Chapter 16 - Party and a Plan

Charles was his cold and elegant self, as usual, he greeted the guests politely but distantly, as for the cold expression on his face, many people dared not to come closer.

But everyone was accustomed to his nobly impressive features.

Unexpectedly he put his hand on Bellas waist, who’s mind went frighteningly blank. She quickly realized that Charles was gazing at her coldly. He told her, “You can walk around the hall as you want.” His eyes dropped down to her breasts, “Mind your behaviour, don’t make me ashamed of you, or…”

Bella interrupted him at once and said, “No, I won’t. Please just do what you like.”

She felt a strong urge to run away from him just as she had been so embarrassed about staying with him.

The best way to behave herself was to get away from the crowds, so Bella walked out of the banquet hall and strolled to the other end of the corridor.

She knew that the people here would keep insulting her, she told herself to disregard the harsh words, but she could not release her pain though. She was not strong enough to overlook them as if nothing had happened.

“Bella? Is that you?” A voice so familiar sounded behind her.

Bella turned around and was happy to see her mother standing in front of her, she rushed toward her; hugged her and cried with happiness.

“Mum, why did you come here?” She noticed that Bess was dressed to the nines in an evening gown and make-up, she smiled, “Mum, you look beautiful tonight.”

Though Bess had a difficult time in these past few years and was not as slim as before, she looked a least 5 years younger than her real age.

“You flatter me.” Bess touched her own hair, which had been styled specifically for tonight. Shyly she said, “Your father had forbidden me to go and find you when you left that day.” She restrained her voice and soothed her daughter, “Bella, I understand that you did not do those things. They have slandered you. I believe you.” Her eyes glistened with tears, “I’m sorry, I have not protected you.”

Bella held her head a little higher, trying to hold back her own tears. She swept her mother’s tears away with her hand, and said gently, “I am not afraid, I will find out the facts. Never will I bring shame on you. Don’t worry, the truth will come out soon.”

“Sure, it will” Bess nodded, but said, “You had left home for a few days, you know… you had worried me half to death. I went to Dora’s place to find you, but she said you had not been there.”

Bella’s eyes gleamed, and she gave Bess a smile, “Oh, I found a temporary job, as a personal assistant, the salary is high because the job is on call 24/7. So I have no time to go home. And my phone was lost, so I have not called you. But I came with my boss tonight.”

Her mother seemed not to believe her, she said again, “There is a month left before I go back to school, I would like to earn some money to pay my tuition. I haven’t gotten a scholarship.”

Bess believed her finally, she took Bella’s hand, “Bella, I came here because of your school tuition.”

Then came the voice of Len Sanders behind them, “Bess, here you are?” And turned his head to Bella, and said mildly, “Bella is also here.”

His voice aroused Bess’s passion to him, it had been more than 10 years ago the last time he called her name that gently like when they had first met.

Though their marriage had been broken and they had a lot of quarrels with each other, he was the only one that she had been ever loved.

Bess turned around and said gently, “Yes, and Bella is here, let us talk and find a solution for her.”

So Len was who invited Bess.

Bella wanted to know what Len’s intentions were, so she followed her parents to a meeting room at the end of the corridor.

Len pulled out the chairs for the ladies, and sat down, “Come, let us chat, we haven’t talked together for a long time.”

Bella was disgusted by his false hospitality.

He must want to play some tricks on her and her mother.

“Bess, you look so lovely today.”

Bess blushed and composed herself, “Let us talk about…”

Len interrupted her and looked at Bella, “Today, I want to discuss with you, Bella’s wedding. If the wedding could be settled, there would be no issues with what you have asked for.”

Bess was confused by his words, “What wedding? The engagement of Bella and Martin was broken, hasn’t it?”

Then she said, “Do you mean they want to ask for re-union and they have discovered what the problem was?”

Bella recognized the purpose of the meeting now.

It was evident that, because she disagreed to marry Charles, he had pushed her mother to come and persuade her. How shameless he is!

Her eyes were frozen, and she pulled on her mother’s hand, “Mum, let's go.”

“Bess, please listen to me…” Len grasped one of Bess’s hands, begging her affectionately. At this moment, the door opened suddenly. “Honey…”

A woman of middle age rushed into the room, astonished by what she had found. That was Laura Sanders!

Bella's eyes were icy, and her face froze, she was more alert with the situation at hand.

“Honey, are you OK? I have been looking for you for some time…” Laura seized and dragged back Len’s hand from grasping Bess’s. She looked at Bess angrily,

“Bess, how can you do this? You are divorced, and your daughter has grown up. How can you tempt Len in front of your daughter? Don’t try to seduce Len, and break our peaceful life.”

Laura was seemingly piteous and tried hard to squeeze several tears out of her eyes, some people had started gathering outside, and the reporters there had begun to shoot.

Bella leaned forward, examining Laura’s face.

Len pulled his wife to his side and looked at Bella vigilantly, “What are you doing?”

Bella said scornfully, “I want to find out how thick her skin is, how can she defame another in such a dramatic way.”

Several women rushed into the room and stood in front of Bess ready to fight her.

Len dragged Laura aside to avoid the women, he was satisfied as there were more and more people gathering.

Bella realized that the group of women were coming intensively, and one of them pointed to Bess and shouted, “You are a bitch, you dare to tempt my husband. You are shameless.”

Bess was so confused, “What do you mean? I do not know you or your husband. You have made a mistake.”

She stood up and tried to leave. But she was surrounded by the women immediately.

Suddenly there was a loud crash.

A pile of photos was slammed on to the table heavily, and some of them flew out and littered the floor.

In some of the pictures, a man hugged a woman with his hands that rested on her breast lustfully.

That woman was Bess.