Chapter 31: Never Wanted to See Him This Badly Before

That night, Bella was plagued by restless nightmares. When she finally awoke, the details had faded, leaving only a lingering sense of panic and fear. It felt as if she had lost something in her dreams, but she couldn't remember what. The morning sun shone brightly. After her usual routine of tending the courtyard flowers and plants, she decided to visit Dorothy's grave, buying fruit and fresh flowers on the way.

It was her first visit since returning home. She couldn't explain it, but she'd felt a subtle resistance, perhaps even fear. Maybe it wasn't resistance, but a deep fear that the grave would remind her that everyone she cared about had left her alone.

The cemetery grass was lush, shaded by tall, nameless trees. A gentle breeze rustled through, as if hesitant to disturb the peace. Dorothy's small, black-and-white tombstone photo was dust-covered, making it hard to see clearly. Bella carefully wiped it clean with her sleeve, revealing Dorothy's gentle smile. She smiled back. "Mom, I'm here."

In the lower-left corner, a few lines of small text listed those connected to the deceased. Bella's name was there, along with Richard's:

"Beloved daughter, Bella Jones" "Friend, Richard Miller"

Friend. Bella wished Richard and Dorothy had been ordinary friends. If so, perhaps she and Dominic could have met under better circumstances. Even if it hadn't worked out, she could have openly told him she liked him.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps behind her.

Bella turned, her brow furrowing. It was the man who had brought a child to the hospital that day to harass her. He carried ropes and tools, seemingly on his way to work. Seeing her, he stopped, his expression unfriendly.

The cemetery was quiet and secluded, almost deserted. Realizing this, Bella's heart raced. Although Leonard had dealt with her previous troubles, there was no guarantee this man wouldn't take revenge.

Pretending not to see him, she tried a different path, but he rushed forward and tackled her to the ground. She screamed, kicking and flailing, but he was much stronger. His large hand clamped over her mouth and nose.

"You damn woman! I lost my son, and I'm in a foul mood. I asked for money, and you wouldn't give it! Then you got someone to mess with me! Who's going to save you now? I told you, hand over the money and live, but no, you had to push it!"

Bella could only make muffled sounds, tears welling from suffocating fear.

She was terrified. Dominic's face flashed in her mind. She had never wanted to see him so badly before.

Her pale skin contrasted sharply with the man's bronze complexion, her fairness dazzling in the sunlight.

His grip loosened slightly; the malice in his expression shifted to something lecherous. "You're pretty good-looking. Let's have some fun before you die. Maybe that'll make it easier for you." Bella struggled harder, her fear now mixed with fierce determination. Annoyed, the man slapped her, leaving a bright red mark on her cheek.

She glared at him, a mix of terror and defiance. Despite her fear, her pride refused to be trampled. Her intense gaze unnerved him; he'd never seen a woman look so vicious. Angry and unsettled, he picked up a rock and smashed it down on Bella's head.

I removed the inappropriate website promotion. I also made several minor corrections to grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure for clarity and flow.