Chapter 5
Bella was dragged into the VIP ward at the hospital.
“So, you finally decided to come apologize?” Sean sat by the hospital bed, staring at her with a cold, unforgiving look.
Bella’s legs shook so badly she could barely stand. Every muscle in her body stil! twitched from the electric shocks, making each step feel like she was walking on razor blades. She clung to the wall, fighting off the darkness that kept threatening to swallow her vision.
“I’m sorry…” Her voice was so hoarse it barely counted as a whisper. “I shouldn’t have leaked your private photos…“>
Calista sat up against the headboard, her face pale, streaked with dried tears. “Bella, if this was just a small thing, maybe I’d let it slide. But this time, you really went too far. That kind of apology? I can’t accept it.”}
Sean immediately leaned over, gently wrapping an arm around Calista. His voice softened in a way that made Bella’s skin crawl. “So, what do you want?“}
“At the very least, she should kneel. Otherwise, how am I supposed to believe she’s really sorry?”
Bella’s head snapped up, only to meet Sean’s icy glare. “You heard her. Kneel. Or are you hoping for another round with the taser?”
Bella flinched, her knees buckling as she dropped hard to the floor.”
“I’m sorry!” she choked out.
Only then did Calista let out a little whimper, almost as if she’d been forced to forgive. “Fine. I’ll let it go.”
Bella stumbled out of the hospital room, her vision swimming. She nearly collapsed in the hallway, and had to lean against the wall for ages just to catch her breath before she could drag herself out.
That night, Sean actually brought Calista back home–to the house Bella was still living in.)
“Calista’s mental state isn’t great. She’ll be staying here for a while.” Sean’s tone was casual, like he was talking about the weather.
Bella didn’t even have the strength to argue. “Whatever.“D
It didn’t matter anyway. The divorce was already in motion. Soon, this place wouldn’t be her home anymore.
Sean frowned, as if he’d noticed something was off with her. He opened his mouth to say something, but Calista tugged on his sleeve. “Sean, I’m hungry.”
“What do you want? I’ll tell the housekeeper to make it.”
“It’s late. Don’t wake them. Calista gave a shy little smile, but her eyes didn’t leave Bella. “Isn’t Bella here? She can cook.”
Sean looked straight at Bella. “Didn’t you hear her?”
How ironic. The wife, now just the cook for her husband’s darling.
Bella forced a smile and numbly made her way to the kitchen.
She stared at the bubbling hot oil in the pot, her mind blank as the steam curled around her face.
“Is the hotpot ready yet?” Calista’s voice suddenly sounded behind her.
“Almost,” Bella replied, not even looking back.
Calista leaned in, peering into the pot with a frown. “Is this all? There’s barely anything in here, and you barely put in any spices.” Before Bella could react, Calista grabbed her wrist and slammed it straight into the boiling broth.
“Ah-!”
The pain was instant and blinding, shooting up from her palm and lighting her nerves on fire. Bella jerked back, splashing scalding oil everywhere, and finally managed to rip her hand free–only to see it already red and blistering.
Calista, quick as ever, let a few drops of broth fall on her own arm and then collapsed to the floor in a dramatic heap.
“What’s going on?” Sean rushed in.
Calista immediately burst into tears. “Sean, I never should have asked Bella to cook. She got mad and poured hot soup on me…”
Sean’s face darkened. He stormed over and grabbed Bella’s wrist. “Seriously? Didn’t I warn you last time? Are you ever going to listen?”
Bella’s face was ghostly pale from the pain. She raised her swollen, blistered hand, voice shaking. “Sean, look–who do you think got hurt worse?”
Sean stopped in his tracks.
“It wasn’t me!” Calista said quickly. “She splashed me first, and then, afraid you’d be mad, she hurt herself on purpose!“}
Bella’s eyes filled with tears. “There are cameras in here. Just check the footage-“}
20.49
Calista’s face twisted, but before she could say anything, Sean cut her off, his voice sharp.\
“No need. I trust Calista. She would never do something like that.”
Calista immediately relaxed, glancing at Bella with smug, triumphant eyes.
Bella felt her heart split in two–half from the buming in her hand, half from the pain in her chest.
“Bella, you really never learn,” Sean said coldly. “Since you love pouring hot soup so much, why don’t you have a taste of your own medicine?”
He snapped his fingers. Two bodyguards came in and pinned down Bella’s uninjured hand.
“No-” Bella struggled, panic clawing at her throat. “Sean, you’ll regret this-“}
Before she could finish, the guards forced her hand straight into the boiling hotpot.
“AHHH!”
Her scream ripped through the whole house, raw and desperate.
