The Clutches Of Hell Novel

Chapter 41

Victoria had been chasing after him for years, and she would already be in seventh heaven if he didn’t shoo her away.

She had always thought he was innately lofty and didn’t know how to treat others kindly, so she just had to be the nice one.

But lo and behold… It wasn’t that he was lofty; he simply didn’t give a damn about her.

Meanwhile, Bella looked at the food in her plate with unconcealable jubilation. “Thank you, Christian.”

“Do you like this one?” Christian put the communal chopsticks down and picked his back up. “We’ll order more of it.”

Bella’s eyes lit up in response, and her face turned rosy.

Victoria, on the other hand, stood by the table with her eyes drooped. Her heart felt sore, twinging painfully as though hundreds and thousands of ants were gnawing at it.

“Hello, Mr. Thatcher and Miss Spritz,” Gabrielle greeted somewhat stiffly, her eyes lighting up upon seeing Christian and Bella.

Victoria forced a smile, but there was not a sliver of joy beneath her eyes. “Sorry for disturbing.”

“I was so worried you wouldn’t come because of shame.” Bella sighed helplessly, then smiled amiably. “I’m glad you’ve come over. Come, have a seat.”

“Thank you, Miss Spritz.” After Gabrielle thanked her with a smile, she dragged Victoria to an empty seat. She then asked Victoria in a whisper when the other three had their focus elsewhere. “Why would Miss Spritz say you wouldn’t come because of shame?”

Victoria’s body stiffened in response, stupefied for a long time.

“Oh, it’s nothing. She just ran over me and left me with a bad leg,” Bella answered softly, then apologized, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. It’s just that you guys are so close.”

“It’s fine. Don’t worry about it.” Gabrielle waved her hand with a forced smile, both awkward and shocked.

Victoria tried

one who hit me.” Bella smiled, then said with some regret, “Besides, I never blamed Victoria either.

dancer?” said

gander at Bella in response, and his eyes turned dim. “A ballet world

Victoria because of him, non

that’s very unfortunate! If I were you, Miss

said. At that, she smiled awkwardly and turned to Victoria. “You didn’t mean to do it

purpose or not, Bella can never dance ever

and the atmosphere at the

only one unfazed, eating away like a

Victoria.” Bella smiled forcefully. “Even if I can’t dance anymore, it’s no big deal. Let’s not dwell on

genuinely thought this young woman was so benign that it pained others to see her

against his seat, smiling ingenuously as he gave Bella a sidelong

speaking up for Victoria? Bella looked at her barely immobile leg,

raced for a moment. However, she lowered her

have to apologize.” Unable to bear seeing Bella aggrieved, Lucas stared icily at Victoria and retorted, “What you

will only make Victoria look bad, though.” Bella spoke barely audibly, and her eyes were already red-rimmed at this point. “I just wanted her to join us for a meal,

no need to beat yourself up.” Lucas was less than happy about the fact that his dear sister kept putting others before her. She’d

response, smirking. “Beat herself up?” Is Bella too good of an actor, or is Lucas just plain

up.” Bella bit her lip.

swept her gaze across Gabrielle and Victoria, latching it at the latter a little longer as

awkward after knowing Victoria was the culprit behind Bella’s ‘accident’, but it wasn’t good timing for her to leave anymore. As such, she could only order a couple of dishes she liked with an awkward

other hand, ordered a few dishes out of habit only to discover after they were served that they were all

looked toward Christian, but the man’s whole attention was on Bella. He hadn’t noticed it at

that, Victoria licked her lips