Chapter 68

Bella.

I had made impulsive decisions in my life before, but this one had to take the cake. I couldn't fathom what had come over me, as I found myself engaging in actions and words that I never thought I would entertain under any circumstances.

In that moment, as Christina incessantly proclaimed her determination to marry Daniel, an overwhelming urge to defend him consumed me. I wanted to prove to her that he belonged to someone else, and with that motive driving me, I impulsively kissed him. It was a means to make her back off and demonstrate that he was mine.

Judging by the astonishment on Daniel's face, it was clear that he was just as surprised, if not more so. Yet, he managed to conceal his shock. To my astonishment, he responded with an intensity far beyond what I had anticipated, and we found ourselves lost in the moment until a piercing scream shattered the air.

"Have the two of you completely lost your minds? How dare you disrespect me like this, Daniel? What gives you the audacity to engage with this worthless, repugnant woman?" Christina's voice reverberated with anger and if there was any doubt about her sanity before, it was completely dispelled now. She appeared unhinged, and the intensity of her outburst was truly alarming.

It struck me that when she first entered the room, I couldn't help but acknowledge her physical beauty, surpassing even the images I had seen of her in tabloids. For a brief moment, I couldn't comprehend why Daniel couldn't marry her or what made her so captivating to him.

However, the instant she opened her mouth, the puzzle pieces fell into place. Her words and behavior unveiled her true nature, and I felt a deep sense of pity and embarrassment on her behalf.

It was disheartening to witness someone so stunning stoop to such depths, lacking self-esteem and dignity, and resorting to such desperate measures for a man's affections.

"If you hadn't provoked me, none of this would have happened. But now that you've witnessed for yourself who I am to Daniel, I'd appreciate it if you get the hell out of here and never come back," I retorted, a sense of satisfaction washing over me.

However, Christina responded with a wicked laughter, and I couldn't help but release a frustrated sigh. It was evident that she wouldn't give up easily, and I knew I had to endure this back-and-forth since I had asked Daniel not to call security earlier.

Her confidence didn't waver as she boasted about having ruined one of Daniel's past relationships. Though I was curious, I made sure not to reveal it, wanting to maintain the illusion of a serious and open relationship between Daniel and me.

"If you're so confident in your charm and believe you can outshine any woman, then you should be in my place right now. Instead, you're standing in front of me, acting like the mad woman you are," I fired back, trying to challenge her misplaced arrogance.

As I glanced at Daniel, I noticed a look on his face that I had never seen before — pure fury. It worried me rather than scared me, as I couldn't fathom what had upset him to this extent.

"Are you okay?" I asked with genuine concern, hoping that Christina's mention of ruining his past relationship hadn't triggered him.

"I'm fine, babe," he replied with a sigh, and I instinctively held his hand, gently squeezing it to reassure him that everything would be all right.

The rage in Christina's eyes intensified as she continued her tirade. She blamed herself for not anticipating that Daniel would hire a fake girlfriend to throw her off. Despite her accusation, I couldn't help but roll my eyes at her dramatic display.

The tension in the room seemed to escalate with every passing moment, and I couldn't wait for this unpleasant encounter to come to an end. I was unfazed by everything she said, as I had already made up my mind about her. I saw her as nothing more than an immature child, likely spoiled since childhood, which explained her complete lack of shame. It also seemed to contribute to her belief that she could obtain anything and anyone she desired whenever she pleased.

I pitied her because I had encountered many people like her before, and they often ended up in unfortunate situations, making a mess of their lives due to their entitled behavior. I genuinely wished I could reason with her, but I knew it wasn't my place to intervene, and she didn't seem like someone open to receiving advice.

Daniel chimed in, trying hard to contain his anger and prevent her from getting under his skin once again. Since he had watched her take pride in her past actions, it made every apology she had ever offered nothing but a lie, and it became evident to him that she was capable of repeating such behavior to manipulate him.

"I made an effort to let go of our past and believed that you were genuinely remorseful. I even thought you deserved a second chance since we used to be close friends. But now I see your true nature, and I want absolutely nothing to do with you. If you don't want to provoke my anger further, you better leave right now," Daniel warned, his tone calmer than usual, indicating his deep frustration.

Observing Daniel's state, I could tell he was upset, as he appeared more composed than he typically would. He was exerting every ounce of self-control to restrain his temper and avoid reacting to Christina's provocations.

I despised the fact that she had put him in this situation, causing him so much distress. Though I had an intense urge to confront her for everything she had said, I chose to restrain myself. I didn't want the situation to escalate further, and I needed her to leave so I could speak to Daniel and help him calm down properly.

"Fine, I'll leave as you wish. But don't think this means I'm gone from your life forever. You can hope for it all you want, but you'll never be able to get rid of me. I'll do whatever it takes to ensure we end up together because you belong with me. Every other woman in your life is just temporary," she responded with unwavering confidence.

"And as for you, lady, I hope you don't shed too many tears when he finally leaves you. In case you're unaware, you deeply offended me today, and I promise to make you pay for every word you uttered and for daring to kiss my man in front of me. After that, I'll send you an invitation to our wedding," she added, directing her words at me.

With that, she promptly turned to leave after her nonsensical remarks. I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, witnessing how embarrassing her words and actions were, oblivious to her shamelessness.