Alle Kapitel von After Love: Kapitel 11 – Kapitel 20

To his credit, Damian had ceased sending gifts to Bella's company from then on. That did not mean he had given up, though. It simply meant that he now knew, for certain, that expensive gifts and beautiful bouquets would not win her back. Her rejection had told him one thing—she had never wanted these from him. One evening, as he entered his study, his eyes settled on a picture of a smiling Bella hugging Kitty. A thought formed in his mind. "I should make something with my own hands!" he muttered to himself.Damian picked up woodworking. He had never learned this before and so had to start from scratch. His ultimate goal was to craft a wooden cat that looked like Kitty. To that end, he pursued all kinds of resources and lessons. He hired teachers. He wasted quite a few raw wood materials because he kept messing up due to his lack of expertise. His hands were beginning to show a few cuts and wear from his new endeavor. Damian channeled his remorse and longing into every carve

"No, Bella! I've never thought that way!" he cried out, voice hoarse. He gripped her hand tightly.Damian had always been a proud young man. He had never bowed his head for anyone—except Bella. "Please. I know you too well to know when you're lying. You can tell when I am lying, too," Bella replied. Damian could not answer that.Their lives had been intertwined almost since they were born. They had been each other's soulmates for more than two decades. They knew each other like the back of their hands. Bella already knew Damian had never fallen for Dakota. He did not like her. But when he was with her, Damian felt relaxed and less restricted. Bella, on the other hand, exhausted him. This realization was what hurt Bella more than seeing Damian choose to save Dakota instead of her.Damian's mood was growing volatile. He threw his hands around her and squeezed desperately. "Please! It's not what you think! Believe me! I love you! I just love you too much!" he cried. "I was just

Dakota was fired, but that did not stop her from showing up at Damian's company multiple times. One day, she managed to stop him on his way. "We need to talk, Damian," she insisted. She obviously sounded hurt from her unceremonious termination, but she was clearly determined to get everything back. Damian's eyes were cold, but he managed to remain courteous. "Yes, Dakota? How can I help you?"Dakota took a deep breath before her emotions erupted out of her. "What the hell did I do wrong, Damian? How am I anything less than her? You told me I'm more considerate than she is! That I'm gentler!"Damian frowned icily. "You wouldn't have gotten the chance to work as my assistant had Bella not provided for you during college. I wouldn't even have noticed you. 'Considerate?' 'Gentle?' That was just you being delusional, Dakota.""Excuse me?" Dakota turned pale. Her voice was shaking. "I've worked hard over the years. Suddenly, it's all for nothing now?""Bella chose to be kind and gene

Dakota started cackling. "Oh, was it news for you? Yes! I was just using you! You know why? Because all he ever looked at was you! I've loved him for so many years, and yet he never noticed me!"Do you know how much I envy you? It's so unfair! It's so unfair. His eyes were only ever on you! Even when he finally remembers my name, it was because of you!"Bella frowned. "Wait. You've had a crush on him for years?""I met him during a state competition during high school. I knew at the time that my heart belonged to him and him alone. You, on the other hand, do not deserve him!"Bella chuckled scornfully. "I don't think you know just how ridiculous you sound when you try to judge our compatibility. You're a nobody. You don't even know him. Would this be the first time someone told you you're delusional?"Dakota's face turned pale. "So what if I am a nobody?! I'm the kind of nobody who makes him feel safe and equal. But you? Oh, you're a princess, alright!" she shrieked. "You're such

Bella entered Damian's ward, her eyes lingering on his pale face and shut eyes. He was so skinny, it almost looked like his body was caving in. He used to be such a looker…Claire had told her that the odds of Damian waking up were very slim. Even his doctors were not optimistic. Nevertheless, Bella still came to visit him every day. Sometimes, she would just sit next to him. Other times, she would tell him about what happened in her life, much like she used to do back in those good old days.His pale, almost bloodless face often triggered her childhood memories…She had a high fever during winter when she was five. It gave her quite the brain fog, and yet she had refused to get any injections. Damian had stood next to her bed, frowning. "Don't even think about getting out of this one, Bella! Get the shot now before your brain is seriously fried!"She was only three youngers than him, but he managed to carry her and set her down on a couch before wiping the sweat on her forehead