MY IDEAL MARRIAGE

Chapter Five: Her Gaze Softened

Bella swallowed the tablet, and a few minutes later, the pain gradually eased. The older woman smiled and handed her the shopping bag. “I got these for you.”

Bella looked at the bag in surprise. “Ma’am… why?”

“They’re just some hibiscus tea and a few essentials. Consider it a small gift.”

Before Bella could protest, the woman turned to the man beside her. “Uncho, please gather her shopping bags. We’ll drop her off.”

Bella quickly shook her head. “Oh, no, ma’am. I couldn’t possibly trouble you.”

The older woman smiled warmly. “It’s no trouble at all. I never had a daughter, but I always wished I did. So allow me to do this for you.”

Bella’s eyes softened. “Thank you… I truly appreciate it.”

The bodyguard reached for Bella’s shopping bags, but she quickly shook her head. “Thank you, ma’am, but I already have someone waiting outside.”

The older woman smiled. “Then give him a call, dear. He can come inside the mall.”

Bella glanced through the mall’s glass entrance. The rain had eased into a light drizzle. She took out her phone and called her driver.

A few moments later, he walked into the mall.

“Please, you can give the bags to him,” Bella said.

The bodyguard handed the shopping bags to Bella’s driver.

“Please put them in the car,” Bella told him. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied before walking away.

Bella turned back to the older woman. “Thank you so much for everything.”

“It was my pleasure, dear.” The woman smiled warmly. “By the way, what’s your name?”

“I’m Bella.”

“What a beautiful name,” the woman said. “You can call me Emily.”

Bella smiled. “It was nice meeting you, ma’am… Emily.”

Emily chuckled softly. “It was nice meeting you too, Bella. Take good care of yourself.”

“I will. Thank you.”

Bella was about to leave when she suddenly stopped. “Oh! My coffee.”

She walked over to the coffee stand, collected the two cups she had paid for earlier, and headed toward the exit.

As Bella disappeared through the mall’s glass doors, Emily stood watching her for a few more moments. A gentle smile spread across her face.

“There is something special about that girl,” she said softly. “What a coincidence…” She smiled to herself. “I already like her.”

Bella arrived home shortly after. She picked up two of her shopping bags, but her driver insisted on carrying the rest.

“Thank you,” she said before heading inside.

She went straight to her room, took a warm bath, changed into something comfortable, and then made her way downstairs.

As she stepped into the kitchen, she found Maria filling a flask with warm water. Bella smiled. “You were preparing it again?”

Maria looked at her. “I could tell from the pale look on your face the moment you got back, my angel. I know your routine. I wasn’t going to let you sleep without it.”

Bella smiled gratefully. “You know, I don’t think I’ll be needing it tonight.”

Maria frowned slightly. “What happened?”

“I met a kind woman at the mall. She gave me something for the pain, and it worked almost immediately. I don’t feel any pain anymore.”

Maria smiled with relief. “That’s wonderful. Come on, dinner is ready.”

After dinner, Bella returned to her room. She began unpacking the things she had bought from the mall, carefully arranging her toiletries on the dressing table. Her eyes then fell on the shopping bag the older woman had given her.

Curious, she opened it.

Inside was a heating belt, a pack of hibiscus tea, a box of ibuprofen tablets, and a small pack of assorted chocolates. Bella stared at the items in silence as a warm smile slowly spread across her face.

“So that’s why she wouldn’t let me refuse…”

For someone she had only met a few hours earlier, the woman had shown her a kindness she hadn’t expected. Bella carefully placed the gifts on her bedside table before getting into bed, still smiling as she drifted off to sleep.

***

The following evening, Bella returned home from work. As she walked into the living room, she saw her father. He had just returned from his business trip.

For a brief moment, she hesitated. Is he still upset about what happened last weekend?

Her father looked at her before smiling. “What? Aren’t you going to give your old man a hug?”

Bella laughed softly and walked into his arms. “I missed you, Dad.”

“I missed you too.”

Out of the corner of her eye, Bella noticed her stepmother watching them with an unreadable expression. Although they lived under the same roof, they were no more than strangers.

“Oh, come on,” Sarah teased. “You two are acting like you haven’t seen each other in years.”

Everyone laughed.

“I’ll freshen up first,” her father said. “We’ll talk later.”

After dinner, Maria knocked gently on Bella’s bedroom door. “Your father would like to see you.”

Bella nodded and followed her upstairs.

She found him standing alone on the balcony. The evening breeze was cool.

“I’ve been thinking about the proposal,” he began.

“So have I.”

He turned to face her. “Have you made your decision?”

Bella was quiet for a moment before finally nodding. “If this marriage is what’s best for the company, then I’ll go through with it.”

Her father let out a relieved breath. “Thank you.” He smiled. “On Wednesday, you’ll meet the Zaroth family.”

Bella simply nodded.

The next morning, she went to work as usual. As the Operations Manager of Xandor Technologies, she spent most of the morning meeting with new staff members and department supervisors.

Her phone remained on silent throughout the meeting. When it finally ended, she glanced at the screen.

Seven missed calls.

All from her father.

She quickly returned the call.

“Bella, where are you?” he asked.

“I’m at work.”

“At work?” he exclaimed. “Today’s the meeting with the Zaroth family. They’re already on their way to the house.”

Bella’s eyes widened. “I’ll leave right now.”

She grabbed her bag and hurried out of the office.

Traffic delayed her for nearly an hour. By the time she arrived home, the guests had already arrived.

As she stepped into the living room, her stepmother looked at her disapprovingly. “Always late for important occasions.”

Bella barely heard the remark. Her eyes were fixed on the elegant woman seated across the room.

Emily.

Emily looked up at the same moment, and their eyes met. A warm smile appeared on Emily’s face.

“Bella.”

Bella stood frozen. “Ma… Emily?”

Emily chuckled softly. “What a pleasant surprise.”

Only then did Bella realize who she truly was.

Before she could process the revelation, her gaze shifted to the man sitting beside Emily. He looked just as stunned.

Their eyes locked.

She’s the woman from the company… Ethan thought, equally shocked.

The silence stretched between them until Bella’s father finally spoke.

“Bella, meet the Zaroth family.”

Everything suddenly made sense.

The kind woman she had met at the mall was Emily Zaroth, her soon-to-be mother-in-law.