Jesse's pov
When Bella stepped out of the car to meet Ellen, I considered following her inside anyway. Something about the whole situation felt off. But in the end, I decided against it.
I trusted Bella, even if I didn’t trust the circumstances.
A few minutes later, a call came in. Business matters. I had to handle some loose ends. By the time Bella returned, she looked… shaken. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes darting around as if she was still processing whatever had happened inside.
“What happened?” I asked.
She hesitated for half a second before brushing it off with a small laugh. “Ellen was having some financial issues, so I lent her some money. Nothing serious.”
Lies.
I could read her too well. The way she refused to meet my eyes, the way she forced that nonchalant smile—it w
