Chapter 35: Cutting Off the Long Hair She Grew for Him

Bella gasped as the pain from her forehead wound intensified, her face paling. Seeing who it was, she frowned. "What are you doing?"

Magdalena sighed in relief. "It looks like you want to wash your hair, but it's inconvenient. Let me help. It would be a shame to cut such beautiful hair." Bella started to refuse, but Magdalena had already gone to the bathroom for hot water.

A nagging feeling persisted. Dominic had stopped her from showering; now this. Suddenly, she remembered: she'd kept her hair long because Dominic liked it. He'd once, drunk and on top of her, shown a fascination with it, playing with it between his fingers. She hadn't cut it since.

But there was no need to humiliate herself trying to please him anymore. There was no point in keeping it.

Glancing toward the bathroom, Bella grabbed the scissors, took a deep breath, and cut her hair to shoulder length, tossing the tresses into the trash. If she was starting over, she'd do it completely.

When Magdalena returned and saw the empty courtyard and the hair in the trash, she froze. A woman cutting years of hair made a significant decision. Unable to sit still, Bella returned to work at the hospital the next day. The previous trouble seemed to have passed. Without a leader, the small troublemakers couldn't stir up much. As long as she didn't cause problems, the hospital wouldn't suspend her.

Sitting in her office, she faintly heard a funeral procession approaching. She went to the window. A procession carrying a coffin and a portrait passed by. Local customs favored grand entrances and exits.

Seeing the portrait, her heart leaped. It was the man who'd nearly killed her. He hadn't escaped—he was dead. Even as a doctor accustomed to death, watching a life end—especially not from illness or natural causes, but something connected to her—made her uneasy. Leonard's shot flashed through her mind, bringing dizziness and fear.

That evening, leaving work, Bella ran into Leonard crouching at the entrance, talking on his phone. "Hey, did you cut your hair?"

His smile made her think of his ruthless side. She nodded and hurried home.

Leonard was puzzled but didn't dwell on it.

Bella realized she should move. She'd returned to her birthplace, but recent events soured her feelings. There was no peace here anymore. She seriously considered moving and starting fresh. The thought took root.

She texted Leonard instead of telling him in person, informing him she planned to move.

To her surprise, he burst into her room. "Move out? Where? We agreed on a three-month lease with a one-month deposit. You won't get it back if you don't stay." Bella avoided his eyes. "I'm just letting you know. I don't want the deposit back, just a refund for the time I didn't stay"

Leonard stared. "What's going on? Explain, or you're not leaving this room." [The advertisement for FindNovel.net has been removed.]

Bella bit her lip. "It's nothing. I just don't want to stay here anymore."

Leonard's curiosity was piqued. "Could it be because Dominic showed up?"

Not wanting to argue, Bella said casually, "Sure, whatever you say."

As she spoke, she saw someone in the courtyard and gasped in shock.