Unveiled: The Survivor's Triumph

Chapter 271 Lovers Who Cannot Be Together

Oliver crossed his legs, acting like he didn't notice her cold shoulder. He flicked his hair back and flashed a charming smile, "Hey, I'm your new neighbor. Just moved in today."

Bella didn't see that coming.

The place next door had been empty for a while. The landlord was thrilled to finally have a tenant, so why not make some money?

Bella ignored him, parked her car, and headed straight to her room.

Oliver watched her go inside and shut the door, a slight smile on his face.

He thought, 'No rush, there's plenty of time.'

The next morning, Bella came back from grocery shopping and saw Oliver stepping

out in casual sportswear.

Oliver waved, "Morning!"

She figured he was going for a run, but he started working out right there in the yard.

Bella still ignored him, grabbed a basin to wash her veggies, only to find the water was off.

Since moving in, she had never had a water outage, so she hadn't stored any water. The neighbor next door came over to get water and asked, "Why's there no water?" Oliver glanced over and saw Bella standing by the sink, looking troubled, holding a basin.

Just then, the landlady came out in her pajamas.

"Just a heads up, the area's water pipes are being repaired, so no water for the day. There's a well at the end of the street; if you need water, you can get it from there."

Bella quickly went back to her room, grabbed a bucket, and headed to the well the landlady mentioned.

The well was easy to find; lots of people were already heading that way with buckets. She just followed them.

When she was about to draw water, her bucket was snatched away.

Oliver pointed to the basin beside her. "I'll draw the water, you wash the veggies."

Turns out he had quietly followed her and brought her veggies and basin to the well. Bella asked, "What are you doing?"

She didn't want to accept Oliver's help so easily.

Oliver bent down, lowering the bucket into the well. "You need several buckets of water to wash the veggies, right? If you wash them here, you save the hassle of carrying water back and forth."

He had a point. She was in a hurry and hadn't thought of that.

Oliver had already drawn a bucket of water and poured it into the basin, squinting at her with a smile.

"Don't feel embarrassed. It's only right for neighbors to help each other," he said with a faint smile.

So, he drew the water while she washed the veggies, and soon enough, they were all clean.

Back home, as Bella was loading the veggies onto her cart, Oliver, now in a different outfit, walked up to her.

hand?" he

second before continuing to load the cart.

Bella tried to pull away but couldn't.

never had to do any hard work, but now they're doing all these rough tasks. What can't I do? I was always just a

out. "With my small business, I can barely support myself, let alone

hands in his pockets, and followed her. "I don't care

day would have driven him back to Starlight City, never to bother her again. But to her surprise, Oliver was still there,

him away, he wouldn't leave, so she stopped

rainy day, Oliver seemed to have changed. No matter how cold Bella was to him, he always

help her with the grilling, packing, and collecting

served countless customers daily, and no one knew that the two people serving them were once a rich

home to cook, pack the food in a thermal container, and bring it to Bella, also giving

persuaded her with a smile, "You might not want to eat, but maybe your baby does. You don't owe me anything; I was going

I don't expect anything else. Just treat me like a neighbor.

evening, Oliver would go home a bit early to cook, so

most things from Google or asking neighbors for help. Eventually, his

to stick with her to

much easier for

and she

the cold shoulder all

Oliver

there was no hope left between

not having to set up her stall to

her not to overwork herself. She didn't tell him the truth about her

she always wore around her neck broke, and the secret hidden in it was

the way

home, Oliver had already prepared

food with her utensils, having no appetite, and finally couldn't help but ask,

initiated conversations with Oliver, let alone mentioned people or

a few seconds before saying,

were a blissful couple. She envied them, even felt a bit jealous, but she never expected them to break

shrugged, saying, "I don't

after she said it, the

and continued eating, but there was a slight bitterness in

finally replied

to wash. When he came out, Bella

to her room. He didn't know

quietly left her room, closed the door, and returned to

on the bed, wide awake, unable

can't people who love each other be together?" Oliver had always wanted to ask

the high building together, he kissed Bella hard, and she called him a fool but held him

married someone else, had someone else's child, and now she lived such a hard life,

longer dared to say she

for her had not been extinguished by her indifference; instead, it grew deeper with

fifteen years, at least she would be in his sight, and he could help her

next day, they set up the stall together