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Chapter 9

The chatter in the group chat finally died down, and then I received a video message from an unfamiliar number.

It was Alex’s explanation video.

He also said: [Bella, if you really don’t like Vivian being in our lives, I will try my best to avoid contact with her. The one I love is you. It has always been you and always will be.] But I was already disappointed in him.

I sighed deeply, “I’m not in the habit of revisiting old flames.”

After making sure the message was sent, I blocked the number without hesitation. Alex, however, did not give up. He found ways to infiltrate my life without pause.

Every mealtime, he would punctually deliver delicious food to my home or office.

In the afternoons, he would send over exquisite snacks and afternoon tea–always the varieties I liked.

He got clever this time, specifically instructing the delivery person not to accept returns.

Of course, I couldn’t carry these things to his company and return them.

“Wow, Isabella, you’re living quite the charmed life. Look at all this great food you have!”

My colleagues would gather around when they saw what I was carrying. I suddenly had an idea and handed the food to them. “I’m on a diet lately. Do you want it?”

“Are you sure you’re giving it to me? Wait, this isn’t from someone courting you, is it?”

“Are you sure you’re giving it to me? Wait, this isn’t from someone courting you, is it?” “Yes!”

From then on, whenever Alex sent something, I would pass it on to my colleagues.

Time passed bit by bit, and finally, the day of my departure arrived.

I didn’t tell anyone about it except my parents for fear of complications.

So, no one came to see me off.

Listening to the airport staff’s boarding reminders, I walked to the gate with my suitcase in hand. It was smooth sailing.

I found my seat according to the number and took out an eye mask from my bag to put on.

It was my first time on a plane, and I was particularly nervous, so I could only suppress my fear by sleeping.

Half–asleep, I thought I heard a familiar voice.

“Excuse me, could you help me get a blanket?”

Soon after, I felt warmth enveloping me.

Too tired to open my eyes, I snuggled into the cozy blanket and fell asleep again.

Suddenly, the plane hit a patch of strong turbulence, and the cabin shook.

I jolted awake, took off my eye mask, and looked around, only to unexpectedly see a familiar figure.

Alex, with a calm expression and a gentle tone, said, “Don’t be afraid. We’ll be past this turbulence

soon.”

My taut nerves gradually eased, and I asked stiffly, “Why are you here?”

He looked straight at me, seemingly silent, yet as if he had said a lot.

I moved my lips and turned to look out the window.

A few seconds of silence passed before he suddenly spoke, “I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“My mom had severe bleeding when she was pregnant with me. It was Vivian’s mom who found her in time and rushed her to the hospital, where she successfully gave birth to me. At that time, her mother was also about to give birth. Bécause of this incident, she lost her child.

“My mom has always felt that we owe them a life and asked me to take care of Vivian more. She has a heart condition and can’t handle stress. That day, she had an argument with her family, and I was afraid she might do something rash. That’s why I came up with that plan. “She is not my first choice, not then, not now, and certainly not in the future.”

Alex spoke calmly and steadily about their families‘ past, looking at me with a bit of caution in his

eyes.