"So answer the second question, Chris. What did you mean when you said you took away my innocence?"
The look on his face told her more than words. His confidence drained, his usual steel melting into fear.
"I didn't know," he whispered. "I didn't know it would happen that way."
Bella's pulse hammered. "Happen what way?"
Chris ran a hand through his hair, restless. "We were both drunk, Bella. Very drunk. I don't remember how we got back to the hotel room. All I know is I woke up beside you. Naked. And when I saw the blood on the sheet, I realised it had been your first time."
Her throat tightened. Her heart stopped. For eighteen years she had guarded herself, proud of saving her first kiss, her first love, her first time for the right person, the right moment. Now she was learning it had been stripped from her in a blur she couldn't even recall.
"No..." she whispered. "No, that can't be true."
Chris's voice was raw. "I didn't even know your real name. You only told me to call you Butterfly. I was going to buy breakfast, to ask for your number...but when I came out of the shower, you were gone. I searched everywhere for you. For six months. Until I found Bianca. She told me you'd been in an accident. That you lost your memory of the weeks before."
Bella's chest caved in. "So she knew? She's known all along?"
"Yes," Chris admitted. "She begged me not to come near you. Said it would only make things worse. And I...I listened."
Tears streamed down Bella's face. "So for six years I've walked around proud of myself, thinking I was untouched while the truth was hidden from me? Do you know what that does to me? To not even remember my first time?"
Her words shook. "What if I had gotten pregnant? What if it had ruined my life? And you....you kept it from me."
Chris reached toward her, but she jerked back.
"Don't you dare touch me," she snapped, her whole body trembling.
"Bella, please," he pleaded. "We were both adults. We were both drunk. It wasn't something I forced on you. I swear, I would never take advantage of you."
"That doesn't make it right!" she screamed. "I didn't choose it, Chris. I didn't get to remember it. And now I have to live with the fact that my first time was with someone I didn't even know."
Her tears fell harder, her shoulders shaking.
Chris gripped her arms gently but firmly, forcing her to look at him. His own eyes glistened with unshed tears.
"It wasn't meaningless to me," he said hoarsely. "That night changed everything for me. I fell in love with you, Bella. Do you hear me? Six years, and I never touched another woman. I buried myself in work trying to forget, but I couldn't. You were all I wanted. You're still all I want."
Bella stared at him, broken between fury and heartbreak.
How am I supposed to live with this? How am I supposed to love a man whose presence is a reminder of what I lost?
Bella was crying profusely, torn between anger and confusion.
Chris reached for her, but she shoved him back.
"Don't touch me, Chris. I don't even know who I am anymore... or what really happened that night."
Her voice cracked, and her chest heaved as the weight of it all crashed down.
Chris stood frozen, pain carved deep into his face. "Bella, please... I swear to you, it wasn't like that. I would never hurt you. I've loved you since the moment I met you."
But Bella turned away, wiping her tears furiously. She didn't want to hear another word.
"I can't do this right now," she whispered.
She stormed out of his suite, slamming the door behind her, leaving Chris in silence with his heart breaking.
Bella stumbled into her own room, still shaking with anger. She paced, pulling at her hair, trying to make sense of everything Chris had told her.
The worst part? A tiny piece of her wanted to believe him. A tiny piece of her longed for his comfort instead of his absence. That thought disgusted her even more.
Eventually, exhaustion overcame her. She collapsed onto the bed fully clothed, her pillow damp with tears.
When her alarm buzzed at 6 a.m., she sat up groggy and drained. Her chest still ached from crying, but she forced herself to push thoughts of Chris aside. There was no time to fall apart...not today.
The crew had planned a tour of New York, and Bella was determined not to let her emotions ruin it.
They had planned to meet at the lobby by 11 a.m. Nadia had promised to take them to the Statue of Liberty, the Brooklyn Bridge, and Central Park. Bella knew she should rest as this would be their only chance before their flight back to London.
Her thoughts chased themselves in circles. She wanted her memory back so badly. Without it, she wasn't sure if she would ever be able to forgive Chris or even Bianca's husband, Austin, for leaving her unprotected at that gala. She hated the idea that her safety had been placed in the hands of a stranger.
At some point exhaustion claimed her. The next thing she knew, loud pounding rattled her door. Groggy, she checked her phone: nearly noon.
She rushed to open the door and found Alexia and Nadia standing there, worry etched across their faces.
"Oh my God, Christal, you're still in your PJ's!" Alexia cried, sweeping into the room.
"We've been waiting forever. We called you a dozen times but no answer," Nadia added. "We thought something bad happened."
Bella cringed. "I'm so sorry, I must've knocked my phone on Do Not Disturb. I didn't hear a thing."
The girls rolled their eyes in unison and marched her into the bathroom.
"Enough apologies. Go shower!" Nadia ordered, shutting the door behind her.
Bella obeyed, letting the warm water run over her. But the moment her eyes closed, Chris's words replayed in her head. She scrubbed her skin too hard, as if she could wash the truth away.
"Ella, you're taking forever!" Nadia called through the door, snapping her out of it.
Pushing the thoughts back, Bella got dressed quickly white long-sleeved top, ripped blue jeans, brown ankle boots. She carried her mini purse and brushed her hair, skipping makeup for lack of time.
At the lobby, the crew was already gathered. Bella noticed how Lilian kept sneaking glances at Desmond, her crush obvious. Princely's eyes, meanwhile, were glued to Alexia, and Bella smirked at the blush on her friend's face.
Something must've happened between them, she thought, amused.
Liam volunteered to drive while Nadia sat up front as guide. The ride was filled with music, singing, and laughter. such a stark contrast from the stiff awkwardness when they first arrived in New York.
Bella's phone buzzed with an unknown number. She answered cautiously.
"Look behind you," Chris's voice said.
Startled, she twisted around and there he was, phone still at his ear, waving at her.
"What are you doing here?!" she exclaimed, smiling despite herself.
"Can't I have fun too?" he replied with a playful pout.
It was the first time she had seen him in casual clothes, and the sight stole her breath. A black shirt, the top three buttons undone, paired with fitted trousers and polished shoes. His hair was styled neatly, but the relaxed look made him more dangerously attractive than ever. Women around them were openly staring, but Chris's eyes found only hers.
She was so mesmerised she didn't notice him closing the distance until he tapped her arm.
"Miss me?" he teased, his smile soft.
The question snapped her back. The morning's conversation rushed to mind, and her smile faltered. Chris noticed.
"Are you okay?" he asked gently.
Obviously not, she thought. But out loud, she forced a small smile. "Yes, I'm fine."
He didn't look convinced.
Her colleagues, meanwhile, exchanged glances that screamed, Why is he here? Did you invite him? Bella quickly shook her head at them, silently assuring she hadn't.
"You don't have to be awkward around me," Chris said to the group, reading the tension. "I'm here to have fun. Elliot told me where you were, so I thought I'd join."
At first everyone was stiff, but as the day went on they relaxed. To their surprise, Chris proved to be fun playful even. He cracked jokes, teased Liam about his driving, and even posed for a silly group photo.
By the time they had visited the Statue of Liberty, strolled across the Brooklyn Bridge, and wandered through Central Park, it was easy to forget he was the billionaire boss they all feared.
For Bella, though, forgetting was impossible. Every time his laughter rang out, every time his gaze lingered on her, she was reminded of the morning's revelation. Her heart pulled toward him but her mind still held her back.