Shattered Longings

Chapter 9 The Thorn In His Heart

Bella immediately went to the room and closed the door. It muffled Dominic’s voice as he roared, “Bella!”

She didn’t want to pay him much attention. She bit back the sadness bubbling within her.

There were some things she hadn’t been able to figure out. Had there been anything between Dorothy and Richard? Or were they nothing more than childhood friends? If they were just friends, how did Dorothy cause Richard’s divorce?

Bella had been too young back then. She couldn’t understand many things.

Was the truth what Dominic believed it was? Did Dorothy do everything she could to entrust Bella to the Millers on her deathbed? It made sense. Bella had never dared to dwell on it…

Now, three of the people in that story have passed away. Even if they had left any clues behind, Bella didn’t have the chance to prove its legitimacy. This was a thorn in Dominic’s heart. He wouldn’t allow her to prod at it.

In the afternoon, Bella went to Felix’s home. He had stayed home, just like yesterday.

After greeting him, she began teaching Yvonne to play the piano patiently.

Felix sat beside them and observed them silently. It made Bella feel a little awkward. She could only console herself that she was reading too much into his behavior.

for her? Back

you drinking this back in school.

her preferences

the orange juice

my dad didn’t give me any money to toughen me up. I survived on a scholarship and by working part–time. I thought

form of respect for the other. I’ll ask Yvonne to come over. We’ll continue

was a call from the hospital. She apologized to Felix

said, answering the

“Bella, where are you? We don’t have enough hands on deck today. There’s a patient from the emergency department who needs

Please come over now!”

be summoned to the hospital on her

he said, “If you’ve got something to do, just go. The rest

She

guy. “Thank you so much. There’s an operation that needs to be done at

9 The Thorn

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expect you to become a doctor. I wasn’t as lucky. In the end, I took the path my dad laid out for me. Let me