The ride back to the hotel in Chris's car was painfully quiet. Bella sat with her arms folded, staring out the window, her chest tight with everything she had learned. The truth about the gala, about that night, about Chris it all swirled like a storm she couldn't escape.
"Are you alright?" Chris asked softly when he noticed her silence.
Bella forced a small smile. "I'm fine."
It was a lie, and they both knew it, but Chris didn't push. The rest of the drive was swallowed in silence.
When Bella got to her suite, she dropped onto the bed and set her alarm. She needed at least a couple of hours of rest before their 7 p.m. departure. Her body ached with exhaustion, but her mind kept replaying Chris's words. At some point, fatigue won, and she drifted off into a restless sleep.
Her alarm went off at 6:15 p.m. She groaned, rolling out of bed. Just as she reached for her uniform, a knock came at the door.
"Ella, open up!" Nadia's voice carried through.
Bella opened the door to find Nadia and Alexia already in uniform, their faces lit with curiosity. They slipped inside before she could protest.
"Give us the full gist," Nadia said, plopping onto the couch.
"Yes, Christal, spill," Alexia added, settling on the edge of the bed.
Bella blinked at them. "You two are fully dressed two hours before the flight, and you came here to gossip?"
Before they could answer, another knock came. Lillian strolled in, also in full uniform. Bella laughed in disbelief.
"You all can't be serious."
"Of course we're serious," Nadia said, folding her arms. "How did you meet Mr Hampson? Everyone knows you two are a thing, even if you try so hard to hide it."
Bella shook her head, trying to deflect. "I just woke up, okay? I'll tell you what I can on board. We've got an eight-hour flight ahead of us." She grabbed her uniform and ducked into the bathroom.
By 8 p.m., the jet was ready for takeoff. Bella joined the crew in their seats, grateful for the chatter that filled the air—it distracted her from the heavy thoughts weighing on her. Still, she couldn't understand why everyone seemed convinced she and Chris were a couple.
She told them bits and pieces of the story. How she met Chris years ago, how fate brought them back together, leaving out the one-night stand and the truth she wasn't ready to share.
Nadia leaned in. "Well, for your information, Mr Hampson told Mrs Henshaw you were his girlfriend. You just didn't know it yet."
Bella's jaw dropped. That explained the cold shoulders, the whispers, the way her colleagues looked at her. They all thought she had been hand-picked because she was involved with him.
"So you're the girlfriend he came for the day you graduated," Lillian teased with a grin. "Mr Hampson must really like you."
"Why would you say that?" Bella asked quickly.
"Because it's obvious," Lillian replied. "Christian Hampson is cold as ice. He doesn't smile. But around you? He's different. He laughs. He even cracks jokes. If you can't see how much he likes you..."
"You're blind!" Nadia, Liam, and Lillian chorused.
Bella's cheeks burned. She looked down, fiddling with her fingers, her mind spinning. Could everyone see it but her?
Before she could answer, she changed the subject. "So, Alexia... what was that with Princely? Eye contact, blushing, holding hands at Brooklyn Bridge?"
Alexia turned crimson. "Well... after we left the bar, one thing led to another. We kissed. And then... let's just say it turned into a hot make-out session in his room."
Gasps filled the cabin. Liam's eyes went wide. "Alexia, you're something else."
"Oh please," Lillian cut in, smirking. "Liam, you like Nadia. Stop pretending."
Liam froze, his face turning almost as red as Alexia's. "Is that true?" Nadia asked, eyes narrowing.
"Yes," Liam admitted sheepishly. "I've liked you since graduation. I just never had the guts to say it."
"Wasn't it obvious?" Lillian said, shrugging.
Bella laughed softly, watching it all unfold. It was the first moment of lightness she'd felt all day.
And yet, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Chris in the distance, working in his private cabin. He hadn't once tried to pull her aside, hadn't once demanded her attention like before. Instead, he gave her space.
Maybe he finally understood.
Maybe he was willing to wait.
The plane touched down in London at exactly 8 a.m. Chris insisted on driving Bella home, even though she argued she could manage on her own. He waved off her protests, sending Elliot straight to the office to prepare for a midday meeting.
"This man never rests," Bella thought, stealing a sideways glance at him.
Halfway through the ride, Chris spoke without looking at her.
"So what now?"
Bella frowned. "What do you mean?"
"Are you going to tell your family that you've found out about... everything?"
She exhaled, staring out the window. "Of course I am. Isn't it obvious? I need to see a doctor, Chris. I can't just give up. They're my memories. They should have told me years ago instead of hiding it. I'm not a child anymore. If I had faced it then, maybe I'd have regained them by now."
Tears pricked at her eyes, but she blinked them back. She hated crying in front of him.
Chris reached over and wrapped his hand around hers. His grip was firm, steady...like a silent vow that said, I'll be here with you.
"You know they love you, right?" Chris said softly. "Your mum, especially. And Bianca cares about you more than you think. As for Austin..." His lips curved wryly. "The man came at me with a punch six years ago when he found out you'd left with me."
Bella blinked, startled. Then she laughed. "Austin did that? Wow. I'm impressed. I've always known him to be calm, but he must've been furious to hit you."
Chris chuckled. "He was."
Before Bella could reply, her phone buzzed. Kayden's name flashed on the screen.
"Hey Sisterly, where the hell are you?" Kayden's voice boomed. "Don't you miss your brothers? I missed you, that's why I'm calling. I hope you're free this week because we need that vacation you promised. If you're not, I swear I'll punch that stupid boss of yours."
"Yeah, Noona, I'll come with him," Jayden added in the background. "We'll teach that jack-face not to mess with our sister."
Bella laughed. "Guys, chill. I'm already on my way home, and I've got the rest of the week off. Vacation is set for Wednesday, but we need to be back Friday Bianca's baby shower, remember? And please, no punching anyone."
Chris smirked. "I guess they're not too fond of me."
Before Bella could stop them, Jayden's voice piped up. "Sis, whose voice was that?"
Bella gave Chris a look. "It's the stupid jack-face of a boss I have."
"What?!" the twins chorused. "He's with you? Driving you home?!"
"Yes," Bella answered with a sigh.
From the background, Vera's voice chimed in. "Who are you talking about?"
"The great Christian Hampson!" Kayden announced. "He's bringing Nuna home in his car!"
"Pi cho so? Nuna, are you crazy? When did you two become that close?" Jayden exclaimed dramatically, slipping into his usual K-drama obsession.
Bella rolled her eyes and ended the call.
"See what I mean?" she muttered. "Ask them yourself when we get there."
When Chris pulled up outside the house, the twins were already waiting at the gate, arms crossed, wearing identical scowls. If looks could kill, Chris would have been buried six feet under. Bella shook her head. I'm supposed to be their big sister, but they've been protecting me since we were kids.
The boys grabbed her bags, barely sparing Chris a glance. Vera, on the other hand, welcomed him warmly. "Christian, it's good to see you again. You didn't get to stay long the last time. Come in, have some coffee.
Chris accepted politely. Vera served pancakes with steaming mugs of coffee, chatting easily with him about work. She even invited him to her upcoming fiftieth birthday dinner, something Bella and the twins had no idea about.
All the while, the boys glared at him over their mugs.
Bella sat quietly, watching. A strange unease settled over her as she noticed the way her mum spoke to Chris like they shared a familiarity that went deeper than she'd realised.
Finally, she asked the question burning in her chest.
"Mum... do you know about what happened with him six years ago?"
The table went still. Chris didn't hesitate.
"Yes," he said simply.
Vera's eyes widened. The twins froze mid-bite.
Bella felt the ground shift beneath her. She pushed her chair back, her appetite gone. "Wow," she whispered, standing. "Just... wow."
And without another word, she walked away from the table.