Deprived Love - Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Third person's pov
"Wasn't it too much, Chris? We both know she doesn't deserve this."
For the very first time after being the mafia boss, Chris's breath hitched.
Is it the feeling of guilt? Chris never did anything in his life to feel guilty. He never killed anyone who was innocent.
The images of Bella fainting, when she was in his arms replayed through his mind.
"Did I really go overboard this time?"
"Chris, I know you see your younger self in Bella and that's what you want to destroy. She got the privileges you didn't, and you are just envious of her. But what's her fault in this? Don't do things that you regret, Chris. Or maybe you... you still have feelings for her and you are convincing yourself the other way around by torturing her?"
Once again Chris's mind stopped working.
"No... no.. I can't let Liam's words get into my mind!"
"Why are you so quiet, buddy. It's very unnatural to see your mouth shut. And why is your face so pale?"
"I... I want to be alone."
Chris dashed out from the garden and locked himself in the room.
He stripped his clothes and started taking a warm shower. Memories rushed into his mind, Chris can't deny that he spent the most beautiful moments in his life with Bella. Which he forgot a very long ago but now it all started coming into his mind.
Chris was alone in his bedroom sitting on the couch with his head in his hands. The room was quiet, except for the faint hum of the refrigerator in the background. It was late at night, and the dim light from a single lamp casts long shadows across the room.
He stares at the floor, his mind racing with thoughts he can't seem to sort out. There's an uneasiness gnawing at him, a feeling of guilt that he can't quite understand. He thinks back to his recent interactions with Bella, replaying their conversations and her expressions in his mind. Everything seemed fine on the surface, but something feels off to him.
He gets up and starts pacing the room, trying to shake off the discomfort. "Why do I feel like this?" he mutters to himself, running a hand through his hair. He stops in front of the mirror, looking at his reflection as if searching for answers in his own eyes.
He remembers how she smiled at him when he saw her for the first time, first time he felt butterflies, but now, that smile feels tainted in his memory, that smile is gone because of him. He replayed the fear in her eyes towards Chris, which he gave her himself.
He sits back down, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. He feels a pang in his chest, a mix of anxiety and regret, but regret for what? He must be heartless and what he did was normal in mafia. He did much worse to his enemies, he even had to kill some close people who betrayed him, but he never felt this way.
He sighs, dropping the phone beside him. The guilt is there, real and undeniable, but the reasons remain elusive. All he knows is that something is wrong, and it's tearing him up inside, even if he can't quite figure out why.
Chris shoved away all the stupid thoughts away and wiped himself. He wore a loose white shirt and black trousers. He needed coffee to work. And the ravenette is addicted to the coffee Bella makes.
He ordered John to bring coffee for him.
He opened his laptop to distract himself and started scrolling through some business websites. He heard a faint knock and muttered a 'come in'.
His eyes widened when he saw the blonde girl. He was expecting John to bring the coffee for him.
The blonde girl seemed tired. Her beautiful doe eyes were red, maybe due to sobbing, and her face was puffy. But she still managed to look pretty. No other girl besides Bella caught Chris's attention ever.
She was the most beautiful girl Chris ever laid eyes on.
She gently bowed and placed the coffee on the table without sparing a glance at the ravenette.
A sense of annoyance rushed through him by being ignored by the girl. Before Bella and Chris came across, she used to glare at Chris as if she was given a chance, she would murder him. Which Chris liked unknowingly but seeing the girl ignore him, Chris was pissed off.
She bowed once again after placing the coffee cups and then turned around to leave.
"Wait." Chris uttered. Bella turned towards him but her eyes were still on the ground.
"Look at me." He ordered.
Bella finally looked at his hazel eyes. And his breath hitched by the brown doe eyes. She had really big eyes.
But it was a blank, no worry, no anger, no hate, nothing.
"Be ready this weekend, I am taking you somewhere. Dress nicely"
Bella's blank glare turned to a scared expression.
"Is he going to sell me to become a prostitute!?"
She instantly got on her knees and joined her hands. Her eyes glistened. Chris furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
"Please Chris, Please... I am sorry. I am sorry for slapping you... I just lost control.."
"What are you saying?"
"Please don't.... Don't sell me!"
Chris's eyes widened, a gasp escaped him. This was the first time he hated seeing the scared expression on Bella.
"I am not going to sell you. I am taking you somewhere else, we'll be back here before midnight. You are not going anywhere."
Bella sighed with relief.
She bowed standing on her feet again.
"Thank you. I'll be ready" And then she left the room.
Chris was still annoyed at himself. Why did he ask Bella to go with him?
It's been four days. Chris tried ignoring Bella to figure out his thoughts. He asked John to bring him coffee made by Bella.
Meanwhile Bella was more than happy to not meet the mafia boss. She enjoyed it with Stella. Both girls worked together making their bond stronger.
But finally the day is here, Bella was confused what to wear but Stella helped her.
She wore a simple red dress reaching below her knees. Stella did a little touch up with the makeup and she kept her blonde hair open.
Bella didn't want to doll up as she had no interest in going with Chris. But Stella insisted that she is getting to go outside the mansion after a long time, she should utilise this opportunity.
Bella is still mad at Chris because he made her witness the horrible torture scene. But she was in no place to be mad, she had to take the mafia boss's order.
John came to inform her that the Mafia boss is waiting for her. She grabbed her bag and kept some tissue papers and makeup products with her.
Bella nervously followed him and the cold air kissed her beautiful face.
She saw Chris leaning against the car scrolling something on his phone. He looked ethereal, Bella's heart skipped a beat. Chris's mere presence was intimidating and attractive.
Meanwhile the ravenette turned the other way so that Bella couldn't notice his change of expression.
Chris thought he would just ignore the girl and straighten his thoughts, he believed he had succeeded but just a glance of the blonde and his non-existent heart started beating again.
He opened the passenger door and Bella with a confusing gaze sat.
Chris sat in the driving seat. The car ride was silent. Bella glanced at the moving trees, she smiled a little when she saw the moon. She is a selenophile for sure.
Chris noticed her slight smile and his breath hitched again.
The car stopped and they were outside a , secluded restaurant, hidden away from the bustling city streets.
"Why are we here?"
"Actually.. My friend opened this restaurant recently. He invited me."
"So, why did you bring me with you?" Chris uttered as if he didn't hear the girl's question.
"Let's get inside." Bella cursed under her breath, she hates being ignored.
"What's with the sudden change of behaviour!?!"
The restaurant was dimly lit, with soft, ambient lighting that casted a warm glow over the space. The tables were set with fine china, crystal glasses, and delicate candles, but every table was empty, save for one in the center, which is adorned with a stunning arrangement of flowers.
The silence was comforting, a stark contrast to the usual chaos of their lives.
He takes his seat across from her, his eyes never leaving hers. A waiter quietly approaches, pouring wine into their glasses before retreating, leaving them in their bubble of solitude.
The restaurant was empty, she wondered why but she didn't care to ask Chris about it. . It would've been a date for Bella if the situation was different.
Chris ordered himself and Bella was annoyed, at least he should have asked.
The next minute, steaks, and many more expensive dishes were at their table.
Bella licked her lips, it's been a long time since she had some expensive and tasty dishes.
She only got simple food as a worker in the mafia mansion.
Chris cleared his throat, gaining Bella's attention.
"Have it." Chris muttered.
Bella hungrily started eating, as she was starving too.
She sliced the steak, the delicious steak melted in her mouth, she suppressed her moan.
She felt Chris's gaze on her but she ignored him.
After finishing the food, Bells dabbed her mouth with the tissue.
"You know it's weird to see the daughter of a mafia having food so hungrily."
"If you hadn't captured me with you. You know your workers' food is horrible!"
"Oh, is it?"
It was maybe the first time in a month when Bella noticed an expression in Chris's hazel eyes, it was not blank.
There was an emotion, an emotion that made Bella's heart skip a beat.
And on the other hand, for the first time Chris saw an expression in Bella's eyes that was not anger or hate.
The childhood friends stared at each other's eyes, finding the answers to their doubts.
But none of them dared to speak. Their staring section was interrupted by Chris's phone ring.
He gently got up and walked to a corner turning his back and started talking.
Bella looked around, there was no one in the restaurant. She noticed that they were alone, no guards.
Perfect time to escape.
In one swift motion, she pushes back her chair, standing up carefully. She tip toed little further, as soon as she's out of his sight, her pace quickens.
She glances over her shoulder, half-expecting him to follow, but the coast is clear. As she reaches the restroom, she doesn't stop. Instead, she slips past it, heading for the back exit of the restaurant.
Her heart races as she pushes through the door, finding herself in a narrow alley. The cool night air hits her, and for a moment, she's frozen, overwhelmed by the reality of what she's doing.
But she doesn't have time to hesitate. She starts running, her heels clacking loudly against the pavement as she navigates through the maze of alleyways. She knows he'll realize she's gone any second now, and the thought spurs her to move faster.
The city lights blur around her as she sprints down the empty streets, her breath coming in ragged gasps. She has no plan, no idea where to go, but she knows she has to keep moving, to get as far away from him as .
But her breath hitched when she collided herself on something hard, someone's hard chest. She nervously lifted her face to see the person. She already recognised the scent but still she looked up to see his hazel orbs which were now red, His expression darkened, a dangerous glint in his eyes. He leaned a little closer against Bella's horrified face which turned pale and whispered -
"Wrong move, darling!"