The soft rustle of sheets woke Bella. She blinked against the morning light and remembered instantly where she was, Chris's room. A small smile spread across her lips. She turned, snuggling closer against his chest.
"Good morning, sunshine," Chris murmured in his raspy voice, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
"Good morning," Bella replied softly, her smile lingering.
Just then, Chris's phone buzzed on the nightstand. Bella, thinking it was the alarm, reached for it. Her eyes widened when she saw the name on the screen.
"Aunt Vera? Wait Chris, this is my mum?" she asked, startled.
Chris rubbed his eyes. "Yes. Why?"
"Why would she be calling you this early?" Bella muttered, confused, before she swiped to answer.
"Mum?" Bella said.
"Are you even my daughter?" Vera's voice thundered through the speaker, making Bella yank the phone slightly away from her ear.
"Aiiiiiissssh, oma! You scared me!" Bella exclaimed in Korean, heart racing.
"What happened to your phone? I couldn't sleep a wink last night because I was worried sick!" Vera snapped.
Bella glanced at her own phone on the nightstand. The battery was completely dead. She remembered checking it at the restaurant yesterday, then forgetting to charge it.
"Sorry, Mum. My phone died. But I'm fine."
"Fine? Fine?! Do you think nearly freezing to death in a lavatory and not telling your mother counts as fine?" Vera shot back.
"Ahhh... Bianca," Bella muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Don't 'Bianca' me. Bianca didn't tell me a thing. Joe overheard her talking to your friends and he called me, asking if you were better. Do you realize how clueless I felt?"
Bella winced. "I didn't want you to worry. I'm okay now, really. We're flying back to London today."
There was a pause. Then Vera's tone shifted. "And why, exactly, do you have Chris's phone this early in the morning?"
Bella froze. "I...I..."
"Don't tell me you two slept together again," Vera accused.
Bella shot upright. "No, Mum! I just... slept in his room."
"You didn't have your own?" Vera scoffed.
"Bye, Mum. I'll see you later." Bella cut the call quickly, face burning.
On the other end, Vera sighed. "Tell Chris I said hello."
The flight back landed in London at 9 a.m. Chris insisted on driving Bella home. She agreed, though she was still unsettled by her mother's call.
Wanting to smooth over her own recent tensions, Bella decided to call her friends.
First, she rang Alexia.
"Hey, girl!" Alexia answered brightly.
"What's up?" Bella smiled, relieved by her tone.
"I'm good. How was the trip?"
"Pretty smooth. I'm fine now."
"Good. You need to see our dresses. They're gorgeous," Alexia said, excitement in her voice.
Bella's heart softened. Despite their spat, Alexia had still picked up the outfits. "I'll come by later to get them," Bella promised.
"Okay, I'll be waiting."
After hanging up, Bella immediately dialed Lilian.
At the Frederick residence, Lilian was in her sister Thelma's room when their mother called her away. As she left, her phone began ringing on the bed.
Thelma absentmindedly picked it up then froze when she saw the name. Bella Walters.
Curiosity and jealousy flared. Thelma pressed 'answer.'
"Hello?" Bella said warmly.
"Mia's not here," Thelma replied coolly.
Bella frowned. "Mia? Who's Mia?"
"My sister. Lillian. I'll tell her you called."
"Oh. Thank you. And you are...?" Bella asked politely.
"Thelma. Her sister." Thelma's voice was sharp. She was about to hang up when she heard a man's voice in the background.
"We're here," Chris said as he parked in front of Bella's house.
Thelma's heart clenched. She knew that voice. "Was that... Chris?" she blurted before she could stop herself.
Bella froze. How would she even recognize his voice? Lilian must have told her about us.
"Sorry," Thelma said quickly, but her fist tightened at her side. Jealousy boiled through her veins.
"Babe, aren't you coming?" Chris called again from outside.
"I'm coming," Bella answered, flustered. She turned back to the phone. "Please let Lilian know I called." Then she hung up.
Chris carried Bella's bag up to the porch.
"Are you free tonight?" he asked, handing it over.
"It depends," she teased, smirking.
"Be ready at seven. We're going out." His smirk matched hers.
"Where?" she pressed.
"It's a surprise." He winked, stealing a quick kiss from her lips.
Bella smiled so brightly it nearly broke him.
"You'll be late for your meeting," she reminded gently, though her hand lingered in his.
"Then let me go, unless you want me late." His teasing tone made her blush furiously. She released him instantly, clutching her bag as she slipped inside.
Chris lingered on the porch, watching her with a grin tugging at his lips. She has no idea how much she owns me already.
Kayden and Jayden were hunched over the PS5 controllers in the living room when Bella walked in. Relief washed over her as she saw them playing without yelling at each other.
"I'm home," she announced cheerfully.
"Welcome," they mumbled in unison, eyes glued to the screen.
Bella folded her arms. "I see you guys resolved your little war."
Silence.
She frowned. "Are you deaf?"
Kayden shot her a look. "Don't be rude, sis. We didn't hear you."
"I said I'm glad you two settled your dispute."
Jayden chuckled dryly. "Mum threatened to give us up for adoption even though we are 19 if we didn't. That's why."
Kayden smirked without looking away from the screen. "Yeah, and as much as I know it's impossible, I still want to keep Mum's last name."
Bella's smile faded. "Jay... did you finally explain everything to him?"
"Yes. Ask him yourself," Jayden replied, shoulders stiff.
"Kay, you know I don't hate you, right?" Bella asked softly.
Kayden shrugged. "Maybe not. Probably not."
"No. I really don't. Naneun dangsin-eul jeongmallo jeongmallo salanghabnida," she said, her voice tender.
Kayden rolled his eyes. "Can you please speak English for once?"
"Start watching K-dramas or take a class, and maybe you'll catch up." Bella stuck her tongue out before heading upstairs.
In her room, Bella dropped onto the bed with a sigh. Her eyes lingered on the gifts Chris had given her the designer dress, the coat, the boots. Just thinking about him made her lips curve into a smile.
She called Bianca, who was thrilled to hear from her. After a warm chat, Bella rang Austin to start discussing the surprise baby shower they had planned. He didn't pick up, but texted back: In a meeting, will call you later.
Exhaustion from the Paris trip caught up with her, and Bella drifted into a nap.
At Hampson International, Chris had just wrapped a meeting when Elliot walked in.
"There's something you need to see," Elliot said, handing him an iPad.
On the screen was grainy CCTV footage: a hooded man, about 5'8, with a scorpion tattoo inked across his left hand. He was entering the lavatory just as Bella had. Later, the man walked out, but Bella's face in the footage pale, frightened made Chris's blood run cold.
"He went in right after her," Elliot explained. "Came out just before she did. She looked... terrified. I don't think it was nothing."
Chris replayed the clip, his jaw tightening. "He must have said something to her."
"Do we call her and ask?"
Chris's expression darkened. "No. I'll ask her myself."
He stood abruptly, buttoning his suit jacket. "Push everything back today."
"Sir..."
"Now, Elliot." Chris's voice brooked no argument.
On his way down the elevator, he rang George. "Have the car ready." Then he dialed Bella.
"Are you home?" he asked, his tone softer than he felt.
"Yes... why?" Her voice was drowsy.
"I'm on my way."
"Why?"
"I'll tell you when I get there. Sorry for waking you."
"It's fine," she murmured.
Bella quickly freshened up, slipping into high-waist black jeans, a pink top, and her favourite sweatshirt. She hesitated in front of the mirror. Something about Chris's tone unsettled her.
A message buzzed on her phone: Come downstairs.
Her stomach twisted. He sounded... different.
She pulled up her hood and slipped outside, wary of paparazzi. Chris's sleek car was parked across the street. She climbed into the back seat and froze. His eyes were on her, icy, burning.
"Did I do something wrong? It's not even seven yet," she tried lightly.
Chris didn't answer. He unlocked his phone and handed it to her.
On the screen was the video the man with the scorpion tattoo.
Bella's blood ran cold. Her hands trembled as recognition flashed across her face. She knew exactly who it was.
Chris didn't miss her reaction. His gaze sharpened, voice low and commanding. "What did he say to you?"
Bella's fingers tightened nervously on the hem of her sweatshirt. Her throat felt dry.
"Ella," Chris pressed, leaning closer, his voice softer now but edged with steel. "Look at me. Tell me the truth. What did that man say?"