbed an umbrella and walked out.
Bella, about to give up, saw the door open and felt a glimmer of hope. She knew Felix wouldn't leave her out there.
Felix walked a few steps towards her, stopped, and handed her the umbrella with an indifferent expression, "Even if you stand here until morning, I won't let the Redstone Group off."
Bella's face fell, "Felix, can't you spare the Redstone Group this one time?"
Felix's eyes were cold, "I still owe you two favors. You can use one to offset this incident."
Bella shook her head, her face pale, "No..."
Felix smirked coldly, "Seems the Redstone Group isn't that important to you."
Bella closed her eyes, "I'll find another way to save the Redstone Group."
She turned and left. Felix watched her disappear into the rain before heading back inside.
Unbeknownst to him, Gianna had seen everything from the bedroom window.
'He said he wouldn't see Bella, but he couldn't wait to bring her an umbrella. Liar!' she thought.
The next morning, Gianna found Felix had already made breakfast.
She sat down and said indifferently, "I noticed Bella isn't at the door anymore. When did she leave?"
Felix spread some strawberry jam on a piece of bread and handed it to her, "I don't know."
Gianna didn't ask further. She quietly finished breakfast and went to work.
Meanwhile, at the Redstone home, Julian was furious when he learned Bella's plea had failed. He smashed a cup, "I'm going to find Gianna!" he thundered.
Bella stopped him, "Dad, seeing her won't help. She's cut ties with us. She won't help."
Julian, remembering Gianna's attitude at the hospital, said coldly, "I should have strangled her a long time ago. Then we wouldn't have these problems!"
A look of malice flashed in Bella's eyes. She wished Gianna had died twenty-three years ago, so Felix would love her instead.
"Dad, I'll handle this. Don't worry," Bella said.
Bella was about to leave for work when her phone rang. Seeing it was Ximena, she quickly answered, "Ximena, what's up?"
Half an hour later, they met at a café near MY FASHION. Ximena got straight to the point, "Bella, you still love Felix, don't you?"
Bella, puzzled, nodded, "Yes, I'll never love anyone else."
Ximena nodded, "I've thought about it for a long time and finally made a decision."
