Despite feeling worried, Bella refused to let the situation cloud her judgment. She knew she needed to answer him now.
"Tristan, I’m sorry... I can’t. I…I just can’t. I refuse to return to you, and never in a million years... I plan to return to you and your toxic parents. It’s for my sanity and Dax’s well-being," she stated calmly, though her heart ached with the weight of her words.
When hearing her refusal, Tristan felt like a thousand nails stabbed his heart. However, he could only maintain his calm smile.
He had imagined this would happen — Bella’s refusal — because he knew how he and his parents had hurt her. Winning her back would not be easy. However, he would not give up easily or force her.
Tristan didn’t rush to respond; instead, he stared at her silently. When he noticed her eyes were slightly red, it worried him.
"I’m going to forget what you said earlier. You don’t have to answer now, Bella. I will wait until you’re ready..."
"Tristan, you and I—"
"Alright, let’s go home," Tristan interrupted before she could finish her sentence, rising from his seat. "It’s almost nine. Our son will be worried about you..."
Bella immediately stood up as if someone had struck her head when she heard Tristan mention ’our son.’ He was right. Dax must have been worried because she had left at noon and had not yet returned.
Bella grabbed her bag and left the VIP room, finding Tristan waiting outside. When he saw her, Tristan started walking towards the entrance.
"No need to pay," Tristan stopped her as she was about to head to the cashier.
Bella was surprised to hear that. She turned to see him with a frown on her forehead.
"You already paid?" she asked, following him towards the elevator.
"No, but we don’t have to pay," he replied, glancing at her, who stood beside him, waiting for their elevator.
"Why? Do you have a membership at that restaurant?"
Tristan put his hand on his trousers and smiled upon hearing her words. He turned his gaze away from her, ignoring her curiosity.
"Is that so!?" Bella asked again.
"Nope. I only said today is your birthday, which happens to be the same as their restaurant’s anniversary. So that’s why they said we don’t have to pay..." Tristan casually said with his deadpan expression. He didn’t have to pay anything because he owned the restaurant.
Bella, "..."
She narrowed her eyes at him.
’Gosh! Tristan Sinclair, you are such a terrible liar!’
She couldn’t believe this man was completely different from the Tristan Sinclair she had known in the past. He was cold and distant, while the man beside her was approachable and shameless.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" he chuckled as he saw her enter the elevator without a word. He also stepped into the elevator and stood behind her.
She ignores him.
When Bella arrived at the parking lot, Tristan followed her out of the elevator, causing Bella to stop in her tracks and look at him.
"I will go home now, Tristan. You don’t need to walk me to my car. Bye!" Bella said, walking briskly toward her car while searching for her car keys in her bag.
However, she only took a few steps when something crossed her mind. She turned to ask Tristan but was surprised to see him already standing right behind her.
"Why are you following me?"
"Well, Bella... Just to let you know, I don’t have my car. Dylan had already gone home driving it. So, I have to ride in your car...If you don’t mind," he said with a slightly pitiful expression.
Bella was speechless.
She looked at him with a confused expression before saying, "Did you know that there is a thing called a cell phone? You can use it to call your driver, right?"
"It’s already very late. They’re likely too close to home now."
"How about taking a taxi?" Bella will not let him ride in her car. "I can call a taxi for you if your cell phone battery runs out." She could guess Tristan would use that excuse.
Tristan shook his head slowly as he drew his head closer to her. He chuckled, observing how red her face had become.
Bella was nervous and didn’t dare to move. She could feel her heart stopping, worried that he would do something shameless, like kiss her.
"How could you ask me to take a taxi? If someone knows I ride a taxi, they might try to kidnap me..." He sighs deeply, trying to look worried.
Bella, "..."
She couldn’t win arguing with him. Not when he looked so shameless and desperate like now. And the way he gazed looked like a kitten staring lovely at her. It’s just impossible to say no.
"So…let me drive...." Tristan said, taking the car keys from her hand.
"Tristan, you—" Bella gritted her teeth as she followed him.
She couldn’t believe this shameless and desperate Tristan tricked her into being unable to say no again.
Gosh!
...
For the first time, Bella saw Tristan driving a car. When they were married, he always used a driver. And, sitting beside him now, she feels unreal.
Bella didn’t say anything at all. She only stared at the street ahead. Hoping Tristan would drive faster to his house, and then she would drive herself to her house.
However, after a few minutes leaving Mogul Mega Mall, Bella realized that Tristan was actually driving towards Little Heaven, her house.
She can’t help but ask, "Do you know where you are going? Did you take the wrong road?"
"Yes and no," Tristan said, "Why?" he asked while glancing at her.
"Even though I haven’t been to your house for a long time, I still remember the way..."
"Ah, I have moved..." Tristan said, taking a deep breath and gazing again at the street ahead. "My wife sold our marital house. That’s why I moved." He said in his pitiful tone.
Bella, "..."