Chp-4

Author's Pov

"Careful." A mewled warning entered Bella's ears as she smiled assuring her sister, carefully pushing the wheelchair inside the house letting her mother look around the familiar place with sad eyes.

The memories of her husband rushed in her head only for her eyes to dampen with tears, Bella felt something similar yet confronting her heart to not cry out she crotched before her mother sadly smiling at her.

"I know it's hard to accept, but we have to. We have to be strong, mom." Easter cracked up in a hushed cry followed by a muffled whimper coming from Sarah who looked away from the duo letting the tears soak her cheeks.

Bella sighed closing her eyes and clutching her mother's warm hands in her cold ones, she didn't say anything further as she knew letting out sometimes is better than holding in, she gently placed her forehead against her mother's lap letting out her tears as well. The whole family cried over the loss of their father, husband, and one and only guardian.

Easter thankfully woke up after Bella met the murderer of her father, but the doctor told them that their mother was too weak right now, even the slightest impact on her heart can put her life in danger again. The sudden stroke she suffered affected her whole system negatively that's why the doctor advised them to let her stay on a wheelchair for at least a month.

Seeing her mother this agitated and broken has left many cracks over her bleeding heart as well, Bella knew how fragile and soft-hearted her mother always has been, she never even thought bad for anyone before still worst has happened to her by who? By the greedy wolves wanting nothing but the mortal thing as money and power.

Gently kissing her mother's hands she didn't try to comfort her further, she knew the woman needed to let out, she needed to bawl out for the loss of her love, husband, and her protector. Crying for him was her right which Bella wasn't ready to snatch away. After a while of letting out their every sorrow, she nodded at Sarah to do as instructed by the doctor.

Even though Easter wanted to get off the wheelchair and walk beside her daughters but doctor strictly prohibited them, she was still weak and deprived of most of her strength because of the terrible stroke she suffered, it was God's grace that it didn't do any permanent impact of any of her organs or body parts.

Helping her tarnished soul mother to eat something with a heavy heart, Sarah also forced her stubborn worn out sister to swallow a few spoons of food, Bella mostly had a habit of skipping dinner as she was used to eating a heavy breakfast but she has already skipped eating dinner from the last two days that's why Sarah pursued her to eat tonight which the exhausted girl did even though she had no appetite.

Bella even found it hard to accept the bitter reality of her father not being with them anymore at the same time she knew it wasn't impossible, life doesn't stop for anyone. She has to be strong for her family, for the people who have always been provided her with unexplainable warmth and love. They need her.

Taking a fresh shower Bella looked through the newspapers grabbing a bunch of them before grasping a pen and heading towards the garden. The weather was chilly yet the peaceful wind was enough for her to do her work in peace.

Sarah helped her mother with medicines and after the restless woman finally fell asleep she was ready to go towards her room to have some hours of sleep as well but the moment she crossed the living room, curiosity engulfed her finding the front door opened. She walked out of it only to let out a heavy sigh finding her sister sitting on the seat placed in the garden while looking through the newspapers and pamphlets.

"Bella it's cold outside, what are you doing?" She inquired steadily taking a seat in front of her sister who gave her a small assuring smile.

"I am fine Sarah, just trying to find a job. But seems like I will be unsuccessful." She mumbled sighing. Sarah stared at the focused girl for a few minutes in silence before opening her mouth and spitting out the words which instantly vexed her older sister.

"I think I should stop my studies too." Bella's head snapped to her shooting her a disappointed glare.

"What did you say?" Even though her voice was low and enough threatening, Sarah still side-eyed her biting her inner cheek.

"Bella I mean it, I mean if I will work then we will be able to handle her household expenses otherwise--" Bella sighed placing the newspaper on the table before giving her whole attention to her dejected sister.

"Sarah, my lovely sister listen to me carefully," She paused making Sarah properly look into her eyes.

"I know the time is hard for us, but it will pass too. Dad always wanted us to at least hold our master's degrees and after that he wanted us to become independent before thinking about marriage. Our mother was lucky to find someone like our father Sarah but we can't say the same about us. Life is unpredictable. Even though I wouldn't be stopping my studies the moment I will collect enough money for my further education I will start my master's as well. So try to understand Sarah, we can't give up on our dreams, our future just because we are suffering a little at the moment. This suffering will pass soon." Bella reasoned with her which indeed motivated the sorrowful girl but again remembering how low their financial condition is right now she again tried to negotiate.

"But Bella our financial condition is really bad. Everything has been given away to pay father's debt. Mom's medication is really expensive too. If I kept on studying how will we pay my college fees? It was really expensive. And I am not saying I will never study again, let me get a job and after earning proper money I can continue my studies." Bella sighed heavily. She already knew Sarah will talk about this.

"Listen to me, Sarah." She grabbed her sister's hand in hers giving her a small smile.

"Leave everything on me. It's my responsibility to get you graduated. You just have to focus on your studies. And about our financial condition don't worry Dad had left a lot, I didn't use any of my and mom's savings, and dad has been depositing money in our accounts each month so we have enough money. From those savings, we can study and by doing a job I will handle the household expenses. So don't worry your sister is still alive. Stop worrying about these things and only focus on your studies."

After hearing Bella's reassurance she finally nodded her head gently dropping her forehead over their joined hands, Bella caressed her head with her free hand feeling warm drops of water damping her flesh. She wasn't surprised, Sarah was always a sensitive one. She might come out as a big-mouth girl but when it comes to her family she has always been a delicate one.

"I miss him. So much." Bella took a shaky breath humming in response, caressing her sister's head she blinked her eyes hard to not tear up.

"You're my strong sister, right? We have to give mom strength to love. We can't become weak right now. She needs us." Sarah nodded her head unhurriedly pulling back. She mildly smiled at her sister wiping her cheeks before squeezing their joined hands.

"Avoid being anxious about such stuff hmm. Your sister is still here and she knows what she needs to do, so you better focus on your studies and make me proud. Go and sleep, you have college tomorrow." Sighing in defeat Sarah bobbed her head before standing up and walking back into the house.

Bella's sad eyes stared at her sister's retreating figure before dropping her stressed gaze over the table, she was about to grab the newspaper to continue her work when suddenly she got alerted hearing the ring of the phone. Grabbing it she answered the phone right away placing it over her ear.

"Hello James, Is everything ok?" She inquired right away as she knew James would never disturb her at this time if it wouldn't something serious.

She heard him sighing lowly. "No, it's not." She straightened her back biting her lower lip letting him continue.

"Why? What happened?" She asked in anticipation.

"Wayne's lawyer came to me again today. He tried buying me and also threaten me to ask you to take the case back otherwise the consequences will be bad." Bella gritted her teeth closing her eyes.

"I refused him but Bella I am scared." Bella sighed heavily.

" Don't be scared James. If you want you can back away I wouldn't blame you." James chuckled.

"I am not scared for myself Bella. I am scared for you. Smith Wayne maybe is a bastard. But Sebastian Wayne is a devil. And I am afraid he might end up doing something to you. He's a beast. He had a lot of rumors of ruining his enemies in the worst way." Bella frowned.

" Who is he? "

"Sebastian Wayne. He is the only son of Smith Wayne and the sole owner of the Wayne Enterprises." Bella narrowed her eyes trying to remember if she has met him or even had seen him anywhere else before but to no avail.

"Let him do whatever he wants. The case will be taken back over my dead body." Saying that she glared at the grass earning another deep sigh from the man on the other side.

"Fine, if you say so. Just be alert ok. If anything suspicious happens call me right away." Bella hummed before hanging the call bidding goodbye to him.

She let her back hit the chair's head before she bit her lower lip feeling anxiety again hitting her up, Only she knew how much strength she had to gather just to face Smith Wayne. And now this new problem named Sebastian Wayne has started disturbing her, the way James explained about what kind of person Sebastian Wayne is, has made Bella nervous as well. James was never this conscious about Smith Wayne, if he's warning her this much then there must be something terrible about this Sebastian.

Making her mind to avoid any uncertainty she grasped the newspaper and started hunting for the job again even though somewhere in her mind, the thoughts of Sebastian Wayne were still messing with her.

The night turned to day and she appointed a caretaker for her mother. Her mother tried to protest but Bella told her that till she will come back the caretaker will be with her. Sarah also started college and Bella went in search of a job. She took four interviews and to her luck, she finally got a job. Even though she never thought she will ever do such a job but sometimes life can force you to take such steps.

She got a job in a restaurant as a waitress. The shift was at the night only for the last three days a week. While in the morning she found a job as a receptionist at a company. The pay wasn't much but by combining both jobs she could earn enough to fill the kitchen's necessities and her mother's medication.

She walked out of the restaurant with a frown. It was raining heavily. She doesn't even have an umbrella. She waited for an hour sitting on the bench at the restaurant's entrance but the rain didn't stop. She ran towards the bus stop but suddenly she felt a weird feeling hitting her up. Being conscious about the surroundings she turned her head back only to find a man standing in the corner with his half face covered with a mask.

She gulped watching the unknown creepy man who was staring right at her, she hugged herself tightening the shawl around her shoulders but suddenly her heartbeat paused witnessing the mysterious man pulling a gun out of his pocket and aiming right at her.

Her eyes widened in dread and without thinking twice she made a run for her life, with her heart beating in her ears she ran under the heavy rain letting her shoes hit the watered surface, the streets were empty as no one wanted to be under the rain. She heard the heavy footsteps following her each step.

She stumbled back in shock feeling tears gathering in her eyes when she saw two men blocking the other side of the alley not letting her escape the way, she shook her head in fear and agony.

"No, I can't die." Right now all she could think of was her sister and mother, after her father they wouldn't be able to handle the loss of her as well. Right now they need her badly. She can't just die, at least not yet!

Tilting her head to the side she ran to the other side of the alley that led her towards an abandoned factory, the rain stopped attacking her as she stepped under the shelter of the dirty empty factory. Gulping down she stepped inside only for her feet to step over something causing her to fall resulting in her handbag falling on the floor as well.

Her right knee fell over something sharp injuring her knee and drawing blood from it, she hissed letting the tears soak her cheeks mixing them with the rain drops laying over her flesh. She flinched dreadfully as soon as the lights of the factory got turned on.

Her body shivered with cold and fear finding the men who were following her standing in front of her at a little distance, her blue terrorized gaze slowly stopped over the man sitting over the chair beside the men. He had his one ankle resting over his other knee lightening up his cigar.

She let out a shaky breath staring at the fibrous wicked man sitting on the chair making huge puffs of smoke without any care and sympathy towards her, she shuddered feeling anxiety attacking her nerves as he raised his sharp gray eyes meeting with her misty blue ones.

"W-Who are you?" She stuttered scared out of her wits. What does he want? She doesn't even know him! She wondered.

His lips tilted up into an iniquitous smirk puffing out a huge lump of smoke. His body language and wicked eyes were enough to add to her horror.

"Nice to finally meet you Bellaria, it's strange you don't know the man on whose father you were filing a case." Suddenly her body froze and her system stopped working hearing his words. She stared at him silently allowing him to confirm her doubts.

"Hello, my lady, Sebastian Wayne at your service, or maybe," He paused widening his twisted smile.

"At your doom." Her heart stopped.

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