Chapter 187
Chapter 187
Bella's anxiety oddly made her feel calm. "Even if you take me back now, you can't control me."
Edward slammed on the brakes, the car screeching to a sudden stop.
"You really like him that much? You wanna stay here?"
Bella gripped the car handle tightly, her voice steady. "Yes."
Edward's gaze was murderous.
Despite this, Bella felt no regret for her words; they were her true feelings. She had no intention of repeating past mistakes.
In Edward's silence, Bella opened the car door and got out. When she returned to Wallace, he asked her a few questions.
Bella shook her head and said it was nothing, brushing it off.
They stayed at Jaelyn's house for a few days before preparing to leave.
Jaelyn tried to persuade them to stay, but Wallace politely declined, "No, Ms. Hall, we have other places to go. We can't stay long."
Jaelyn knew they were on a pre-wedding trip, so she didn't insist. She just gave Wallace some advice.
"I've observed Bella these past few days. She's a good girl. You must treat her well."
After leaving Jaelyn's house, they didn't rush to their next destination.
Sunbeam Hotel.
Wallace carried Bella's suitcase. "We'll stay here for the night and catch the morning train. I'll go up and put our things away."
Bella was about to nod when she suddenly saw someone.
By the angel fountain, Edward stood there, ignoring the glances from passersby, just staring in their direction.
Bella's heart trembled at the sight.
After a moment, Wallace looked at her and said, "If you want to go, I'll wait for you upstairs."
Bella quietly looked away. "No need."
She had already made up her mind, and there was no point in hesitating.
Now, they were strangers.
The crowd flowed endlessly.
When Bella brushed past Edward, she didn't look back.
Wallace held her hand tightly, not letting go even when they reached their hotel floor.
The next day, Bella didn't see Edward again. She added Edward's assistant on WhatsApp and found out he had left Oceancrest City the previous night due to an urgent matter.
She hadn't intended to ask why Edward left.
But early that morning, the hotel lobby TV was broadcasting the news.
"Two weeks ago, a flight from Seaside City to Valhalla crashed. The black box has been found..."
Bella froze.
Wallace noticed her standing still, glanced at the TV, frowned, and asked, "Did you know someone on that plane?"
Bella shook her head, thinking she must be mistaken. There were so many flights every day, and more than one to Valhalla.
How could it be that Emily's flight was the one that crashed?
She didn't linger, getting into the train with Wallace.
The train rumbled occasionally, and Bella looked out the window, taking out her phone to log into her secret Instagram account, which had only one follower.
The posts recorded her teenage thoughts.
[Today he had a stomachache and went to the hospital. I heard people with bad stomachs should eat more chicken soup...]
[He gave me a bunny hair tie.]
Bella deleted each post on the account.
These posts were proof of her love for Edward, but she didn't need them anymore.
After deleting them, Bella paused and posted a new update.
[A new year, and I'll spend my life with someone new.]
This post was a farewell to her lost love.
After posting, Bella waited for a while but didn't get a like from that follower, which puzzled her.
Usually, whenever she posted, that person would quickly like it. Why not this time?
Curious, Bella clicked on the account's profile. It was still the same: a blue sky and white clouds avatar, minimalist background, with the nickname '212'.
Seeing the nickname, Bella's eyelashes trembled slightly.
It was Edward's birthday.
She had been surprised for a long time when she first saw it, thinking Edward had created a secret account to follow her.
But later, Bella thought it was impossible.
Bella watched for a while, not receiving a like notification, and guessed the person might be busy, so she didn't dwell on it.
Seaside City, Vanguard Innovations Group CEO's office.
By the tall floor-to-ceiling window, a man's silhouette faintly reflected.
The assistant walked into the office with a fearful expression.
Edward looked at him coldly. "How did that plane crash?"
The assistant was more confused than anyone. He didn't know why it happened either.
"I had people ready at the landing airport, but no one expected this. The investigation said the plane wasn't properly checked before takeoff..."
Edward gave a cold glance. "Only someone like you would believe that."
The assistant touched his nose. He didn't think he was that bad.
In front of Edward, the assistant certainly didn't dare say that. Even a look from Edward made him nervous, and he immediately promised, "I'll investigate right away! I'll make sure we find out what happened!"
Before leaving, Edward called him back, asking indifferently, "She left Oceancrest City?"
It took the assistant a moment to realize who 'she' referred to.
"Yes, she took the train."
Then the assistant left.
Edward looked at the distant city lights when his phone suddenly buzzed.
He skillfully opened Instagram, logged into an account, and browsed the latest post from the only person he followed.
No one knew that the CEO of Vanguard Innovations Group, besides having a popular Instagram account, also had a secret one.
He had been using this secret account for years to follow someone's posts.
He read every post they made.
The next second, Edward's face tightened, his expression darkening at a post.
[A new year, and I'll spend my life with someone new.]
But that wasn't the worst part. Scrolling up, he saw all her previous posts had been deleted.
Edward accidentally knocked over a trophy, the small ball on top falling to the ground and bouncing a few times.
His fingers trembled, unsure if he felt more confused or angry.
Bella had returned everything he had given her, and now she was deleting these posts. Was she really not coming back?
Even if Bella hated him, Seaside City was her home.
She often said it wasn't worth changing herself for others, but now she was giving up her home for Wallace. Why?
Edward picked up the ball and gently placed it back on the trophy.
The base of the trophy read: [Seaside City Adult Competition First Place Winner Bella Obelon.]
This was Bella's trophy.
Now, Bella didn't want the trophy, and she didn't want him either.