The Wife's Return のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 71 - チャプター 80

Belle had several theories formed in her head. Hearing it out loud and from Leo himself still came as a surprise.Her lips slightly parted in surprise. It was even clearer now, all those similarities that he shared with Nikolai.“You're really brothers?” She wanted to confirm once more.“Half-brothers… allegedly. It was never confirmed. Nobody really dared to confirm. Those who knew the truth never bothered to speak out, those suspicious never asked.To say that she was curious was an understatement. She wants to hear everything, from start to end. This was big news! The anticlimactic bored face from Leo isn't stopping her from wanting to hear the story.“But… but how?”“I don't think I should be the one telling you this. If you want the drama, the whole plot, go ask your husband.”“Soon-to-be ex-husband,” she corrected.Leo smirked. “Nah. I doubt so.” He crossed his arm that were filled with bruises. 

“Is that why you are here?”Belle nodded.Everything she needed and more was in Houston… but how can she stay silent and live in peace knowing that someone who wants her dead was breathing the same air? There was no turning back after knowing this.Before they get her, she should get them first. “I need to do something here.”“What do you mean?” Bonnie asked, but gasped soon after. “This is about the accident, isn't it?”“It wasn't an accident, Bon. Someone tried and failed to kill me.”“I was already suspecting it.” Bonnie worriedly held Belle's hand. “I knew even back then that something was off with your letter.”The letter. Right. The one that she was forced to write. Every letter she wrote was like digging into her own skin.It was the time Liam needed her the most. Why would she leave suddenly?It was an easy conclusion that maybe things went too much for her and she left. Wors

The silence was so loud, Belle could already read what was running in Nikolai's head.She was wearing the same clothes; she had the same haircut. She was the same woman who left, but something must have changed.Even Belle could feel it. It was hard to point out exactly what it could be.“I've been gone for a while and now that I'm back… really back, you won't say anything?” She raised an eyebrow.“Isobelle…”‘Isobelle.’ He really had to call her differently.If only Nikolai called her like anyone else. If only he hadn't made her feel a bit special. If only she didn't fall for his charm, it wouldn't be this way.She blamed herself alone for falling in love with him, but it was him who would always look at her longingly.If only he looked the other way, they wouldn't be standing this close to one another. With all the problems and complications that surround them.“I rushed here with all that emotions, some scripted movie-type of script to ask you questions and now that I'm here-” yet

“Because I love you, Isobelle.”This wasn’t the first time she heard Nikolai say it. Her dream was filled with romance and sweet gestures. Most especially, of declaration of love. The thought of Nikolai saying those words lived in her dreams and, for the longest of time, she allowed to have that sense of delusion. It was her own way of coming to terms with knowing she might never get the chance to hear him say it in person.She has waited all her life to hear Nikolai say those words and now that he did; she didn’t expect that her initial reaction would be… doubt.“It’s okay, Nikolai. I already believe you are trying to do your best for this family. I told you. That’s already enough for me.”“Isobelle, this isn’t just a spur of the moment. I’m saying this because it is really what I feel. I love-”“Please don’t tell me lies. I already believed everything you have been saying, and that was too much at stake already. So, that’s enough for me

Another sigh of frustration escaped Belle’s mouth for what it seemed like the hundredth time today.‘I have to leave for an emergency. Don’t worry about it. I just need to fix this now. Will explain it to you soon.’That was the last text that Nikolai sent before leaving. It was still Sunday, and they were supposed to stay in the hotel until Wednesday and so far, it has been going well until Nikolai received that message.He must have left at midnight. No matter what problem it was from work, how urgent was it that he really had to leave that early in the morning?It wasn’t helping that Nikolai hadn’t been answering any of her messages or calls.“Mommy, is Daddy in his office?” Liam asked.She stopped looking at her phone screen and relaxed her face to show her son a sincere smile. It was hard to hide the panic and worry, but for Liam’s sake, she has to pull her shit together.“Yes.” she answered shortly, so he wouldn’t ask so much. “Why don’t you fall asleep for now and I’ll wake you