Chapter 9
“It’s not me…” Bella’s voice shook as she tried to steady herself. “It was Calista–I saw her do it, I swear-“}
“Enough!” Sean cut her off, his voice sharp and cold. “Bella, you’re going to pay for this.“>
He snapped his fingers. Two bodyguards appeared at his side and seized Bella by the arms.
“Sean!” Bella struggled, desperate. “Please, just this once–trust me!“}
Sean let out a cold laugh. “Take her to the amusement park.”
It was the middle of the night, late autumn. The amusement park was deserted and silent. Bella was dragged to the foot of the tallest drop tower. The icy wind cut right through her, making her whole body shiver.”
“Tie her up,” Sean ordered, voice flat and merciless.
Bella’s face went white. “No–Sean, you know I’m terrified of heights-”
“Exactly,” Sean said, fastening the safety harness himself. “Maybe this will help you remember. When you’re ready to tell the truth, I’ll let you down.“}]
The ride started to climb, creaking higher and higher into the night. Bella squeezed her eyes shut, holding her breath.”
At the very top, she was shaking so hard she thought her heart might stop.
Then, without warning, the ride dropped. Her stomach shot up into her throat–she screamed, the wind tearing the sound from her lips, her tears lost to the darkness.
Once. Twice. Three times.
By the time the sky started to lighten, Sean finally signaled for it to stop.
When they let Bella down, she was barely conscious, her lips bitten so hard they were bloody.
“Have you thought it over?” Sean looked down at her, cold and distant.
Bella opened her mouth, but before she could speak, blood spilled from her lips. She collapsed, everything fading to black.
Somewhere in the haze, she thought she heard Sean calling her name, but the darkness swallowed everything.}
The sharp smell of disinfectant made Bella’s temples throb. She opened her eyes to see Sean standing at her bedside, holding three plane tickets between his fingers.
“Bella, you’ve been nothing but trouble lately. First with Calista, then Grandpa. Honestly, I don’t want to see you right now.“>
He set the tickets on the table beside her. “Take your parents and go abroad for a while. When you’ve learned your lesson, I’ll think about letting you come back.“}
Bella stared at the tickets, almost wanting to laugh. In their last life, he would have given up everything for her. Now, he couldn’t wait to send her as far away as possible.
She didn’t argue. She just took the tickets quietly.
Sean frowned, a little thrown by how easily she gave in. “That’s it? You’re not going to say anything?“>
Slowly, Bella looked up at him.
There was so much she wanted to say–how he’d put his faith in the wrong person, how deeply he’d hurt her, how Grandpa’s accident was her fault…
But in the end, she just shook her head.
A nurse knocked softly on the door. “Mr. Rangel? Ms. Marshall says her chest hurts. She keeps asking for you.”
“I know. Tell her I’ll be there in a minute.”
Sean turned to Bella, his voice cold again. “Just in case you try to run, I’ll take you to the airport myself.”
On the way, Bella quietly sent a text to her parents:
Mom, Dad, bring my divorce certificate. Meet me at the airport. We’re leaving today.
When she finished, she glanced at Sean’s profile reflected in the car window. He looked more distant than ever.
When she first came back to life, she’d been over the moon, desperate to make things right and give him all the love she’d held back.
She’d followed him everywhere, hanging onto every moment. She used to think even the way he held the steering wheel was unbearably attractive.
Now, all she felt was emptiness.
“We’re here,” Sean said, pulling up to the curb. “I’ll walk you in.”
20:49
The airport was packed. Sean clearly planned to watch her go through security, but just then his phone rang.
“Calista?” He answered, and his voice softened instantly. “Don’t worry, I’ll be right there.”
He hung up, didn’t spare Bella another glance, and walked away without looking back.
Bella watched him disappear into the crowd, then turned to find her parents.
“Bella, here’s your divorce certificate,” her dad, Michael, handed her a red document.
“Thanks.”
For the first time in a long while, Bella managed a small, genuine smile.§
She tore up the three tickets to Paris, tossed the pieces in the trash, and went to buy three tickets to Switzerland. “Let’s go, Mom, Dad.”
Beneath the fading sunlight, the three of them walked toward the boarding gate, backs straight, not looking back.
Meanwhile, Sean rushed to the hospital as fast as he could. He stepped out of the elevator and was heading for Calista’s room when he passed a TV broadcasting a breaking news alert:
“Breaking news: Flight MU587 from Beijing to Paris crashed shortly after takeoff. All 132 passengers on board are presumed dead-“M
Sean stopped in his tracks. His blood ran cold.
MU587?
That was–the flight he’d booked for Bella.
