章節 13: Run to You

Bella was re-reading the chapter she had just finished writing on her computer screen, when she heard the door to her apartment being opened, and footsteps entering the front room. "Anita?" she called. There was no answer. It wasn't Anita's schedule to clean the house today, but she usually liked to stop by to bring her cooking. "Anita, is that you?"

The sound of heavy footsteps approached. "It's me." The voice made Bella turn her head. And there was Carter, standing staring at her in the doorway of her study.

"Oh, hi!" Bella smiled a little.

A year ago, when they were newly married, she probably would have gotten up from her chair and hugged Carter happily. Back then, their relationship was quite pleasant, although Bella considered Carter more like a friend than a husband. For months, Bella waited for that feeling-the pounding heart, the restless longing, the fear of loss. However, they never came. They did have sex, but for her it was just physical desire. She didn't have the same feelings for Carter as she did for Reef.

"I thought you were in Miami."

"Well, I got back last night. I heard you just got back from Saco. I was wondering how you were doing."

After Bella's decision to file for a marriage annulment, they no longer lived together. Bella left Carter's mansion, and bought her own apartment. It gave her a lot of freedom. She no longer even had to pretend to be a good daughter-in-law whenever Carter's mother visited.

"I'm fine. Thank you, it's so nice of you to see me. I thought you'd call me sooner or later instead of my dad." Bella didn't mean to be cynical, but she was annoyed that Carter was stalling the process of annulling their marriage.

"I'm still your husband. I'm responsible for you."

"None of that matters anymore. When are you going to sign those annulment papers I sent you?"

Carter shrugged. "I haven't had time to read them. You know, I need time."

Bella's brow furrowed in displeasure. "You're stalling on purpose!" she snarled. "We had a deal about the annulment."

Carter stepped closer to Bella. He pulled a chair close to himself, and sat on it casually after loosening his tie. "That's your opinion, Bella. You were the one who insisted on an annulment, while not a word from me said the same. I just went along with your wishes."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want to sign the documents. That's what I told your father on the phone. He must have told you. Bella, I want to remain your husband."

Bella got up from her chair. She faced Carter with a bright red face. "Why did you change your mind?"

"I didn't change my mind, darling. I didn't want to part with you in the first place," Carter says.

Carter's sky-blue eyes stare at Bella intently. During his time as her husband, Carter had always been kind to her. In fact, Bella doesn't find a single reason to badmouth her husband. Carter was just too busy and always thinking about work. During their marriage they only took one vacation, to Greece. It was actually a honeymoon trip that Bella's father gifted them.

No matter what Bella did, Carter never criticized her. Whatever Bella wanted, Carter would fulfill it. Carter spoiled her with many things, except time and attention. Bella was lonely and bored to death. How is Bella Ross different from Bella Wilford? Nothing. She does everything by herself. Carter has always been more concerned with his clients.

"So you came here to tell me that? That you don't want to sign those documents?"

"Hmm." Carter nodded. "One of many."

"If you tell me to go back to your house I'll refuse, Carter."

"No, honey." Carter shook her head. "That's not it. I can talk you out of it later. You can enjoy your solitude here. I understand you need time and a quiet place to finish your next novel project."

"What else did you want to tell me then?" asked Bella defensively.

"My father met me while I was in Miami."

"Really? What happened?" asked Bella in surprise. "He flew in from London?" Carter's father was ten years older than Bella's father, and his health was not very good.

"He happened to be in Miami for his best friend's daughter's wedding. We had dinner together. And, he said something about our family dynasty."

"I don't know what you mean, Carter. What's wrong with your family dynasty?"

"I'm an only child, Bella. My parents' hopes rest on my shoulders. My father expects us to soon contribute a branch to the Wilford dynasty. He expects us to have children soon, and he wants his grandchildren to be born to you."

"What?" Bella was wide-eyed. "Carter, come on! He already knows we're going our separate ways!"

****

The only person she could talk to about Carter was Christine. Bella would never ask her father for his opinion on her marriage, not even in her dreams. When she decided to marry Carter, Christine repeatedly asked if Bella really believed in her decision. Even though they had only been friends for a few years, Christine had her doubts about the marriage from the start.

"It's a natural thing," Christine says when Bella repeats back what Carter said. As usual, they meet at a café near the publisher's office. "All parents hope to get grandchildren from their married children."

"The problem is, they're hoping for the wrong son-in-law!" grumbles Bella. "I wanted to separate from Carter, and they already knew about the wedding annulment plan. I thought Carter's mom was happy, because she could find a senator's daughter to be her son's new wife. Now they expect me to give birth to Carter's child?"

"I don't think Carter's mother hates you as much as you think. She's just disappointed that her expectations of an ideal son-in-law weren't met. If she didn't like you, she would've persuaded Carter to sign the annulment document."

Bella gulped down the contents of her glass in a huff. "I don't know, Christine. I've never understood the way those aristocrats think. Do they think they can do whatever they want to commoners like us?"

"I always thought marriage was something serious," said the agent. "It's a lifelong commitment. You might call me old-fashioned, but... don't people like you - who were raised by well-off parents - think that their lasting marriages weren't achieved through hard work to keep the commitment?" Christine sighed. "Look, I'm not taking Carter's side. But, think about it, do you really not want your marriage anymore, or is it just your ego because you feel neglected?"

Bella imagines Carter who came to talk to her last night. Carter with a few strands of blonde hair falling on his forehead and dimples that occasionally appear when he speaks, which to her used to be adorable. Carter who sat casually in his study, saying that he didn't want to part with Bella. Carter gave him a half-begging look as he talked about his parents' hopes for the new branch of the Wilford family.

"I care about him, but it's not love."

Christine looked at Bella intently. Her sensitive instincts were working. "Oh yeah? Then who is the person you love?"

Bella frowned. "Hey, what do you mean?"

Christine grinned amusedly. "I'm just asking. Why are you panicking? Is there someone? In Saco maybe?"

"Damn it, who are you? Where's my favorite agent Christine O'Neil?"

Christine laughed. "My dear, I wouldn't have been your agent all those years if I couldn't sniff out what you were hiding. I could be psychic if I wanted to."

"It's not what you think," Bella said glumly. "Well, maybe I should tell you about it. You're right, there is someone in Saco. There are unfinished business between us in the past."

Then Bella told me about Reef Davis.

****

Bella locked the door to her apartment and turned around with her suitcase in hand. An SUV was waiting at the curb. Christine's head appeared from the open window. Bella waved and quickly dragged her suitcase towards the car. The trunk of the car was already opened and Bella put her suitcase in there.

Christine waited until Bella got in and sat next to her. "Are you ready?" she asked.

Bella put on her sunglasses. "Yes. Let's go."

The car Christine was driving left the Upper West Side. Christine was going to take Bella to the airport.

"Would he be surprised if you suddenly knocked on his door?" Christine asked.

"Reef Davis? No, he won't. I think he already knows I'll be back."

****