It was as if Cecily was nothing more than trash to Justin.
Cecily was utterly disoriented. She was kneeling on the ground, even forgetting to stand up.
No despair exists without comparison.
In fact, she had never felt worse.
âYes, Ms. Thompson? Do you need something?â Justin approached
Bella, his gaze piercing and his voice rough.
âYeah. Can we speak in private?â Bellaâs eyes remained calm. She did
not raise her voice, but it was audible.
Justin agreed without hesitation. âSure.â
Amidst the onlookersâ gazes, the two big shots left the banquet hall.
Behind them were only murmurs of astonishment, echoing one af
another.
They were truly a perfect match, so well-matched that it filled othe
with envy.
Bella and Justin made their way to the hotelâs back garden.
The cool night air gently tousled Bellaâs dark hair, creating a
picturesque scene.
Their silence seemed to carry a thousand unspoken words, yet they
understood each other without saying a word.
Even their silence was filled with mutual understanding, evoking a
sense of melancholy.
âI wasnât expecting you to be here tonight. You even came with a new companion.â Justin broke the
silence, his words still as sharp as ever. âI thought youâd be here with Mr. Iverson.â
âWhat? Are you disappointed that I didnât show up with Chris?â Bella retorted, âWell, I didnât expect to
see you so close with my cousin either. The way you two were interacting earlier seemed quite sweet.
Did my sudden appearance ruin your little moment with her?â
She had a real knack for sharp-tongued remarks.
Justin felt a lump in his throat, struggling with a mix of emotions. His handsome face flushed red, then
paled.
âDid you call me out here for this?â Justin asked coldly, âWeâve been divorced for quite some time
already. Are you still concerned about
the women I associate with?â
Bella smirked, shaking her finger dismissively. âJustin, donât think to highly of yourself. Whoever you
choose to associate with is none o my concern. But if youâre actually interested in Cecily, perhaps I
could help you out there. After all, sheâs my cousin. Well, you never know. We might even end up being
in-laws someday.â
With clenched fists, Justin felt a surge of heat rising within him.
No one could ever provoke him like Bella did.
Only Bella managed to stir up this part of him.
âBut remember, Cecily is still part of the Thompson family. Itâs not appropriate for her to just be your
mistress. So, why donât you think it over? Instead of wavering between Ms. Hoffman and Cecily, why
donât you make a choice and stick with it?â
Her words could not have been harsher.
Justin felt a twist in his heart, his eyes fuming with anger as he pressed Bella firmly against the tree
trunk, his arm supporting him as he leaned in. He glared down at her with intense, dark eyes that were
swirling with turbulent emotions.
Bellaâs throat felt dry, and her lips were tightly pressed together.
She could even feel the subtle tremors of Justinâs muscles beneath
his dark suit, but she dared not meet his gaze.
âBella, if youâve chosen to leave me, you shouldâve stayed away from
1. Why do you keep coming back to me?â
âJustinâ¦â
Justinâs pale lips moved closer to Bellaâs. His lowered gaze turn
hazy. âI may have loved you, but that doesnât mean you can tramp
on my dignity over and over again!â