CHAPTER THREE

PHILL

 

After spending one month with that woman, it was time to finally get my freedom away from her.

 

My family did me wrong by arranging for that woman to be my bride. They ruined my plans by marrying us both.

 

I would have gotten rid of her a long time ago if she had signed those papers, but her obsession with being my wife kept her by my side.

 

But when she made that deal, I felt pleased.

 

"I still don't know why she made that deal," I said, finding it strange.

 

"What does she want to gain from it?"

 

"Isn't it obvious?" Isabel shrugged at me.

 

"I bet she has seen a new lover and just used this one month to play her final role as your wife."

 

"A new lover? Don't make me laugh," I chuckled, knowing that Bella doesn't have someone who'll be dating her.

 

"To me, she's unfit to please any man. She's just so..." I paused, thinking of all the times I spent with her in the past month.

 

"She's just so..." I couldn't complete my statement.

 

The days I spent with her have left a different view in me. She no longer looked like the useless woman I married three years ago, but more like... a wife?

 

"What are you thinking about?" Isabel asked me.

 

I swayed my head, telling her I was fine.

 

"Let's throw a party tomorrow to celebrate our freedom from Bella. The whole world needs to know that my billionaire boyfriend and his sexy girlfriend are finally together after so long," Isabel said, kissing my cheek.

 

I accepted her plan, calling someone I know to get some things ready for tomorrow.

 

Isabel went into the bath while I made my way to Bella's room.

 

I was about to knock on her door when I heard the door slightly open and saw her sitting on the bed, crying.

 

This left a spark in me. This is the first time I've felt strange over her tears.

 

Knocking, Bella immediately wiped her eyes and turned back to see me looking at her.

 

"Oh, it's you," she said, approaching me.

 

Her eyes were red from tears.

 

"She's just crying because she'll be signing the divorce papers tomorrow, like she promised," I assumed.

 

"Ignore her, Phill. She's finally leaving your life. Be happy," I told myself within.

 

Putting on a proud look, I said to Bella, "Tomorrow I'm throwing a party with Isabel. I'm inviting you to be present to witness our beautiful union. See yourself as a special guest."

 

"Oh, tomorrow, huh?" She said, looking almost lost.

 

"Yes, tomorrow. I know we'll be heading our separate ways, but it's the last time we'll be seeing each other. So be there," I invited.

 

Bella didn't respond vocally but just nodded at me.

 

Why is she now acting like this?

 

I left her to go and join my love in the shower. It's been a while since we both took our bath together.

 

 

The next day, the mansion was filled with all my friends and business partners.

 

My close friend, Timothy, couldn't make it to my party due to his work. But when he returns, he'll see the transformation.

 

As the party was taking place, I realized that Bella hadn't shown up.

 

"Where is she? Is she too shy to come out and witness my union with Isabel?" I mocked, believing Bella was hiding inside.

 

I waited for another ten minutes but didn't see her. This got me sending a maid to call her to the party.

 

"She is missing out," I said, smirking.

 

As soon as the maid left to get Bella, my guard walked up to me with something in his hands.

 

"What is this?" I asked, about to sip from my wine.

 

"This is from Mrs. Coleman, sir. I think it's a divorce paper," he said, leaving me astonished.

 

"Divorce paper?" I uttered it, looking at the booklet in his hands.

 

Isabel grabbed it and confirmed it was the same papers I gave Bella some time ago.

 

"Oh my gosh! She signed it! " She laughed in excitement, showing me Bella's signature.

 

But it didn't move me like I thought. This felt strange to me.

 

"Where is she? When did she give you this?" I asked my guard, who revealed that Bella had given him early before the party started.

 

"So, she's not in? She's gone?" I asked, still in surprise.

 

"She left this for you as well." He brought out a letter, handing it over to me.

 

I opened the letter and read, "Phill, thank you for the one month. I know it wasn't easy for you because you hate me, but it was enough to fill my heart since it was my last day."

 

I paused upon seeing that statement. It got me reading further.

 

"As promised, I've signed the papers and given you the freedom to be with the one you love. How I wish we could make ours work out, but neither will you allow it nor will death allow it."

 

Death? 

 

"I hope you find peace with Isabel. This is to say goodbye to you forever, Phill. I'm leaving this world today. Maybe I'd be dead before you even got this letter. I hope we can be friends in my next life. Goodbye, Bella."

 

Shocked, I dropped the letter to the ground, realizing that Bella was going to die.

 

"She's going to die? Why didn't she tell me? " I felt my heart pounding.

 

"What happened?" Isabel asked, reaching for the letter. My mind was clouded with this shocking news.

 

I stared at the entrance, remembering the statement she made when she first made the deal.

 

"You don't have to worry about it. I'll be out of your life like one leaving the earth for good." I recalled, realizing that I had failed to pick up the message from that statement.

 

"Oh, she's dying? That makes it even better," Isabel laughed.

 

"Let's forget about her and..."

 

Before Isabel could touch me, I dashed out of the party, ignoring Isabel's call.

 

"I have to find her. I have to find Bella!" I groaned, getting into my car and driving off with two of my guards following.

 

"Did she tell you where she was heading? Anything?!"

 

"No, sir," they answered.

 

"Just drive!" I yelled at them.

 

I got all my men searching the city for Bella, but they found nothing. I searched the hospital and got nothing.

 

Guilt filled my heart as I thought about Bella.

 

I don't think I'll forgive myself if she dies without me seeing her again.

 

I won't.