"Bella"
His eyes took in the sight before him, struggling to reconcile the present with the past. The bouncy brown hair, once so familiar, floated gently over slim shoulders, its sides dyed a deep shade of wine. Her cat-like eyes, striking as ever, pulled him back into a flood of memories, some bitter, some sweet, all unexpected.
"Bella," he breathed, disbelief lacing his tone.
How long had it been?
Ten years.
Ten years since she walked out of his life without a backward glance. Ten years since she vowed never to return. He remembered that night vividly—how the calm in her eyes had given way to terror, how her radiance had faded into the darkness as she left.
"I can't take it anymore. You're a great guy, but… this has to stop. I want a breakup."
Her words had hit him harder than any physical blow ever could.
He had stared at her then, trying to make sense of the sudden change in her heart. There had been no argument, no irreconcilable differences, at least, none that he had been aware of.
"Can you at least tell me why? Why are you ending this?" he had asked, desperate for an answer, for anything that would make sense of the situation.
But her lips, the ones he had kissed so many times, had remained sealed. She had simply turned and walked away, never once looking back at the broken man she left behind.
And now, here she was, standing in front of him as if time had never passed.
"I need your help," she said suddenly, her voice shaky yet determined. "Can we talk… somewhere private?"
Dave said nothing, his expression unreadable.
Beside him, James remained still, his unwavering hatred toward Bella evident in the way his jaw tightened. Even after all these years, his contempt for her hadn't faded. He made no move to acknowledge her plea, his silence a clear rejection.
Dave could still remember the night James had chased after her car, shouting, pleading for her to stay, demanding a second chance for his best friend. But Bella had been too high up in the sky to come back down.
And yet, here she was.
"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides before she let them drop. "It's urgent. I can't take it any longer… I need you, Dave."
The vulnerability in her voice was unlike anything he had ever heard from her.
"It's killing me."
James exhaled sharply, turning his head away in silent protest.
Dave hesitated for only a moment before glancing at James. "Give us a minute," he said, his voice low but firm.
James scoffed, clearly displeased. He shot Bella a scathing glare before shoving his chair back and stalking out of the room, intentionally bumping her shoulder as he passed.
Bella barely reacted. She waited until James was out of sight before she collapsed into the seat he had vacated.
Dave leaned forward, studying her. "What's wrong?"
She hesitated, as if debating how much to reveal. Then, with a deep breath, she said, "I don't know what's happening to me. I don't feel like myself anymore."
His brow furrowed.
She was trying her best to appear composed, but he could see it, the way her fingers trembled slightly as she ran them through her hair, the way her shoulders tensed as if bracing for an attack.
"Tell me everything," he encouraged, picking up his pen.
She swallowed hard. "I'm scared of everything, Dave. I keep seeing clowns. His voice is in my head, I know it's him. He's doing this to punish me. Him and her."
Dave noted the way her arms wrapped around herself, the way her eyes darted to the corners of his office as though she were expecting something, or someone, to emerge from the shadows.
Hallucinations. Anxiety. Trauma.
"Who's him and her?" he asked, his pen hovering over the paper.
Her eyes flicked to his, her breath uneven.
"My ex," she admitted, voice barely above a whisper. "I dated him for three years. He was… possessive. Controlling. When I finally broke up with him, he didn't take it well. He swore he'd make me pay for leaving him."
Dave remained silent, waiting for her to continue.
"And her…" Bella hesitated before sighing. "She was the one they replaced. I got the role she was supposed to have. She never forgave me for it."
"You're certain they're behind this?"
Bella let out a hollow laugh. "Only he knew I was terrified of clowns."
Well, not only him.
Dave had known too.
He still remembered the night her colleagues had pulled a prank on her, turning a party into a full-blown clown-themed event. She had fainted on the spot, and he had spent the entire night taking care of her.
Now, she was seeing clowns everywhere.
"I keep seeing him, Dave. He's always in a clown costume. And her… her voice is in my head. She whispers threats. Sometimes, I hear her laughing."
Dave scribbled a few notes before setting the pen down. "Why come to me? If you're struggling with your mental health, there are professionals back home who can,"
"No," she cut in, shaking her head violently. "I can't let this get out."
Her hands clenched around the armrests of the chair.
"You don't understand," she continued. "Even a hint of me struggling mentally will ruin my career. If the media finds out, it's over. Every contract, every endorsement, every performance, I'll lose everything."
Dave exhaled through his nose. He did understand.
Bella was a world-renowned ballerina. Her career had always been her priority, even over him. When she had left, she had signed a contract with a prestigious foreign company, dedicating herself fully to her craft.
Now, the very career she had sacrificed everything for was the reason she couldn't get proper help.
"My departure was in secret," she confessed. "No one knows I'm here."
He stared at her for a long moment.
"And you think having me as your doctor is the safest choice?" he asked, raising a skeptical brow.
"It's been years," she admitted, "but I still know you. I trust you, Dave. More than I trust myself."
A heavy silence settled between them.
Finally, Dave leaned back in his chair. "As a doctor, it's my obligation to treat any patient in need," he said evenly. "And right now, you're a patient."
Relief flickered across her face.
Before she could respond, the office door swung open.
"And that is the end of your one minute," James announced, his voice thick with displeasure. His eyes flicked between them before settling coldly on Bella.
"I think it's time you disappear again."
….
After several days of silent resentment, Dora finally gave in, allowing her anger to settle like dust after a storm. It wasn't easy, but something within her had softened, perhaps exhaustion from holding onto the grudge or simply the realization that love, despite its flaws, was still worth holding onto.
Tonight, Edward sat across from her in the small bookstore she owned. The Closed sign hung firmly on the door, ensuring they had the privacy they needed. The shelves stood tall and stocked, the scent of paper and ink filling the space like a quiet sanctuary.
Without a word, he cupped her cheeks, pressing a soft peck against her chin before straightening her laptop on the wooden counter. He lingered behind her, his hands finding her shoulders, massaging them gently as she typed away at the final chapters of her book.
She let out a slow, exasperated sigh, the weight of the last few days still pressing against her chest, though lighter now, less suffocating. The rhythmic clicking of her keyboard filled the air, only interrupted when her phone vibrated loudly against the counter.
She hesitated for a moment before reaching for it. Edward, ever attentive, picked it up first and held it to her ear, allowing her to stay focused on her work.
"Yes?" Dora answered, barely breaking her concentration.
A pause.
Her fingers froze mid-air over the keys.
"No way. Does she know?" she asked, her brows knitting together in confusion.
She adjusted the phone to her other ear, her grip tightening slightly.
"Hell," she muttered, sitting up straighter. "What? Should we tell her?"
Another pause.
"You're right," she admitted reluctantly, exhaling a heavy breath. "It's best she hears it from him."
As the call ended, she let out a loud, frustrated gasp, the sound sharp enough to put Edward on high alert. He straightened, stepping around to face her fully.
"What happened?" he asked, concern laced in his tone.
Dora turned to look at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and apprehension.
"Dave's ex is back," she revealed, her voice quieter now, as if saying it any louder would make it worse. "Dora just phoned to tell me. James was the one who informed her."
Edward's expression shifted, surprise flickering across his face. "Bella is back?"
Dora's gaze snapped to his, narrowing in suspicion.
"You know her?" she asked, her voice sharp, laced with something dangerously close to jealousy.
Edward blinked, clearly realizing his mistake a second too late. "We met several times," he admitted, his voice careful. "Whenever I visited my aunt and my cousin."
Her head tilted slightly. "Cousin?"
She folded her arms, her stare intensifying as unease prickled beneath her skin.
"Edward," she said slowly, "how many more secrets are you hiding from me?"
His response was swift, almost defensive. "None," he assured her. "Besides the truth about Dave and me being cousins, there's nothing else."
Dora stared at him, weighing his words carefully, as though trying to catch even a flicker of dishonesty.
Silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken emotions.
After a moment, she exhaled, rubbing her temples. "I don't like secrets, Edward."
"I know," he murmured, stepping closer. "And I swear to you, there are no more."
She looked up at him, her walls still standing but slightly weakened. Forgiveness wasn't instant, it wasn't easy, but maybe, just maybe, they were taking the first step toward something better.
For now, it was enough.
….
"So, are you off to see your brother-in-law?" Samantha teased, her voice laced with amusement.
June rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. She leaned over and pressed a quick kiss to her father's forehead.
"Get some rest, Dad. I'll be back soon," she assured him before turning toward the door.
With that, she left her father's hospital ward, making her way to Dave's office, just a floor away. The hospital halls were quiet, save for the occasional beeping of monitors and the murmured conversations of doctors and nurses.
As she reached Dave's office, she turned a corner a little too quickly—only to collide head-on with someone. The sudden impact jolted her, forcing both of them to step back.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," June said, instinctively rubbing her forehead where they had bumped.
"It's alright," the woman replied just as quickly, offering a warm smile, sweet, effortless, almost disarming.
Almost.
"Hi, I'm Bella," she introduced herself, her voice smooth and charming.
June's eyes subtly narrowed as she took in the woman standing before her. She was undeniably beautiful, shoulder-length brown hair with dyed wine-colored streaks, striking cat-like eyes, and an air of practiced grace.
June adjusted her stance, extending a polite hand. "June."
Bella accepted the handshake, her grip delicate yet lingering.
Before June could make sense of the tension simmering between them, James, who had been standing nearby, cleared his throat.
"June, I see you've met Bella," he said, his lips curling into a knowing grin. He tilted his head slightly as he glanced at Bella. "Bella, this is June, Dave's fiancée."
Bella's gaze flickered toward June, her expression never faltering. Instead, her smile widened, but something about it felt… off.
"Hi," she said smoothly. Then, with an almost deliberate pause, she added, "I'm Bella, Dave's ex."
Silence settled between them, thick with unspoken words.
June felt James watching closely, no doubt enjoying the moment, but she refused to let Bella see even a flicker of unease. Instead, she simply lifted her chin and met Bella's gaze head-on.
So this was Bella.
And judging by the way she said ex, this wasn't just a coincidence.
This was a challenge.