Chapter Eleven: The Mysterious Gift
1608 Words
Bella stared at Noah’s number on her phone.
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
She had wanted to delete it.
She really had.
But somehow, she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
She didn’t want to keep his number.
Yet the thought of deleting it made her hesitate every single time.
Bella lowered her phone and let out a quiet sigh.
“What am I doing?”
She locked the screen and set the phone aside.
She hadn’t called her father.
She hadn’t deleted Noah’s number either.
Then her phone suddenly rang.
Bella’s heart jumped.
For one frightening second, she thought Noah had somehow called her.
With slightly trembling fingers, she picked up the phone.
It was Ammy.
Bella released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.
She answered.
“Hello?”
“Where are you?” Ammy asked. “How long are you planning to sit in the garden? Come inside. Lunch is ready.”
Bella forced a small smile.
“I’m coming.”
She ended the call and took a moment to calm herself before finally getting up.
She headed inside.
The moment Bella entered the house, she saw the maids preparing the dining table. Ammy was busy in the kitchen, while Maria stood nearby, giving the maids instructions.
“Put that there. No, the other side. Make sure everything is ready.”
As soon as Maria noticed Bella, her face brightened.
“Darling, come sit down. We’re having lunch now.”
Bella forced another smile.
“Okay. I’ll just freshen up in my room first.”
Maria nodded.
“Of course.”
Bella glanced around the hall without meaning to.
She didn’t see Noah.
For some reason, she felt slightly relieved.
She quickly turned toward the stairs and went upstairs.
She was almost at her room when her phone buzzed with another notification.
Bella pulled it out and started scrolling as she walked.
She was so distracted by the screen that she didn’t notice someone approaching from the opposite direction.
She kept walking.
One more step—
And she would have hit her forehead against the pillar.
But before she could—
A hand quickly slipped between her forehead and the stone pillar.
Bella stopped abruptly.
Her heart jumped.
Noah.
He had caught her just in time.
“You were about to hurt yourself,” he said, his voice slightly sharp with concern. “Why weren’t you watching where you were going?”
Bella stared at him, completely caught off guard.
Noah seemed to realize how close they were at the same moment.
His face turned slightly red.
Bella quickly stepped back.
“I’m sorry, Noah.”
She lowered her eyes.
“I really wasn’t paying attention.”
She gave him another quick, embarrassed glance.
“Sorry.”
Before Noah could say anything, Bella hurried toward her room.
She slipped inside and shut the door behind her.
Then she leaned against it and took several quick breaths.
“What am I doing?”
She covered her face with both hands.
“How many times am I going to embarrass myself in front of him?”
She shook her head.
“No. I’m leaving today.”
That was it.
She would finish lunch, make an excuse, and go home.
She needed some distance.
That was what she needed.
At least, that’s what she told herself.
⸻
After freshening up, Bella went downstairs.
Noah and Ammy were already seated at the dining table.
Maria was still in the kitchen.
Bella glanced at Noah once.
Only once.
Then she immediately looked away.
Ammy noticed her.
“Come sit here, sweetheart. Mom’s coming too.”
Bella sat beside Ammy.
The chair directly across from her was empty.
Noah sat opposite Ammy, his attention focused on his phone.
He didn’t look at Bella.
Not even once.
Bella felt an unexpected sense of relief.
Maybe he had already forgotten what happened upstairs.
Maybe she had made it into a much bigger deal than it actually was.
A few moments later, Maria joined them, and lunch was served.
“Darling, eat properly,” Maria said warmly. “Don’t be shy.”
Bella smiled.
“Okay.”
Everyone began eating.
Noah remained focused on his meal and phone, barely saying anything.
Bella tried to concentrate on her food.
But her eyes kept drifting toward him.
Once.
Then again.
And again.
She couldn’t understand why.
A strange restlessness had settled inside her.
She had thought she wanted Noah to stop looking at her.
So why did his complete lack of attention bother her?
Bella frowned slightly and looked down at her plate.
This was ridiculous.
She shouldn’t care.
She took another bite before finally speaking.
“Maria?”
Maria looked up.
“Yes, darling?”
“Actually… I need to go home after lunch.”
Maria immediately stopped eating.
“Why?”
Ammy looked at her too.
“What happened?”
Bella hesitated for half a second.
“My helping hand, Lisa, called me earlier. She isn’t feeling well, and I think I need to go check on her.”
Maria’s expression softened.
“Oh. I’m sorry to hear that.”
She nodded.
“That’s okay, Bella. Finish your lunch and then go. But…”
She smiled.
“You have to come back next weekend, okay?”
Bella laughed softly.
“You already do so much for me, Maria. Really.”
Maria reached across the table and gave her hand a gentle squeeze.
“You live here alone, darling. Your family is so far away. Being around us might make you feel a little less alone.”
Bella’s expression softened.
“Aww… thank you, Maria. I really appreciate you thinking about me.”
She smiled.
“I’ll definitely come back.”
Before Maria could answer, Noah finally looked up from his phone.
“I’ll ask the driver to take you home.”
Bella looked at him.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
Her heart gave a strange little jump.
“Thanks, Noah,” she said quietly.
He simply nodded.
Bella lowered her eyes and returned to her food.
She finished lunch quickly.
Then she went upstairs to the guest room, gathered her belongings, and returned downstairs.
Maria walked her all the way to the gate.
Ammy hugged her goodbye.
“See you tomorrow at college.”
Bella smiled.
“See you.”
She looked around once.
Noah wasn’t there.
For some reason, her eyes searched for him before she could stop herself.
Nothing.
Bella quickly pushed the thought away.
She got into the car and left Jacob’s villa.
As soon as the car pulled away, Bella leaned back against the seat and released a long breath.
She stared out of the window.
And despite herself, her mind returned to Noah.
Not because she wanted it to.
The thoughts simply came.
His hand between her forehead and the pillar.
His embarrassed expression.
The way he had offered to send her home.
Bella frowned and looked away.
She needed to stop thinking about him.
But the more she tried not to—
the more he seemed to appear in her thoughts.
By the time Bella reached home, the sun was beginning to set.
She stepped out of the car and started walking toward the house.
“Miss, excuse me.”
Bella turned around.
The driver was standing beside the car with a small bag in his hand.
Bella looked confused.
“Yes?”
The driver held the bag out to her.
“Noah sir asked me to give this to you.”
Bella blinked.
“To me?”
“Yes, miss.”
She hesitated before taking it.
“But why? What’s inside?”
The driver shook his head.
“I don’t know, miss. He only told me to make sure you received it.”
Bella looked down at the bag.
It felt slightly heavier than she expected.
She looked back at the driver.
“Thank you.”
The driver nodded and left.
Bella stood there for another moment, staring at the bag.
Why would Noah send her something?
She had no idea.
Finally, she turned toward the house and rang the doorbell.
Lisa opened it.
“Bella! You’re home?”
Bella smiled.
“How are you, Lisa? Is everything okay?”
Lisa nodded.
“I’m fine now.”
Bella stepped inside.
“Good.”
Lisa smiled.
“Now tell me, what do you want for dinner tonight?”
Bella thought for a moment.
“Hmm… fried rice?”
Lisa nodded.
“Okay. Bella, go to your room, freshen up, and get some rest. I’ll take care of the kitchen. If you need anything, just call me.”
“Okay.”
Bella carried the bag upstairs.
She placed it on the table and walked toward the balcony.
The evening sky had turned shades of pink and purple.
The sea looked beautiful beneath the fading sunlight.
Bella stood there quietly, watching the view.
Then something caught her attention.
Across the road, a black SUV was parked directly opposite her house.
Bella frowned.
No one got out.
The windows remained completely closed.
The vehicle simply sat there.
Watching.
Bella stared at it for a few seconds.
A strange feeling of curiosity passed through her.
But she quickly dismissed it.
Probably nothing.
She turned away and went back inside.
Bella sat on her bed.
Her eyes fell on the small bag Noah had sent.
She picked it up and turned it over in her hands.
What could possibly be inside?
She stared at it for a long moment.
Then slowly, her fingers moved toward the opening.
And just as she was about to find out—
she hesitated.
- Writer
