Chapter Thirty-one

The day he came to Houston…

Nikolai still refuses to accept that Belle’s gone. There were a million possibilities that were forming in his head.

Waking up was a challenge when the first thing he had to do every morning was to face his son alone.  There may be a million possibilities, but the reality was too hard to accept. Coming home with his son and putting the search on hold was the hardest decision he had ever made.

“Nikolai.”

Stella’s face was the last thing he was expecting when he arrived. He handed his sleeping son to his new nanny. “Please let him rest. Let me know if he cries.”

Stella scrutinized the clueless child until Liam was out of sight.

“We need to talk-”

“I’m tired, Stella.” He interrupted. He didn’t want to argue or even have a discussion at the moment. 

His body has reached its limits in terms of physical and emotional exhaustion. Nikolai’s body feels like and looks like a walking zombie with his crumpled clothes.

“Alright. I understand. I just want to see you and see if you’re doing okay.”

“I can manage. You don’t need to worry.”

He could barely feel his legs. He’d just have a quick shower and go straight to bed. Not only his body, but his mind is numb with pain.

“You’re going to come back to me, right?”

Nikolai didn’t have to turn his head to know that Stella was crying. She wasn’t even subtle about it. Her sobs can be heard all over the house.

“Stella, please. Not now.”

“Then, when? All this time, I’ve been waiting, Nikolai. You were mine before that bitch came back. I know you didn’t want her.  You left her for me, didn’t you? Also, the last time I talked to her, she didn’t want you either. So, why?”

“Don’t talk about Isobelle right now,” Nikolai said through his gritted teeth. There’s no way in hell he’d let someone disrespect Belle, even if that person is Stella.

Her lips parted in aghast with the unexpected response from Nikolai. “So, you want her now? Now that she’s gone?”

“Stella, please. I don’t want to fight with anyone and say things I’d end up regretting.”

Even with his pleas, Stella wasn’t ready to back down. She held her head high. “You’re just confused. I’ll be back when you’re better. Go and mourn if you want, Nick. After all your tears run dry, come back to me. I’ll be waiting.”

Nikolai had enough. He tightly gripped her arms when Stella was about to walk away. He wouldn’t let her leave his place thinking they were still together.

“I won’t. I’ll never go back to you. I’d appreciate it if you do the same and not come inside my house unannounced ever again.”

“You always come back to me.” Stella tried to make a point. Until now, that confidence remains. It was convenient for her to let him go. Stella believes Nikolai will always find his way back to her. She knew what to say and what scenarios to make just to make him stay.

And he had enough. When he left for Auckland, the final choice was clear for Nikolai. All he had for Stella was sympathy, and even that was gone.

“Not this time, Stella.”

“So, what? Are you going to mourn forever? You’ll continue loving someone dead?”

That was his final straw. He raised his hand when his rage wanted to slap her. He was able to stop himself before anger got the better of him. Nikolai never hurt someone physically and he wouldn’t want to do that to anyone. If only Stella could control the words that were coming out of her mouth.

He hated hearing her imply repeatedly that Belle was dead.

He just wanted to rest, but that doesn’t mean he’s giving up. Maybe Belle has gone away and taken a break too. He would understand. If she comes back, whenever that may be, he would welcome her with open arms.

“She’s my wife, Stella. You’re talking ill of my wife. I know she’s somewhere and she will come back to me. So, enough. Just stop.”

“I was the one you promised marriage. Don’t you remember? Those words mean nothing to you now?”

“No. Don’t go put the blame on me. I promised you marriage and what happened next? You married someone else. You even dared to hand me an invitation.”

Stella started to cry. He always had a sweet spot for Stella. The whole duration they were together, he played his role well as his knight in shining armor. That connection might not be the same, but it hasn’t disappeared.

“I never wanted to marry him, Nikolai.”

“But you did and I’m fine with that now. I’m healed from the heartache you caused. I consider that part of my life over now.”

Stella’s tears start to fall from her eyes. “You don’t know, didn’t you? All you think is that I married him for money and power.”

He didn’t say a word because it was true.

“His family will kill me and my family if I don’t marry him, Nick. I’m not talking about empty threats, Nikolai. Th-there were gones and death threats.” Stella’s voice started to quiver. “Did you really think it was easy for me to let you go?

For some reason, yes. He thought he was someone disposable in Stella’s eyes. That hasn’t changed. She was only there because she needed him and for a time, he let her use him.

“It doesn’t matter what I think anymore, Stella. Even when I came back to help you and help you raise your son, it was out of sympathy. We were hoping you would survive the cancer and you did, thankfully. Now that everything’s okay with your life, can we both move on and live our separate lives?”

Stella didn’t answer and just walked away.

After that day, she would come back from time to time to Nikolai’s house. He left him with no choice but to ban her forever in his house. She still made attempts, while he didn’t spare any time to entertain her illusions. 

Present day.

Stella was surprised when he saw Nikolai. As if his legs had a mind of their own, she took a step back.

It has been a while since Nikolai filed a restraining order against her so she couldn’t come close to him or Liam. It was soon lifted after his mother spoke to him about this unnecessary action. For years, Stella wasn’t allowed to go near Nikolai and Liam. This was the first time they saw each other since the incident.

“Hi,” he finally managed to speak. His eyes are still trying to catch a glimpse of Hyacinth who remains on the swing.

“How-how are you?”

“I’m okay.”

Belle stood up and was about to walk away. He wanted to end the conversation with Stella so he could run towards her and ask her how she’d been. Stella must have noticed that he was distracted. She followed his gaze and was caught by surprise to see an unexpected face.

“W-what… What is Belle doing here?” Her voice was so loud, it made Hyacinth turn her head in their direction. “Why is she still alive? She’s dead! She’s supposed to be dead!”