After leaving the Whitmore's mansion, Bella absentmindedly walked
She didn't know where she was going— deciding not to go back to her apartment yet, she continued walking.
The late afternoon sun burned against her skin, but she barely felt it. Her forehead throbbed with every step, the sting from where the cup had struck her face refusing to fade. She kept her head down, arms wrapped around herself as if that could keep her from shattering completely.
Her phone buzzed in her hand.
Aaron.She almost ignored it.
Almost.
But some part of her—the part that was done running—pressed accept.
"Bella," Aaron's voice came through, concerned, practiced. "I heard you fought with your father Are you alright?"
She laughed softly, bitterly. "No. Did Claire call to report to you?"
There was a pause.She knew she was correct. "What happened?"
"It doesn't matter," she said. Her voice was steady, even if her chest felt hollow. "I'm calling to tell you something."
He exhaled. "You're scaring me."
"Good," Bella replied quietly. "Because I'm done pretending."
She stopped walking, standing on the side of the road as cars passed by, their engines loud and indifferent.
"Aaron," she continued, "I'm breaking off the engagement."
Silence.
Then, sharply, "What? Bella what sort of joke is this"
"I won't marry you," she said. "I won't be managed, traded, or used to clean up someone else's mess anymore."
"You're emotional," he argued. "Whatever happened today—"
"This isn't about today," Bella cut in. "This is about years of being told what I owe people just because I exist."
"You can't just decide this alone," Aaron snapped.
"I already have," she replied.
There was anger in his voice now. "You'll regret this."
Bella looked down the empty road ahead of her. "Maybe. But for once, that regret will be mine."
She ended the call before he could say anything else.
Her hands shook as she lowered the phone.
That was it.
Another bridge burned. Aaron was someone who she grew up with but now she is not sure who he is turning into thanks to Claire guidance.
It is better to cut it off now. Her mind suddenly flashed to that man's face. The one who came into her world and shattered her walls like it was nothing. Making her like she wasn't alone . She wasn't naive, she knew what she was feeling for Nathan.
She was falling for Nathan Rivers. And she was falling dangerously fast.
She took a breath and kept walking.
A black BMW drove by then reversed.Nathan saw her before she saw him.
His car slowed instinctively, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as recognition hit him like a sharp blow.
Bella. The woman that keeps tormenting his mind and thoughts.
On the side of the road.
Alone.
Head bowed.
Something cold and dangerous settled in his chest.
He pulled over without hesitation.
The sound of the engine cut through the quiet. Bella looked up, startled, her eyes widening when she saw him step out of the car. Standing in front of her, dressed in a crisp black suit with a black coat and dangerously handsome face.
"Nathan?" Her voice was hoarse.
"What are you doing?" he asked flatly.
She hesitated. "Walking."
"That's obvious," he replied. His gaze flicked to her face—and stopped.
The bruise.The cut. The redness. The blood.
His jaw tightened.
"Get in the car," he said.
Bella stiffened. "I didn't ask...."
"I'm not offering," he interrupted, his voice calm but unyielding.
"You're injured. You're exhausted. And you're not walking another step."
She swallowed, pride flaring weakly. "You don't get to order me around."
Nathan stepped closer, his presence overwhelming, controlled. "Right now, I do."
Her heart pounded as she looked up at him. Something in his eyes told her this wasn't a moment to argue.
Slowly, she opened the passenger door and got in.
Nathan shut it firmly and returned to the driver's seat.
They drove in silence for several minutes.
"Who did it?" he asked finally.
Bella stared at him before answering. "My father."
The temperature in the car seemed to drop, his jaw clenching.
"He thought I sent the story to the media," she continued quietly. "He didn't even ask. Just decided I was guilty."
Nathan didn't respond, but his knuckles whitened on the wheel.
"And before that," she added, "I broke off my engagement."
That got his attention.
He glanced at her briefly. "With the man from the restaurant?"
"Yes."
"Good," Nathan said.
She turned to him. "That's it? Good?"
"You don't belong to anyone who treats you like an obligation," he replied coolly. "Or like property."
Her throat tightened. "Neither do I belong to you."
'yet' she added in her mind.
A pause.
Nathan's lips curved faintly—not a smile. Something sharper.
"I'm aware," he said.
Nathan drove to his place. The Willow residence. One of the most expensive estate in the city.
Nathan's mansion was quiet, expansive, intimidating, just like the owner. After parking the car in the garage, Nathan walked to the front door with Bella on tow. Standing at the door was the Butler Lee. Butler Lee has been with the Rivers ever since Nathan was a baby.
" Young master, welcome" Butler Lee greeted while stealing a glance at Bella.
He was shocked and surprised because this is the first time the young master is bringing a woman home.
'Maybe the Almighty has finally given the young master a woman, someone he is not allergic to, maybe now he'll finally live a normal human being '. Butler Lee thought while glancing at Nathan's back with sadness in his eyes.
Ever since Nathan was a baby, no woman except his mother could touch him. If he gets in slight physical contact with any of them,red angry, it by rashes tends to break out on his body. It gets so worse that he sometimes has to be hospitalized. That was why when he touched Bella for the first time and didn't get any reaction, he became intrigued by her.
Bella stood just beside one of the couch , suddenly feeling small.
"Sit," Nathan said, tossing his keys aside.
She obeyed, sinking onto the couch.
He crouched in front of her, his eyes assessing her injuries with clinical precision.
"This shouldn't have happened," he said.
Her laugh was soft, broken. "You'd be surprised how often it does."
He reached for a first aid kit. "You'll stay here tonight."
"That's not your decision."
"It is," he replied calmly. "Because you're in no condition to argue."
She glared weakly. "You're very controlling."
"Yes," Nathan agreed without apology. "And right now, you need control because everything else in your life has failed you."
The truth of it stung.
He cleaned her wound efficiently, his touch firm, impersonal—but careful. Bella found herself staring into those gorgeous eyes of his.
"You are looking". He suddenly said matter of fact. Bella felt her ears red and tried to act normal but clearly you could see she was flustered.
When he finished, he straightened. "You threatened them with inheritance."
Bella's eyes widened. "How do you—"
"I know things," he said. "And you were right to do it."
She studied him. "Why do you say that?"
Nathan met her gaze steadily. "Because someone needs to remind them you're not disposable."
Emotion surged in her chest, unwanted and overwhelming.
"I'm tired," she whispered. "I'm so tired of fighting."
Nathan stood, looking down at her. "You don't get to give up," he said coldly. "Not now. Not when you're finally standing on your own terms."
She looked away, blinking back tears.
"I won't let them crush you," he added. "But don't mistake that for softness."
She nodded slowly. "I won't."
Good," he said. "Because this is where things change."
Bella leaned back against the couch, exhaustion claiming her. Nathan turned away, already making calls, his presence firm and immovable.
And for the first time that day, Bella didn't feel like she was walking alone anymore.
She had been picked up from the roadside.
From the storm.
And something told her there was no going back.