OFF LIMITS

Chapter Thirteen:A Bad Day,Bells

Bella sat there for a while, lost in her thoughts.

Then, suddenly, a wishing star streaked across the night sky.

Bella’s eyes followed it.

For a brief moment, the star seemed to shine directly in front of her eyes before slowly disappearing into the darkness.

Bella stared at the empty sky for a few seconds.

Then she let out a long sigh.

She finally got up from where she was sitting and headed home.

After returning home, Bella had dinner and eventually went to bed.

That night, she fell asleep with far too many thoughts running through her mind.

The next morning, Bella’s sleep was interrupted by Lisa calling her.

“Bella!”

Bella slowly opened her eyes.

Still half-asleep, she sat up on the bed and instinctively touched the pendant around her neck.

Her fingers brushed over it, and she stared at it for a moment.

Then she got out of bed, got ready, had breakfast, and left for college.

As soon as Bella arrived at college, she noticed people looking at her neck.

The pendant was shining softly against her skin.

Ammy walked up to her and immediately noticed it.

“Bella, seriously, that looks so beautiful on your neck.”

Bella smiled.

“Thank you.”

They walked into class together.

A few minutes later, the teacher entered the classroom, and everyone settled down.

The teacher began the class, but after a while, he suddenly looked at everyone.

“By the way, next month we have a dance competition. Anyone who wants to participate should give me their name today.”

Ammy immediately raised her hand.

“Sir! Bella will participate. She’s really good at dancing.”

Bella’s eyes widened.

“Ammy! Shut up. How am I supposed to—”

“Be quiet,” Ammy whispered, trying not to laugh.

The teacher looked toward Bella.

“Bella?”

Bella sighed.

“Sir, I haven’t practiced in a long time. I don’t think I’ll be able to do it.”

But Ammy wasn’t listening.

“Sir, just take Bella’s name.”

The teacher nodded and wrote it down.

Bella stared at Ammy in disbelief.

“Ammy, what am I supposed to do now?”

Ammy smiled innocently.

“Don’t worry, babe. I’ll help you.”

“There’s a really good dance class near my house. I’ll give you the details. You should join it.”

Bella hesitated.

“Okay…”

Ammy smiled wider.

“Good. Then after college, come to my house. We’ll practice together.”

Bella’s heart suddenly began pounding.

“Today?”

“Yeah. Today.”

Bella immediately shook her head.

“No. Not today. Why don’t you come to my house instead?”

“Nope. I’ll come another day. Today, you’re coming to my house.”

“Ammy, I—”

“I’ll come another day, Bella. Today, you come.”

Bella tried to refuse again, but Ammy kept insisting.

Eventually, Bella gave in.

“Fine.”

When college ended, Bella returned home.

As she walked, excitement and confusion fought inside her.

She couldn’t understand why she felt so nervous.

Once she reached home, she went straight to her room.

She freshened up and got ready.

She applied light makeup, keeping it simple.

But this time, she didn’t choose her usual simple clothes.

Instead, she wore a white shirt with denim shorts.

She looked at herself in the mirror for a moment before grabbing her phone and leaving.

As soon as she stepped outside, she noticed a car already waiting downstairs.

Bella stopped.

The driver stepped out.

“Ma’am, please get in.”

Bella frowned.

“Ammy sent you?”

The driver shook his head.

“No, ma’am. Noah sir sent me.”

Bella’s expression hardened instantly.

“No. It’s okay. I can go by myself.”

Before the driver could respond, her phone buzzed.

A message from Noah.

Get in the car, Bells.

Bella stared at the screen.

The driver opened the door again.

“Ma’am, please. We’re already getting late.”

After a tense pause, Bella finally got in.

The drive took around twenty minutes.

When they arrived at Ammy’s house, Bella stepped out.

She walked slowly toward the house.

Her heart was pounding.

She wasn’t looking for Ammy.

She was looking for Noah.

The moment she entered the hall, she stopped.

The entire place was empty.

No maids.

No guards.

No one.

Bella frowned.

“What happened? Where is everyone?”

Silence answered her.

Then she noticed a slightly open door near the kitchen.

A dark room.

Something about it felt… off.

She slowly walked toward it.

One step.

Then another.

When she reached the doorway, she peeked inside.

It was completely dark.

“Maybe it’s just a storage room…”

She stepped back.

“I should go upstairs.”

She turned—

And froze.

Noah was standing directly behind her.

Too close.

Bella jumped.

“Jesus…”

She held her chest.

“Noah…”

He didn’t answer.

His eyes moved over her slowly, deliberately.

Then he spoke, low and calm.

“You look damn good.”

Bella blinked.

“Huh?”

Noah stepped closer.

He placed one hand on the wall beside her.

Then the other.

Trapping her.

Bella’s breath caught.

Her back pressed lightly against the wall as she realized she couldn’t move past him.

Noah leaned in slightly, his voice dropping.

“I said you look good.”

Bella’s cheeks warmed instantly.

Noah noticed.

A faint smirk appeared.

“Getting shy, Bells?”

“I… I’m not.”

But her voice betrayed her.

Noah lifted a hand and gently brushed a strand of hair behind her ear.

The touch was slow. Intentional.

Bella’s breath hitched.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

The air between them thickened.

Then—

Footsteps.

Bella froze.

Noah’s expression shifted.

A maid was coming down the stairs.

Without hesitation, Noah grabbed Bella’s wrist and pulled her into the dark room.

The door clicked shut.

Bella’s back hit the wall again, this time inside the darkness.

Her breathing turned uneven.

“Noah…”

“Shh.”

His voice was close.

Too close.

Bella shook her head slightly.

“I’m scared…”

Noah didn’t answer with words.

Instead, he placed a hand gently over her mouth.

Not rough.

But firm enough to silence her completely.

Bella’s eyes widened.

She stopped moving instantly.

Noah leaned in, his breath brushing her skin.

Outside, the maid’s footsteps moved through the kitchen.

Every sound felt amplified in the dark room.

Bella stood frozen, her pulse loud in her ears.

After a while, the footsteps faded.

Silence returned.

Noah slowly removed his hand.

“Everyone’s asleep,” he said quietly.

Bella exhaled shakily.

She stepped back immediately.

“Noah… I’m leaving.”

She turned toward the door.

But he caught her hand.

“Bells. Wait.”

Her body stiffened.

He pulled her closer.

Not forcefully—but enough that the space between them disappeared.

Bella’s breath hitched.

Noah’s gaze dropped to her pendant.

He touched it lightly.

“Bells…”

Bella looked up.

“You like me, don’t you?”

Silence.

The question hung heavy in the dark.

Noah lifted his hand and gently cupped her face.

His touch was slow, almost testing her reaction.

“You like me.”

A pause.

“Am I wrong?”

Bella’s lips parted—but no words came.

The distance between them vanished further.

Their breaths mixed.

The tension became unbearable.

Noah leaned in slowly.

Close enough that if she didn’t move—

He would kiss her.

But Bella turned her face away at the last second and pushed him back.

Noah stepped away, surprised.

Bella stood there, breathing unevenly.

Then she spoke, voice shaking but firm.

“Noah…”

“You’re married.”

Silence.

“You’re my best friend’s father.”

Her hands clenched.

“I can’t do this.”

“I can’t betray Maria.”

Her eyes lowered.

“Please… just stop.”

Noah watched her for a long moment.

Then he smiled faintly.

“You like me.”

“No.”

“Then why are you shaking?”

Bella swallowed hard.

“Stop it.”

“Stop lying to yourself, Bells.”

Her voice rose slightly.

“We can’t.”

Noah didn’t respond immediately.

Then his eyes dropped to the pendant again.

“If that’s true…”

He looked back at her.

“Why are you still wearing what I gave you?”

Bella froze completely.

No answer came.

Because there wasn’t one.

Noah stepped back.

The air between them changed.

He opened the door.

“Have a good day, Bells.”

And walked out.

Bella stood there in the dark for a long time.

Then she followed.

The house felt emptier than before.

Upstairs, Ammy opened the door.

“Babe! When did you come?”

“A while ago.”

Ammy studied her face.

“What happened? You look off.”

“I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Bella forced a smile.

“Where’s Maria?”

“Mom? In her room.”

“Go check. I’ll freshen up.”

Bella nodded and walked away.

But Maria’s room was empty.

She frowned.

As she turned back—

She stopped.

At the far window.

Maria stood there.

And behind her—

Noah.

His arms were around Maria.

Close.

Intimate.

He leaned in and sucking her neck.

Bella froze.

Her hands curled into fists.

Her body trembled.

And then—

Noah looked directly at her.

He knew she was there.

He had made sure she saw it.

Bella turned away sharply and walked back.

A few minutes later, Ammy returned.

“You didn’t go?”

“I did.”

“But Maria wasn’t there.”

“Maybe she went out.”

“Maybe.”

But Bella’s mind wasn’t there anymore.

It was stuck on one image.

Noah.

And the way he had looked at her after.

As if he wanted her to see everything.

As if he wanted her to break.

Bella clenched her fists again.

She didn’t know what hurt more—

What she saw…