I thought they were fade away
1778 Words
Author's pov
It had been about five minutes since Harriet returned from Bella's failed engagement party. She found herself in her room, standing in front of the mirror, delicately removing her round diamond earrings. Her face had plump cheeks, a round jawline, and a slightly pointed nose. After changing out of her red party dress into another one, she sat on her bed, which was adorned with soft, rosy bedsheets. Suddenly, it seemed like she remembered something important, prompting her to get up immediately and go meet her dad in the living room.
Her father, Keane Williams, a billionaire, was just about to take a sip of his light brown wine when Harriet entered the sitting room. She stood in front of him, her expression pleading for attention.
"Dad, you still haven't told me what happened and why you asked my Mom to leave the house. It's been almost four weeks now, and you haven't done anything about it."
"I can't give you an answer right now..."
"I've been trying to shield you from this, but I don't want others to hear about it before you do. Mom is planning to divorce you, and this isn't good for your public image. You're known for your numerous philanthropic acts. Why would you want to tarnish your reputation, Dad?"
"Harriet, I understand how you feel. When the time is right, you'll learn the reasons behind it."
"But Dad, ever since you asked Mom to leave, you've been resorting to drinking. There isn't a single day without a glass of wine in your hand."
Keane smiled immediately, gently placing the half-filled cup on the table. However, he didn't respond to his daughter.
"If you miss Mom, why don't you simply ask her to come back?"
Keane smiled once again, leaning his back against the dark leather chair as he contemplated changing the subject at hand.
"That reminds me. What actually happened at your friend's failed engagement party? Wasn't it Bella? The chubby girl that usually visits you during highschool?" He gestured with both hands. "Even though it's been quite some time, I still remember her face. Don't you think it was her overweight body that caused her boyfriend to cancel the engagement?"
"Dad, thank you for bringing it up. I need to call her and find out what's going on with her right now and know if she has gotten home." Harriet shifted her gaze to her phone and dialed Bella's number while still standing.
A few seconds later, Bella answered the call, and Harriet could hear her crying.
"Bella! Bella!!" Harriet exclaimed quickly, but all she could make out was Bella's sorrowful voice.
"Please don't cry. Fred isn't the only guy in this city. I'm sure you'll encounter more handsome guys who will come begging for a relationship with you."
"Harriet," Bella's voice still carried sorrow as she spoke, "that's not the issue at hand right now."
"What could be more devastating than your failed engagement party?"
"My stepmother and her daughter have finally won my dad's heart..."
"I can't hear you clearly. Please stop crying." Harriet interrupted, prompting Bella to pause for a few seconds before continuing.
"My stepmother and her daughter have won my dad's heart, and they have not only ruined my relationship, but they've also made my dad kick me out of the house."
"Why? No, no. They can't do that to you, especially now."
"Where are you right now?"
"I don't know where to go. I'm still outside my dad's house, and he has locked the door."
"Why didn't you call me when you found yourself in such a situation? Take the train to my place. Let's split the journey. I'll go to the train station to pick you up. Your heart must be shattered. If your mum were alive, this would never happen to you. Don't they understand the trauma you must have gone through today? Don't worry. I'll personally find a handsome guy for you, and you'll make your family feel ashamed. Please, head to the train station right away.”
"Thank you so much, Harriet. If it weren't for you...?"
"Don't mention it!" Harriet swiftly interjected. When the call ended, she gave a mocking smile to her dad, who didn't quite grasp her gesture.
"Was that Bella?"
"Yes, and she has nowhere to go. Her parents kicked her out of the house. In a few minutes, I'll be heading to the train station to pick her up."
"Are you going to the station at this time?" He pointed at the golden wall clock. "How were you planning to drive back home at night? You know you struggle with driving at night, and you're my only daughter..." He suddenly paused, as if a thought had struck him.
"What do you want me to do?" Harriet frowned.
"I'm going with you."
Just as Harriet was about to embrace her dad to show her gratitude for his decision to accompany her, she heard a notification on her phone. She quickly halted and glanced at her phone, opening the text message.
"Hi Harriet, I'm so grateful for the timely pictures you sent me. If it weren't for you, I would have ended up engaged to Bella, who you knew was living a double life. Words can't express my gratitude. In response to what Bella did to me, I've replaced her with her stepsister, who will be staying at my place for the night. From Fred."
Harriet clenched her teeth in frustration, turning her sour face away from her dad so that he wouldn't suspect anything. Then she swiftly replied to Fred's message.
"Please, don't send me messages like this again. I would have appreciated it if you had taken me on a private date. If you're not aware, let me be clear—I have feelings for you. That would have been a better way to thank me for what I've done for you.”
****************
With both hands, Bella dragged her two suitcases from her dad's compound to the main road after receiving Harriet's call. The suitcases weren't excessively heavy, but the way she dragged them reflected the weight of everything that had happened to her that day. The bottoms of the suitcases scraped against the ground as she continued dragging them until she reached the main road.
It didn't take long before a car stopped, and the driver got out to help her load her suitcases into the trunk. As she settled in the backseat, Bella took a sigh of relief, leaning her back against the chair after informing the driver of her destination.
"If it weren't for Harriet, my best friend, where would I have found a roof over my head? A true friend is far better than a troublesome stepsister."
At 5:50 PM, Bella alighted from the train she had been instructed by Harriet to take. After collecting her suitcases, Bella took out her phone and called Harriet.
"Hello, Harriet. I'm at the train station. Where are you?"
"We're nearby."
"We? Who's coming with you? Has your mum returned?"
"No, it's my dad. He'll be driving us home. You know I struggle with driving at night, and it'll already be nighttime by the time we head back."
Bella stood by an iron pole at the train station, leaning against it, when she felt a touch on her neck. She turned and was startled by Harriet.
"What are you still pondering about?" Harriet surprised her. "I'll always be here to support you. Stop thinking about Fred. I have a special plan to share with you."
Instantly, tears came up in Bella's eyes, and she emotionally embraced her friend. As she wrestled with her emotions, Harriet gently tapped her on the back.
"Don't cry. Why do you think I'm here with you? I have a special plan to discuss with you." Harriet released herself from Bella's embrace and took hold of her hand.
"Tit for tat. Fred won't get away unscathed. I suggest I help you seduce Fred, just like you helped me seduce my crush, Sylvester. It was crystal clear that Sylvester was only interested in my body and money. Let me be the instrument of your retaliation. I must assist you in breaking up Fred and Gianna's relationship."
"Wait a minute," Bella quickly wiped her eyes and said, "did I ever mention that Fred is dating Gianna?"
Harriet swiftly recalled that she had learned about it through Fred's text message. To avoid arousing suspicion, she picked up one of Bella's suitcases from the ground and said,
"Let's head home. You must be exhausted. You need to eat and unwind."
This clever move by Harriet successfully diverted Bella's attention from the question she had asked.
"Where is your dad?" Bella asked as she struggled to keep up with Harriet's pace.
"He's waiting by the car," Harriet pointed in the direction of the car. Bella was still dragging her suitcase, not looking up, when suddenly she felt someone taking hold of the luggage and heard a husky voice saying,
"Give me your suitcase; you must be tired."
As Bella raised her gaze and made eye contact with Mr. Keane, her body chemistry underwent a shift. Love at first sight ensued, and a flurry of thoughts flooded her mind.
"Keane was like a second father to me while I was growing up. He used to offer me the same warm embrace he gave his daughter. But as I entered adolescence, he transformed into the most stunning man I've ever laid eyes on. It was as if a supernatural force had crafted the man of my dreams for me. I never anticipated these feelings for him, and I thought they would fade away."
"Bella! Bella!"
Harriet tapped her and added, "What are you still thinking about? I've told you to forget about Fred.”
The whirlwind of emotions that raced through Bella's mind lasted only a few seconds, and Harriet's tap brought her back to reality. Bella wasn't aware of how long she had momentarily frozen due to Keane's gaze, and her heart raced instantly.
"Is this Bella? She looks absolutely stunning now, completely transformed from the chubby girl I once knew into a captivating lady. Why would her boyfriend not engage such a charming lady? And moreover, why did my heart start racing the moment I saw her? I didn't even realize I had walked up to her to help carry her luggage," he pondered.
As they were about to get into the car, Harriet drew her dad's attention and said,
"Dad, Bella will be staying with us for a while. Treat her as my best friend. I hope her stay is welcomed?" she asked.
- Writer
