The next morning, Walter's residence was a battlefield of mess from the party. Joanna was the first awake. After a quick scan of the scattered bottles, plates, and decorations, she rolled her eyes and marched upstairs.
"Everyone, wake up!" she shouted from one room to the next. No answer. Just muffled groans and the sound of bodies turning over in bed.
"Oh, so that's how you want to play," Joanna muttered with a wicked grin. She went straight to the kitchen, grabbed a medium pot and a metal spoon, then stormed back upstairs.
"Wakey wakey!" She banged the spoon against the pot. The noise was deafening.
"Aiiisshh, Mum!" Natalie groaned, covering her ears.
Bella, Raquel, Luciana, Jeremy, and the twins all shot upright in bed, wide-eyed. They stumbled out rubbing their faces, glaring at Joanna who stood triumphantly at the top of the stairs.
"Honestly, you're so petty, Aunt Joanna," Bella groaned.
"We need to clean, and I can't do it alone. So get to work!" Joanna declared, banging the pot once more for good measure.
"Fine, we're going!" the younger ones chorused as they shuffled downstairs. Joanna smirked and retreated to the kitchen to start breakfast.
By noon, the house was finally spotless. Everyone rushed to shower.
When Bella finished hers and headed back into the living room, she noticed a sleek black car parked outside. The doorbell rang. Luciana, sitting with her phone, sighed and went to answer it.
The moment she opened the door, she froze. A tall black man in a sharp black suit, white shirt, and dark tie stood before her, his face half-hidden by Ray-Ban shades.
Luciana's pulse skipped. He looked like someone out of a movie. She smiled shyly.
The man didn't smile back. His expression was unreadable, almost intimidating.
"W-who are you?" Luciana stammered.
"I'd like to know if Miss Christabella Walter is available," he said flatly.
Luciana scoffed, rolling her eyes. "I asked who you are. If you can't answer, then you can as well go to hell." She started to shut the door, but his hand blocked it smoothly.
He tilted his head, finally removing his glasses. A faint smile touched his lips as if amused by her boldness.
"Clinton," he said simply.
Big sis isn't around, she already left for work," Luciana lied smoothly with a smile.
"Lucy, who's at the door?" Bella's voice came from behind as she walked closer, dressed casually in a sweatshirt and blue jeans.
Luciana face-palmed herself. Busted.
Clinton bowed slightly when his eyes fell on Bella. She frowned, startled by the tall, stone-faced man in black standing at her doorstep.
"Sorry... do I know you?" Bella asked carefully.
"Madam Hampson has requested your presence," Clinton said, gesturing towards the sleek car parked outside.
Bella's heart skipped. She had known this day would come that Chris's family would summon her. She just hadn't expected it so soon.
Her fingers instinctively slipped into her sweatshirt pocket to make sure her phone was still there. Quickly, she borrowed Raquel's identical phone, just in case, and stepped outside again. Clinton was waiting exactly where she had left him.
He escorted her to the car. Outside, Justin and Peter, who were on security duty, stiffened the moment they saw Clinton. They knew exactly who he was.
Justin immediately called Elliot.
"Mr. Jones," he said hastily.
"What's the problem?" Elliot asked.
"It seems Madam Hampson has requested for Miss Walter. She just left in Clinton's car," Justin reported.
There was silence on the other end before Elliot spoke again. "Alright. I'll inform the boss immediately. Anything else?"
"Not for now. Looks like they're packing, getting ready to move."
"Keep me updated," Elliot ordered before ending the call.
At Hampson's residence, the sprawling mansion gleamed in gold and white like a modern castle. Bella's jaw nearly dropped at the sheer opulence as Clinton pulled into the driveway.
Inside, Cassandra had been waiting. Fred was out at the stadium for golf, leaving only her and the staff at home.
Bella was shown into a sitting room by a middle-aged housemaid. "Please, have a seat. Madam will be with you shortly."
Bella sat uneasily, scanning the grand interior. The staircase ahead shimmered with golden rails, a deep blue carpet running down like a royal path. She fidgeted with her fingers as footsteps finally echoed from above.
She stood up instantly, expecting Cassandra. Instead, it was the head maid—Cassandra's personal assistant.
"Come with me," the woman said.
Bella followed into a luxurious private lounge. And there she was.
Cassandra Hampson.
She sat poised in a designer white dress that stopped above her knees, nude heels elongating her already statuesque figure. A nude purse rested delicately in her lap. Her flawless skin seemed to glow under the dim lights, her short blonde hair perfectly styled. Violet eyes sharp and cold locked onto Bella.
The resemblance to Chris was undeniable. And yet, where his eyes held warmth, hers carried only ice.
Bella bowed her head slightly. Cassandra's gaze swept over her slowly, from head to toe and back again, dripping with disdain. She didn't speak at first. Instead, she tapped her manicured fingers against her purse, her stare piercing deep enough to make Bella's stomach twist.
Finally, Cassandra's lips curled. "Why do you want to ruin my son?"
Bella blinked. "Sorry... what do you mean?"
The question seemed to offend her more. Cassandra scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Don't play dumb with me. Do you really not know? Or are you trying to test my patience?" Her voice was smooth, but sharp as a blade.
Bella's throat tightened. She kept her hands clenched together in her lap, fidgeting with her fingers the way she always did when nervous.
Cassandra leaned forward, her glare burning holes through her. "You are a distraction. A mistake. My son is already engaged. And no matter how hard you try, I will never accept you as my daughter-in-law."
The words hung heavy in the air, each syllable like a hammer against Bella's chest.