Chapter 219 Let’s Separate for Now
"News?"
Alfred seemed unaware of this matter.
I didn't explain. I just hung up, blocked both Lucas and Alfred, then called James. "In a bit, if Lucas comes over, stop him."
"Most entertainment news is fake." James tried to comfort me, his voice tight with concern. "Those entertainment reporters are best at making up stories. Don't be upset—getting upset causes wrinkles."
"I know. I'm not upset." I pressed my sore, swollen eyes with my hand.
I was just disheartened.
"I don't want to see Lucas. Stop him." I repeated.
"Okay, I understand." reassured me firmly.
A few minutes later, my phone showed one blocked call after another.
Then came calls from unknown numbers.
I knew it was Lucas. I kept blocking them, and he kept switching numbers to call again.
His persistence made me uneasy.
Half an hour later, James said Lucas was outside the Platinum Haven Hotel entrance.
My phone kept ringing relentlessly.
I closed my eyes, then opened them and answered the call.
"Bella, let me explain. I don't even know that woman!" Lucas said in a rush.
"She just happened to stay at the same hotel as me and wanted to use me for publicity. She had someone write that news story. I've already had people take down the news and warned her. The rumor will be cleared up soon."
"I believe you," I said calmly.
"Bella?" Lucas called out in surprise, his relief unmistakable.
"I believe you have nothing to do with her, but why did you lie to me? You said you went to Serendia for business—was that true?"
Lucas said "yes," and I continued, "Then when did you come back? Why didn't you come home? Why not go to the villa? Why stay at a hotel?"
"You suspect I'm cheating?" Lucas's voice quickly turned cold. "You think I was sneaking around having an affair with another woman?"
"Then who did you go to see?"
Lucas fell silent.
I had just been following up on Lucas's words, but hearing no answer, my heart sank bit by bit, and a bitter smile appeared at the corner of my mouth.
"Is it that hard to answer?"
After a few seconds of silence, Lucas finally admitted, "I did go to see someone. I don't want to lie to you. But it's not what you're thinking. I can't tell you who she is right now—maybe in a while."
"I'm tired, Lucas." I cut him off.
"I don't think we're right for each other. The foundation of trust between us is too weak." Actually, I had a lot built up inside that I'd been ignoring, but it suddenly burst out at this moment. "During those three years of marriage, I loved you, you didn't love me. That wasn't your fault—there's no rule in the world that says someone must return another person's love. Even though I got hurt, I've never regretted everything I gave you."
"Bella, stop." Lucas's voice was trembling. "Let me see you. Let's meet."
"No, Lucas, listen to me. Let me finish." I gripped my phone, my throat tightening. "You've changed recently, and I've felt happy being with you, but that's not enough to make me fall in love with you again."
"What's wrong with me? I can change." Lucas said humbly. I could hear he was in pain.
When you love someone, along with happiness comes the fear of losing them. At this moment, I deeply realized I still loved Lucas, but I didn't want to bear the pressure of that fear.
When I was being Isabella—busy with pharmaceuticals, treating patients, busy making Platinum Haven Hotel grow—work fulfilled me. Setbacks in my career didn’t make me anxious about gains and losses.
So I gradually came to hate the version of myself whose emotions rose and fell with Lucas's every word and action.
"Let's separate for a while," I said to Lucas calmly and gently. "No meeting, no contact. Give each other some space to think."
"I don't need space to think!" Lucas objected strongly.
“I do!” I said, taking a deep breath as I pressed the hang-up button.
The busy tone echoed in the quiet air.
Lucas didn't change his mind because of my words. He stubbornly waited for me downstairs at Platinum Haven Hotel.
To avoid him, I went to great lengths—didn't dare go home, changed my residence overnight.
Gale, Brian, and Marcus all called to check on me, saying Lucas had contacted them, asking them to help plead his case.
Naturally, they gave him a good scolding, then gently comforted me and supported me in doing what I thought was right.
I realized I loved Lucas, but I could live just fine without him.
Lucas was the opposite—he couldn't accept life without me.
Perhaps when we divorced, making a clean break would have been the best choice.
In the quiet of the night, I sometimes wondered: if Lucas had firmly chosen Amelia from the start, what would we have become?
A few days later, Karen asked me to go get beauty treatments, wanting to help lift my spirits.
This beauty salon called "Elysian Glow" had been open less than three months, located in the Co-governed District, and had recently become popular among the wealthy elite.
And Edgar, after receiving that VIP card, had suddenly recommended this place to me.
Evening, outside the beauty salon.
Adrian held the car door open. As I stepped out, I instinctively looked toward the street corner.
Someone seemed to be watching me.
This feeling was familiar. These past few days, wherever I went, there was a burning gaze following me like a shadow.
"Bella, what's wrong?" Karen asked.She followed my gaze and frowned. “Is something there?” she asked, confused.
"Nothing." I pushed down Lucas's name rising in my mind and shook my head.
Walking into the beauty salon, we immediately ran into the mayor's wife, Ember Russell.
The mayor was about to leave office, with his hair getting thinner by the day, while Ember was becoming younger and more beautiful.
I complimented her appearance, and she smiled, eagerly recommending Elysian Glow’s must-try treatment: the traditional herbal mask.
"The director of this salon has international medical certification and has independently developed beauty creams made from pure natural materials, with no chemical additives."
Other clients chimed in:
"That's right, I feel the effects are gentle and non-irritating, much more comfortable than hydration injections or gold microneedling!"
"Some of those needles really hurt! With the herbal mask, you just lie there comfortably and become beautiful. After trying it once, I couldn't help becoming a lifetime member!"
"I never expected even the Miracle Surgeon to be attracted here. It'll probably be even harder to book appointments now!"
These clients weren't ordinary people. My curiosity was piqued, and I smiled and agreed to try the facial treatment they recommended.
The salon's general manager personally attended to Karen and me, leading us to an elegantly decorated, comfortable treatment room.
The fragrance was soft and subtle, the beautician's manner warm and gentle. Karen and I relaxed and lay down.
When the beautician brought out the prepared cream and I curiously leaned in to examine it, a sharp commotion suddenly came from outside: "Smash this place for me! What kind of cream is this—it's completely unregulated! My face is ruined!"