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Novel Catalog
Bella couldn’t help but laugh quietly at the playful exchange between Axel and Drew.
Despite the constant tension surrounding her, this lighthearted moment felt like a much-needed relief.
She glanced at Steven, who was focused on opening the wine bottle.
His calm and composed nature was a stark contrast to the heated banter on the screen.
She quickly scanned the messages on her phone again, her eyes locking onto the part about Justin trying to decrypt their files.
Is he getting closer to the truth? Bella thought, feeling a wave of unease wash over her.
The stakes were getting higher.
The more secrets that came to light, the more difficult it would be to maintain the delicate balance she had created.
Steven, now finished with the wine, handed her the glass.
His gaze lingered on her, as if sensing the storm brewing within her thoughts.
“Here you go, Ms.
Bella.
Please, don’t push yourself too hard,” he said softly.
Bella took the glass from him but didn’t immediately drink.
She glanced at her phone again, her mind preoccupied.
The group chat messages left her feeling on edge.
Justin’s actions were becoming more intrusive, and the fear of him uncovering everything was growing.
We’re running out of time, she realized.
Secrets were starting to unravel, and the consequences were becoming unavoidable.
With a deep breath, Bella lifted the glass to her lips, letting the rich taste of wine soothe her nerves, though it couldn’t calm the swirling thoughts in her mind.
“You know, Steven,” she murmured, her voice low and pensive, “sometimes I wonder how far we can keep this up.
How long before everything we’ve worked so hard to hide comes crashing down?”
Steven didn’t immediately respond.
He simply nodded, his understanding evident in his silent expression.
The silence between them stretched, heavy with the weight of unsaid words, before he finally spoke.
“I’ll be here for you, Ms.
Bella,” Steven said earnestly, his voice steady.
“No matter what happens, we’ll face it together.
”
Bella met his gaze, the warmth of his loyalty offering a momentary comfort in the midst of her mounting anxiety.
Despite the loyalty she had around her, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the situation was spiraling out of control.
How much longer could she keep going before everything became too much to manage?
