Chapter 9
765words
He had searched for her for a year, gone mad for a year, and lived in regret for a year.
And in return, he got the news that she was marrying someone else.
"No... you can't..."
He knelt on the broken glass, his knees a bloody mess, but he felt no pain.
He screamed like a madman:
"You can't marry him! Bella! You're mine! You carried my child! How can you marry someone else?"
"I won't allow it! I will never allow it!"
Bella stopped walking, but she didn't look back.
"You won't allow it?" She chuckled, her voice full of mockery. "Eric, what gives you the right?"
With that, she held onto Alex's arm and walked away without turning back.
Eric remained kneeling there, like an abandoned stray dog.
But he didn't give up. He found Bella's apartment and stood downstairs for nine whole hours.
The once arrogant Alpha, now disheveled, stared at the tightly closed window and dialed her new number over and over again like a paranoid stalker.
On the hundredth try, the call connected.
"Eric, are you out of your mind?"
Bella's voice was raspy with sleep and undisguised impatience.
Eric's hand trembled as he held the phone, tears flowing without warning.
The mighty Alpha was crying like a lost child.
"Bella, I'm sorry... I know I was wrong."
"I really know I messed up. I've regretted it every day for the past year. Please, don't marry him."
"As long as you come back, I'll do anything. I'd even die if you asked me to. Just take me with you."
He was incoherent, trampling his own dignity, trying to trade this extreme humility for a shred of pity.
There was a long silence on the other end.
Eric held his breath, thinking she was hesitating, thinking she was moved.
Finally, Bella spoke.
Her voice was steady, without a ripple of emotion. "Fine, Eric. The past is in the past. I'm over the misunderstandings and the pain."
"I forgive you. Now stop calling me. I need to sleep."
Click—
The call ended.
Eric froze, then wild joy surged in his heart.
She said "forgive."
He naively thought that as long as she forgave him, everything could go back to the way it was.
The next morning.
Eric ran across half of New York to the breakfast shop Bella loved most two years ago.
He waited in line for two hours to buy her favorite smoked salmon bagel.
This was Bella's favorite flavor two years ago.
Back then, whenever Eric bought this for her, she would be so happy she'd hug and kiss him for ages.
At eight-thirty, Bella came downstairs.
Eric immediately went up to her. Like he was offering a treasure, he held out the warm paper bag, a fawning smile plastered on his face.
"Bella, good morning."
"It's your favorite smoked salmon bagel—light on the onions, extra pickles. I went a long way to get it. Eat it while it's hot."
Bella stopped. Her eyes held none of the emotion or surprise Eric had expected.
Only weariness.
Bella said indifferently, "The smell of smoked salmon makes me want to vomit now."
Eric's smile froze on his face. He looked lost.
"How can that be? It's your favorite... two years ago, you ate it every day..."
"You said it yourself—that was two years ago." Bella cut him off, her tone cold enough to be cruel. "People's tastes change."
She looked at Eric, her gaze detached.
"Eric, did you know? After the miscarriage, I couldn't eat for three months. The smell of this greasy smoke just reminds me of the scent of blood in the car that day."
"This smell just disgusts me."
Eric's hand trembled. The bagel almost fell to the ground.
He didn't know.
Of course he didn't know.
At that time, he was busy taking care of the fake-pregnant Victoria, busy hanging up on her call for help.
"Besides, I only like the sandwiches Alex makes now."
With that, Bella took the paper bag.
Without any hesitation, she threw the bag into the trash can beside her.
Then she turned and ran into the morning light without looking back.
Eric stood there, staring at the breakfast in the trash.
In that instant, he finally understood the true meaning of "I forgive you" from the night before.
It wasn't absolution. It was indifference. She simply didn't care enough to hate him anymore.
Eric slowly sank to his knees.
In front of the passing pedestrians, he covered his face and let out a suppressed, agonizing whimper.
