Bab 197: Bella’s request

Bella was momentarily speechless. Who from the family would come to visit her? Grandfather was too frail to leave the mansion, and neither Claudia nor Franklin cared whether she lived or died. Willow had been with her all day but left once Bridget and Joe arrived.

Theodore, she thought, would've stayed by her side if he hadn't been tied up with an important meeting.

"I haven't been alone," she finally replied. "Friends and family have been here. But I asked everyone to leave. I needed some time alone."

It wasn't entirely a lie. Bridget and Joe had been reluctant to leave her side, but Bella, overwhelmed with emotion, had asked them to give her space. She was too emotional to continue the conversation with them. 

However, Zack didn't buy it. He could tell how she was hiding the fact. A knowing smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth.

"How are you feeling?" he asked, steering the conversation away.