Chapter 76

“You’re bullying me! You’re so mean! Waab, it’s all your fault! You never made me cry before!”

Belle’s exaggerated, childish tone and coquettish behavior could easily mislead onlookers into thinking they were just playfully bickering. But Kyle wasn’t having it. He shook his head, sighing, and stepped back to create space between them.

“Say what you want, Belle, but keep your hands to yourself. Let me make this clear one last time: we’re divorced.”

“Divorce doesn’t mean we can’t be together!” Belle growled through gritted teeth, her voice trembling with emotion. “And another thing: I want you to leave Faith. I hate her. I can’t stand her. Ever since she met you, she’s been after you. After all these years, she still hasn’t given up!”

Kyle froze, stunned by her audacity. They were divorced, yet Belle still acted as if she had some claim over him. It was clear—Belle hadn’t moved on or accepted reality.

Kyle let out a weary laugh, his voice tinged with disbelief. “My relationship with Faith has always been completely clean. I’ve never betrayed anyone. And why on earth do you think that just because you pout and act cute, I’ll do whatever you want? We’re nothing to each other anymore. If we see each other on the street, don’t even say hello. Even if I entertained your ridiculous demands, Faith is my friend. I have no reason to cut ties with her just because you don’t like her. And let me remind you—Faith was the one who stood by me after you abandoned me. If you were in my shoes, what would you do? I think I’ve said enough. Take your time to process it. Take care of yourself. Goodbye.”

Kyle’s unwavering stance left Belle simmering with rage, her fists clenching in frustration. Yet, even as she stormed with anger inside, Belle convinced herself she had planted a seed in Kyle’s heart. She knew better than to expect immediate results—this was a game of strategy, a long one. Even if Kyle wouldn’t leave Faith on his own, Belle believed she could orchestrate things so that Faith would eventually walk away.

Forcing herself to adopt a gentle and understanding expression, Belle softened her tone. “I know you don’t trust me right now. I know you’re still angry with me, but that’s okay. Give me some time, and I’ll prove everything to you. Just wait, I’ll fix everything and win you back. I promise, this time, I won’t let you down.”

Satisfied with her performance, Belle turned to Chloe and gestured for them to leave. Before going, Belle stretched her arms wide, clearly intending to hug Kyle. But he immediately stepped back, rejecting the gesture without a word. Though the attempt failed, Belle turned toward Faith, her gaze sharp and provocative.

Unexpectedly, Faith’s face paled with visible worry; her demeanor was uneasy. But Faith wasn’t concerned about Kyle and Belle’s relationship; instead, she feared that Belle might be threatening Kyle in some way.

Belle smiled and waved at Faith, her voice dripping with faux sweetness. “Thank you so much for taking care of our dear Kyle all this time. I’ll make sure to repay you properly someday. Goodbye for now!” After getting to the car, Belle didn’t miss the opportunity to wave one last time at Kyle and send a victorious glance in Faith’s direction. The pale, somber look on Faith’s face only fueled Belle’s delight.

As soon as the car sped away, Belle and Chloe burst into laughter, practically doubling over in their seats. “Halala! Chloe, did you see that? Faith’s face was so pale! It was unbelievable, what a pitiful sight!”

Belle was practically overflowing with exhilaration. Whether it was from the thought of winning Kyle back or just from making Faith miserable, she was over the moon. Chloe chuckled, nodding along. “See? When you step in, nothing is unsolvable. Taking care of Kyle and Faith? That’s a piece of cake for you!”

“How did it go? Was Kyle moved? Did he almost hug you and beg for a reconciliation? But why did he step back when you tried to hug him?” Belle waved off the question with a dismissive laugh. “Because Faith was there. He had to put on a show, you know? Besides, it’s a good thing I didn’t hug him; otherwise, I might’ve felt disgusted.”

Despite her confident words, a flicker of disappointment lingered in Belle’s brain. She couldn’t quite figure out why. “Was it because Kyle didn’t long for me?” she wondered.

“Still,” Belle said, her voice laced with pride, “Kyle admitted that he still has feelings for me. Even if I hurt him, he still loves me. And that’s enough. More than enough to make them suffer.”

Chapter 77