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Bella wasn’t in the mood to head to the hotel, so she changed her course and decided to drive home instead.
The quiet inside the car was heavy, and Steven, sensing the tension, kept silent for a long time.
Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer and asked, “Ms.
Bella, does Justin not know that you’re the heiress of KS Group?”
“Yeah,” Bella responded quietly, her voice filled with exhaustion.
She looked drained, as if the weight of her past was pulling her down.
Steven finally understood.
It made sense now why Bella had needed to find a substitute for herself the last time Justin had shown up unannounced at the office.
“Steve, I didn’t mean to hide it from you…” Bella began, her voice soft, but Steven quickly interrupted.
“I understand,” he said, his tone filled with compassion.
Bella raised her eyes in shock, her mind trying to process his understanding.
“No one wants to relive bad memories,” Steven continued, his voice firm yet gentle.
“It’s natural that you would want to keep them locked deep inside.
But I’m just worried about you.
I know how your father will react when he finds out about all this.
He’ll be devastated for you.
” Steven’s hand gripped the steering wheel tightly, his knuckles turning white as veins stood out.
His eyes grew misty, filled with a deep sense of helplessness.
Everyone in the Thompson family loves Bella, he thought bitterly.
Yet Justin ruined her.
If Wyatt, her father, ever found out the full truth, he would surely tear Justin apart.
“I’ll hide it as long as I can,” Bella said quietly, her voice laced with a hint of resignation.
“Now that I’ve experienced a failed marriage, I just want to be single forever.
“
Bella closed her eyes, and memories of Justin’s hurtful words played on a loop in her mind.
She sighed and forced a smile, even though it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Marriage is really boring.
“
Steven’s voice was light, though it carried an undertone of sincerity.
“If you don’t get married, I won’t either.
“
Bella waved him off in panic.
“No, don’t do that! You should get married! You’re my secretary, not a priest! If people hear that, they’ll think I only hire celibates.
It’ll ruin my reputation!”
Steven laughed awkwardly, but a bitter feeling settled deep in his chest.
He knew he wasn’t good enough for her, but he was willing to stay by her side, supporting her from the shadows.
“Ms.
Bella,” Steven asked cautiously, his curiosity piqued, “why did you want to marry Justin?”
Bella’s eyes narrowed, her face falling into a dejected expression as the weight of the question pressed on her heart.
A quiet moment passed before she responded, her voice low and filled with unspoken pain.
“I’m sorry.
I shouldn’t pry.
.
.
” Steven began, but Bella stopped him with a gentle wave of her hand.
“When I was 11,” she started, her voice far away, “I went hiking with my class on a school trip.
It was then that I lost the sapphire pendant my mother left me.
I ignored the teacher’s warnings and went up the mountain alone, searching for it in the dark.
I went over every path I had taken, but I couldn’t find it.
Eventually, I got lost.
That night, there was a hurricane, and I was trapped on the mountain with no signal on my phone.
I truly thought I was going to die.
“
Her voice faltered slightly as the memory resurfaced, but she continued, her words slow and heavy with emotion.
“At that time, Justin happened to be working as a ranger in the National Forest Park during his summer vacation.
Despite the severe weather, he led his team to search for me.
He found me behind a rock, nearly frozen…”
Her breath caught as she remembered, the images of that night flooding back.
“When I opened my eyes, I saw Justin in mountaineering gear.
Even drenched and cold, he looked so handsome.
His eyes were brighter than the stars, and I couldn’t look away.
“
The memories seemed to soften her features, and for a moment, the pain in her heart seemed distant.
“He told me, ‘Wow! You’re doing great, little girl! Don’t be afraid.
I’ll carry you down the mountain!’ That was the first time I met him, and it was love at first sight.
“
Bella closed her eyes for a moment, lost in the memory.
“Justin carried me down the mountain, afraid I would fall asleep.
He kept telling me jokes, but they were so bad, I couldn’t help but laugh.
He’s terrible at telling jokes.
“
She smiled slightly at the thought.
The memory felt like a distant dream.
“‘What’s your name, little girl?’ he asked.
“
“I told him, ‘Well, if you don’t tell me, I’ll just call you little girl since you’re so small anyway…’”
“I’m not small!” Bella had protested, her voice fierce even at that age.
“‘Well, you shouldn’t go around telling other boys about this.
’”
“‘Why not?’”
“‘Because some bad boys will take advantage of you, silly.
’”
Bella’s breath grew unsteady, her pulse quickening.
The memory was bittersweet.
Justin had been 17 then—young, but still so strong and protective.
He wasn’t as tall or powerful as he was now, but back then, she had felt an undeniable pull toward him.
She could still feel the warmth of his arms around her.
