Deprived Love - Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Third person's pov
“Wrong move, darling!”
In a dimly lit alleyway, shadows casting ominous shapes on the walls. Bella, breathless and tense, was pressed against the cold brick wall, her heart racing. She's cornered, no escape in sight. Chris, tall and imposing, steps out of the shadows, his tailored suit sharp against the night’s darkness. His eyes, cold and piercing, lock onto hers with a mix of anger and worry.
His voice is low and dangerous as he speaks, “You thought you could just run away from me?” He takes a step closer, the tension between them thick.
She swallows hard, trying to steady herself.
For a moment, there’s silence, the only sound their uneven breathing.
He took a deep breath and tightened his hold.
“HOW DARE YOU TO RUN AWAY FROM ME!? I HAVE LOTS OF ENEMIES AROUND, WHAT IF SOMEONE HARMS YOU?!”
Bella flinched by Chris's yell, her eyes glistened by tears.
His hold got stronger around her wrists, Bella whimpered.
Bella was confused, why'd Chris care about her.
“Why do you care if someone harms me or not. I just want to escape from you. I can't even stand your sight, I HATE YOU THAT BADLY!” Bella lost her control. She is frustrated by her life. One thing that Bella loved the most was her freedom, she fought with her dad for that. Chris took away her freedom and her self respect.
Chris's grip became more bruising. His eyes turned darker.
“YOU ARE MINE TO KILL, MINE TO HARM, MINE TO KEEP AND MINE TO LOVE, REMEMBER THAT IN YOUR FUCKING MIND!”
Bella was at a loss of words.
“You are hurting me.” Bella said, trying to get out of the bruising hold.
“You are hurting me too, Bella.” Chris said softly.
“How am I hurting you?”
“I don't know. But it hurts.” It was like Chris was talking by himself.
A van stopped in front of them and John opened the door. Bella understood that the van is here for her. She took a long breath and got inside the van, lowering her head.
Chris stood out with a blank expression and just stared at the now disappearing van, he took a deep breath soaking the scent of the girl who was in his arms a moment ago.
"I just want to escape from you. I can't even stand your sight, I HATE YOU THAT BADLY!”
The words gave pain to him more than the multiple bullets he had been shot with. It didn't hurt emotionally but he could even feel the physical pain.
He clutched his chest from where his heart was beating a few inches deeper, and closed his eyes. A series of memories flashed into his mind, Bella's chuckles back then and now( while she was enjoying with Stella) , his heart beat quickned and he felt his body relaxed. The physical pain in his chest vanished.
He opened his eyes in a flutter, widening comically and he gasped.
And then the realisation hit him, when he saw the van disappear with Bella in it.
“I love her. Yeah, I still love her. I fucking love her!!”
The worry of her being harmed was not normal... The thought of burning the world just to glance her didn't seem normal... The hurt he felt by the words replaying in his mind that she hates him badly that she can't even stand his sight.
That feeling was so strong that he couldn't breath... And that feeling was.. it was... Love
Love
Oh, love.
He realised that maybe in the form of hate or love, Bella was in his mind all along.
When Bella used to ignore Chris, he was upset with her. When he was struggling back then, the mere thought of Bella gave him peace in an unusual way. He then despised her, was envious of her, and was upset with her. But she was there all along.
Maybe he was convincing himself that it was hate. Maybe he was convincing himself, by hurting her, that the hate is real. But there was love deep within. He used to get hurt more whenever he used to hurt Bella.
Chris always felt restless after hurting Bella, maybe because he was hurt by the actions too. One can't see the pain of the person he loves, that's why Chris felt pain too. He just pretended not to be affected.
His soul craved for the blonde girl. But the actual thing that made his heart break more is that he will never be loved by his love. Bella will never even forgive him, love is not possible at all. His first love will always be incomplete and he will never be able to love anyone who is not Bella.
He can't see galaxies in someone's orbs that's not Bella's. He could not crave for a chuckle that does not belong to Bella. If world word comes, Bella instantly came to his mind. And one can't escape his world. That's how deep he had fallen, and he finally realised that.
He would've to see Bella with someone else, someone who will be the luckiest to get her love, someone blessed enough to have her. Her love is perhaps the most precious thing that Chris can't buy.
He realised that he will have to let Bella go. Love can't be forced. He has the power to force anyone on the earth, to kill anyone but Bella…. He can't even imagine hurting Bella, now that he has realised his love.
But maybe…. Maybe what if Bella forgives him for his actions.
The thought disappeared as soon as it crossed his mind.
“That secret!!!”
Chris's eyes widened. He remembered something. He remembered what he had done, something that Bella still doesn't know. Bella will hate him even more when she knows the truth. But he had to tell her the truth, he can't live with one more guilt, he already has many. He regretted every single bad action towards Bella.
“Really Bells!! You tried to run away! You didn't even think of me?” Stella asked with the concerned expression.
“Yeah Stella, I don't know what crossed my mind. Maybe I just acted out of stupidity. I didn't think of any consequences, the only thing going on my mind was to run.”
“How…. How did Sir react?”
“He yelled at me, he is such a heartless and annoying jerk!!!”
“He… he just yelled at you? That's it?”
“What do you mean, by that's it?”
Stella was shocked and surprised that Bella is in front of her safely and sound, despite trying to escape.
Chris never lets the person who tried to escape live. In fact he tortures them so much that even their soul can't live at peace. And here Bella is cursing at the mafia boss without even a single fear.
“Bells, do you perhaps had a special relationship with Boss?” Stella asked remembering the day when she felt Chris's concern for Bella when she fainted. Chris tried to hide but Stella was a good observer.
“No, what are you saying, Stella. Are you out of your mind?”
“Bella, I am asking this because you are here safely after trying to escape, it's not possible. Sir never leaves anyone freely after they try to escape. He tortures them till they beg to die!!! A person who tries to escape is a betrayer for sir.”
Bella blinked repeatedly trying to progress Stella's words. She did find Chris's behaviour a little different. But it's practically impossible that Chris has feelings for her after all the things he did with her.
Their conversation was interrupted by John who ordered coffee for the mafia boss.
Bella nodded and made the coffee carefully trying to avoid every sort of mistake.
She knocked gently and opened the door after receiving a faint response.
She narrowed her eyes when Chris was sitting on the couch glancing at the beautiful scenery outside. Bella cleared her throat and gently placed the cup on the table. She was about to go when she heard a faint hiss, she turned back. She gasped by the scene in front of her. Chris was struggling to take the cup with his wounded hands. His hand was wounded and there was a large fresh cut, like someone hit him with a sharp object, fresh blood was oozing out of it.
“Chris, you are hurt!” Bella yelled when he was still struggling to take the cup.
Chris looked at her. Chris's heart felt warm when he heard his name from his love's mouth.
He stopped struggling and placed his hand on his left chest and smiled. His heart is beating wildly. The same feeling when Bella used to apply ointment on his wounds, whenever he bruised his knees, in their childhood.
Bella's heart skipped a beat when she saw the dimpled smile. It was like this is the 12 year old Chris in front of her. His smile is just as beautiful as it used to be.
Chris then realised Bella is still in front of him. He then smiled gently at Bella,
“Can you help to dress up my wounds?”