Forty nine

Belle’s POV

As Kamille made the call, Amanda squeezed my hand again, her eyes shining with pride. “You’re doing the right thing, Belle. I know it’s scary, but you’re strong. You can do this.”

I smiled at her, feeling the tears welling up again, but this time, they were tears of relief. “Thank you,” I whispered. “Thank you for being here.”

The door to the suite opened, and my mother stepped back inside, her eyes narrowing as she took in the scene before her. “What’s going on here?” she demanded, her voice sharp.

I turned to face her, my heart pounding in my chest. “I’m not marrying Dave,” I said, my voice firm, despite the fear that still lingered at the edges of my resolve.

My mother’s eyes widened, and for a moment, I thought she might actually faint. But then, her expression hardened, and she took a step towards me, her hand clenching into a fist at her side. “Belle, don’t be ridiculous. You can’t back out now. It’s too late.”

“It’s not too late,” I replied, holding my ground. “It’s