After Love

Poor Claire could never stop crying every time she came to visit. "This was my fault, Bella! I went away to look for help because I thought… I thought Damian was going to save you!"Then, when I returned with the rangers, I really thought the girl he was helping to get into the ambulance was you… I didn't know it wasn't," she sobbed. "I shouldn't have taken things for granted!"Bella forced a smile and patted Claire's head. "It's okay. You're not at fault."A month went by in the hospital. Bella's condition improved, but Damian had never returned to visit her ever again. The only thing he left was a message: [I have to be away for work over a few days. Will return to see you after that.]Then, on the same day, Bella found an updated status on Dakota's Instagram. The girl was beaming in her photo while Damian was right next to her, passing her something as though they were living a happy domestic life.The caption read, [Always appreciate a busy man like you lending me a hand at

The next morning, after Damian had gone to work, Bella showed up at his home. The house was pretty empty, save for the ragdoll cat that had curled into itself on the couch. It happily ran toward Bella and rubbed against her feet in welcome. She picked the cat up and ran her fingers through its soft, fluffy fur. "Come on. Time to get you a new home now that I've made up my mind."She brought the cat back to her place and started browsing Amazon for some pet supplies and a house for the new owner. The cat rested on her lap, occasionally looking up at her, as though it suspected something.After a while, Bella thought she should just buy those things from a pet store. She took the cat with her and drove to a nearby pet store. A board was erected outside. Curious, Bella approached it to take a good look. One of the pictures immediately grabbed her attention. It showed none other than Dakota and Damian standing close to each other, their smiles as natural and cheery as they could

Damian called her that night. He was panicking. "Kitty's gone, Bella! I came home and it's not where it should be!""I gave it away," Bella said coldly.He froze. In that silence, she heard an angry female voice crying out, "How could you, Bella?! How could you give Kitty away?! Who do you think you are? This is irresponsible!"So, Dakota was there, too. She continued sharply, "You've had Kitty for a long time! How could you be so heartless to give Kitty away just like that?!"Bella's grip tightened around her phone. Her chest undulated in pain. Was she upset that Dakota was shouting at her through Damian's phone, who passively allowed her to do so while saying nothing? Or was she upset that these two were still together?"Dakota, enough," he finally spoke up tiredly. "I'll buy you a cat, alright?"Bella hung up the call and bolted into the bathroom. Her stomach was churning. After some retching, she threw up. She had to steady herself with the sink after that before blacklisti

"Cancel our engagement?!" Damian straightened his back in shock. His voice cracked a little. "Why?! Have you really thought this through? This isn't a joke, Bella. Please, let us be mature about this!"His fingers were like talons gripping tightly around her wrist. It hurt.Eyes wide in disbelief and anxiety, he continued frantically, "Dakota is just—""Shut up. I didn't ask!" Bella snapped and pulled her hand away. She turned to Robert and repeated herself flatly, "The engagement is over."Robert sighed helplessly. "I approve.""You… approve?!" Damian cried out in animated shock and desperation. "Well, I don't! This is the stupidest joke ever! Stop this game right now, Bella. It's not funny!""Bella, you've misunderstood our relationship!" Dakota finally spoke out in a girlish, sad voice. "Damian and I are just colleagues. All we talk about is work—""You shut the hell up right now!" Damian suddenly bellowed, shooting daggers at her with his eyes. "Did I allow you to speak?!"

By the time Bella woke up the next morning, she realized her mother had wrapped them both rightly with a single comforter. Stella was resting her head on her shoulder.Bella shook Stella's arm a little, waking her up. The older woman smiled gently. "Good morning, sweetie! Let us get some breakfast!" she greeted. "Ow, my bones hurt from sleeping on this mattress. I'm really getting old!"Bella smiled and rubbed her cheek against Stella's shoulder. "Breakfast sounds good."They changed out of their nightgowns and went downstairs. In the courtyard, she found Damian right where he was. He looked a little sickly from being drenched in the rain. He was white as a sheet. "Bella!" he called out, his tired voice croaking. "Why didn't you pick up my calls? There was a storm last night! You must have been afraid, right? Did you manage to sleep at all?"She considered him coldly. "I'm not a kid anymore, Damian."She had not been scared of thunder since childhood. It had always just been a c