Deprived Love - Chapter 10: Chapter 10

Third person's pov
“How will I stay without you, Bells?!” Stella said sobbing badly, pressing Bella into her in a bone crushing hug.
“My horrible time here was a little better because of you Stella. I'll never forget you!”
Both friends cried their hearts out.
“Now let me go. I have to make coffee.”
Stella withdrew from the hug and pouted.
Bella leaned and pecked Stella's forehead.
“I'll be back.”
Bella then prepared the coffee for Chris. She is very much annoyed at him after knowing the truth. Her parents never really left her, it was Chris all along.
How many sleepless nights she spent, thinking that her parents didn't love her, but they actually cared for Bella.
She walked to Chris's office only to be met by his lifeless eyes.
He looked pale, lean and lifeless.
Chris, looked towards her smiling faintly.
“I was waiting for you. Just looking at you gives me warmth, darling.”
Bella won't lie but Chris made her feel things which she ignored.
She handed him the coffee cup.
“I am going now.”
“I know.”
“I hope to never meet you again.”
Chris let out a smile and nodded.
“I know.”
Bella became pissed by Chris's behaviour change. He was better when he was arrogant. He is making things hard for Bella to hate him.
Bella furiously got out of the office and shut the door behind her with a loud thud sound.
Chris looked at the coffee and the feelings he numbed by drinking alcohol last night came back.
He couldn't forget Bella's hate filled eyes for him. Not even in his deepest fantasies can he imagine that Bella will love him.
Leave the love, Bella will never even forgive him.
And it hurts him deeply.
Bella had nothing to take with her because she wore the clothes she was wearing the day she was kidnapped. She left all the other clothes in her room.
So she was basically empty handed. She hugged Stella for the last time with teary eyes. Stella was the only good thing that happened to her in these two months.
She glanced at Chris who was staring at her with a saddened expression, which made her heart feel heavy.
She then shook hands with some other servants with whom she worked with in the kitchen.
And then she passed a smile to Liam and he smiled faintly.
Bella then got inside the car and it soon disappeared.
Bella fiddled with her fingers. She is still not prepared to meet her parents but she had nowhere to go.
After 20 minutes she is outside her mansion. She decided that she would not stay there at her parent's. She would buy an apartment on rent with the money she earned working at Chris's mansion.
She doesn't want to be involved in the Mafia shits anymore.
But till she gets an apartment she has to stay at her parent’s.
She rang the bell. She heard faint sounds of footsteps after a minute.
The door was open and the lady standing at the door smiled widely.
It was her mom.
She took Bella in an embrace.
Why is Bella's mother not shocked or worried by seeing her, she was behaving as if Bella is back after a picnic.
Her father then came confusingly to see what's taking Mrs. Smith so long and he gasped seeing his daughter.
He hugged her too.
“I thought you would be here till afternoon, you came early, child.” Mrs. Smith mused.
And Mr. Smith smiled.
“How'd you know I will be here?”
“Chris informed us.”
Bella's eyes widened.
“What!?”
Mr. Smith's expression turned to a serious one.
“Let's talk.”
The Smith family sat in the living room. Bella on a couch and Mr. And Mrs. Smith opposite her.
“Bella, you must already know what an asshole I was with him. When he took you away from us, I deeply regretted my actions, Bella. Back then, I grew greedy. But I never thought that my shitty act would have such a big impact on Chris's life.” Mr. Smith said.
He took a deep breath and continued-
“Later I realised that the mafia group I collabed with just used me to take their revenge on Mr. Wilson. I didn't intend to do that. Mr. Wilson was killed by them without my information and he succeeded in manipulating me. And I am really guilty for that.” Bella could see that her father is genuinely sorry for his actions. Mrs. Smith nodded too.
He continued, “But I knew that Chris won't do any harm to you while you were captured, so we were not that worried. He has a good heart deep within but he just pretends to be evil. And… we don't know if you are aware or not but Chris loves you.”
“How do you know, dad?”
Mr. Smith and Mrs. Smith exchanged some glances.
“You remember when we used to scold you and threaten you, not to talk to Chris?”
Bella nodded.
“Despite all the struggles they faced, Chris used to write letters for you and he sent it. But I was an asshole and I hid it from you.” Mr. Smith handed her the pile of papers.
“He sent you letters for almost half a year but when he got no responses he stopped sending them. You were important to him, but… but we made him hate you. I made his life a living hell. He lost everything because of us.” Mr. Smith gently wiped a bead of tear that escaped his eyes.
Bella was shocked both - by the statement and by seeing her father cry. She never saw him cry.
“Even by all my actions, he didn't harm you. And sent you back to us. He informed us yesterday that you will be here and aside from all his hate for me, he requested me to keep you safe.”
Bella got up and locked her up inside her room. She couldn't believe her dad was so evil. He realised his mistakes but her heart clenched imagining the pain Chris had gone through. There was not much of an age difference between Chris and Bella. Yet their childhood and teenage years were different.
Chris never got to enjoy his teenage era, instead he lost everything. His father, his unborn sibling, his house, and his mother's mental health.
She glanced at the pile of wrinkled papers in her hands and gently opened it.
“Hi bella.How are you? I am not really doing fine but I miss you. When will we meet next time?”
“Hi Bella, I waved at you yesterday. Didn't you see me? You were looking pretty in that dress.” A pang fell on her chest as she remembered how rudely she ignored the innocent boy.
“Bella! Why are you not replying to my letters? I am not feeling good these days. Dad is stressed so much. But I have good news: my mom is pregnant, bella. Three of us will play together once the problems are solved.”
“Hey Bella, After a long time. I am writing you a letter again. Mom is admitted to hospital, maybe the baby is not feeling well. They won't tell me the reason. How are you doing though?”
“Bella!!! You know I will be having a baby sister. They did a gender test. But mom and dad looked tense. I heard there will be exams in your school, all the best. I miss you so so much. Why are you not replying to me Bella?”
“Bella, I asked my mom the reason why you are not replying to me. She said that you and your parents betrayed us. I don't believe her Bella. I know you wouldn't do that. You'll marry me right? I am afraid I will not be able to send you letters after this. Mom came to know that I am secretly doing this. But I'll still wait for your letter. Don't think I forgot you, you'll be my best friend forever. I miss playing hide and seek with you though. I know you miss me too. We'll solve all the problems and I'll come for you okay? Bye my future wife!!! Hehehe.
~ Your Chris
Bella's eyes glistened by the warm letters, Chris was truly innocent but situations took away his innocence and somewhere her parents and she was at fault too.
And she felt she and her family are no better than Chris. Bella intentionally ignored Chris, maybe if she was with him, he could've had some support.
A sob escaped her but her phone rang which she just switched on.
It was an unknown number.
“Bella, Liam this side. Please… please come here. Chris needs you! He is out of control!”