Bella fell silent. Turning, she gazed sharply at Clara. How could someone she had trusted the most turn out to be a thorn in her side?
Bella had even considered Clara as her own sister. Whatever it was, she shared it, she poured her heart out without hiding anything. Now, knowing that Clara was Julia’s confidante, it hurt deeply.
“Why have you never suspected why I always show up unexpectedly when you and Edward are together?” Julia asked. The woman smiled with great satisfaction. “I suddenly came home when Edward was sound asleep in your room. I also disrupted your togetherness when attending the party at Kairos’s house. And most recently, I disturbed the intimacy between you and Edward while enjoying your love together. Do you think I just stumbled upon these things, Bella?”
Julia laughed loudly and with great satisfaction. Her face was clearly mocking, as if Bella were the dumbest woman alive. Or perhaps Bella had been foolish all along?
“Why are you doing this to me, Clara?” Bella turned and asked. She looked at Clara with disbelief, still trying to deny that what Julia said was mere nonsense. “What have I done to you? I trusted you so much. I even regarded you as my own sister.”
“You’re too naive, Bella. I’m just doing my job,” Clara replied flatly. Her facial expression was that of an innocent person. “I’m paid to take care of, guard, and monitor all your movements.”
There was nothing wrong, really. Clara was just doing what she was instructed to do. Bella was just expecting too much all this time.
“But why don’t you have even a bit of a heart to be able to do this to me?” Clara smirked sourly, provoked by Bella’s recent words.
“No heart?” “What would you call it then?” Bella was infuriated.
“Do you think giving support to a woman who deliberately seduces someone else’s husband is humane and conscientious? Even wanting to get rid of the legitimate wife so she can become the replacement mistress is an act of humanity and conscience?”
“You’re exaggerating, Clara!” Bella exclaimed angrily. “You also know that Julia is more despicable than me.”
“At least Mrs. Julia’s status is that of a legitimate wife. And again, from the beginning, I’ve told you that I’m not taking anyone’s side.”
“You’re out of line.”
“It’s actually you who’s overreacting.”
In her standing position, Julia laughed again. Approaching Bella, she grabbed the woman’s arm and then pushed her to lean against one corner of the room.
“Here, you’re the fool, Bella. How could you even dream of getting rid of my position as Mrs. Darkwood? What’s even funnier, as a seductive whore, oddly enough, you get jealous when Edward is intimate with his legitimate wife. Where’s your brain?” Julia yelled. She even pulled Bella’s hair again until the woman winced in pain.
“Let go!” Bella begged with a whimper. “You have no right to hurt me like this.”
Julia shook her head. She grinned.
“You do need to be taught a lesson, Bella,” she said, then laughed loudly. “Ah, I almost forgot. Inside your womb, there’s a baby from the affair between you and Edward, isn’t there?”
Julia pointed directly at Bella’s stomach. Her laughter was so mysterious as if she were planning something.
“Do you think I don’t know about this? And you hope to tell Edward that this baby is both of yours? Not the result of the IVF process we agreed upon? Don’t expect me to let you just tell Edward.”
Bella looked anxious. Worried that Julia would do something wicked to her. It was proven seconds later when she took something out of her pants pocket.
“You have to take this.”
Bella saw Julia holding a white pill at that moment. Gripping Bella’s chin, she forced her to open her mouth right then and there.
“You have to take this medicine now.”
Bella shook her head. She tried to resist.
“No, I don’t want to.”
“You have to!”
Julia insisted. She aimed the pill in her hand to enter Bella’s mouth immediately.
“If you don’t take this medicine right now, by God, tomorrow morning you will hear the news that your mother is no longer in this world.”
“Julia! Don’t do that.” Bella screamed hysterically.
“In that case, quickly take the medicine.”
Bella still shook her head. Trying to continue to refuse. She was sure that the medicine Julia was giving her was something that could harm her.
“Fine, if you don’t want to take it. Just wait for the news tomorrow morning. I’m not kidding with my words, Bella. I swear I’ll make your mother lose her life.”
Julia was already getting ready to leave. However, Bella hurriedly stopped her from going anywhere.
“Don’t! I beg you. I’ll take it as you requested,” Bella pleaded.
Julia turned back around. Smiling, she handed Bella the white pill she had held earlier.
“Take it now,” Julia commanded.
Bella accepted Julia’s offer. Afterward, fearfully, she put it into her mouth.
“Good,” Julia said, convinced that Bella had taken the medicine she gave her. “The medicine you just took will terminate your pregnancy. After the baby in your womb is born, I’ll have another surprise for you. Just wait and see. It’s your own fault for messing with me.”
Bella shook her head in disbelief. Only now did she realize how truly wicked and insane Julia was.
Then, Julia turned to Clara, giving her instructions before leaving Bella’s room.
“Clara, you have to watch over her. In 12 hours or possibly tomorrow morning, Bella will experience bleeding. If her condition worsens, call Dr. Andreas to come to the house immediately. I want to rest. So, don’t disturb me under any circumstances.”
Clara nodded in understanding. Afterwards, she followed Julia out of Bella’s room.
Meanwhile, Bella, believing that Julia and Clara had left the room, immediately locked the door. Running to the bathroom, she quickly vomited the white pill she had managed to slip between her tongue.
Sitting down weakly, Bella cried. Mourning her incredibly sad fate.
Bella sat on the bathroom floor for a long time. Walking back to the bed, she considered escaping from Edward’s house.
“I have to contact Renata to pick up Mama. I have to take Mama far away from London.”
Bella nodded, determined. Peeking out the window while thinking about where would be a safe place for her to sneak out without anyone knowing.
Waiting until later, around midnight, Bella made sure everyone in the house was fast asleep. Sneaking, she made her way to the kitchen. After considering various options, she decided to go out through the back door.
Once outside, Bella walked carefully to the side. Crouching slightly, she tried to pass the security post until she finally made it out of Edward’s property.
Breathless, Bella ran as hard as she could. Trying her best to get away from Edward’s house so that no one could chase or catch her.
Bella kept running. When she was about to reach the end of the district, Bella realized there was a car that seemed to be deliberately following her.
So scared, thinking the car contained Julia’s henchmen, Bella ran without paying attention to her surroundings. As a result, she tripped and sprained her ankle.
At the same time, the car that had been following her finally stopped. Seconds later, a man got out of the car and approached her.
“Bella… what are you doing here late at night?”
Bella turned. Her eyes widened.
“Kairos… please help me.”