Chapter Three

This was a mistake, a huge one.

In her head is a long list of all the actions she was starting to regret. On top of that list was meeting Nikolai. Nothing should be added. Enough stupid actions.

Belle no longer cared if she packed her things messily in her suitcase; some were even scattered on the floor, but she was ready to squeeze everything into her luggage. The need to go home and forget what happened today was stronger than having well-arranged luggage.

It has only been days, and she missed her child terribly already. They were never separated for this long, and she couldn't believe she left for something that turned out to be not worth it. Clearly, that would be Nikolai.

She could have kept silent. Shut her mouth and just signed those damn divorce papers without slapping it on his face. It would hurt, and she'd spend some nights crying but at least, she could still have that peace she could never have now.

After making sure nothing important was left behind, Belle clumsily closed it, ready to go.

"Hello, Bon?" She walked like someone was chasing her from behind while on her way to the airport. "How is he, Bon?"

"Liam misses you terribly, Belle. I recently discovered that the sound of the rain calms him. Thank goodness, all I had to do was d******d audio and play it in the background- not do some ritual to create rain or something."

Belle laughed at the thought of that. Liam is comfortable with her friend Bonnie, but it can't be helped that he'd miss her. She's the mother, after all?."

"Don't worry. All of these will be over soon. I'm going home. I shouldn't have come here in the first place."

"Belle, we might have a teeny-tiny problem."

A cab stopped in front of her just in time when she reached the sidewalk. There was still some time left, and she could still catch the last flight today. About to enter the cab, she noticed Bonnie wasn't making any sound from the other line.

"Bon?"

"That man- I mean, Attorney Laurent no longer wants a divorce. I just received a call from his office."

"What the actual fuck?" She stopped in her tracks to let what she had just heard process in her head. Did she hear it right? "Nikolai no longer wants what?"

"He personally called me to say that he no longer wants a divorce but would still keep in touch to discuss… other matters. I think it would be best to solve it here before coming back."

The driver was already giving her a slightly pissed look. She sighed and gave in, taking a seat but not sure where she should be going after hearing what Bonnie just told her.

"What do you mean other matters?"

"Custody… and other legal matters involving the kid."

"He's not threatening us, isn't he? Did he say more?"

"Not much but he was clear with his request. So, he knows about Liam already? Even if you come back here, for sure, he wouldn't just seat still. We can get ready for the worse but our best scenario is for you to come up with an arrangement."

A lot had already happened, and she was almost sure things couldn't get worse. That was a lifetime's worth of unfortunate events that happened in a single day. Belle couldn't describe the feeling of disbelief. Covering her face with her hands, she stopped herself from screaming but let out an exasperated sigh.

Unplanned, but the route needed to change.

Nickolai is still Nickolai. Even when caught surprised, he still got his shit together. Unlike Belle, he wasn't a scatterbrain. She wanted to leave and be able to breathe. On the other hand, Nikolai took straight legal actions and was most likely ready to drag her down to death.

"Shit. You've got to be kidding me."

"A marriage and then now, a kid? Katherine Isobelle, you must really be out of your mind." Her brother angrily rants as soon as she presses the answer button. "You have a child! That, apparently, no one knows about! How can you keep this from me?"

"Preston, please," It seemed like the room was spinning, making her feel dizzy. Belle massaged her temples, thinking she could no longer handle more screaming and shouting for today. "I will talk to you soon, but I'm so sorry I need to end this call today. I promise." and without another word, she hangs up.

As soon as she was acquainted with silence again, tears started to form in her eyes. Finally, complete silence, yet all she could hear were the voices inside her head.

Would it still be acceptable to lie down and wallow in self-pity right now?

Her ex-husband- ah, the still-husband did not waste any time.

Now is a crucial time, not the time to get angry and let it get the best of her. It was a good thing she still had her one last card.

Belle finds herself standing outside of a house. She already had an idea that it would be a mansion, and Nikolai would be willing to spend much for the woman who owned the house, but a two-story mansion was just too much.

"I'm sorry, Miss. Who are you?" Someone from the house greets her after pressing the doorbell.

"Is Stella home?"

"I'm sorry, but may I ask who you are?"

She didn't say no. That bitch is most probably home, she thought.

"Can you tell her Katherine Isobelle Laurent is looking for her? Just some important matter."

That look on that woman who she thinks is the housekeeper changed when she introduced herself. She isn't a stranger in this home- or maybe her husband. Well, how could they not? Nikolai, for sure, hangs around here all the time. It was even a surprise that he hadn't packed his things yet and lived with Stella. He was so itching to leave her then, and he seems in a rush to divorce her now.

"I will tell her, Miss. For a moment."

There was a sense of urgency with how she walked-or rather, ran away from Belle. Patiently waiting in front of this beautiful home that she could have dreamt for her and her son. She wasn't even asking for this much. In their version of the story, she is playing the villain. It wouldn't feel right to ask for a lot when there's only too little Nikolai can give, not in terms of money.

As soon as she walked inside, Belle was given an unwelcome look. "Why are you here?"

"Aren't we close enough to greet each other at least, Stella?"

'You would never be her.' She knows this is what he kept on thinking before. Belle isn't stupid. Standing face to face with Stella, it would be fair to say that Nikolai was right, after all.

Stella's eyes were wide and brown. It can easily be used to convey emotions. Like how she angrily looks at Belle right now. But even with all the fierce front, the fear wasn't easy to hide. Her trembling hands and pale lips didn't escape Belle's eyes either.

"I don't think so."

"Okay, no problem. Can I take a seat?" Before Stella could even answer, Belle sat and made herself comfortable. "Do we need to introduce ourselves or… nah?"

"Can you just please tell me why you are here?" Belle was started when Stella screamed all of a sudden. All it took was five minutes in the same room with the lover and the wife for Stella to lose patience already.

"Oh dear, you're in such a hurry! Relax, Stella. Can you please not scream at me? It's not like I'm the mistress here."

"Did you come here for Nikolai? Do you want him-"

"I came here to talk to you. Not Nikolai. You can tell him I came here. Maybe exaggerate the story. You know what? Add some lies. I don't care."

There was a faint sound of a laughing child from upstairs. It made Belle flinch, but it took almost every ounce of restraint not to react.

She knows who that was, and that kid has done nothing wrong, but boy, her heart is clenched when she thinks about how her son could have the dream of a life that kid is living.

Her baby deserves to be loved, to feel wanted—something his father could never give.

Keeping a straight face, Stella looked Belle in the eyes. "Then why are you here?"

"I need you to convince Nikolai to carry on with that divorce. Make that happen. Then, you can have him… all by yourself."