Bella was not in the mood to go to the hotel, so she changed her route and drove home.

Steven was silent for a long time. Finally, he could not help but ask, “Ms. Bella, does Justin not knowthat you’re the heiress of KS Group?”

“Yeah,” Bella responded in a low voice. She looked tired.

Steven finally understood. No wonder Bella had to replace a substitute for herself the last time Justin cameunannounced to the office.

“Steve, I didn’t mean to hide it from you…”

“I understand.”

Bella raised her eyes in shock.

“No one wants to relive bad memories, so it’s natural that you’ll want to keep them locked up in thedeepest depths of your heart. I’m just worried about you and how your father will react when he replacesout about this. He’ll be distressed and heartbroken for you.” Steven’s hand that was holding thesteering wheel was clenched so tightly that his veins were bulging. His eyes were also watery.

Everyone in the Thompson family loved Bella. Yet Justin ruined her.

If Wyatt found out, he would probably chop Justin to pieces.

“I’ll hide it as long as I can. Now that I have experienced a failed marriage, I just want to be singleforever!”

Bella closed her eyes. Her mind kept replaying those hurtful words that Justin said. She smiled wrylyand said, “Marriage is really boring.”

“If you don’t get married, I won’t either.” Steven pledged his allegiance.

“No, don’t do that! You should get married. You’re my secretary, not a priest! If word of this spreads,people will think that I will only hire celibates. You’ll ruin my reputation!” Bella quickly waved in a panic.

Steven laughed awkwardly, feeling bitter in his heart.

He knew that he was not good enough for her, but he was willing to stay by her side and support hersilently.

“Ms. Bella, why did you want to marry Justin?”

Bella squinted her eyes. She looked dejected as a flurry of emotions surged in her heart.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pry…’

“When I was 11 years old, I went hiking with my class as a school activity. That was when I lost thesapphire pendant that my mother left me. I didn’t care about the teacher’s obstruction and went up

the mountains alone to look for the pendant in the dark. I went through all the paths I took, but I stillcouldn’t replace it. In the end, I got lost. There was a hurricane that night, and I was trapped in themountains with no signal on my phone. I was quite certain I would die there. At that time, Justinhappened to be working as a ranger in the National Forest Park during his summer vacation. He led histeam to search for me in the mountains despite the extreme weather. Finally, he found me behind arock, almost frozen…”

With a soothing voice, Bella narrated her past that occupied her entire youth.

“I opened my eyes and saw Justin in mountaineering gear. He looked so handsome even whendrenched. His eyes were shining brighter than the stars, and they were so captivating…”

“Wow! You’re doing great, little girl! Don’t be afraid. I’ll carry you down the mountain!”

That was the first time Bella met Justin, and it was love at first sight.

“Justin carried me down the mountain. He was afraid that I would fall asleep on the way back, so hekept telling me jokes that weren’t funny. He’s really bad at telling jokes.” Bella recalled the past, lookingcalm with a slight smile.

–“What’s your name, little girl?”

–“Well, if you don’t tell me, I’ll just call you little girl since you’re so small anyway…’

“I’m not small! I’m growing faster than the other girls!”

-“Well, you shouldn’t go around telling other boys about this.”

–“Why not?”

–“Because some bad boys will take advantage of you, silly.”

Bella’s breathing became unsteady, and her heart was pounding.

Justin was 17 years old at that time. He was not as tall or strong as he was now, but she already felt anirreplaceable sense of security with him.

Later, they almost fell off a cliff, but Justin held onto her tightly and saved her life.

Then Justin disappeared from her life for three years. The next time she saw him was on TV. He wasattending a charity event with the Salvador family.

From then on, Bella started chasing him wherever he went.

When she heard that Justin was on the battlefield, she decided to join Doctors Without Borders just soshe could silently accompany him.

She used to love him despite all odds, but now, she was so disheartened that she could no longer lovehim again.

Bella smiled bitterly. It turned out that thirteen years of infatuated love would one day end so tragically.

Steven listened quietly and felt shocked and regretful.

“But Steve, I really can’t bring myself to hate him.”

Bella stretched out her hand and felt the wind passing between her fingers, just like the love that she

could never grasp.

“I willingly loved Justin, so I don’t regret the things I have done. I’ve paid my debt to him.”

Justin was in a trance until he returned to Tideview Manor. His mind was buzzing, as if a thousand

flies were in his head.

He felt suffocated like a huge boulder was pressing down on his chest.

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