Chapter 18: Missed Calls
Felix had completely underestimated Bella's capacity for trouble. She hardly slept all night, alternating between bouts of vomiting and incoherent rambling. Each time she quieted, it wasn't long before she started vomiting again.
He spent the entire night caring for her, managing only a brief nap at the bed's edge as dawn approached.
Bella, suffering from a hangover, woke soon after. The pounding in her head starkly reminded her of the previous night's excessive drinking. As she took in her unfamiliar surroundings and saw a tired Felix asleep beside the bed, her headache intensified. How had she ended up at his place?
Fragments of the previous night swirled in her mind, and she cursed herself as she checked her phone's call log. She realized she had indeed called Felix.
But there was something else: numerous missed calls from Dominic. Panic set in. What was going on? Why had he called so many times?
Felix, groggy from his short rest, noticed she was awake. He got up and, seeing the missed calls from Dominic, explained, "You were too drunk last night. When I saw it was him calling, I didn't answer. I didn't want to create any misunderstandings." Felix, always meticulous, was acutely aware of the complicated relationship between Bella and Dominic.
Bella felt deeply embarrassed. Felix had once liked her, and she had made a fool of herself. Nothing could have been more humiliating.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble. I should go now. You should get some rest," she said.
Felix stopped her. "Wait a minute. It's chilly, and your coat got dirty last night. Wear mine for now. It's hard to get a cab around here. Let me drive you home."
Bella opened her mouth to refuse, but Felix anticipated her objection. "After a night like that, what's a little more time? It's no trouble. Let me take you."
Her words caught in her throat. All she wanted was to leave. She felt utterly mortified.
Just then, her phone rang. It was Lia. As Bella answered, Felix draped his jacket over her shoulders. She pretended to be engrossed in the call, trying to ignore the gesture. "Lia, are you okay after last night?"
Lia's voice was loud and frantic. "Forget about me! Are you okay? Have you seen what's online? Someone posted photos of you and Felix!"
Bella was stunned. "What? What are you talking about?"
Lia didn't explain. She hung up and sent a link. The photos showed Bella and Felix getting into his car the previous night. She was practically draped over him; they looked incredibly intimate. Her flushed face made the scene even more suggestive.
The headline read, "Cardiothoracic Surgeon's Scandalous Night Out with a Rich Playboy at the Bar." The comments section anonymously exposed Bella's identity and her hospital. Even Felix wasn't spared.
It felt like a bolt from the blue. Bella stood frozen, her hand trembling. Was this why Dominic had called so many times? Had he seen this online?
Seeing her reaction, Felix took her phone and glanced at the article. His expression darkened. He tried to reassure her, "It's just baseless rumors. Don't worry. I'll handle it. Let me take you home first." This was Bella's first experience with such a situation, and she felt angry and helpless. Her mind was in a fog. Felix supported her as they walked.
As they reached the gate, they saw a black Rolls-Royce parked in front of Felix's villa. Dominic stood beside it. In the cool morning air, he seemed a perfect, yet distant figure. His expression was calm, his demeanor composed, but his eyes held an undeniable coldness and detachment.
(The final sentence, "Enjoy Ad-Free Reading," is an advertisement and should be removed.) The inclusion of "Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ Findnøvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality." is also inappropriate for a cleaned-up passage and should be removed.