Chapter 25 He Never Love Me
BELLA
The last thing I remember was Jasper’s desperate voice cutting through the haze: “Dad, don’t hurt her!” I know I wasn’t supposed to go to the third floor, but my curiosity had overpowered me, and now I’m paying for it.
When I open my eyes, I’m back in my room, head pounding. The room blurs before me, and then I hear a frantic voice nearby.
“She’s awake!” Julie, one of the maids, exclaims as she rushes to my side. Her eyes are wide, taking in my every feature with worry. “Are you okay?” Her voice trembles with genuine concern, something I’m not used to.
I touch my forehead, wincing at the dull ache. “I… I think so,” I murmur, though the memory is cloudy.
“You’ve been out for three days,” she says, her voice a mix of relief and lingering fear. “We were all so worried, especially Jasper. He refused to leave your side.”
Three days? My mind stumbles over the words. “Three days?” I try to push myself up, but my body feels heavy, unsteady. “I... I need to work…”
Julie gently presses me back down. “You need to rest, ma’am. You could hurt yourself again.”
As she helps me, her gaze remains warm and cautious, an unfamiliar kindness that makes me question why she’s being so attentive. Just then, the head maid arrives, her face lighting up as she clasps my hand.
“Thank God you’re awake,” she whispers, relief softening her usual strict demeanor. “I’ll fetch you some food.” She nods at Julie, who lingers by my side, holding my hand. The warmth of her palm is grounding, though unfamiliar.
After a pause, I glance up at her. “Julie… can I ask you something?”
“Of course, ma’am.”
I take a deep breath, my voice soft. “Could you tell me about David and… Lizy?” Her name feels strange on my lips, almost forbidden. Julie’s expression darkens, and she quickly pulls her hand away.
“No one talks about Lizy in this house,” she murmurs, casting a wary glance toward the door.
“Please.” I lean closer, desperation raw in my voice. “I need to understand who I’m dealing with. I thought David and I…” The ache in my chest intensifies. “I thought we had something.”
Julie’s gaze softens with pity, and she finally nods, sighing heavily. “You must promise to keep this between us.”
“I promise,” I say, my heart pounding.
Her voice is barely above a whisper. “Mr. David has only ever loved one woman, and that’s Miss Lizy. She’s… dangerous, ma’am, yet he loved her fiercely. Since childhood, they were inseparable, and he swore to build a life that no one could take from them.”
A chill settles over me. “What happened?”
Julie looks down, her expression pained. “Lizy betrayed him. She slept with his older brother, Eden a man who resented David’s success. On their wedding day, Lizy left David at the altar and ran away with Eden. Since then, the third floor has been sealed left to hold memories that haunt him still.”
I swallow, feeling the weight of David’s past pressing on me. No wonder he was furious when he found me there.
Julie reaches out, her voice soft. “Despite it all, Mr. David does care about you.”
Before I can respond, the head maid returns with a tray of food and a pill, her stern gaze dismissing Julie. “Why are you still here?”
Julie quickly stands. “Just checking on her, ma’am.” She casts one last, pleading look at me remember your promise before hurrying away.
I sit alone, the fragments of David’s past settling over me, leaving a hollow ache. Before I can fully process it, the door opens, and David stands in the doorway, his presence a weight that fills the room.
“How are you feeling?” His tone is distant.
“I’m… fine,” I reply, my voice strained, but he doesn’t seem to notice.
He exhales sharply, his gaze hardening. “I told you not to go to the third floor, Bella.” His words cut with each syllable. “We have a contract. You’re my wife for a year, and after that, you’re free to go. Anything that’s happened between us, any… moments we’ve shared, it’s nothing more than a distraction.” His voice drips with finality. “I don’t have feelings for you, Bella. Don’t get that idea into your head.”
The door clicks shut behind him, leaving an emptiness that echoes through the room.
A tear slips down my cheek as I clutch my hand to my chest. I’d hoped no, I’d believed that something real might have grown between us. But with a few cold words, he’s stripped that hope bare, leaving nothing but a hollow ache in its place.