Chapter 3 Is really sad inside
660 Words
Belle was heartbroken and struggled to explain, “No, I—”
Meeting Mander's cold gaze, she stopped short. What was the point of trying to explain? He wouldn't believe her. Desperately, Belle tried to hold back her tears, but in the end, they streamed down her face.
Mander glowered at her. “Belle, don't think I'm going to go soft on you just because you shed a few tears. The moment I know you lied to me, your tears are worthless.”
“I didn't lie to you!” Belle yelled back.
It was Cat who suggested it had to be. Cat was the only person Mander trusted the most.
“Mander, you fool! You've forgotten that there were fishermen who saw me save you!”
“Belle, don't be silly. You'll only make me hate you more,” Mander replied, gritting his teeth. “Don't you have someone you like? Just as well—sign me up to make you both whole again.”
In the face of his sudden desperation, Belle's heart ached. Instead of feeling angry, she laughed. “Ha! Mander, I don’t care about your fulfillment.”
“Good, very good!” Mander said before turning and walking away.
Belle couldn't bear to look at his determined back, but with one glance, her heart hurt all over again. She couldn't help but yell after him, “Mander, the one I like is a million times better than you! He only has me in his heart, unlike you, who have been married to me for so many years but have your heart full of that Cat!”
Mander's footsteps stopped abruptly, stunned by her words. After their marriage, Belle tried everything to please him, but she still couldn't compete with the man in her heart.
At that moment, Mander felt a mix of emotions—anger, but more than that, resentment.
“Mander!”
Belle's lips curled into a bittersweet smile as tears flowed from her eyes. She cried and laughed simultaneously. “I'm going to tell your family that I love someone else and that's why I want a divorce. You'd better hide that Cat well, or don't blame me for not helping you when the time comes.”
Her heart burned with every word.
When had she fallen in love with him? It was from the moment she saw him dying on the beach in the fishing village, right? He looked so handsome that day, yet so fragile, like a sickly little prince.
“Hidden?”
Mander's face instantly froze as he turned to Belle. “Belle, Cat, and I have always been open and honest. You are the only woman I've hidden away and can never let see the light of day.”
Long after Mander had left, Belle still hadn't recovered from his words. Her marriage to him was clearly recognized by his family, but she had become the woman he couldn't reveal to the world.
She sat on the floor, staring blankly ahead, her heart aching as it repeated, "Mander, how can you do this to a woman who loves you so much until she's lost herself? Do you even realize that the only man she loves is you?"
“Mander!”
Belle shouted suddenly. In the next instant, she got up from the ground and ran outside.
“Mander, I want all your friends to know that your wife is me, Belle.” She burst into Mander's circle of friends like a whirlwind. Everyone looked at her with expressions of confusion.
She reached out, grabbed food from the table, climbed up, stood on it, and exclaimed, “I, Belle, have been married to Mander for three years, and I am his wife in all but name!” She laughed like a madwoman, her laughter mixing with uncontrollable sobs. It was so sad. She had thought she could say goodbye with flair and at least remain friends from that point on.
- Writer
