Xavier~
"Bella, what happened suddenly? You love him, right?" Dad looked at her in disbelief.
"Yes, Dad, but I want to take my time and not rush things. I want to understand him better before marrying him." She fidgeted with her fingers and then looked at my face.
"Well, it's your choice, Bella. I don't want to impose anything on you." After letting out a long sigh, Dad accepted her choice.
"Thank you, Dad." After hugging him, she went to the kitchen.
I don't understand why she suddenly changed her mind. Is she no longer in love with me? I followed her to the kitchen, hoping to talk with her, but she didn't show any interest. Her coldness was unbearable. I replayed every interaction in my mind, searching for what I had done wrong.
I've always trusted her words, but seeing her with James stirred my insecurities. My desire to win her back always overtook my reason whenever I saw them together. Bella is the kind of woman every man dreams of having, and I can't help but fear losing her. But why does it feel like my efforts only push her further away?
I thought hearing Alan's wish would bring us closer, but instead, it made her withdraw even more. She served her dinner on the dining table, her movements distant, almost robotic.
The dining room was filled with an awkward silence. Dad observed everything, concentrating on his dinner, while Victor sat quietly.
Dad's lingering anger toward Victor was evident in the strained atmosphere, making it even harder to break the silence. Alan, the usual source of chatter, had gone to bed early, leaving the room unbearably tense.
"You didn't tell us you were traveling to Italy, Bella." Victor finally broke the silence.
"Yes, I work there on some significant projects." She nodded her head and focused on her food.
"Important work, but you didn't inform me of anything about this?" Dad questioned her.
"I apologize, Dad, but I had to leave abruptly due to an emergency." Her voice was steady, but she avoided making eye contact with Dad. I wondered if she was upset with him, too.
"It's okay, Bella, but I think you should take Xavier with you." Dad glanced at me, seeking my approval.
"Yes, Bella, I am free these days; I can assist you with your work if you'd like." I seized the opportunity to calm her anger.
"It's okay, Dad. I will manage. I think Xavier needs some rest before resuming his firm again." She finally lifted her head, her eyes meeting mine briefly. Her tone was sluggish, her words heavy with unspoken emotions.
However, Bella, you should not travel alone to an unknown country." Dad's concern deepened.
"I can go with you if you don't want to bring Xavier along," Victor added, his tone gentle.
"I don't think it's a wise decision to bring you along, given that your case is still a major issue on news channels." Her refusal was firm, shutting down Victor's offer.
"Bella, how will you manage everything on your own?" Dad pressed, clearly unhappy with her decision.
"Don't worry, Dad. James has been living in Italy for a long time, so I asked him to travel with me to ensure there would be no issues."
James? When did she decide this? Why hadn't she informed me? The weight of her decision sat heavily on my chest, but I kept my composure.
"As you see fit, Bella. I can't interfere in your professional life." Dad raised his hands in surrender, leaving the dining hall after finishing his dinner.
Victor returned to his room, still quiet and withdrawn after his breakup with John and the chaos in his life.
"Bella, I am sorry; I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just that I don't want to share you with anyone." I cornered her after dinner, my voice soft, pleading.
Her silence cut through me like a blade. Without answering, she continued cleaning up in the kitchen.
"Please talk to me; I can't bear your silence." I held her hand, desperate for any sign that she still cared.
"Xavier, take some time and first learn how to trust others." Her words stung as she turned to look at me, her eyes brimming with tears.
Those tears shattered me. I never brought her happiness; instead, I became the source of her pain. Why do I keep failing her?
I spent the night agonizing over her words, torn between my love and my possessiveness. To win her trust back, I knew I had to do something special. Bella wasn't like Alicia, who could be easily pacified with gifts and flowers. She needed something deeper, something real.
When Alan asked for a sibling earlier, I thought it was the perfect way to bring us closer, but now I saw how wrong I had been. I couldn't let my desperation destroy what little connection we still had.
The next day, I secretly traveled to Italy, determined to surprise her and seek her forgiveness. Despite my disapproval of her going with James, I resolved to apologize to him as well.
I stayed in the same hotel as Bella, keeping my presence hidden. Early in the morning, I bought a beautiful bouquet and went to her room. My heart raced as I knocked on her door, rehearsing what I'd say when she opened it.
But the door never opened.
Confused, I went to the hotel reception. The words of the receptionist felt like a punch to the gut.
"She checked out last night."
I froze.
Checked out? Why?
Was it because of me? Did she find out I was here and leave because of it? My thoughts spiraled, a storm of questions swirling in my mind.
The bouquet trembled in my hands as I stared blankly at the receptionist. Where could she have gone in the middle of the night? Was she running away from me—or something else?
Panic set in. I left the hotel, my mind racing, but I had no idea where to start looking. In a city as vast as this, finding her felt impossible.