Previously: Before returning home, she stopped by the nearest supermarket to buy a few household essentials.
Ellie sighed as she pulled into the supermarket parking lot, her mind occupied with a simple thought.
"I think I need to buy some toilet paper and detergent for my laundry," she mused to herself while turning off the engine.
Just as she was about to step out, her gaze landed on a familiar figure standing near the entrance. Ellie narrowed her eyes. That woman… looked just like Bella. But she wasn't alone.
"What's she doing? And who is that person with her? They look like… they're arguing?" Ellie muttered under her breath.
She watched as Bella and the stranger exchanged a few more words before getting into a car and driving away.
Ellie hesitated for a moment, but then shook her head. It's not my business. She dismissed the thought, heading into the store to finish her shopping before returning home.
Back at home, the house felt eerily quiet. Ellie checked the kitchen, then the living room. No sign of Bella.
"Hmm… she isn't home yet? It's already 10 PM." She mumbled to herself, feeling a slight pang of concern. Her mind wandered back to yesterday, when Bella had been crying, and now tonight, when she had been with that stranger.
Ellie shook her head, trying to snap herself out of it. "No. Stop. It's none of my business. Why am I even thinking about her? I should focus on my own messed-up life instead."
Determined to distract herself, she turned on her speaker, filling the silence with music. A familiar melody filled the air—"You'll Be in My Heart" from an old classic.
"You'll be in my heart, no matter what they say~" Ellie sang softly as she made her way to the bathroom, completely lost in the song.
But the moment she pushed the door open, she froze. There, inside the bathtub, was Bella, half-submerged in the water. It took Ellie a solid few seconds to process what she was seeing before— "AHHHHHH!!!".
She let out a loud scream, immediately covering her eyes with both hands.
"I—I'm sorry!! Why are you here?!" Ellie blurted out, panic evident in her voice.
She peeked through her fingers, only to see Bella looking at her, seemingly unbothered.
"I didn't know you were back! Also, why didn't you lock the door if you were bathing?! And why was there no sound at all?!" Ellie fired question after question, still flustered.
Bella let out a small sigh, as if this wasn't even a big deal.
"I guess… I'm just used to living alone," she mumbled to herself.
Ellie blinked. "What?"
"Never mind. Do you need to shower? You can come in—I'm almost done," Bella said casually.
Ellie's brain completely short-circuited. "Come in?! What does she mean, 'come in'?! What kind of person just casually invites someone into the bathroom like that?!"
She quickly shook her head. "I—It's fine! I can wait!" she stammered, slamming the door shut behind her.
Her heart was racing.
"Oh my god. I can't believe that just happened. This is so embarrassing. Why do I always end up in weird situations with her?!"
She leaned against the wall, exhaling heavily. But despite the embarrassment, her cheeks were burning. The image of Bella in the bathtub, her pale skin glistening with water, her brown hair tied up in a loose bun, was now permanently burned into her mind.
Ellie groaned, pressing her hands to her face. "No, no, no! Stop thinking about it!"
Minutes later, the bathroom door opened.
Bella stepped out, her damp hair cascading over her shoulders, a towel loosely wrapped around her body. Droplets of water still clung to her skin, making her look almost… ethereal. "I'm done," Bella said simply.
Ellie swallowed hard. "T—Thank you."
Bella turned toward her room, but before entering, she glanced back at Ellie.
"El… your music. Can you turn it down?"
Ellie, still dazed, barely registered the words. "Huh? Oh. S—Sorry. I thought no one was home."
With a small nod, Bella disappeared into her room, leaving Ellie standing there, face completely red.
Buzzzzzz ( message from Chen Ellie Mom ) "I'd talk to ur dad, he will let u to run a restaurant next week". Ellie read that message and thought, "In the end, I still can't choose the life I truly want." With that lingering thought, she slowly drifted into sleep.
In the morning, Ellie got ready in a white long-sleeved shirt and light blue jeans, giving her a casual yet stylish look. She finished the outfit with white sneakers and sunglasses, adding a touch of mystery while still showing off her sharp eyes. Her long black hair fell in natural waves, completing her chic appearance.
Ellie looked in the mirror, thinking about buying new furniture for her father's restaurant. She wanted to make it look more modern and fresh, reflecting her new vision for the place.
In the kitchen, Bella stood silently, slicing vegetables for the salad, her face an unreadable mask. Her sharp focus on the knife suddenly wavered as she cut herself. The blood dripped onto the countertop.
"Ouchhh!" Bella's voice was steady, though a tinge of surprise colored it.
Ellie, still in her room, heard the sharp cry and instinctively rushed to the kitchen, her worry palpable. When she reached the doorway, she froze, her eyes immediately drawn to the blood staining the counter.
"Your hand?!" Ellie's voice was urgent, sharp.
Bella merely stared at her hand, unbothered. "It's nothing. Don't make a big deal out of it." Her tone was dismissive, but there was something in the way she held her hand that made Ellie's chest tighten.
Ellie, however, wasn't having it. "Nothing? Look at your hand, Bella. You're bleeding!"
Without waiting for Bella to respond, Ellie moved swiftly, pulling Bella's wrist toward her. She felt Bella's cold, indifferent gaze on her, but she didn't care.
"I'm fine, just ignored me" Bella's tone was firm, cold even. She pulled back slightly but made no real effort to escape Ellie's grip.
Ellie ignored her protests, her gaze sharp and commanding. "Hold still. I'm taking care of this, and you're going to let me."
Bella's cold, domineering presence had always been her hallmark, but in this moment, Ellie's authority took over. Bella didn't argue, though her eyes narrowed slightly, frustrated but strangely drawn to Ellie's resolve. "If you insist," she muttered, her voice softening just a fraction.
As Ellie cleaned and bandaged her hand, Bella's sharp eyes flickered down to Ellie's white shirt, which now bore traces of her own blood. She tilted her head, looking at Ellie, a flicker of something rare in her gaze. "You're not worried about your shirt?"
Ellie glanced down at her bloodstained shirt but didn't care. "It's just a shirt. It's fine." Her tone was firm and no-nonsense, completely at odds with the casual side Bella was seeing on the first time.
Bella never knew Ellie had this side to her. From their first meeting, she had always assumed Ellie was easygoing and a little foolish—too careless to be taken seriously. But now, with that firm expression and unwavering stance, Ellie felt like a completely different person.
Bella didn't say anything. She remained quiet, her gaze focused on Ellie's movements. But inside, she couldn't help but notice how Ellie's confidence had shifted to something far more commanding. There was a strength in Ellie now that Bella didn't often see—something that caught her off guard.
Bella's thoughts flickered back to the injury in her hand. She was usually the one who had control, who didn't let things faze her, but Ellie's worry and the way she took charge without hesitation made her feel… vulnerable.
"I'm fine," Bella repeated, though this time, there was a trace of hesitation in her voice.
Ellie finished dressing the wound and helped Bella sit down on the couch. Her hands were gentle but firm as she made sure everything was properly bandaged.
"Does it still hurt?" Ellie's voice was soft now, but still commanding.
Bella was silent for a moment, staring at her bandaged hand. "Not as much," she muttered, though the sharpness in her voice had dulled a little.
Ellie, having taken control of the situation, stood up, her eyes still filled with concern. Bella noticed the way her posture had shifted, the way she held herself—there was a certain elegance to Ellie's strength. "Good," Ellie said, her voice less harsh but no less determined. "Now, sit here. I'm going to get you some water."
As Ellie moved to leave, Bella couldn't help but watch her. The way Ellie had effortlessly taken charge—without flinching, without hesitation—was something Bella hadn't expected. There was something deeply attractive about it.