Chapter 145 Scars From My Past
ANNA'S POV
Alright, let’s try this and see how it goes.
“Okay… it’s not really that big of a deal though,” I began carefully, making sure my tone sounded casual. “It’s not even about me. It’s about a friend of mine.”
That got her attention.
Bella turned slightly in my direction, slowing down the sweeping just a bit, though she didn’t stop working completely. “Alright,” she said. “Go on.”
“Now, this friend of mine,” I continued, pausing briefly as I searched for a name, “her name is Kayley.”
Even as the name left my mouth, I cringed internally. I was terrible at coming up with fake names.
“Kayley told me yesterday that she has some problems she really needs to work on,” I went on, “or else it might end up spoiling her new relationship.”
Bella nodded slowly, encouraging me to continue. “Okay,” she said. “And did she tell you what those problems were?”
“Yes,” I replied. “First of all, she made it very clear that she hasn’t been in a relationship for a long time. So her problem is… very much justifiable.”
Bella leaned the broom against the wall for a moment. “Alright,” she said calmly. “And what exactly is the problem?”
“Nothing too serious,” I said quickly. “Just that because she’s been single for a while, she has a lot of insecurities about her man. Her man is very loyal to her, she knows that but she’s the one who thinks a lot. Sometimes that thinking makes her do or say things she doesn’t actually mean.”
I watched Bella closely, hoping she wouldn’t catch on.
“There’s another lady involved?” Bella asked, almost like she already knew where the story was heading.
I hesitated for a second. “Well… not really,” I said. “Her man told her that the other woman and him are just friends. Nothing more.”
Bella raised an eyebrow slightly but stayed quiet.
“And the other woman was supposed to deliver flowers to my friend,” I added, my voice dropping just a little. “But my friend messed everything up. Big time. That’s the problem she has — she overreacts. She overthinks the smallest and simplest situations and turns them into big misunderstandings.”
Bella nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful.
“Okay,” she said after a moment. “So it’s not that she doesn’t trust her man, right?”
Her question made me pause.
I leaned back slightly in my chair, my fingers curling loosely against the armrest as I thought about it.
Because with the way my overthinking had been going, did that mean I didn’t trust Ryan?
Trust was one of the foundations of any relationship. Without trust, there was nothing, just fear and suspicion waiting to ruin everything.
And it wasn’t like I wanted to distrust him.
The scars from my past relationships followed me everywhere I went. No matter how hard I tried to leave them behind, they resurfaced when I least expected them to.
James had taught me how cruel betrayal could be.
Still, after everything that happened, I had chosen to trust Ryan. I’d consciously made that decision. But Tracey showing up at his place and him not telling mehad unsettled me more than I wanted to admit.
“I… sorry,” I said carefully. “She trusts her man well enough. I can assure you.”
Bella studied my face for a brief moment, then nodded. “Okay,” she said. “Then what’s the problem? If she trusts her man, she isn’t supposed to be thinking or doing anything that affects the relationship.”
“She’s trying,” I replied. “But her past experience keeps saying otherwise. It’s like… a whole new conscience of its own.”
Bella let out a small sigh and resumed sweeping, slower this time. “Past experiences can be loud,” she said. “They like to remind you of things you’d rather forget.”
I didn’t respond.
“But,” she continued, “they don’t always tell the truth about the present.”
I glanced at her. “What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Bella said carefully, “not every man is the same. And not every situation ends the same way.”
She paused, then added, “If a man truly loves a woman, he won’t dare look at another woman. Not because he’s afraid but because he simply won’t want to.”
Her words settled heavily in the room.
“And if he’s loyal,” she continued, “then there’s nothing to fear. Overthinking only creates problems that weren’t there in the first place.”
I swallowed.
“But what if the woman from the past keeps showing up?” I asked quietly. “What if she doesn’t respect boundaries?”
Bella shrugged lightly. “Then that’s not the woman’s fault. That’s on the man to draw a clear line.”
Her answer came without hesitation.
“And if the man doesn’t?” I asked.
“Then the woman should speak up,” Bella replied. “Not accuse. Not fight. Just talk. Communication fixes more things than silence ever will.”
I stared at the desk in front of me, her words replaying in my head.
“This Kayley of yours,” Bella added, “she sounds like someone who’s afraid of being hurt again.”
I didn’t deny it.
“She needs to understand that love isn’t about being on guard all the time,” Bella continued. “It’s about trust. And if she keeps letting fear control her actions, she might push away the very thing she’s trying to protect.”
That hit closer than I expected.
For a moment, neither of us spoke. The sound of the broom against the floor filled the silence.
“You know,” Bella said eventually, “we’ve never talked this long without arguing before.”
I looked up at her, surprised.
She gave a small, almost shy smile. “I noticed it.”
“So did I,” I admitted quietly.
It was strange, unfamiliar, but not unpleasant.
“Maybe,” she said softly, “forgiving people actually changes things.”
I thought about that.
Ryan had told me the same thing.
And here I was, having a normal conversation with Bella, something I never thought was possible.
I leaned back in my chair, exhaling slowly.
“Tell your friend,” Bella said gently, “to stop overthinking. If the man loves her, he’ll prove it not just with words, but with actions.”
I nodded.
I would take that advice.
Not blindly. Not foolishly.
But I will try.
Because maybe Ryan was right.
Maybe forgiveness wasn’t weakness.
And maybe, trusting again wouldn’t destroy me this time.