Ryan was frightened by Justinâs ferocious gaze.
Justin was not so angry, even when Rosalind went abroad and left him three years ago.
In fact, Ryan was half-joking. He was always teasing his best friend.
Ryan was just making fun of Justin, but he did not expect Justin to blow up like that.
It seemed that Justin really cared about his ex-wife.
The bartenderâs face turned pale with fear when he saw this. Not many people in Savrow dared to grab
Ryan Hoffman by the collar.
âJustin, are you in love with Anna?â
Justin realized that he was drunk. His heart trembled, and his forehead was covered in sweat.
âJustin, havenât you noticed? Since your divorce, youâve become quite abnormal.â
Ryan looked at him deeply. âYou have been my only friend since we were kids. Why wonât you tell me
the truth?â
âI donât like her.â Justin spat out each word with force.
âSure, you donât like her. Letâs just pretend that you donât.â
âRyan!â
Ryan ignored his outburst and continued, âJustin, I told you that if youâre in love with Anna and want to
get back together with her, then as your best friend, I will definitely support you and help you. But if you
donât mean that and just donât like the fact that your ex-wife is being pursued by other men, then I hope
you can give me a chance to fulfill my wish. I can see what my heart wants. I like Anna, and I want to
pursue her.â
Justin felt as if he had been shot in the chest. He slowly let go of Ryan and staggered back two steps.
Ryan straightened up, took a breath to calm down, and took out the sapphire necklace from his suit
pocket.
âSheâ¦â Justin was startled.
âShe didnât accept it.â
Ryan frowned and smiled bitterly. âAnna is not a materialistic woman. She returned the necklace to me
as soon as she left you. Sigh⦠Justin, what on earth did you do to her in the past? When Anna sees
you, she looks like sheâs seeing an enemy. Sheâll find any opportunity to provoke you and step on you.
You two are really sworn enemies.â
Justinâs thin lips tightened into a straight line.
His heart suddenly throbbed when he thought of how he had turned a blind eye to her thoughts in the
past three years, the shredded handmade suit, and the wardrobe full of gifts.
After Bella got off work, she did not go home. Instead, she asked Steven to leave. Then she went to the
cathedral in the west district of Savrow by herself.
The golden dome of the cathedral was magnificent and opulent.
Asher was wearing a black pastorâs uniform. He stood under the giant cross and held a Bible as he
preached to churchgoers.
Bella sat quietly in the back row and listened carefully. Her eldest brotherâs voice was so pleasant that
she felt as if her body and mind were being purified from the inside out.
The sermon ended, and the churchgoers dispersed.
Asher closed the Bible and walked toward his sister with a gentle smile on his handsome face.
âWhy didnât you tell me that you were coming?â Asher reached out to touch the top of her head.
âWell⦠I know youâre busy, so I donât want to disturb you.â Bella smiled with squinted eyes.
âWhatâs bothering you?â Asher sat next to her and asked gently.
âIs it so obvious?â
Bella sighed dejectedly with a bleak expression on her face. âAsh, I did something mean today. I took
advantage of Ryan just to provoke Justin. I knew it was wrong, but I couldnât control myself at the time!
I saw Justin and Rosalind together. He was even competing with Ryan to buy Rosalind a necklace. I
was heartbroken, so I wanted to hurt him too. I know that weâre divorced, so thereâs no point in doing
so, but I just want him to feel something for me, even if itâs hatred.â
Asher let out a long sigh and put his arms around his sisterâs trembling shoulders.
âBella, do you still have feelings for Justin?â
âI admit that Iâm not completely over him yet. After all, Iâve loved him for a long time. I spent my entire
youth pining for him, and those memories of him are unforgettable.â
Bella rested her head on Asherâs broad shoulder. Her long eyelashes were wet with tears as she
continued, âAsh, Iâm so scared. Iâm afraid that I wonât be able to love anyone else in the future. Justin
has hollowed out my heart. I may never be able to fall in love again. There is no way I can love another
man as much as I loved himâ¦â
âItâs only natural for you to feel this because youâve been in love with him for so long. Bella, as long as
your heart doesnât stop beating, you will always be able to love again.â
Asher lowered his eyelashes and patted her shoulders. âDonât be afraid, Bella. Weâre here for you,
even if the sky falls. You just need to be yourself and bravely pursue your heartâs desire. Donât leave
any regrets in life.â