At four in the afternoon, Bella was ready to go. She needed to arrive early at the Mogul Mega Mall to go shopping before meeting Tristan at 7 p.m.
However, before she went down to the first floor, Dax came out of his room simultaneously.
Bella was surprised to see her son rubbing his eyes while walking towards her.
"Oh, baby… I thought you were taking a nap. Why are you awake now?" Bella came closer and took his chubby hand. She took him to the sofa in the living room area on the second floor.
She smiled at how adorable he looked just waking up from his sleep, his thick black hair looking messy.
"I slept too much, Mom... I’m not sleepy anymore," Dax said in a hoarse but sweet voice, looking at his mother.
Dax was surprised to see his mother wearing clothes that she rarely wears.
She wore a white turtleneck, skinny jeans, and a khaki trench coat on her shoulder. Her beautiful wavy black hair, which she usually tied up, now flowed beautifully down her back. She looked stunning, like an angel.
Seeing how beautiful his mother looked now made Dax worry.
"Are you going somewhere, Mom?" Dax asked, concerned that she might leave him.
"Yes. I have to go somewhere..."
"Where? You didn’t bring me with you?" he asked, disappointed.
"Baby, sorry… I didn’t ask you to come with me because you will hate that place." Bella smiled, knowing her son disliked going to the supermarket or shopping center. He hated crowded places.
Dax frowned.
"Are you going to the supermarket?"
"No. Shopping mall. I need some clothes to wear and also yours. If you want to come with—"
"No, thanks. You can go now, mommies… But please buy a few cakes for me or anything delicious," Dax said, his eyes beaming as he imagined his favorite chocolate cake.
Bella smiled. She felt amused looking at how adorable he was when discussing food.
She cupped his chubby cheeks with her hand and kissed his forehead gently.
"Dax, I will buy your favorite cake. Now, you can continue to sleep or play with Aunty Noora."
****
After Bella finished accompanying Dax to his room, she immediately went downstairs.
She saw her grandpa waiting at the main entrance when she arrived on the first floor. She could see how worried he was now, making Bella smile to reassure him.
"Bella, are you sure you want to go alone?" Isaac asked, concerned for her. He was worried she would drive and meet Tristan alone.
Since she said she would meet Tristan, he had already asked her to go with Nick, but she refused.
"Yes, I’m fine. Please, Grandpa... I’m not a teenager but a mother. Don’t worry about me. I’ve lived in this city for almost ten years. I’m familiar with the places I visit.
I will not get lost… trust me." Bella chuckled; her grandpa still thought of her as a teenager.
"No... No..." Isaac paused. He glanced inside to see if Dax was around before he said, "What I mean… are you okay to meet Tristan alone? Why do I feel you need someone to accompany you?"
Bella’s face turned nervous as she remembered she would meet her ex-husband. But she dismissed her nervousness, not wanting her grandpa to feel even more worried.
"I’m fine. No worries… I already prepared myself for this day." Bella said calmly, though her heart beat faster than usual.
Isaac couldn’t force Bella. He could only trust her and let her use his car.
"Drive safely, Bella. If you think you can’t drive, just call me. I will ask someone to pick you up..." he said concernedly.
"Hmm, I’ll call if I need you," Bella smiled and waved her hand as the SUV slowly left the yard.
This is the first time she has driven alone in this city since arriving in the country again, not since she married Tristan.
When she was still married to Tristan, a driver always accompanied her wherever she went, and it felt strange now to drive alone again.
But even though she rarely drives alone in this city, she knows the streets and her destination quite well. Mogul Mega Mall is a place she often visited before marrying Tristan.
She loves to visit Mogul Mega Mall because there are so many places to shop, restaurants, and cafes to hang out.
...
After driving for about thirty minutes, she finally arrived and parked her car in the basement.
"I’m Feeling so weird coming back to this place..." Bella says to herself as she presses the elevator to go upstairs. She still has two hours to shop before meeting with Tristan.
Ding!
The elevator opened, and she was shocked beyond words to see a man standing inside.
Even if the man stood there looking at his cell phone, he didn’t see her. She recognized him in just one glance.
Bella didn’t want to bump into him immediately, so she made a U-turn, pretending to forget something in her car.
But, unfortunately, the man already saw her. "Bella, stop—" his voice stops her.
Bella clenched her hands into tight fists, hearing his familiar voice. Before she turned to look at him, she tried to adjust her expression, not wanting to show her nervousness.
After taking a deep breath, she turned back and saw him standing, holding the elevator door, smiling at her.
She silently swallowed, ignoring his warm smile. However, when she saw his blue eyes, which had often fascinated her in the past, she could feel her legs weaken.
’Damn it!! Tristan Sinclair, why did you come so early!?’ Bella could only vent her anger in her mind while giving him a forced half-smile.
"Come in," Tristan said again, gesturing for her to enter the elevator. She had no choice but to walk inside and stand beside him.
Standing in the same small space with him, Bella could immediately feel her throat dry. And all the courage she prepared before meeting him vanished right away.
Her hands tightened into fists, holding back her nerves.
"Which floor?" Tristan’s voice broke the silence.