Chapter 12
How could Sean not love Bella?!
Through two lifetimes, his love for her ran so deep it hurt. In this life and the last, she was always the one he couldn’t let go of.
Yes, Sean had been reborn too.
In his previous life, he’d died in a fire, clinging to Bella’s lifeless body, convinced he was headed straight to hell. But instead of darkness, he opened his eyes and found himself at the moment he and Bella had just gotten married.
At first, Sean was ecstatic. He finally got another chance–another shot at loving Bella. Last time, he’d messed up. His carelessness gave Bella’s childhood friend, Brent, the chance to trick her, which led to her being kidnapped and suffering things Sean could barely even
think about.&
He swore that this time, he’d protect her and expose Brent for who he really was.}
But then he met Bella’s eyes–cold, distant, completely shut off from him. That’s when it hit Sean: Bella hadn’t been reborn. The woman in front of him was still the same Bella who didn’t love him, who even seemed to hate him.
It stung. He’d loved her for two lifetimes–why couldn’t she look his way, just once?}
On his brother’s advice, Sean tried to take back his love. He acted just as cold, just as indifferent as she was, hoping maybe she’d notice his absence, maybe she’d realize what she was missing.
His plan was simple: if Bella finally saw how much his love meant, maybe she’d choose him. And if not? He’d let her go. If she wanted to be with Brent, he’d step aside.
But nothing ever goes according to plan. Sean never expected that Bella had been reborn too.
When Bella hugged him, crying her heart out and apologizing for everything, promising again and again to love him and make it right, Sean felt like he’d hit the jackpot. For a second, he was so happy he could barely breathe.”
But then doubt crept in. What if she was just saying what he wanted to hear? What if, just like before, she’d turn around and leave him for Brent the moment his guard was down? So Sean pulled away. Even when Bella swore she’d changed, that she was done with Brent and only wanted him, Sean didn’t budge. He kept his walls up, refusing to let her in. He wanted to teach her a lesson, to make her fight for him the way he’d fought for her.
He threw out his old plan. Now that Bella was reborn and wanted to make it up to him, he decided to see just how far she’d go.
Sean became even colder. Maybe he was afraid he’d go soft, so he brought another woman, Calista, into the picture–just to hurt Bella, to test her love. Again and again, he found ways to push her away. He even forced Bella’s mom into surgery to donate a liver to Calista. He strapped Bella into a chair for electric shock therapy, made her ride a terrifying drop tower, and in the end, to make her give up Calista’s whereabouts, tied up Bella’s parents on a yacht and threatened to feed them to sharks.
He watched as Bella’s love for him faded, her hope slowly dying. Sean told himself he didn’t care, but his heart was in knots. If Bella really loved him, why couldn’t she handle a little pain? In his last life, he’d suffered so much more-shouldn’t she be able to take it, too? And anyway, she’d once falsely accused Calista out of jealousy, which left his grandfather in a coma.}]
In the end, Sean decided to send Bella abroad, hoping some distance would cool her off. He planned to bring her back only after she’d calmed down. If Bella came home and admitted she was wrong, if she’d really learned her lesson, then he’d finally tell her about his own second chance at life. Maybe then they could finally move on and start over.}
But things never go the way you expect.}}
Bella’s plane crashed. There were no survivors.}
The moment Sean heard, he slapped himself hard, again and again.”
Why did it have to end like this? He never wanted her to die. If he’d known this would happen, he never would’ve put her on that plane, never would’ve sent her away. If he hadn’t done those things, would Bella still be alive, right in front of him?
Chapter 13
Chapter 13
