Bella can’t help but smile widely, looking at Henry’s annoyed expression.
Flashing him with another broad smile, Bella walked into the ward room without waiting for his response. However, her smile instantly vanishes when she meets a few pairs of eyes staring at her.
’Oh, crap!! Why are they all here? Did they know I will come today?’ Bella asks herself while looking at her grandpa Butler, Nick, as if trying to ask him, "What’s going on? Why are they gathering here?"
When Bella saw Nick’s innocent expression, she could only give him a slight nod before calmly entering the room and heading toward the seating area.
Bella feels like her luck was running thin today. She deliberately visited her grandfather during working hours. Still, all the uncles and aunts who managed the Donovan Company were now gathered in this room.
’Did something happen to grandfather?’ Bella wondered while quickly glancing at the patient’s bed at the end of the room.
Bella couldn’t see his grandfather’s face clearly but knew her grandpa was okay. She feels slightly relieved.
She politely smiled at all her uncles and aunties in the room, still looking at her sharply. They all had similar expressions — shock and disbelief to see her appear in the room as if she had just returned from the dead.
"Uncle, Aunty, it’s nice to meet you all here." Bella greeted them politely and flashed her sweet smile.
However, no matter how much she smiled, it never quite reached her eyes, and the welcoming emotion she put on her face never sincerely came from her heart. She really hated them for what they did to her.
Now, she could only endure it. This is not the right time to do anything. She didn’t give them a chance to humiliate her again; she turned her gaze to Nick.
"How’s Grandpa?" She asked.
"His condition is not stable, but now he’s sleeping," Nick replied calmly. "Young Miss, come, greet your grandpa. He will be happy to know you finally arrive."
"What the hell are you doing, Nick!? Why did you let this damn kid enter this room?" The middle-aged man with a thick mustache stood up from his chair. His sharp eyes looked at Nick, then turned to Bella.
The man didn’t rush to continue to speak, but he scanned Bella from head to toe as if he wanted to eat her alive. Bella silently swallowed, looking at the man she once respected but not anymore.
"You, do you have no shame? Why do you still dare to appear before us after what you did?" The man continued in a disgusted tone. "Get out of this room before I drag you out!" he roars.
Bella didn’t say anything. She only stared at her first uncle — her grandfather’s oldest child. He runs the company as the CEO; his name is Jacob Donovan.
She feels puzzled; why did he blame her!?
The room fell silent again. No one said a word.
However, shortly after, a woman with short black hair stood beside Jacob Donovan.
"Brother Jacob, keep your emotions in check. Don’t let your blood pressure rise because Bella..." The woman said softly.
"Emma, stop defend her!! You know... this good-for-nothing girl doesn’t deserve to appear here. She is a useless woman. How dare she accept the divorce without telling us anything!?" Jacob snapped.
Jacob can’t hold his anger when he remembers a few years ago, because of Bella and Tristan’s sudden divorce, their business was on the verge of bankruptcy. Even now, their company has not recovered.
"I know, brother. But you can’t be angry with me either...right!?" Emma said weakly. Before Jacob could continue his anger, Emma said, "And what’s the point of scolding Bella now!? That’s all in the past. They’re divorced. Sinclair has ended their relationship with our company.
We can’t turn back time—"
Bella was stunned. This was the first time she had heard about it. Now, she understands why her first uncle blames her. It looks like her divorce from Tristan caused the family company to suffer.
"Stop it, Emma!! I didn’t want to hear that." Jacob continues venting his anger while Emma tries to calm him down.
Bella feels sorry for her second aunt but can’t do anything, even though she wants to help her. Her first uncle would be even more fuming if she said something now. She doesn’t want to be blamed again if her uncle suddenly dies of a heart attack. She decides only to listen.
"Jacob, your blood pressure... Please stop." Another woman in the room tries to calm Jacob — she is Jacob’s wife.
But the stubborn Jacobs is still angry at Bella. He blamed her because the Donovan Group suffered so much loss after Sinclair Corps no longer continued their collaboration — with their primary business, a Construction company — in various projects in this city.
Bella remained silent. When her uncle and aunt argued, she took the opportunity to move near Nick.
When Nick’s eyes flashed with guilt for putting Bella in a situation like this, Bella answered with a faint smile and whispered, "Nick, don’t worry about me. I’m stronger than before."
"Glad to hear that, miss..." Nick replies in a hushed tone.
"But, Nick. Why didn’t you ever tell me about the company? Are they good now!?" She asked again.
Before Nick could answer Bella, another loud voice echoed in the room.
"Brother Jacob," the younger uncle finally chimed in, staring at Jacob with concern. "You have to listen to what Sister Emma and Sister-in-law say. If you are still venting your anger, you might be rushed to the emergency room!"
Jacob narrowed his eyes, looking at his younger brother, Thomas. "You seem to be going soft on her now, Thomas? Did this good-for-nothing girl send you some money she got from Sinclair!?"
"Hahaha, I wish she would send half of her money to me, but unfortunately, she is not..." Thomas laughs, then slowly turns his gaze to Bella.
Thomas’s laugh vanished instantly, and his calm expression turned sharp. "Why did you come here!? Have you run out of money, and then you come back here again to beg for money?"
Bella listened to their verbal abuse with a calm, indifferent expression. Still, now she felt she needed to answer them.
However, a loud ’bang’ sound was heard when Bella wanted to say something.
All eyes now looked towards the entrance.