Chapter 3 Bella's POV
Bella’s POV
She sees me. She actually does. Just when I think that I am done with the drama during my first night in New York, I hold my breath as her feet come to a slow and dramatic halt.
Not even years have changed anything about her. She still has her regal hair crawling all over her shoulders in a striking manner. Her eyes are warm, but I know it is all fake. And that is because I have experienced their true chill.
She takes off her glasses slowly, her bright pearls in the way of my vision as she turns slowly. A soft smile lifts her lips, and she shakes her head slowly. “Bella, Bella, Bella. How long has it been?”
“Elena,” I breathe, because I don’t know what else to say. I instinctively pull my son closer to me, regretting bringing him to the gala. I should have insisted on finding him a nanny the minute we landed.
I shouldn’t have brought him here.
“You came back,” she purrs, pushing her hair gingerly over her shoulders. “I told myself the stray always finds the kitchen again, but I was willing to bet that you were smart enough to know when to stay away.”
Daniel steps forward, his cluelessness so apparent. I wish I could at least protect him from this; arm him with more knowledge than he has. But I cannot bring him into the chaos that my life became four years ago.
He is far too kind for that.
“Aunt Elena…”
“Hush, Daniel.” She waves her hands dismissively in the air, like his words weigh no more than Noah’s. This is the reason Daniel always feels like he is behind Xander.
Or at least, one of the reasons.
It doesn’t matter that they are in different fields.
“This isn’t a conversation for you,” Elena continues, scolding him like a child. “Just scurry along like you always do and let Bella and me speak.”
Noah shrinks further into me, and I step sideways, blocking him from her view.
“I mean no harm to you or your family, Mrs. Knight. I only came…” I catch myself before I reveal much more than I should. “We were already leaving.”
She scoffs and moves closer to me. The waft of her perfume threatens to choke me, the luxury reminding me that it is something I will never be able to afford.
“You do love a scene, Bella,” she drawls. “You arrive underdressed, clutching the arms of a man who isn’t your husband and a son you must have had wherever you dropped in the face of the earth. But guess what?”
“You attach yourself again to a Knight, like the first one you walked out on wasn’t good enough for you. What are you planning on doing next? Make the bastard a Knight?”
Her gaze dares me, challenging me to say otherwise. It hurts so much, the pain is sharp enough to cause a whimper to escape my lips. Elena has created such a narrative when both of us know that it isn’t the truth.
“Don’t talk about him!” My jaw quivers. “Ever.”
“Why?” she purrs, blinking. “Afraid people are going to realize what a hoe you still are?” Her eyes scan my face, linger on my ringless hand, and then move to Noah’s shoes. “Here’s the thing, Bella. You were never enough for me, son, Xander. And you still aren’t. Not for anyone in the Knight family.”
“That’s enough, Aunt Elena,” Daniel plants himself firmly between us. “Bella has done nothing wrong.”
She angles her head, laughter in her eyes. “Is that what she told you, Daniel? You need to run away as fast as you can, because she is going to leave you, too. Don’t get your fragile heart broken.”
Elena touches his cheeks in what would have been an affectionate moment. But Daniel flinches. He doesn’t like her, either.
“I don’t repeat myself, Bella,” she says as she pulls away, regarding me. “The next time you touch anything that belongs to me, I won’t be so polite.”
With that, she stalks away, leaving us in the hallway. I look around to see that people heard us. They whisper with their heads bowed as they walk past, not even bothering to hide my name from their lips.
“Come on.” Daniel urges us out of the building, keeping his arms stretched over us protectively. I wish that were enough to shield me from the scratches on my heart, from the words that have been tossed in my direction tonight.
But I guess there is a limit to how much soothing even a doctor can bring.
Outside, there is a slight chill in the air, and Daniel moves us to the curb, whistling a cab over.
“I shouldn’t have brought you here,” he says as the cab pulls up in front of her. “I should have looked for another way to get the specialist. I was such a…”
“I told you already that it was none of your fault,” I whisper, careful of how much Noah hears. “I am in the city. Sooner or later, I would have had to face them. I am glad I wasn’t alone when it happened.”
I beam at him, because Daniel is the only ray of light I have gotten so far.
The driver peeks his head out, and Daniel gives him an address.
“I rented an apartment for you. It is not much but…”
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“You need income if you are to survive here, Bella.” He hesitates, then sighs. “There is an opening at Knight Enterprises. Admin. I can get you in the room.”
I shake my head once. “Knight Enterprises!” I choke on a laugh. “Daniel…”
“You won’t bump into him, and I mean it this time. Xander is the CEO. He barely comes into the office, and even when he does, his space is on a different floor. You won’t see him. He won’t even know you are working there.”
“You said the same thing about tonight.” I hate using it against him, but Daniel has to understand what is at stake here.
He flinches. “I know. I’m sorry, but I can’t let you stay here without a source of income.”
“Fine.”
“HR. Seventeenth floor. 9:00 am. You still remember where the building is?”
“I’ll think about it.”
I slide into the backseat of the cab, along with Noah. Daniel leans in through the window after closing the door behind us.
“Think fast.”