51. Arguments in the Villa

VICTOR....

"We're here," I say, turning to Bella. Her gaze is fixed on the entrance of the Valdez Villa, blank and lost. Mathew opens the doors for us, and we step outside.

She is trying her best to act calm, yet she is failing to maintain it. Slowly, I hold her hand, intertwining our fingers. She shudders at my touch and closes her eyes, her breaths moving unsteadily.

"It's okay, Bellatrix. I'm right beside you," I murmur in her ear, which seems to relax her a bit before she exhales a deep breath and opens her eyes again.

She looks up at me and slowly nods her head. We walk down the narrow road leading to the entrance; the villa seems to be in a festive mood, the main gate wide open with no trace of life there. As we approach the gate, hushed voices drift out from the villa.

"They're happy," she mumbles, a flicker of woe in her tone, to which I have no reply. Her pain is unbearable and far exceeds mine.

And she was right; not only her parents, but the entire villa was delighted