Deprived Love - Chapter 39: Chapter 39

Third person's pov
Bella and Andrew reached the club. A dimly lit, bustling nightclub with a vibrant, energetic atmosphere. The space was large, with high ceilings and a sleek, modern design. The walls were adorned with abstract art, and neon lights pulse in sync with the bass-heavy music playing from a state-of-the-art sound system.
The dance floor was packed with people moving to the beat, their bodies illuminated by swirling, multicoloured spotlights. A DJ booth elevated at the front, where a DJ was spinning records, nodding to the rhythm while manipulating various controls. The crowd cheers as the beat drops, their hands in the air, and the energy in the room intensifies.
To the side, there's a long bar made of polished black marble, with bartenders skillfully mixing cocktails. The shelves behind them were lined with an array of premium liquors, their glass bottles reflecting the light. People were gathered at the bar, chatting, laughing, and enjoying their drinks. Some were perched on high stools, while others leaned casually against the bar.
VIP areas were roped off, with plush leather seating and low tables filled with bottles of champagne and premium spirits. A few groups lounging there, enjoying a more exclusive experience with private service.
Above the dance floor, a massive chandelier made of LED lights changes colours, casting a kaleidoscope of hues across the room. The air was thick with the scent of perfume, cologne, and the faint smell of smoke, mixing with the cool, artificial breeze from the air conditioning. The music, lights, and crowd combined to create an immersive, almost hypnotic experience.
Bella gasped at the sight, it had been a long time for her clubbing…. Last time she sneaked out of her home with her friends to enjoy clubbing but she was afraid if her parents got to know about her absence … this time she is more excited and tension free of course.
Andrew gripped her wrist and took her to the bar and ordered a drink for her which she gladly accepted. The sharp liquid left a burning sensation in her throat.. he asked if she wanted more but she refused because she wanted to enjoy the night.
A red haired girl approached Andrew and started swaying with him, the girl swiftly dragged Andrew with her into the dance floor and soon he disappeared leaving a wink for Bella, she chuckled.
She leaned against the bar counter taking sips slowly when a muscled guy leaned next to her bobbing his head according to the beat. He turned towards Bella, hovering her with a smirk.
Bella bit her lips eying the guy… the guy had black eyes and had some piercings on his lip, eyebrows, and ears.
Seems like a brat...
“Wanna dance with me, beautiful?” The guy whispered.
Bella scrunched her nose as the guy reeked of alcohol and smoke.
“Nope.” Bella shook her head placing the empty glass at the counter… she placed her hands over the guy's buff chest and moved him back.
“Find another chic for you.” Bella winked and walked into the dance floor…. Swaying to the music, flipping her blonde hair.
In between the crowd she caught a sight of a shadowed figure standing at a distance with a mask covering his face. The man was dressed in black making him invisible amidst the dimly lit club.
But Bella smiled and turned away from the figure and smirked. The same guy earlier she met in the bar reached out to her and she wrapped her arms around him. Something in the guy's expression changed and he took a step back and disappeared. Bella smirked again. She started dancing more energetically and soon she felt a pair of hands wrapped around her waist making her halt. The warm breath fanned over her neck.. the person turned Bella around in a spin and instinctively her hand reached the man's chest.
And it was the same hazel eyes.
Her expression changed… all the daringness she had disappeared. She was prepared for this day… she knew it would happen tonight… she prepared herself but everything melted away as soon as her brown orbs met those hazel one's.
The hazel eyed man still had his mask on.. but the hazel eyes didn't have love, regret, or guilt in them as Bella expected… it had anger, fury and irritation.
Before Bella could register the moment she was picked up by the man in a bridal style… she just stared at the hazel eyes with a blank expression as the man took her out of the club. Her hold around his neck tightened instinctively as soon as the cold air hit her body.
She was dropped to the ground and the man yanked his mask away. And there was Chris standing gritting his teeth.
The moment seemed to stop for Bella, as she could feel sharp tears poking at the corner of her eyes… she stared at Chris's handsome face and then her gaze shifted to his wrist that still had the black beaded bracelet. She chuckled humorously and her chuckle soon was replaced with laughter.
Chris looked at the girl's behaviour with a frown. He expected Bella to hug him or kiss him or sob muttering I miss you and I love you. But here Bella is laughing as if a comedy show is happening.
“Got yourself time to finish your bullshit act?” Bella uttered, wiping her tears.
“W-what?” Chris stuttered.
Bella laughed again.
“You thought I would believe that you are dead, Chris? Do you think I'm stupid!? If you think that… I am sorry to burst your bubble Mr. Christian Wilson!” Bella yelled, making Chris breath hitch.
“Bella… Darling let me explain.” Chris whispered, coming closer to her.
“You are dead to me Chris. I don't need your fucking explanation here!” Bella uttered with a blank face.
“At least let me explain!” Chris yelled, Bella flinched.
“Fine. Be quick.” Bella let out and Chris exhaled.
“I would explain in short that the day you was kidnapped and I killed Jack in front of...I was terrified when I saw that fear in your eyes for me… I just couldn't stand that. I couldn't see fear in your eyes for me... I..I only want love within them for me. So I made a decision to leave the mafia for you.”
Bella's gaze softened for a minute and was soon replaced by a blank one.
“But it's not easy to just leave it. The people who trust me and work for me would be in danger if I just leave it so I framed my suicide making the world believe that I died. It was not complicated because nobody knew my face anyway… and most people who knew were already killed and the remaining I killed those who could be my potential enemy in these two months when the world thought I died.” Chris continued, “I handed my work to one of my close friends who is the leader of one of the biggest mafia, and he handed me his business in return. We practically made a deal.”
Chris stared at Bella hoping to find an answer but she just chuckled.
“I didn't get an answer for my problem though.” Bella uttered.
“What?”
Bella chuckled mockingly.
“What!? Really!? Why was I kept out of the plan Chris? I FUCKING TOLD YOU I LOVE YOU.. AND STILL YOU CHOSE TO TORTURE ME!” Bella yelled.
“Bella… because I didn't want you to be in danger… I was figuring out all the potential enemies, I was hidden from the world and there was a risk that my enemies would know I am alive so to avoid that I isolated myself. But Liam would have taken care of you... If you didn't just act stubborn and shut yourself. You just chose to proceed like a brat to trigger me. See I knew you love me but I didn't want you to be in a danger... I just can't afford that!”
“Yeah! Because you always thought of me as a weak, naive, fragile girl. You didn't care where the hell I was all these days. If I was okay or not… you knew I just had you back after the coma still you chose to leave me and kept the truth hidden from me… and you had the fucking audacity to ask your friend to inform me that you died! Fuck you and your friend! Did you really ever love me? Or you faked it like you faked your death!?”
Chris snapped his head towards Bella and pinned her against the car.
“Bella, don't you dare question my love towards you! Anyway you didn't seem sad at all.. you were chilling with one of your college guys and now you were throwing yourself on that club guy. You really think I didn't check on you.. I know everything!” Chris uttered in a deadly tone.
“Yeah, why must I care about you when you clearly didn't?” Bella spat.
“Bella, for fucks sake.. can't you just understand!? And you didn't believe I was dead so why are you doing this?”
“Yeah… I knew Chris you were alive. And only I know how I spent all these days knowing that you were alive still you were faking it with me. That you don't trust me enough.” Bella sniffled. Chris cupped her face and wiped her tears.
“Bella… baby I had no choice. I had to hurt you for a short time to give you happiness for longer. I am no longer in all those mafia shits you used to hate.”
“Liam knew… John knew… Aria knew. Only I was left.” Bella whispered.
“Aria… How'd you know?” Chris frowned.
“I didn't believe that you were dead from the very first when I saw your dead body from the news… I knew it was not you.”
“How?”
“Because he didn't have this bracelet.” Bella whispered, touching the bracelet in Chris's hand.
“What if I just removed it before attempting suicide?” Chris asked.
“You would embrace it more in such situations. And my instincts refused me to believe that you are dead.”
Chris cupped Bella's cheek gently.
“But I was fucked up as my mind was filled with ‘what ifs’, but it all became clear when I overheard Aria updating Liam about me when I was staying at her place.” Bella leaned in Chris's warm hands, “So I wanted to push you hard so you'll come in front of me sooner, and see you came just like I thought. I acted like that in front of Aria because I knew she would let you know.”
Chris chuckled and pulled Bella in a tight embrace sniffing her scent which gave him warmth.
“I missed you darling.” Chris whispered against Bella's neck.
“But I didn't.” Bella snapped and Chris withdrew from the hug hearing that.
“Really? Won't you love me anymore?” Chris pouted. Bella chuckled, “Relationship is incomplete without trust Chris and you just proved that you don't trust me. If you trusted me you would not let me suffer all this time.”
Chris pressed his lips in a thin line, not sure how to make Bella understand that it was for her safety, which Chris couldn't risk at any cost.
“Cat got your tongue, Chris?” Bella shook her head and was about to leave when Chris gripped her wrist gently.
“Where are you going?” Chris asked.
“Away from you.” Bella uttered trying to avoid his gaze.
“I made myself clear to you before that once you chose to stay with me, I'll not allow you to leave even if you want.” Chris uttered.
“And you promised, you'll not leave me still you did so fuck off.” Bella spat and took the keys out of her bag and drove away the car, Chris sighed.
After twenty minutes Bella reached her apartment and leaned against the door with teary eyes, she tried to register everything that happened tonight. The tears were soon replaced by a faint smile when she heard a knock and she knew who it was.