Chapter 20N
Irish’s POV
I turned off my phone immediately, as if that could sever all the chaos that had just unfolded. My steps were hurried as I walked along the city sidewalk, now damp with a light drizzle. I no longer cared about the stares of strangers or the sound of passing cars. I just wanted to go home. Finding a taxi had been frustrating, but I finally managed to stop one and asked the driver to take me home.
Fear haunted me the entire ride. My chest felt tight, and my hands trembled on my lap. When the taxi stopped in front of the Mitchell family’s house, I took a deep breath before stepping out. As soon as I opened the door, the first person I saw was Aunt Caroline. Her face looked tired, but her sharp gaze pierced through me. I lowered my eyes, trying to avoid eye contact, and quickly walked toward my room.!! “Bella,” she called out firmly. “I need to talk to you.”
I stopped. My breath caught in my throat. There was no other choice. I turned around and slowly made my way to the living room. Aunt Caroline was already seated on the sofa, her expression commanding.
“Sit,” she said.&
I obeyed without saying a word. I sat with my back straight but my head still bowed. I knew I had fallen far short of her expectations. I had disappointed her.
She remained silent. Her stare was intense. I took a deep breath and decided to speak first.
“Harry has ended things with me, Aunt,” I said softly.
“I already know. He just called. Anya was rushed to the hospital,” she replied, expressionless. “I deeply regret this, Bella… because it was you who caused Anya’s relapse. Her life is like a broken switch, and you just smashed it further. If this continues, it’s best that you leave this house.”
I lowered my head even further. Her words were like a knife, slowly cutting into my heart.
“I’ll give you some money so you can rent an apartment or find a proper place to stay. Anya is like a daughter to me. I can’t let her get hurt again because of you. To be honest, I do care about you, Bella. But right now… Anya needs us more than you do.”N
Aunt Caroline placed a stack of cash on the table in front of me. I looked at it for a moment, then gently pushed it back toward her.
“Thank you, Aunt. But I still have enough money to rent an apartment.”
“Don’t be stubborn. Just take it. I don’t want people to think I abandoned you after promising to take care of you.”
“I can’t accept this, Aunt. I’ll pack my things tonight.”
Aunt Caroline said nothing more. She simply turned her face away. The money remained on the table. I stood up, gave a small bow as an apology, then headed to my room.
In the room, I began packing all my belongings. The space felt increasingly quiet and empty. I really shouldn’t have stayed here any longer. Just like I planned from the start–I needed to stand on my own.
As I stepped out of the room with my suitcase in hand, I paused when I heard Aunt Caroline’s voice on the phone in the living room.
“What? Anya agreed to marry Harry?” Her tone suddenly turned cheerful. “Thank God… all right, I’ll head to the hospital right away!“}
Aunt Caroline’s face lit up. She looked relieved, like a heavy burden had finally been lifted. She quickly called the driver and got ready to leave.
I approached her for a moment. “Aunt…”
She turned to me. A faint smile appeared on my face.§
“I’m happy to hear the news. It means… my mission was successful.”
“Anya agreed to marry Harry. Don’t leave just yet, Bella. Wait for us to return later,” she said, a bit hurriedly.§
“I’m glad to hear it,” I replied softly.
Aunt Caroline gave a slight nod with a thin smile, then rushed out of the house. As her car drove away, my taxi arrived. The driver helped load my suitcase.\
Before stepping into the car, I glanced back at the Mitchell family’s house. Even though I hadn’t spent much time there, that house had left a meaningful mark on my heart.”
I arrived at the rented house I had prepared well in advance. A minimalist home on the outskirts of the city. Not luxurious, but enough to start a new life. The owner–a middle–aged woman I had met through social media–welcomed me kindly.
“Here’s the key to the house. Since it hasn’t been occupied for a while, it’s a bit dusty. I’ll send someone over tomorrow to help with the cleaning,” she said as she handed me the key.
“Thank you, Auntie.”
I unlocked the door and stepped inside. The scent of dust greeted me, but the house was still well–maintained. Simple, warm, and cozy. I liked the peaceful vibe it gave off. Today, I would only clean the bedroom. My body was far too tired to take care of everything else.\
The next morning, I woke up with a heavy head. My phone rang several times. Dozens of missed calls–from Harry and Aunt Caroline. My heart pounded. What happened?
801 PM.
0:0
OPEN THE DOOR RIGHT NOW! Harry shouted the moment the call connected. His voice echoed so loudly, I nearly dropped the phone…
Knocking sounds and the sharp chime of the doorbell kept ringing from the front of the house. Annoyed and sluggish, I dragged myself to the front room. I opened the door.
And there he was.M
Harry. Standing with a furious face and blazing eyes.
“How did you know I was living here?” I asked in shock.%
Harry barged in without permission. His eyes quickly scanned the room, and the next second, he sneezed repeatedly.
“How can you live in a dump like this? Come home!” he said, then without another word, grabbed my wrist and tried to pull me with him.
I quickly brushed his hand away. “Hey! What’s wrong with you? I don’t want to. From now on, I’m staying here.”
Harry sighed, his face tense. “Come on, Bella. I’m sorry about last night. I panicked. Anya had a relapse… But she’s okay now. She’s looking for you.”
“I’m fine with that. I understand. But this is my choice. I’m staying here.“2
“Why? You can still stay at my house. It would be so nice if the three of us–you, me, and Anya–lived under one roof. You heard it from my mom, right? Anya finally agreed to marry me. I’m so happy! Truly happy! And I owe it all to you, Bella. I’m deeply grateful.”
Harry looked genuinely excited. Without thinking–whether reflexively or something else–he suddenly pulled me into a tight hug. Warm. Grateful.
“Okay… but please, keep some distance,” I said softly, gently pushing him away.
He gave an awkward smile. “Sorry, that was spontaneous. I’m just happy, that’s all.“%
After things calmed down a bit, I tried to explain again.Д
“I can’t go back to your house, Harry. It would feel weird. I don’t want to come between you two. My presence might trigger Anya to act out like before. I don’t want that to happen again.“}
Harry fell silent for a moment, his expression turning somber.2
“Yesterday… you were annoying, Bella. We lost our minds. That’s why I said those harsh things… hurtful things.“%
“I’m okay. Really. I don’t feel like you abandoned me. This is entirely my own decision. And I hope… you, your family, and Anya can respect that.”
Harry looked down, then slowly nodded.”
“We’re still friends, right?” he asked softly.”
“Of course,” I replied. “By the way, when are you marrying Anya? The sooner, the better, right?“?
Harry gave a small smile. “On the date we were originally engaged.”}
“Oh… Okay. I’ll help however I can with your wedding preparations.”
“Thank you, Bella. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to ask me… or Anya. I’ll make it up to you.“!
“Just… the two of you being happy together is enough for me.””
We looked at each other. Smiles spread across our faces. Strangely, the moment felt peaceful–comfortable, even. Maybe for the first time, we were truly in sync. It felt odd, but also relieving. Without realizing it, we laughed together. I was sure Harry felt the same about our new relationship–one that was no longer complicated.
“Well then. I’m heading home.“>
“Okay.. bye.”
Not long after Harry left, my phone rang. An unknown number appeared on the screen. My body tensed instantly. My hand trembled as I reached for it. Harry, who hadn’t gone far, noticed. He glanced at my phone, then without saying a word, snatched it from me.
“Is he trying to reach you again?” Harry asked, clearly worried.”
I nodded slightly.
