Chapter 52
<Chapter>Chapter 52 - The Feeling of Spring </Chapter>
"Ah!" Bella clutched her cheek in disbelief, her eyes locked onto Gianna. "You slapped me?!"
No sooner had the words left her lips than Gianna struck her again.
"Bella, I've overlooked your petty games until now, thinking they were beneath me. Seems like you mistook that for fear," Gianna said coolly.
Fury nearly drove Bella insane. That lowlife hit her not once but twice. Her pride wouldn't stand for it.
Bella attempted to strike Gianna in retaliation, but Gianna grabbed her wrist and pushed her forcefully. Bella's back collided with the kitchen counter, eliciting a cry of pain from her lips.
Gianna's gaze was cold as she spoke without a hint of warmth, "It appears those slaps didn’t wake you up to reality."
Bella, biting her lower lip and realizing she was no match, couldn’t help the flicker of fear in her eyes.
But as Gianna stood before her, the kitchen door swung open.
At the sight of Felix, relief flashed in Bella's eyes.
"Felix, please help me! I accidentally knocked over Sister’s steamed eggs. She slapped me twice and still won’t let me be…"
Gianna laughed mockingly and delivered two more slaps to Bella's face, causing her cheek to swell immediately.
"There, continue with your nonsense now," Gianna challenged with a raised eyebrow.
Bella's eyes seethed with hatred, wishing she could end Gianna right then and there.
"Felix, I didn't do it on purpose… I just wanted to help Sister…"
Gianna's expression was ice cold as she cut in sharply, "If you keep whining that way, I might not be able to resist giving you a few more slaps."
Bella stood silent at the threshold, a tension palpable in the air.
Felix, standing in the doorway, frowned deeply, his voice chillingly cold as he spoke to Gianna, "Belle is your sister, Gianna. Don't go overboard!"
Gianna cast a detached glance at him, her eyes devoid of warmth. "If you can't handle her, expect worse from me in the future!"
With that, she strutted towards the kitchen exit.
As she walked past him, Felix suddenly grabbed her hand. Gianna frowned, about to pull away, when Felix asked, "Why didn't you say your hand was hurt?!"
Glancing down at her blistered arm with a sense of indifference in her eyes, she retorted, "None of your business."
"Sit on the couch. Where's the first aid kit?" he demanded.
Pulling her hand back with visible irritation, Gianna shot back, "You'd better worry about Bella instead of me."
After her words, she spun around and stormed off.
Felix watched her leave, his eyes swimming with a cold intensity.
He could feel it—despite agreeing to take care of him, Gianna had no intention of reconciling. She was still considering a divorce!
"Felix..." Bella's tremulous voice rang in his ears. He turned to see her eyes brimming with tears, looking up at him with self-pity.
Yet, with both cheeks swollen, her look didn't evoke sympathy—it was almost comical.
His gaze hardened as he faced Bella, "What exactly happened?"
He had come to understand Gianna's temperament quite well—she wouldn't stir trouble unless provoked.
Seeing Felix not rushing to her side immediately, Bella felt even more wrong.
"Felix, all I did was try to help sister with the steamed eggs. I didn't mean to spill them, but she... she thinks it was on purpose and hit me..."
Felix was silent for a moment before he spoke, "I understand. You can go back now."
Disbelief flickered in Bella's eyes. Wasn't he going to defend her honor?
"Alright, I'll come check on you another day. And Felix, don't be mad at my sister, okay? It was my clumsy help that made her angry. I don't blame her."
Bella left, her demeanour crestfallen as Felix remained stoic, his deep gaze revealing nothing of his thoughts.
After searching through the living room, Felix finally located the first aid kit. He wheeled himself back to the bedroom just as Gianna came out of the bathroom, her arm under cold water. She seemed surprised to see the first aid kit in Felix's hands. Shouldn't he be comforting Bella right now?
"Come here, let me put some ointment on that for you."
Gianna stood rooted to the spot, meeting Felix's calm gaze for a moment before she reluctantly approached him.
"Just give me the first aid kit. I can handle it myself."
Felix's expression grew icier, "You'll have a hard time doing it alone; let me help."
"Forget it. It'll be fine in a few days anyway."
When Gianna turned to leave, a wave of anger surged in Felix's heart. "Stay right there!" he ordered coldly.
He handed her the first aid kit, a chill emanating from his entire being, signaling his anger.
Without a glance at him, Gianna took the kit and walked out of the bedroom.
Pushing his wheelchair out, Felix found Gianna on the couch, tending to a raw red patch on her fair arm. His gaze darkened.
"Why did you slap Bella four times today?"
Gianna raised an eyebrow, casting him a sarcastic glance. "Feeling sorry for her? If you care that much, stop meeting her here. Do whatever you please where I can't see."
Felix's brow furrowed, his voice growing colder, "Even if she did it on purpose, two slaps should have been enough."
Gianna’s movements paused, and she looked up at him, "The other two were for tampering with my horse at Horse Ranch Boulevard. I always settle scores. If you really care that much about her, you can take her place next time!"
"What about me? I wronged you at Horse Ranch Boulevard, too. How do you plan to get back at me?"
Gianna finished applying the ointment and tossed the cotton swab into the trash. She raised her eyes to meet his, "If you like, give yourself a couple of slaps. But you're just throwing around baseless accusations; they don’t hurt me. I don’t see the need for revenge over a few words."
Finishing her thought, Gianna began to put away the first aid kit, ready to leave.
Felix caught her hand, his voice deep and low, "Gianna, you agreed to stay and take care of me at the Villa. Doesn’t that mean you still have feelings for me?"
She looked at him, utterly baffled, and frowned, "You're overthinking it. You said it yourself: the car accident happened while you were on the way to notarize the divorce agreement. I'm simply fulfilling my obligation to take care of you."
Besides, the accident was indirectly caused by her feud with the Scorpion—it felt like her mess had spilled over into his life, too.
Felix stared into her eyes, searching for any sign of deceit.
Gianna, however, just looked back at him serenely, her eyes clear and devoid of any emotion.
For some reason, a shadow of disappointment crept into his heart.
He released Gianna's hand and said with a touch of spite, "If you weren't the absolute best, I wouldn't give a damn about you, and I hope you always remember where you stand!"
