Chapter 218 Wedding Plans

“I know that you won't believe me if I say that our love is not lost. I intend to win back your heart again.”

“How do you intend to achieve that?”

“First of all, I want to give you this.”

He took a black credit card out of his pocket and placed in her palm.

“From now on you don’t need to work part-time. This card will cover all your needs.”

“What’s the catch?” asked Bella.

“If you want to go out you must let me know in advance.”

“Is that all? Can I go to the hospital now?”

“Of course. I will take you there?”

“You’re not tired of acting as my chauffeur?”

When they arrived there, the doctor was removing the bandages off Dora’s face. She seemed much better than before and her face was less puffy. Thanks to Elsa’s medicine, her recovery was much faster than anyone could expect.

“I don’t believe what is happening to me,” she said to Bella. “Yesterday I looked like a piece of raw hamburger and today I’m almost back to being myself.”

Bella shot a side-glance at Carl. He hadn’t told Dora that she was getting better because of Elsa’s medicine.

“In no time you will be out of here,” said Bella and stroked her friend's arm. She gazed at Charles with eyes full of gratitude. The kindness he had displayed towards Dora made Bella want to forgive him for his otherwise lousy behavior.

“My legs still hurt. The doctor said I need to stay here for at least another week.”

“I will visit you every day.”

“No need to do that. I’m sure you got many things to do.”

“Nothing as important as taking care of my best friend.”

“You sure about that?”

“I think so.”

“You cheeky little girl! I have found out your secret,” said Dora and pinched Bella’s arm.

“What are you talking about?”

“For how long did you intend to hide your marriage from me?”

Bella turned towards Carl who tried to avoid her gaze. Bella was going to open her mouth and ask what this was all about when Charles jumped in.

“We’re going to have a party to announce it officially. Of course, you’re all invited.”

“Still, she ought to have told me,” said Dora in a fake angry tone. “Are we best friends or not?”

“It was a surprise,” said Bella.

How could she tell Dora that this sham wedding made her feel ashamed for herself? Having to announce that she was nothing, more than a surrogate mom made her feel miserable.

Charles must have sensed how Bella felt so he tried to patch things up.

“We wanted to make sure things would work before making it public. I didn’t want any unnecessary publicity.”

“I understand,” said Dora. “You don’t need to fear me. I will keep my mouth shut.”

Bella needed to get out of there right away before Dora started to ask more questions. She told everyone that she was going to check on her mother and walked out of the room.

He came after Bella and grabbed her from the arm before she entered the elevator.

“I’m sorry if you found yourself in an uncomfortable position,” he said.

“I really appreciate what you’re doing to make me feel better but there is no need to promise a fake wedding party.”

“I can see how highly you value your friends and I want to do the same.”

“You don’t need to take Dora too seriously,” said Bella.

“I take her seriously because I take our relationship the same way. All your friends need to know about our marriage. That’s why we should have a banquet to make it public.”

“You’re nuts!” she said and pressed the button to open the elevator door.

She entered the elevator and Charles came right behind. He didn’t want to drop the topic.

“What is it that you don’t like about us?” he asked.

“I don’t like anything about us. I don’t even want to give birth to your baby. Why should I give birth to a baby who will never know its real mother? You want to organize a banquet so that everyone will know about our fake marriage. What are you going to tell them when you kick me out of the mansion one day? That I have fulfilled all my duties and I’m not needed any longer. That I was nothing to you but a baby-making machine.”

“Trust me,” he said. “I’m not like that any longer.”

“One part of myself wants to trust you. Do you know which part? The stupid-little-girl part that is willing to fall for the lives of a rich playboy. Even if you somehow do happen to truly fall in love with me, it doesn’t mean that it will last forever. I know you very well, Charles Williams! I see the filthy lies lurking behind those deceptive blue eyes!”

Bella was certain that if she went along with Charles’s plans, she would become the laughing stock of the entire city in no time. The story of the surrogate mom who tried to become a lady of the upper society will become an all-time comedy classic.

She didn’t want to become the butt of jokes. To Hell with it all! She didn’t need Charles Williams any longer nor his money. She didn’t want to offer anything to him and didn’t want anything from him. She wanted to put an end to all this madness.

Her mother was lying in the same position Bella had last seen her. Nothing seemed to have changed. But this didn’t mean Bella had given up on hope.

“Mom, you’ve got to wake up for Dora’s wedding. Do you remember that time when you asked me what should we buy for Dora if she gets married? How am I going to make the right decision if you’re not with me?”

“Don’t worry,” said Charles and put his arm around Bella’s shoulder. “We shall wait for your mother to wake up, then we will have the banquet.”

Bella rolled her eyes thrice. This Charles Williams really was something!