Bella gracefully tilted her head up, maintaining eye contact with Justin as she walked closer. At that
moment, it felt like every drop of blood in his body seemed to converge at the tip of his heart. His throat
tightened, and the muscles in his body tensed even further. It was as if every part of him was urging
him to be with Bella, longing to reach out to her right then.
Zoe, noticing Justinâs reaction, furrowed her brows slightly. She held onto him tightly, as if guarding a
precious treasure. Her overwhelming sense of possessiveness was triggered. She could sense that
Justin not only knew this beautiful woman but also cared deeply for her!
Just when Justin thought Bella was approaching him, she unexpectedly turned like a gentle breeze,
gliding past him.
âChristian!â Bella called out, leaving the bewildered Justin behind her.
âOh! My sweetheart!â Christian, walking from the other end of the corridor, saw Bella as if encountering
a long-lost friend. She waved at Bella with immense excitement and greeted her with kisses on the
cheek. It was evident how close the two of them were.
Everyone, including the three men and Zoe, was left speechless.
Having been Christianâs protege for three years, Zoe knew Christian as a solitary and somewhat
arrogant person. Christian rarely shared compliments and often had a sour expression.
âHow did this woman effortlessly earn the rare sight of a smile from her mentor?â
âMy dear, I never expected to see you in Savrow! OMG⦠If only I had known, I would have cleared my
schedule to have dinner with you!â Christian joyfully embraced Bella.
âYou still have rehearsals to prepare for. I wouldnât want to disturb you.â Bella spoke fluent French, her
tone soft and intimate as if it were her native language.
Bella used her identity as Sharon in her interactions with Christian, who had not only ordered more
than one custom dress from her but had also developed a close personal relationship with her. It could
be said that Bella had a magical charm. Anyone who collaborated with her would eventually become
her friend.
As Justin watched Bella chat happily with the internationally renowned pianist Christian, memories of
the past flooded his mind. His shoulders shuddered slightly, and suddenly, everything he thought about
the world turned upside down.
He remembered the early days of his marriage, when Bellaâs eyes used to light up with joy, much like
Zoeâs. Bella would come across interesting things, chatting away like those young girls.
However, he often neglected her, not sparing her a single glance. Gradually, Bella became quieter,
transforming into a silent presence at Tideview Manor, standing by his side.
In those three years, Bella had no social life, and the arts and scholarly pursuits gave way to the
mundane daily chores. Justin found her uninteresting, thinking she fell short in every aspect compared
to Rosalind. He believed marrying Bella was a regrettable mistake.
Little did he realize, he nearly destroyed Bella with his own hands.
His emotional abuse had turned Bella into a docile and submissive woman, someone who walked on
eggshells and settled for compromises. The deep affection Bella once had for him. was like the Titanic
colliding with an iceberg. Even the flame-like fervor of their romance ultimately became a heartbreaking
disaster.
âMr. Iverson, come over!â Bellaâs eyes sparkled as she looked beyond Justin towards Christopher. She
waved at him with a cheerful smile.
Christopher hastily adjusted his tie and the corners of his clothes and said, âIâm coming!â
A hint of nervousness appeared in his usually composed features as he strode toward Bella with
determined steps.
Justin clenched his fingers tightly, bitterness piercing through his chest, while Ryan was seething with
jealousy.
Just as Christopher and Justin brushed past each other, Christopher suddenly halted. He smirked and
adjusted his glasses as he glanced sideways, directed at Justin, who exuded the triumphant mockery
of a victor.
Christopherâs contemptuous gaze was like a sharp blade, cutting into Justinâs heart and leaving it in a
blurry mess. Justin watched helplessly as the man walked to Bellaâs side and stood shoulder-to-
shoulder with her.
Justin witnessed everything unfold and yet felt powerless. âIs this all I can do? Can I only be a useless
bystander? Is there no way to stop their relationship from developing further?â
In the midst of this tension, Bella introduced Christopher to Christian, the renowned pianist.
Bella grinned. âChristian, this is my friend, Christopher. His mother is a big fan of yours, so heâs hoping
to get a signed album from you as a memento for her.â
âOf course! I would be happy to!â Christian graciously complied, displaying an unexpected warmth.
Not only did Christian provide a signed album, but she also asked her manager to capture the moment.
As the trio posed for a photo, a bitter taste filled Justinâs heart. The scene was a mix of complex
emotions, rivalry, and an underlying sense of powerlessness for Justin.