The surgery was supposed to last for only an hour. Bella sat stiffly in the waiting area, her hands twisting together in her lap. Every second crawled by like an eternity. She barely noticed the people around her. Even when she sensed someone settle in the chair beside her, she ignored it.
She pulled out her phone instead, sending hurried texts to those who needed to know. The first person she messaged was Mr Anderson. She had grown fond of him after her graduation. His steady presence and kindness toward her mother had softened Bella's heart, and she now thought of him almost as a father figure. He had even introduced his daughter, Catty Raquel, to Bella and the twins.
Raquel, with her long loose brown curls and captivating brown eyes, had left a strong impression on Bella. Despite being only sixteen, Raquel carried herself with a boldness far beyond her age. She had lost her mother at birth and had been raised solely by her father. Perhaps that was why she acted with such maturity. Bella admired her deeply.
But she decided not to contact her brothers or Bianca. She did not want to distract them in the middle of exams. Not yet. Not until she knew the outcome.
Moments later, a commotion startled her. Nurses hurried out of the operation room, their steps urgent. Bella leapt up and tried to stop one. "What is happening? Please, tell me something!"
The nurse did not answer, too focused on her task. A few minutes later, two of them rushed back with bags of blood. Bella grabbed the arm of one, desperation spilling out of her.
"What is wrong? Please, what happened to my mum?"
The nurse glanced at her with pity. "There was a surgical injury to her internal organ."
Bella's heart stopped. "What do you mean, surgical injury? Will she survive?"
The nurse's expression was grave. "You need to let me go, ma'am, if you want us to save her life."
Her legs gave way beneath her. She sank to the floor, tears blinding her, sobs breaking from her chest. And then arms closed around her. Strong, steady arms that pulled her against a chest that smelled familiar. A cologne she now knew too well.
Christian.
"Chris?" she whispered through her tears.
He said nothing, only helped her up and guided her back to the chair she had been sitting on earlier. His hand rested lightly against her back, firm enough to steady her trembling.
She swallowed, her voice breaking. "Why are you still here?"
"I thought you needed a friend," he said simply. "I was going to leave once your family arrived. You did not seem to be in the right frame of mind earlier."
She wiped at her eyes, stunned by the softness in his tone. "Are you not busy?"
"Not for the rest of the day, butterfly." His lips curved in a small smile.
Her brows knitted. "Did you cancel your appointments because of me?"
He gave a low chuckle. "No, butterfly. I needed rest. Do not get your hopes up."
Bella scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Then why cancel them at all? And why are you here with me instead of resting?"
He ignored her question and studied her instead, noticing the dark circles under her eyes, the pallor of her cheeks. She looked exhausted. He was certain she had not eaten.
"Do you want me to get you something to eat?" he asked at last, scratching the back of his neck.
Bella narrowed her eyes, her lips twitching in a humorless smile. "That is a good way to change the subject."
But when their gazes met, her laughter died on her lips. His eyes were unlike anything she had ever seen — a rare shade of violet, with flecks that shimmered like stars. They were mesmerizing, almost unreal. For the first time, Bella understood why so many people fell silent in his presence. His eyes carried entire galaxies.
And yet, Christian was just as entranced. He studied her almond shaped eyes with their unique green hazel flecks, the way her lashes framed them. His gaze dropped to her lips, small and full, soft enough to tempt him. He licked his own lips unconsciously before meeting her eyes again.
"You still do not remember me, do you?" he asked quietly.
Her breath caught. It was the second time he had asked her that. The second time he had looked at her with that strange mix of certainty and longing.
"Have we met before?" she asked softly.
Christian only tilted his head, his silence louder than words.
"I mean... of course I know you," she went on nervously. "Everyone knows you. You are Christian Hampson, the billionaire who is always in the news. But me? I am just Bella Walter. I doubt someone like you would ever know a girl like me." She tried to lighten the mood by raising her hand, pretending to smack the back of his neck.
But his hand shot up, catching hers effortlessly. His grip was firm, his gaze playful but dangerous. "You do not get to spank me, butterfly. If there is spanking to be done, it will be me. And not here. Somewhere else."
Her breath hitched at the implication. Heat surged through her body, foreign and unwelcome. She dropped her gaze, her heart pounding.
She forced herself to focus. "Why do you call me butterfly?"
His expression softened. "Because you told me to."
Her head snapped up. "What? When? I never—"
The doors to the operating theatre opened before she could finish. Bella leapt to her feet, her heart in her throat.
"How is my mum?" she demanded.
The doctor removed his mask, sighing. "She is fine. Stable. The surgery was successful."
Relief crashed over Bella, leaving her weak. "Thank God," she whispered, clutching her chest.
Christian's eyes, however, hardened. "Successful? Even after a surgical error? Were you planning on hiding that from her family?" His voice was sharp, commanding.
The doctor stammered, caught off guard.
Bella's relief twisted back into fury. "Are you even in your right senses? I almost lost my mum because of your carelessness, and all you can do is stutter? Was her life a joke to you?" Her voice rose, echoing through the hallway.
People began to gather, curious, phones in hand to record the scene. But one glance from Christian silenced them. His violet eyes cut through the crowd like knives, and people lowered their phones, stepping back.
The doctor muttered an apology, but it sounded hollow. Bella's glare sharpened. "Mi chin sae ggi," she hissed under her breath. Stupid bastard.
She turned back toward the room, her eyes brimming again. Her mother was alive. That was all that mattered. But a storm was brewing inside her.
And Christian Hampson, still at her side, was at the center of it.