Chapter 58: An Intriguing Gesture
"Now that's more like it," he said. "Don't even dream about having a relationship; that's not in the cards for you. Your only hope is that someday I'll no longer want to see you and that my desire for you will fade. When that happens, you'll be free." With that, he brushed his fingers across her cheek before turning to leave.
Bella spent the whole night sitting by the floor-to-ceiling window, staring out at the town. She felt trapped in a vicious cycle. She thought she'd gained freedom, only to be thrown back to where she started. It wasn't something she couldn't handle, and it wasn't enough to break her. Unlike in the past, she wouldn't try to win Dominic over anymore.
After a week of being "obedient," Dominic finally allowed Sylviane her phone back. The first thing Sylviane did was vent about being confined. After being "missing" for so long, other thoughts occupied her mind. However, she felt led to make a call. It meant she had moved on from that feeling of… When she learned that Dominic had dragged her back, she was livid. "What the hell does he want? I think the only way he'll let you go is if you're married!"
Her offhand remark gave Bella a glimmer of hope. If Dominic would even consider someone else for her, perhaps he'd tie the knot.
After hanging up with Sylviane, she considered calling Dominic. She was worried about what might happen if he found out she had contacted Sylviane as soon as she got her phone back. His decision to return her phone was suspect, and while she didn't trust him, she was well aware of his calculating nature. Taking a chance, she called Leonard, suspecting he knew of those close to Dominic and might know potential marriage candidates. Leonard sounded groggy on the other end of the line. "No, there's no one. Besides you," he said. Bella hadn't expected that. She was both skeptical and relieved. She hung up the phone. She had underestimated Dominic's drive for revenge; was she destined for another year of this?
Of course, Leonard could also be lying to her; she was inclined to believe that.
She'd calmed down somewhat since she came back. After running around, she was exhausted. Now that she was stuck at home, she decided to take it easy and go with the flow; it was better than driving herself crazy.
Summer was in full swing, and the midday heat was intense. Bella slipped into a light blue sundress and found a cool spot in the rocking chair beneath a parasol. The gentle hum of the cicadas filled the air, providing a rare sense of tranquility. It didn't particularly feel fortunate to be here. If she could turn back time, she would wish she had never come home. It was worth a try, however. Bella didn't feel…
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All of a sudden, she heard the sound of a car pulling up. Bella opened her eyes and noticed Dominic's car. He rarely came back for lunch and was always out from early morning until late at night. Hence, she had the place to herself during the day.
She didn't want to deal with him, so she closed her eyes and pretended to be asleep. Soon, she heard his footsteps approaching and frowned, wondering what he wanted. A few seconds later, she felt a sun jacket being draped over her. The gesture wasn't particularly gentle, but it was…
The passage has been significantly cleaned up. There are still some ambiguities (e.g., what Sylviane was venting about, what Bella didn't feel at the end of the penultimate paragraph) that may need further clarification based on the surrounding context of the novel.