Bella, thank God you came here. I was trying to contact you last night. Upon opening my door, I was shocked to discover her standing outside my hotel room.
"Xavier, is it true that James William was your best friend in college?" Her question filled my gaze as she kept her eyes fixed on my face. Seeing doubt in her expression, my heart ached, but I suppressed my pain and invited her to the room.
"What would you like to have: tea or coffee?" I gathered my clothes from the couch to create space for her to sit comfortably, as memories of our happier times, fleeting and painful, flashed in my mind. Those days felt close yet irretrievably distant.
"Xavier, I am not here to see your hospitality; I want an answer to my question," she said, her tone filled with irritation. I felt a wave of regret and frustration. What had happened to make her so guarded? Why was she speaking to me like a stranger? I knew she still had feelings for me—her actions last night proved that. Otherwise, why would she have left her success party and come to drop me off at my hotel room? Why would she have kissed me if she had truly moved on with Victor?
"I don't have much time, Xavier. Please answer my question. Victor is waiting for me outside the hotel," she added, glancing at her wristwatch before returning her irritated gaze to my face.
"What did you say? Is Victor here?" I walked over to the window, peering down toward the hotel entrance, where Victor was indeed waiting in his car. I turned back to her, disbelief washing over me. "Why don't you bring him here?" I inquired, my voice tinged with disbelief. "Aren't you satisfied with what transpired at the party?"
She didn't respond to my question; instead, she kept her eyes focused on my injuries. I felt a jolt of embarrassment as her gaze lingered on the reminders of my recklessness.
"I am sorry for my actions. I didn't mean to ruin your party, but due to excessive alcohol consumption, I lost control over my senses," I said, rubbing my neck, wishing I could erase my foolish actions. I glanced away, waiting for her to condemn me, but I could only sense her quiet, persistent doubt.
"It's okay, Xavier," she replied, her voice restrained, though I could see she wasn't here for apologies. "Explain your relationship with James William; I'm not here to discuss your actions at the party." She folded her knee and rested it on the other leg, her gaze steady on me.
I felt exposed and cornered. Who had told her about my friendship with James? I didn't want to dig up old wounds, but she kept pressing for the truth. "Yes, we had indeed been best friends since school, but a misunderstanding caused our friendship to end on the last day of law school." The words felt strange on my tongue, the old memories of our convocation day hovering close.
"What misunderstanding?" Her brow arched as she continued to press, and just as I began to explain, my phone buzzed with James' number.
Shock pulsed through me. Why would he call now? Bella's skeptical gaze on me forced my hand, and I answered the call.
"Xavier," James began, his voice disturbingly calm. "I've announced myself as Jordan Lucas' defense lawyer in his case against your ex-wife. Now, I hope we can bring her down to her knees by defeating her. In this scenario, you could easily seize her law firm and exact your revenge on her."
His words were chilling. What are you talking about, James? But when I turned to meet Bella's wide, disbelieving eyes, a horrible realization crept in—this was all a calculated move, his attempt to poison everything I'd tried to mend.
"No, Bella, that's not true; this is all part of his plan," I said, stepping toward her, desperate to explain. But she shook her head, disappointment clouding her eyes as she turned and started toward the door.
"Bella, please listen to me; it's all his plan; I have nothing to do with him," I pleaded, running after her, my voice trailing after her retreating steps. Her pace quickened as if she were escaping me and all the painful memories that lay between us.
"That's enough, Xavier." She stopped and looked back at me, her voice trembling. "You know what? I came here to give you a second chance, but you once again proved me wrong for putting my trust in you. You are still a wolf in sheep's skin. I fought with Dad and Victor for you—just to be with you. Her gaze met mine, raw and tear-filled, cutting into me like a knife.
"Bella, you misunderstood me," I whispered, my voice thick with pain. "I swear, I have no idea about what he's planning." Watching the tears stream down her face only twisted the knife deeper. The realization that I was the root of her pain broke my heart.
"What happened, Bella?" Victor's voice rang out from behind as he stepped out of the car, seeing Bella's tearful face as she emerged from the hotel. His protective stance flared, casting me a warning look as he stepped between us.
"Nothing; you were right, Victor—he didn't deserve a second chance." She hastily wiped away her tears, her voice cold, and resigned as she climbed into the car, directing Victor to drive.
"Bella, please listen to me," I begged, catching her hand, desperate to stop her. But she wrenched her hand from my grip, her gaze freezing over.
"Don't dare touch her. You've done enough damage." Victor's warning came through clenched teeth as he jerked my hand away from hers. His protective rage flared as he turned, blocking my view of Bella.
I stood frozen as they drove away, the sound of the engine fading with them. I raked my fingers through my hair as anger and frustration churned within me. How had things unraveled so quickly? I had tried to apologize, to make things right, but James had crushed that chance. I never imagined he'd stoop so low just to create a wedge between us.
I couldn't shake the words Bella had said—she had come to give me a second chance. She was ready to start fresh, ready to forgive. And I had let it slip away. Why had she been willing to reconsider after all these years? What was she hoping to find in me that I hadn't given her before?
Unable to shake the questions, I found myself driven by the need to know, to understand. I followed her to her house, begging her guards to let me in, pleading for one last conversation. But Victor and my father shadowed her every move, shutting me out. My frustration turned to rage as every door closed in my face, forcing me into isolation, trapped by my own mistakes.
For a month, I tried every possible way to reach her; each attempt met with silence. Victor had secured her life so tightly that I couldn't come within arm's reach. My father glared at me like a stranger, his loyalty to Bella and Victor clearer than ever.
Desperate, I knew I only had one last chance. The court hearing would be today, and I would be there, facing James William. It was the only way I could protect Bella, even if it meant bringing everything to light once and for all.