Kevin saw her fear and suddenly took her into his arms, with her face close to his chest, and softly reassured her, “Don’t be afraid, relax, relax…”
Bella closed her eyes tightly and listened to the sound of his heartbeat. The panic had diminished a little, but the cold sweat still kept seeping out again, “I feel like I’m dying.”
“Nonsense. You just hold on a little longer.”
As soon as Kevin finished, the lift stopped. Bella rushed out, and retched violently. Her pain was truly indescribable, and those who hadn’t experienced it couldn’t feel it at all.
“Let’s do it again.”
He bent over and squatted in front of her, handing over his handkerchief.
Bella firmly shook her head, “No, I told you I can’t.”
“As long as you persist, there is no difficulty you cannot overcome. Give me your hand.”
Kevin stretched out his hand, waiting for her. Bella hesitated for a moment, finally afraid of disappointing him, and extended her hand over.
They stepped back into the lift. But this time, Kevin didn’t let her see the lift door close, and pressed her face against his chest before the door closed, then tried to relax her, “What do you want to eat for lunch?”
“I don’t want to eat anything.”
Even though she didn’t see it, she was sensitive to feel the confinement of the space, and her body began to shake again in panic, and she covered her mouth in pain, afraid that she would vomit on Kevin.
“How about going to a hotpot restaurant? I don’t like it, but if you like it, I can be a gentleman for once and eat with you.”
Bella didn’t dare to speak and endured a feeling of nausea, and when the lift stopped, she rushed to the bathroom and vomited all over the place.
When she came out, Kevin was guarding the door, saw her tearful eyes, but also said, “Continue.”
“No.”
She really gave up, even though she wanted success badly too.
“Just once?”
“Not even once, I really can’t.”
Kevin suddenly got cold and got angry at her, “The more you shrink back, the more you can’t get over it. I think that you have more perseverance than other women, but it isn’t true!”
Bella as more tearful as she choked out, “Do you think it’s so easy to overcome inward fears? If it were easy, why wouldn’t you get over your PDST? I’m pathetic but you don’t have to feel sorry for me. Because you’re the one who needs to be saved more than me.”
“Yes, I do need saving. I’m not a normal person, but because of that, I want you to live a normal life.”
In the face of his eager gaze, she couldn’t refuse any more. So the only thing she could do was to make up her mind and try again.
She still failed at the third time, but Bella took the initiative to try a fourth time because of Kevin’s words that he wished she could live a more normal life.
She still failed at the fourth time, then she tried it at the fifth and sixth time. Because of the frequent trips up and down the stairs, even the security guards of the mall came over, but showed their understanding and support after they explained to them.
Bella couldn’t remember how many times she stepped into the lift. But her symptoms finally eased. She no longer felt afraid and fear, in addition to a little discomfort. She was almost like a normal person.
Kevin still held her tightly, chatting with her about some easy topics. The lift then continued to rise, but Bella began to be moved ….
It was impossible to describe the palpable feeling that she had worked hard to overcome for years. Kevin had done it for her in just a few minutes.
As she was no longer afraid of taking the lift, Kevin looked particularly happy, as if he had completed a huge project, and he looked accomplished as he held Bella’s hand and walked past an exquisite counter.
“How about this one?”
Bella nodded, “Yes.”
“How about this one?”
“Yes.”
“This one seems nice too. It’s color suits you.”
“Well.”
Kevin listened to her deadpan answer and frowned unhappily, “Can’t you say something else besides yes?”
She looked down glumly, “They look good.”
“Yes, but you at least give your opinion, right?”
“I don’t have a point of view. It’s just fine if you like it.”
“It’s on you too, so it will be fine if you like it yourself. We always have different opinions. How can I know if you like what I like.”
“I’ll like it.”
Kevin sensed that she doesn’t look right, “Are you okay? If you don’t feel well, go back to rest.”
“I’m fine.”
But she looked tired, not for taking the lift. But because in the lift, her feelings were out of control.
“Wrap all of these up.”
Kevin handed the few preferred outfits he picked to the attendant, then turned to ask Bella, “Do you need anything else?”
“No.”
“Good, then let’s go back.”
After leaving the Modern New Human and returning to the Golden Hotel, Ives and the others were sitting in the first floor lobby drinking tea. Seeing them return, they waved, “Kevin, this way.”
“I’m going back to my room to rest.”
Bella tugged on Kevin’s sleeve, not wanting to follow.
Kevin was startled and nodded, “I’ll call out to you at lunch.”
“No, I want to sleep a little longer.”
“Okay, go then.”
Bella turned around and left, taking a few steps. Kevin suddenly called out to her, and she turned around and asked in confusion, “What’s wrong?”
“You’re very brave today.”
He raised a hand to clench it into a fist, and Bella was moved again.
“Thank you.”
Never before had she thanked someone so sincerely, let alone him who had hurt her.
Bella returned to her hotel room and soon fell asleep. In her dream, her mother suddenly appeared, and angrily questioned her, “Bella, have you fallen for a man?”
She knew her answer would hurt her mom, but she confessed, “A little.”
Mom was angry, “You disappoint me so much that you forgot everything I warned you. Have you forgotten how I died? Have you forgotten what you promised me?”
“Mama, I haven’t forgotten, but not all men are like Dad.”
“Men are the same. If you don’t believe Mama, then you’re on your own!”
Her mother’s figure faded away. She desperately tried to reach out and grab her, but she couldn’t. Her mother’s disappointed look hurt her so hard that she cried out, “Mom, Mom…”
She woke up, surrounded by deathly silence. Bella sat on the bed, wiping away tears in the corners of her eyes.
When she was twelve years old, her mother was lying on the hospital bed, pulling her hand and saying in despair, “Bella, remember, love is like a tumor, you must remove it before it can hurt you. Otherwise, it will become a poisonous thorn that sticks in your flesh, and it will hurt you whenever and wherever.”
The sudden ringing of her cell phone beside her bed broke into her thoughts, and she woodenly answered, “Hello?”
“Where are you, dear?”
The caller was Alice, who called her dear when she was in a good mood.
“What’s up?”
“Can’t I just call you if I’m fine? You’re really ungrateful. You should think about who took you in when you were kicked out by Kevin.”
“When was I thrown out by him?”
Bella was a bit speechless.
“Okay, no more nonsense. Are you free this Friday?”
“What for?”
“The school wants to organize a summer camp and invite some of the teachers to attend.”
“It’s Louis’s idea again, isn’t it?” Bella barely needed to think about it.
Alice said wobbly, “Yes and no…”
“Yes or no?”
“What’s the difference?”
“Of course there’s a difference, but if it’s Louis’s idea, then I’ll refuse.”
“Why?” Alice was a bit confused.
“Because… I have someone I like, and I don’t want him to waste his time on me anymore.”
“What? Do you have a crush on someone?” Alice screamed, “But don’t tell me, he’s the pervert Kevin!!!”
“What’s wrong with him? Can’t I like him?”
“Of course not! Putting aside such a gentle and elegant man like Louis, you’re going to love a big pervert. Bella, are you perverted too?!”
“You’re the pervert.”
Bella fell dispirited and said, “That’s it. I’m hanging up.”
“Wait, don’t hang up. I’m not done talking…”
Bella didn’t care if she did not finish, but hung up the phone. Now she was terribly upset, and couldn’t let her make more trouble.
At this time, the door was knocked again. She went over to open the door. It was Kevin. After dreaming just now, she felt more uneasy to see him now.
“Are you rested? Let’s get going.”
“Are we going home?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, I’ll pack.”
Bella changed her clothes and followed Kevin out of the hotel, getting into the car. She sent a text message to Richard, “Uncle, my ID card was taken by Braxton. Please bring it over for me the next time you come to B City for business.”
“Okay.”
Richard replied simply.
“You must be hungry. Here’s food.”
Kevin took a large bag of food from the back seat to Bella. She was startled, took out a bag of yogurt, inserted a straw, sipped it, and asked casually, “You are suddenly so good to me. Are you in love with me?”