A Chance
"So, the final verdict is that the kidnapper should be the mayor’s enemy." Mo Li said, he eyed Bella who just finished the second bowl of porridge.
"Good, then we should cooperate with the mayor if he needs something to identify... this... kidnapper," she winked at him before giving her bowl for the third batch. "I didn’t have dinner. I was starving." Bella originally planned the whole thing perfectly. First, she ate a lot of food so she won’t hungry so easily. She even calculated the police’s capability to solve the case.
She guessed that it would take them at least six hours to find them.
Sadly, it rained.
This was proof that there is no perfect plan.
Last night, she wasn’t able to sleep because of the thunder and rain. This, coupled with her anxiousness when the water started to enter the small shed, made her hungry.
Yes, she wasn’t really terrified. She was hungry.
After all, she could always use her secret space to save herself. But she couldn’t eat the crackers in her space in front of the two.
She accepted the third batch of porridge and finished it in a few mouthfuls. Then she told Mo Li that she wanted to sleep... next to him. Of course, Mo Li nodded and nestled her in his arms.
When Bella woke up again, it was already dark outside. Frowning, Bella sat on the hospital bed as she looked at the room. Mo Li was nowhere to be found.
Her eyes paused at the note on the table.
[I will cook some food. I’ll be back in a while.]
Bella smiled. She lay down on the bed as she opened her tablet. It seems that the news about the kidnapping didn’t make it to the news. She could only thank Mayor Qin for that. The knock-on Bella’s door interrupted her stupor.
"Bella?"
Bella lifted an eyebrow. "What are you doing here, Mayor Qin?"
His father interrupted with a sigh. "I wanted to know if you are okay."
"Are you lost? I am sure Sarah’s room is around here."
"No, I came for you." The Mayor walked towards his bed.
"Aside from the bruise on my hand. I am good." Bella met the old man’s eyes.
"Then that’s good. It’s good that you are fine. Here... I... this is a special medicinal oil that I bought from Korea. It is good for bruises."
"I will accept this." Bella accepted the bottle without removing her gaze from the old man’s gaze. Was this man here to apologize? Shortly, she shook the thoughts out of her head. Apologize? How could that word exist in the old man’s dictionary? "Is there anything?"
"I — I just — " Another sigh left his lips. "I just wanted to make sure that you are fine."
"Do you need me to talk to the police officers? If you want, I can make my statement now." She immediately thought that the man was here to urge her to make her statement to the police officer that is currently investigating the case.
"No, I am not here to force you to make a statement. You can rest and make the statement tomorrow. Both of you are safe, and that’s what’s important."
"I heard that it might be one of your enemies?" As usual, her tone was cold. "Are you here to apologize for dragging me into your matter?"
"I am."
The old man’s words surprised her. She widened her eyes before she lowered her head, hiding the surprise in her face. "Apology accepted," she answered without batting an eyelid.
"You— "
"Did you expect me to console you and say it wasn’t your fault?" she snorted. "The police said it might be your enemy and you are here to apologize to me. This only means that you are guilty. Say, do you know who wanted to kidnap my little sister?" She lifted her head and didn’t miss the discomfort in the man’s eyes.
For a few seconds, silence blanketed the atmosphere. "I know I have been a bad father." Mayor Qin forced the words out of his mouth. "But if you give me a chance, I will— "
"Chance to what?" she sneered. To disappoint Bella again?
"Chance to make it up to you," he said. Because of the incident, he realized that he had been in the wrong before. He had been blinded by benefits. He didn’t want his own daughter to divorce his cheating husband because he feared that having a divorced daughter would ruin his reputation. However, he didn’t realize that he was actually making his daughter suffer in a loveless marriage just because of his name.
Seeing Bella again at that restaurant made him realized that he was in the wrong. But he wasn’t willing to accept it. This time, the kidnapping incident made him accept everything. In this world, he only had Sarah and Bella. Both of them now hated him because of his previous choices.
"I am not marrying my ex-husband again," Bella said after a short silence.
"I know and you don’t have to."
Bella pursed her lips. "I am tired, Mayor Qin, please leave," she uttered. The Mayor wanted her to forgive him so he could convince himself that he was actually a better man. If this was the previous Bella, she would have easily forgiven the mayor, maybe even cry in the man’s arms like a small child.
But she wasn’t Bella. She was Lily. "I don’t forgive you." She met the old man’s eyes. "I am not that kind of person anymore."
"I understand." Mayor Qin said. "But I won’t give up. You and Sarah are very important to me. I am not giving up," he said and strode out of the room.
.....
I AM BACK!
I finally caught up with the chapters! Yey! Thank you so much for waiting. I am feeling much better now. Stay safe everyone! Avoid crowded places. Having Covid sucks not just physically but the aftermath of having one sucks too.