The sharp, impatient blast of a car horn jolted Bella out of her shallow sleep. Her body ached from exhaustion, and her eyes felt heavy, swollen from the night before. She buried her face deeper into the pillow, refusing to move.
Chris was already stirring beside her. He rubbed his eyes, sat up, and glanced at her.
"Stay, I'll check," he whispered.
Bella nodded, her body sagging with relief.
Chris threw on his shirt from the chair and padded to the window. He parted the curtain enough to see. A sleek black car stood in front of the house. A man leaned against it, casual, like he owned the world.
Chris's jaw tightened. He knew that silhouette too well.
Adrian.
A bitter taste filled his mouth. He turned back to Bella. "It's him. Stay here. I'll handle this."
Before Bella could even form a response, Chris headed downstairs. He opened the door with sharp finality, stepping out onto the porch.
Adrian turned, his expression shifting from arrogance to irritation. "What the fuck are you doing here?" Adrian barked, his voice low but venomous.
Chris's lips curled. "Funny—I was about to ask you the same thing. What the hell do you want?"
"I came to see Bella," Adrian snapped. "So step aside."
Chris let out a hollow laugh. "See, Bella? Yesterday your girlfriend stormed in—slapped her, humiliated her, and called her every name in the book. And you're standing here like you don't know anything about it?"
Adrian's face hardened. "That was between them. Don't get involved."
Chris stepped closer, his tone razor-sharp. "Don't get involved? Adrian, you dragged her into your lies, your filth. And now she's left to clean up your mess while you strut around like a goddamn king? Haven't you done enough?"
The tension between them thickened, hot and bitter.
Before Adrian could retort, a voice sliced through the air.
"Chris…?"
Bella's voice trembled as she rushed down the stairs and out the door. Her hair was loose, her eyes puffy, but her anger burned raw, stronger than her shame.
She froze when she saw Adrian. For a heartbeat, silence swallowed them all.
Then Bella's fury erupted. "What are you doing here, Adrian?" Her voice cracked, equal parts rage and pain. "Haven't you done enough already?"
Adrian raised his palms as if he could soften her fury. "Bella, listen—"
"No!" she cut him off, her chest heaving. "I had the embarrassment of my life yesterday because of you! Your girlfriend came here, insulted me, and slapped me—do you have any idea how that felt? You who told me you were single, you who made me believe you were real! You lying, cheating bastard."
Her hands trembled, but her voice grew steadier. "Get out of my house. I don't want to have anything to do with you ever again. Whatever we had—whatever this was—is over."
Adrian's eyes flickered with something—regret—but it was already too late. He reached forward, desperate. "Bella, please—"
She shoved him back. "Don't touch me."
The door slammed in his face with a violent finality, the lock clicking like the end of a chapter.
Inside, Bella pressed her back against the door. Her chest rose and fell unevenly, her eyes clouding with fresh tears.
Chris was already there, arms open. She collapsed into him, her body shaking.
"He used me," she whispered against his chest. "So blindsided. Like I was nothing to him… nothing."
Chris held her tighter. "Don't you dare say that. You are everything. He doesn't get to define your worth, Bella. Not him."
She sobbed harder, clinging to his shirt as if afraid to let go.
Hours passed in fragments of silence, soft words, and the rhythm of her crying against him. The sun shifted, shadows stretching across the walls.
When she was calmer, Chris cupped her face, guiding her to meet his eyes. "I've been thinking… You might need a break from all this."
Bella's brow furrowed. "A break?"
"Yes." Chris nodded, his tone firm but tender. "Your attachment is coming up in two months. Why not do it in Abuja? Go see your mom. You've been talking about her for so long and how you miss her. You said it's been two years since you last saw her. It could be time."
Bella blinked, surprised. "Abuja? With my mom?"
"Why not? She's there, and you need time away from this mess. A fresh start. Somewhere to heal, without all these ghosts chasing you."
Bella bit her lip, tears gathering again—this time softer, gentler. "I want to see her… I really do."
"Then do it," Chris urged, his voice warm and steady. "You deserve that peace."
Silence settled between them, broken only by the sound of her slow breathing. For the first time in days, Bella pictured it—her mother's arms, her laughter, and the bond she craved.
Later that evening, Chris kissed her goodbye at the door. His lips lingered, tender, promising. "Think about it, Bella. I'll be here, no matter what you choose."
When the door shut behind him, Bella leaned against it again, her mind racing.
Would she go? Would she leave everything behind—the pain, the betrayal, the chaos—and find her way back to her mother?
Her heart whispered yes. But her fear still held her back.
For the first time in a long time, Bella didn't know what tomorrow would bring.
Chris's kiss lingered on her lips, a soft ache she couldn't shake. Alone in the silence, Bella saw the truth—the choice wasn't Adrian. It was her. Where her heart belonged.
She sank into the couch, phone in hand, staring at her mother's name on the screen. For weeks, she had avoided this call. Tonight, her chest ached for a voice free of lies and heartbreak.
"Ma?" Her voice cracked the moment the line connected.
"Bella," her mother's warmth traveled through the phone, steadying her like an anchor. "My love, how are you? You sound tired."
Bella forced a laugh, though it came out hollow. "I'm… surviving. How are you? How's work?"
"I'm fine, my dear. Busy, as always. But tell me—you don't sound like you called to check on me. Something is on your mind."
Bella swallowed. Her heart thudded. "I want to come to Abuja. For my attachment. I need to see you."
There was a pause, and then her mother's tone lifted with joy. "Finally! My baby. I've been waiting for this." Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, she added, "You're coming with him, right?"
Bella froze. "Him?"
Her mother chuckled. "Chris, of course. You've told me so much about him. Don't think I don't know, Bella. I want to meet this young man who has been keeping my daughter's heart busy."
Bella's throat went dry. She pulled the phone away, staring at the screen as if it could explain what happened.
Chris.
Her mother expected Chris.
Her pulse skipped. The thought of seeing her mom was already overwhelming, but bringing Chris into the mix? That was something she hadn't prepared for.
"Ma…" she whispered, stalling for words.
Her mother only hummed, a knowing sound. "You're not coming alone, Bella. I'll be expecting both of you."
The line went quiet, the weight of her mother's words hanging heavy in the room.
Bella lowered the phone, her mind spinning.
She had to tell Chris.
But how?