Chapter 69 Chapter Sixty-nine

Chapter 69 Chapter Sixty-nine
Bella

I left the house before dawn, slipping out like a ghost before anyone else woke up. I couldn’t face my mother. I couldn’t face Chris. And I definitely COULDN’T face Gray.

Not after the epic embarrassment I brought upon myself last night.

“You’ve never shown up for a 7 a.m. lecture this early in your entire life,” Nina said, blocking me from sitting down with one hand on my chair. Her eyes narrowed as she studied my face. “And you look like you just got dumped by your boyfriend. Also… how the hell did you end up in the Humanities building right before the fire?”

“Nina, please,” I whispered, my voice already cracking. “I’m overwhelmed. I’ve had enough. I’m so fucking tired. I can’t… I don’t—”

The tears came without warning. I didn't even get the chance to hold them back.

“Oh, Bella…” Nina’s expression softened instantly. She pulled me down into the seat beside her and wrapped her arms around me tightly, rubbing my back as I sobbed into her shoulder.

“I know things have been brutal since you moved into that house,” she said in the calmest voice I'd ever heard her use. “You don’t have to carry everything alone, okay? I’m right here. You can talk to me.”

I hiccuped, trying to force the words out, but they kept getting stuck.

“It’s Gray…” I finally managed. “I think… we’re over.”

Nina pulled back slightly, her eyes widening. 

“What? Does this have anything to do with the fire? Has he been released yet? What the hell happened?”

“It’s all so complicated,” I sniffled, wiping my face with the back of my hand. “We were having sex in his car and one of his friends just… barged in. He mentioned something about a bet. Gray had a bet on me, Nina. Like I was some kind of game.”

Her mouth fell open. “Oh my fucking…. No way, Bella. He didn't!” She gasped.

“I snuck into his room last night while he was in the gym,” I continued, the shame burning afresh inside me. “I was looking for proof about the bet… and I found this old Christmas card he wrote when he was twelve. It was to his mum. He was begging her to come back. It was so heartbreaking, and I… I touched it. I told him his mum still loved him.”

Nina winced. “And he caught you?”

I nodded, fresh tears spilling over. “He was furious. He warned me that if I kept pushing, he’d break me. That he’d turn me into what he is now.” 

I covered my face. “I think it’s really over this time.”

Nina was quiet for a moment, gently stroking my hair. “Babe… you touched something sacred to him. That’s heavy. But you really think it’s over just because he got pissed that you saw his vulnerable side?” She shook her head. “Gray looks at you like you’re oxygen. I’ve seen it. Guys like him don’t just switch that off.”

I let out a watery laugh. “You didn’t see his face last night.”

Nina sighed and hugged me again. “Maybe he’s scared. Maybe you finally got too close to the parts he doesn’t show anyone. But if he’s willing to run into burning buildings for you… I don’t think he’s done with you yet. Do you know there are like only about five guys in this fucking town who would dare something like that? Gray and four others!”

I closed my eyes, exhausted down to my soul.

The problem wasn’t even whether Gray was done with me. The problem was whether I could survive loving someone who kept warning me that he would destroy me.

“I don’t know how to keep surviving in that house,” I whispered, wiping my eyes. “Chris told my mum I’m—”

My phone exploded with Meghan Trainor’s ‘No’ at full volume, cutting me off.

The two other early birds who had shown up for the 7 a.m. lecture turned around in their seats and gave me identical death glares that screamed ‘It’s too damn early for your phone to be this loud.’

“Sorry,” I mouthed, not really knowing what I was apologising for.

One of the girls rolled her eyes dramatically while the other just shook her head. Nina, of course, wasn’t having it.

“What are you apologizing for?” she hissed. “Like their phones don’t ever ring? Oh, puh-lease.”

She shot them a dirty look until they turned back around.

I almost smiled despite everything. Nina being Nina was weirdly comforting.

I answered the call just before it went to voicemail. It was my mother. I shouldn’t even be picking up. I mean, after what she did to Gray?!

“Hello, Mum. I’m in class right now, so—”

“You can save the rest,” she cut in sharply. “You snuck out this morning, didn’t you? Chris was finally going to have that family talk, but guess who was conveniently missing?”

She didn’t even pause for air. “Be home before five. We’re having a family dinner at Le Clair de Lune. Chris is inviting some of his relatives, and they want to meet his new family. We need to make a good impression. Don’t be late. Bye.”

The line went dead. She had spoken so fast that she sounded like Eminem on steroids. 

I just sat there, my phone still pressed to my ear, stunned into silence.

Nina raised a knowing eyebrow. “Let me guess… Mommy Dearest?”

I nodded slowly, lowering the phone. “You guessed just right. Family dinner tonight at some fancy restaurant. Chris is bringing relatives. She wants us to play the perfect family.”

Nina snorted. “After everything that’s happened? She wants you to smile and play dress-up? Gee, so cold.”

I laughed, but it came out bitter. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this, Nina. Pretend everything’s fine when my mother is actively trying to destroy the one person who…” 

I trailed off, unable to finish. Maybe I didn't have to continue burdening my friend with my family problems.

Nina squeezed my hand. “You don’t have to pretend with me. But babe… you’re going to have to decide whose side you’re really on. Because the way things are going, this family is going to blow up. And when it does, you might not be able to stand in the middle anymore.”

She was right. I was already choosing. And every time Gray touched me, every time he protected me, every time he warned me he would break me… I chose him a little more. Even if it destroyed everything else.

But then… was there really anything left to choose if Gray was already done with us?

The thought haunted me all day. After our afternoon lectures, I told Nina not to wait for me.

I wasn’t ready to go home yet. I didn’t want to risk running into anyone, especially not Gray. 

I just needed a moment to breathe and eat something that wasn’t filled with tension and secrets.

It was very unlikely he was still monitoring me via the ankle monitor, but I still couldn't bring myself to pull it off

I slipped into a small upscale café near campus, hoping for some anonymity.

“What would you like?” the waiter asked, flashing a bright smile and a wink. “We’re celebrating our anniversary today, so if you order any of our top five meals, you get thirty-five percent off.” He licked his lips, like he was trying to let me know he had them.

I opened my mouth to reply, but before I could say a word, a strong arm reached from behind me, creating deliberate distance between me and the overly friendly waiter.

I smelled Gray’s cologne a second before his deep voice interrupted me mid-speech.

“Never mind,” he said coldly. “She’s coming with me.”