Deprived Love - Chapter 29: Chapter 29

Third person's pov
“I love you, Chris.” Bella uttered. A weight lifted off her chest as she confessed to the man she loves, ignoring the fact for a moment that he was unconscious.
“I never thought I'd love you Chris, I hated you so much.” She whispered with a broken chuckle.
“You know now it hurts even more when I know I love you, it hurts even more that I am confessing to you in this state. That's wrong Chris, you should be stronger.”
Bella lifted her head and took Chris's hand between hers and cupped her cheek with Chris's hand.
A sob escaped her.
“Please… please… Chris wake up. I can't do this anymore… I can't pretend to be happy anymore. I miss your beautiful eyes… Please open them for me.”
Bella sniffed.
She sat beside Chris for an hour, sobbing more.
She stood up and pecked Chris's forehead and looked at him for one more time before exiting from the hospital.
“I really am not in a mood to fucking party!” Bella yelled.
“Watch your language, baby!” Bella's mom said, gaping at her.
“Mom! We really don't need to do this. I want to stay alone.” Bella whined.
“So you can cry till sleep gets over you?” Aria uttered.
“Can't you just shut up, bitch!” Bella yelled but instantly lowered her head when she caught her mom's glare on her.
“Fine!” She uttered and rushed to her room. She pulled her hair frustratingly and threw the pillow towards the door.
She glanced at her phone, and opened the gallery. Her eyes glistened again.
“Chris, is it too hard to do a fucking pose?!”
“I really have no experience in this Bella. And stop yelling at me.” Chris said bewildered.
They were sitting at the same garden where Chris was kidnapped before getting drenched in rain.
“You don't have to do anything, just look at the camera without closing your eyes and smile.”
She gave a cheerful smile, holding her phone up for a selfie for the fifth time, her expression lively and playful. But Chris stood awkwardly and unsure, not quite sure how to pose. He fidgets a bit, trying to smile but it comes off as stiff and forced.
“Can't you be comfortable, you look like a damn statue.” Bella said with a frown.
“I am trying!” Chris whined. Bella giggled watching him struggle.
Bella huffed and took Chris's hand and placed them on her waist. She took a step back so her back is pressed to Chris's chest.
He gulped by the close proximity.
“Chris!”
“Hmm?” Chris hummed looking down at Bella.
“You look handsome, look at the camera. We look good together, don't we?” Bella chirped enthusiastically, holding the phone.
Chris looked at the camera and smiled, watching Bella's wide toothy grin.
And Bella clicked the camera button taking a selfie with a click sound.
Chris frowned when he realised Bella tricked him.
“You didn't mean it, right? You just said that to click a selfie.” Chris uttered leaning against a tree.
Bella didn't answer him for a while as she was busy admiring the photo.
She showed the photo to Chris and he smiled too.
“Dummy, I wanted to click a picture of both of us, because we look good together and you looked handsome.” Bella said, rolling her eyes.
Chris's heart beat turned wild as maybe for a moment but Bella pictured both of them together.
His thoughts were interrupted by Bella's laughs.
“What?” He questioned.
“Look at this, you look like you are holding your pee in this, such a fake smile!” Bella laughed more and Chris rolled his eyebrows but he smiled giddily.
“Send the good one to me.” Chris said and Bella nodded.
“No.” Bella mumbled still zooming in and zooming out the photo.
“Why?” Chris asked.
“Because you made me struggle too much to click a perfect one. But I can send you the first one in which-”
“Don't complete that sentence!”
Bella giggled.
“Send me the photo, name your demand.”
Bella thought for a while.
“Take me to a beach date and let me prepare you for that day. You'll wear clothes and style your hair according to me. I'll pick your clothes too.”
This didn't even sound like a punishment to Chris, his heart already started bubbling with excitement by the plan.
“Fine!” Chris uttered. “Promise me, you'll send this.”
“But I am smiling so ugly in this.” Bella pouted.
“Your smile can never be ugly, Bella.”
“Fine I'll send you, promise. Stop buttering me up."
Chris let out a soft chuckle.
“I've sent you the photo as promised Chris, I am still waiting for it to be seen.” Bella hugged the photo tightly to her chest and sobbed silently not to make her friends and family worry.
“Bella still cries daily, she's just pretending to be okay.” Aria announced with a serious expression.
“How'd you know?” Mrs. Smith asked.
“I know her because I've known her the most here. While both of you-” she pointed towards Bella's parents, “used to scold her, she would cry for hours and act like nothing happened when she went back from my home. But I can see just by her eyes that she cried hard.” Stella uttered.
Mr. And Mrs. Smith visibly gulped as they were guilty.
“So the conclusion is Bella is sad deep within and we should make sure this party will help her lift her mood.” Aria said, crossing her arms.
And everyone nodded.
The atmosphere of the party was warm and inviting, filled with twinkling fairy lights, vibrant decorations, and a mix of cheerful, familiar faces.
As Bella enters the hall and opens the door, she's greeted by a chorus from her loved ones, who were all gathered together with beaming smiles. The room was filled with colourful balloons, streamers, and a large banner that reads, “We Love You”
Aria and Stella, knowing her favourite things, put together a thoughtful array of her favourite foods, drinks, and desserts. There's a table overflowing with snacks she loves, from homemade comfort food to her favourite indulgent treats. In one corner, there’s a small stage or area set up with a karaoke machine, as they know she loves to sing.
The music playing in the background was a playlist of songs that they all have memories attached to—songs that make her smile and maybe even laugh at the shared memories.
Throughout the evening, the focus was on to lift her mood and reminding her how loved she is.
Bella hugged her parents followed by Aria and Bella, then Liam murmuring a thank you.
As the night goes on, the initial surprise gives way to laughter and joy. Bella, initially overwhelmed, gradually relaxed and started to enjoy herself. She sang a song or two, even joined in on a silly group number that gets everyone laughing.
At a certain point, there was a quiet moment where she looked around at everyone, her eyes welling up with tears—not from sadness, but from gratitude. It’s clear that she feels supported and loved, and that this night has made a significant difference in her outlook. Her parents no more regretted her birth and truly started loving her.
She took a sip from her mocktail when she saw Liam running towards her.
“Bella!” Liam called breathlessly.
“What happened, Liam?” Bella asked worriedly.
Liam bent taking deep breaths holding his knees to calm himself down, he whispered-
“Chris is awake.” And Bella stood frozen.