Chapter 13: Departure Day

Fort International Airport.

Bella feels sad about leaving the country but knows it’s time to go.

Her priority is to distance herself from Tristan and his family. Besides, she wants to ensure a peaceful and secure delivery of her baby and regain her strength before returning to this country.

However, the time to return here was still uncertain; she didn’t know when that would happen.

Walking along the gate, she feels even sadder, but later, her mind is distracted when she hears Noora asking her.

“We’re finally leaving…” Noora, walking beside Bella, glanced at her. “Young Miss, are you sure you don’t want to call your grandpa?”

Bella didn’t rush to reply to Noora. She settled herself first in the waiting area near their gate.

She did want to call her grandpa but was worried that if she informed him about her divorce from Tristan, he might be angry, and his heart disease could worsen.

“Aunty, I’m hesitant about talking to him,” Bella said.

Noora was confused to hear, “What are you afraid of?”

“My Grandpa might be suspicious if I told him we are moving to Sweden. Well, Grandpa is smart. He will guess that Tristan and I are divorced…”

“Ah, you are right.” Noora agreed with Bella; Old Master Donovan will definitely know.

Silence hangs in the air. But later, Noora asked again. “We can’t hide this for too long, miss…”

“Hmm, I know,” Bella faintly smiled. “If one-day Grandpa knows, at least we are far away.

He will not come after us to Sweden. And he will be less angry, so this is the right decision, Aunty.” Bella said. She was crying internally, but on the surface, she was smiling.

Bella turned her gaze away as I wanted to avoid Noora’s other question. At that moment, she didn’t want to talk about her family because every time she remembered them, her heart felt hurt.

However, before Bella could completely forget everything about her family matter, she was shocked to hear someone recognize her.

“Bells…” a man’s voice could be heard from behind.

Bella looked over her shoulder and saw a tall man with army-cut hair standing in the back, wearing a black shirt with the same colored jeans. A small smile appeared to frame his flawless face.

This was the first time Bella saw him again in so many years. He still looked handsome, but his aura differed from the last time she saw him. Now, he exuded an aura of strength, discipline, and confidence. Standing tall with a well-built physique, he carried himself with a commanding presence.

“S-Sean Spencer—” Bella couldn’t hide how surprised she was to meet him here. She didn’t expect this man to appear at her gate.

‘Was he also flying the same plane as me?’ She wonders.

Bella stood from her seat and stood before him, “Sean, are you traveling to Sweden too?” she asked.

1

Sean Spencer didn’t say anything but moved to guide her to sit in the corner. Afterward, they sat in chairs near the glass wall facing the plane parked outside. He finally answered her, “No. But, to another country…”

“Ah, I thought you also flew to Sweden,” Bella smiled, embarrassed with her thoughts.

For a fleeting moment, Bella entertained the idea that destiny was playing a role in their encounters. This marks the second time they unexpectedly crossed paths after Sean found her passed out in the street.

‘Seriously, Bell!? Throw away those strange thoughts,’ She couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.

She knows that their current meeting is purely coincidental. If Sean had been interested in her, he would have undoubtedly reached out after their conversation two days ago.

However, he hadn’t even sent a text.

Bella slightly shakes her head, trying to throw away her wild thoughts. She asks, “Sean, are you alone?”

She knows this country has a rule forbidding military men from traveling to another country unless they are on official military duty. But now, he was alone. It looks like he wants to go on holiday.

He gazed at her, “Yes.”

“Why are you traveling abroad? I mean… Aren’t military officers like you restricted from leaving the country?” she asked curiously.

Sean’s face instantly stiffened, but a second later, he regained composure, and a faint smile appeared.

“Bells, I’m sincerely sorry, but I can’t disclose my reason,” he said calmly. However, when he caught sight of her beautiful gray-light eyes staring back at him, a conflict seemed to stir in his mind.

‘Damn it! Why did this feeling hit me again!?’ Sean tries to distract his mind, but this time, he replaces it hard to do so.

Bella refrained from pressing him further; she sensed this was connected to his military duties, a topic not to be taken lightly. She only smiles and turns her gaze, looking at the scenery outside.

“I’m sorry I can’t provide specifics, but so that you know…” Sean’s voice surprised Bella.

When she turned her gaze at him, she was even more surprised when she saw him lean closer to her. She held her breath, afraid to make a move.

“I’m not a regular soldier; I’m in the special forces,” Sean whispered. “Whatever rules you heard about military men in our country don’t apply to my military branch. That’s why I have the freedom to visit other countries.”

Bella blinked several times, gazing at Sean, who slowly pulled his head away, yet his intense gaze lingered on her.

“I see—” Bella said awkwardly. Later, something crossed her mind. “Sean, I need your help…”

Sean was taken aback by her suddent request. “Yes, you may say that. If I can, I’ll help you…”

“I’m not sure if you can do it,” Bella said hesitantly, but she voiced her concerns anyway. “Can you erase my traces?”

Sean raised his eyebrows slightly, puzzled by her question. Observing Sean’s confusion, Bella continued her sentence.

“Ugh, I mean, as far as I know, in the military… let alone special forces, there are usually cyber experts, a hacker. Can you ask them to erase my traces of flying to Sweden?” she asked.

Sean didn’t answer immediately. His mind reels back to two nights ago when Bella had explained that she was divorced and wanted to move on, living abroad.

Hearing her request only deepened his suspicion that she had divorced her jerk husband and clearly wanted to remain hidden from him.

‘Who the hell is that man?’ Suddenly, a thought crossed his mind — to replace out the identity of her ex-husband, even if it meant breaking his promise several years ago never to investigate Bella’s personal life.

“Sean, if you can’t, it’s okay…” Bella said again after she saw Sean seemed to feel pressured and worried about her unreasonable request.

She had no choice but to use her connections, even though she hesitated to contact them. Because if her old connection replaces out she is no longer married, her life will definitely change. She will return to her old self — something she wants to avoid, at least for now.

“Sure, I can do it for you,” Sean’s calm voice echoed.

Bella was surprised to hear, “Y-You can do that?” she asked.

“Yes,” Sean said confidently. “Are there any other requests?”

“I just want no one to know where I am. Well, except you, of course. I will give you my address later after I settle there…”

“No need. I can replace you—”

Once again, Bella was shocked. ‘Does he have a high position in the special forces? How can he be so confident?’