Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Bella's words struck a nerve. Dominic slammed the door behind him as he stormed out and threw one last parting shot, "Fine, you win. Twenty years and I never saw through you. But hear me out. Don't even think about having another man other than me-not in your lifetime!"

The moment he was gone, the world fell silent. Bella slumped onto the couch and thought about it, letting out a soft, helpless laugh. If it meant no dating and no marriage, then so be it. Getting involved with him had just been bad luck anyway. Later that night, as she was about to go to bed, she saw a message from Lia. It was gossip about the Klein family.

Apparently, the Klein family couldn't hold up under the pressure from the Sawyer family. Their entertainment venues and restaurants had all shut down, and their assets shrunk.

While they hadn't yet sold Klein Manor, it was only a matter of time. Going up against the Sawyers meant there was no way the Kleins could survive in Joville.

However, Bella felt indifferent about it now. Dominic had told her there was nothing between him and Gloriana, and that was enough. Still, it was satisfying to hear the Kleins had brought trouble on themselves.

On one of her days off, Bella invited Lia and Felix over for lunch. She had decided to cook herself this time because there was no way she could finish the groceries Dominic had bought before they went bad. Hence, she figured she might as well share.

It was Lia's first time visiting Bella's apartment. She wandered around and marveled. "How is your place so much better than mine? They're both small apartments, but the difference is crazy. My mom's always nagging me about how messy my place is every time she visits." Bella said modestly, "I only sleep here. Most of the decor came from the landlord. She has good taste, so I played no role in the interior."

Felix praised without hesitation, "Yeah, I can tell. Your landlord's got style."

Bella laughed. "And she's a stunner too. Want me to get you her number?"

Knowing Bella was joking, Felix acted like she had just offered him something bad. "God, no. I'll help you with the cooking instead."

Hearing the fridge door open, Bella suddenly remembered what was inside. Dominic had sent over even more food through Sylvia after his last visit. The groceries Felix had brought earlier were probably all gone by now. He would probably notice that too.

Bella wondered if she should explain it to him.

Felix paused while looking at the well-stocked fridge before taking some ingredients. "You already finished everything I brought last time? Damn, I didn't know you could eat that much on your own."

Bella gave an awkward laugh,

unsure of how to respond. Even

though Felix was always considerate, there were still moments when Bella felt pressured when being around him. Being friends with someone who cared that deeply wasn't as easy as it seemed.

By noon, the food was ready, and Lia was setting up the table. The three of them gathered around the small dining table in Bella's living room. The atmosphere was cozy and relaxed.

Lia sampled every dish and then remarked, "Felix's cooking is way better than yours, Bella. You really need to practice more. Back at Miller Manor, you didn't have to lift a finger, but things are different now."

Bella let out a helpless chuckle.

"Thanks for the reminder that my

life's gone downhill since I left

Dominic But honestly, I like being on my own. No arguments, no headaches-just peace and

Why look for trouble? By th

has Leonard been coming to your studio lately?"