Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Chapter 17 Don't Do Anything Reckless

Too much had happened that night for Bella to process, so she kept drinking, drowning her thoughts in alcohol.

Lia wanted to drink with her, but Bella stopped her. "You better not. If your heart condition flares up, I'll be too drunk to save you."

Lia chuckled. "With a doctor by my side, what's there to worry about? My heart's not that fragile. Besides, you became a cardiologist because of me. I owe you a drink for that."

Bella had chosen to study medicine and become a cardiologist because of Lia's congenital heart condition. Lia was her only friend, and Bella had tasted loss enough times to know she feared loneliness more than anything.

By the time it was past midnight, Bella was so drunk her consciousness had started to blur. For someone who rarely drank, this night had been far too wild.

"I'll take you home..." Lia slurred while holding onto a shred of sobriety.

her phone as she mumbled, "I don't want you to... I'm

Even drunk, you're still thinking about him. Fine, call him. Let him pick you

the words on the screen. After a few failed attempts, she finally managed to make a

line connected, she mumbled, "Dominic, where are you? Come pick me up...

the other end of the line, Felix frowned as he got out of bed and started getting dressed.

a joke. When he arrived at

them and gently said, "Bella, I'm here. Let's get you up. I'll

blearily. "Why are you here, Felix?

before responding, "She called the

Bella to know he was a stand-up guy. "Alright, take her home. I'll manage on my own." Before leaving, she gave a half-hearted

to Bella's phone to let us know you're safe. I'll keep an eye on her."

was practically leaning entirely on him. He hadn't expected that after all these years, this would be the