Chapter 5 — Leaving Home

I forced myself to turn away and headed for the stairs.

I had just stepped onto the first one when my foot slipped. I reached for the railing to steady myself, but the strap of my purse caught around my wrist. My heel struck the step with a sharp click before I managed to regain my balance.

The conversation behind the drawing room door fell silent.

I froze.

Adrian was already on his feet, his face tightening as he stared at me, as though he couldn't believe I was standing there. Alina had turned sharply in her seat, her eyes widening the moment she saw me.

They exchanged a quick, startled glance before Adrian finally came out of the drawing room and stopped in the hallway.

“Bella?”

Hearing my name from his lips made my chest tighten. For one humiliating second, I forgot everything I had just heard. I hated that some part of me still reacted to him before my mind could remind me why I shouldn't.

I tightened my grip on my purse and forced myself to meet his eyes, but the ache in my throat made it difficult to hold his gaze. I lowered my eyes before he could read anything in them.

“I came to get some of my things.”

I pulled a larger suitcase from the bottom of the wardrobe and set it on the bed.

One by one, I folded the clothes I wanted and placed them inside. I left behind the dresses Adrian had bought me, the silk evening gown he once liked seeing me wear, and everything else that carried too much of his presence.

Then I gathered Aina's clothes, folding her little dresses and pajamas before placing them beside mine.

When I opened the nightstand, I found a few pieces of jewelry Adrian had given me over the years. I stared at them briefly before closing the drawer again.

I didn't want them.

I moved to the bathroom and gathered the toiletries I had left there, then checked Aina's things one more time. Her favorite stuffed rabbit sat beneath the chair, along with a few of her toys. I picked them up and tucked them carefully into the suitcase.

I paused when I noticed a small framed photograph of Aina and Adrian.

Whatever had happened between Adrian and me, none of it belonged to Aina.

He was still her father.

I wasn't going to make her choose between us or turn his actions into something she had to carry. She deserved to love her father without being caught in the middle of what had happened between us.

I left the photograph where it was and finished packing her things.

By the time I zipped the suitcase, most of what I had packed belonged to Aina.

I rested my hand on the handle and left the bedroom.

Adrian and Alina stood in the hallway, their conversation stopping when they noticed me. I ignored their presence and kept walking.

I had barely reached the exit when Adrian's voice stopped me.

“Bella... h-have you collected all of Aina's toys? She might ask for them.”

I looked over my shoulder at him, then at the suitcase in my hand. Before I could answer, Alina spoke.

“Kids love their favorite toys. She'll probably want her favorite ones close,” she said calmly, glancing between us with a faint, neutral smile.

“I packed them.”

I turned my eyes back toward the door.

“She has everything she needs.”

“I just wanted to make sure.”

“You don't need to.”

Without another word, I walked to my car, placed the suitcase inside, and drove away.

I headed straight to the café where Mia and I had agreed to meet. It was near the company where I had worked before joining Blackridge Holdings.

As I drove through the area, I barely recognized it. The streets were busier, and new buildings and shops had appeared everywhere. So much had changed since I'd last worked there.

I pulled up outside the café, parked, and stepped out of the car. I grabbed my purse and walked toward the entrance.

Mia was already waiting for me.

The moment she saw me, she stood and walked toward me.

"Bella."

I barely had time to smile before she pulled me into a tight hug.

I wrapped my arms around her, holding on for a moment longer than usual. It had been so long since we'd seen each other in person, and after everything I'd been through, her familiar embrace felt strangely comforting.

When we pulled apart, Mia studied my face.

"You look exhausted."

I forced a small smile.

"I'm fine."

She didn't look convinced but didn't press me. Instead, she gestured toward the table.

“You look exhausted.”

I forced a small smile. “I'm fine.”

She didn't look convinced, but she didn't press me. Instead, she gestured toward the café entrance.

“Come on. I have everything ready.”

We walked inside, and Mia led me to a table near the window. Once we sat down, she slipped her shoulder bag from her chair and pulled out a folder.

“The property dealer sent the agreement,” she said, placing it on the table. “We just need to review and sign it.”

She opened the folder in front of me and went through the documents with me, explaining the details as I read each page.

Mia closed the folder.

“That’s it. It’s yours.”

I let out a slow breath.

Knowing I had somewhere to go made the weight on my shoulders ease a little.

“Thank you, Mia.”

“You don't have to thank me.”

She studied my face for a moment.

“Have you eaten anything today?”

I shook my head.

“Bella.”

“I’m fine.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

I looked at her, then let out a quiet breath. Despite everything weighing on me, the corners of my lips lifted.

“Fine. I’ll eat.”

Mia called the waiter over and ordered coffee and sandwiches for both of us. A few minutes later, he returned with our order and placed everything on the table.

I wrapped both hands around the warm cup, letting the heat slowly ease the tension in my fingers.

For a few moments, neither of us spoke.

I took a sip and looked through the café window, watching people pass by, each caught up in their own little world.

Mia took a sip of her coffee before speaking, drawing my attention back to her.

“How is Aina doing now?”

“She’s stable. The doctor said she can probably be discharged tomorrow.”

A small breath of relief escaped Mia.

“That’s good.” She paused, her expression turning thoughtful. “But there’s something I don’t understand.”

I looked at her and stayed quiet, giving her room to ask.

“Why do you suddenly need a new place to live?”

I stared down at my coffee, watching the surface tremble slightly beneath my grip.

Then I forced the words out.

“I signed the divorce papers.”

For a moment, Mia said nothing. She simply stared at me, as if waiting for me to take the words back.

Then she slowly set her cup down.

“You… what?”

“Adrian wanted a divorce.”

Her brows drew together. “Why? What happened?”

I swallowed hard.

“I couldn't afford Aina's treatment anymore. I had no choice but to ask Adrian for help.”

Mia’s expression changed immediately.

“Bella…”

“Adrian agreed to pay for it, but he wanted me to sign the divorce papers in return.”

Mia stared at me in disbelief.

“He made you choose between your marriage and your daughter’s treatment?”

My throat tightened.

“He had already made up his mind about the divorce. He just asked me to sign the papers after I went to him for help.”

“B-Bella…” She hesitated. “Did he tell you why he wanted a divorce? Was there any other w—”

“He never wanted this marriage,” I interrupted, releasing a quiet breath.

Mia stared at me. “What do you mean?”

I wrapped both hands around my coffee.

“Before Adrian, I was supposed to marry someone else.”

“Who?”

“Damian Carter.”

Mia blinked. “You… you were going to marry Damian Carter?”

I nodded, but my legs suddenly felt numb, followed by an unsettling prickling beneath my skin.

“He disappeared a week before our wedding.”

Mia stared at me for a moment before her gaze drifted around the café, checking whether anyone nearby was listening. When she looked back at me, her voice had dropped.

“He disappeared?”

“I don't know what happened to him. He just disappeared.”

Something shifted in Mia’s expression.

“Why have you never told me about this, Bella?” she asked quietly. “You never mentioned him. You never told me anything. We have been friends for a long time.”

“I buried everything.” I swallowed against the bitterness in my throat, holding her gaze as my jaw briefly tightened. “I didn't want to remember any of it.”

The waiter stopped beside our table to collect the empty plate. Mia waited until he moved away before leaning slightly closer.

“But then how did you end up marrying Adrian?”

“My father was close to Adrian’s father, Uncle Richard. After Damian disappeared, Uncle Richard arranged for Adrian and me to marry.”

“Adrian’s father arranged your marriage?”

I nodded.

Before Mia could say anything else, my phone began to ring. I reached into my purse, glanced at the screen, and answered when I saw the caller ID.

“Hello, sir.”

“Miss Bella?”

“Yes, sir.”

“It’s been a while. I received your email, and I’m glad you reached out.”

His familiar voice carried the same warmth I remembered from the years I had worked for him. Some of the tension I had been holding in my shoulders eased.

A small smile touched my lips. “Thank you for getting back to me.”

“We’d like to see you on Monday for an interview. Would that work for you?”

My back straightened slightly.

“Yes. Monday works.”

“Good. I’ll send you the details. It’ll be good to see you again.”

“Thank you, sir.” I let out a quiet breath. “I really appreciate the opportunity.”

“You’re welcome, Bella. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Yes. I’ll see you then.”

The call ended.

I lowered my phone and looked at Mia. She was already watching me, her coffee cup still in her hand.

“It was Boss Anderson. I’m going back to the company. He wants me to come in for an interview on Monday.”

Mia stopped with her coffee halfway to her lips and stared at me for a moment.

“You’re going back to the company?”

“Yes.” I gave her a small smile, but it faded slightly at her reaction. “Why are you asking like that?”

She slowly lowered her cup and pressed her lips together before giving a small nod.

“I just didn’t expect you to go back there.”

“Why?”

She rubbed her thumb against the side of her cup, her gaze drifting toward the window as she shrugged.

“I don’t know. I guess I’m just surprised.”

Her answer came too quickly.

I studied her face, but she still avoided my eyes and took another sip of her coffee.

“That’s good, though,” she said. “I’m happy for you.”

I nodded, but something about her reaction stayed with me.

Mia still worked under Boss Anderson. She should have been happy to hear I was coming back.

So why had the mention of his name made her look away?

A strange thought crossed my mind.

Maybe there was something about Boss Anderson that Mia hadn’t told me.