Chapter 604
Everything in Christopher’s home looked new. It was clear that he had
moved in not too long ago.
The villa’s interior was decorated in minimalistic colors of black,
white, and gray. Bella could tell right away that the furniture and appliances were top-of-the-line brands that exuded a subtle
luxury.
Bella shuddered a little when she walked into the house.
The reason was not because of the heating. The empty space, paired with the monotonous colors, gave off a sense of
oppression and chill.
“Do you feel cold, Bella?”
Christopher took out a pair of white slippers from the shoe cabinet and got down on one knee to place them by Bella’s feet. “Put
them on. I’ll turn up the heating.”
As her lashes fluttered, Bella slipped her dainty feet into
slippers.
The fluffy slippers were comfortable.
They were new, and the size seemed to fit her just right, as if they
were made for her.
m
“You’re back, Mr. Iverson.” Zelda, a housekeeper to Christopher and his mother, Sophie, approached to welcome them.
“Bella, this is Zelda.”
Christopher introduced them with a smile, “Zelda, this is-”
“I know! She’s Ms. Thompson, the one you always talk about! Hello
there, Ms. Thompson.”
Zelda checked Bella out with enthusiasm. “You’re so beautiful, Ms. Thompson. Oh, my goodness. You’re prettier than the winner
of Miss
Sentania.”
Bella blushed and smiled with embarrassment. “Thank you for the
compliment, Zelda.”
“Come in. Come in! It must be cold outside. Mr. Iverson, your mother
has been waiting for you.”
Zelda led them to the living room, turning back to check on them from time to time. With each glance, she found them a perfect
match for
each other.
Bella felt anxious.
She could barely remember what Sophie looked like.
Bella often visited the Iversons’ residence in her younger days, and Lance was usually the one to greet her. Sophie rarely made
an appearance. She had encountered Sophie maybe once or twice, but she remembered the woman to be kind and gentle.
“Mom!”
Hearing Christopher’s greeting, the middle-aged woman in a wheelchair with a beige blanket over her lap slowly turned around.
Feeling a catch in her throat, Bella felt upset.
Sophie was around Mila’s age, but she was silver-haired and a
shadow of her former beauty.
“Son, you’re back.”
Sophie smiled. Although she aged significantly, her smile was
beautiful as always. It was clear that she was a stunner back in the
day.
Christopher went up and gave her a hug. “Mom, Ms. Thompson is
here to see you.”
“Ah... Bella? Is it Bella?”
Sophie was perky, like a child, her eyes reflecting her tenderness for
Bella. “Zelda! Zelda!”
“I’m here, Mrs. Iverson,” Zelda responded.
“Hurry up and get Bella some juice and candy.”
“Alright.”
Zelda grabbed a handful of candy from the coffee table and presented it to Bella. “Here you go, Ms. Thompson.”
Though surprised, Bella took the candy.
It never occurred to her that Sophie had such a different approach to
hosting guests.
“Chris, you must bring your friends to the house. Don’t worry about disrupting my rest. I don’t want you to be alone and have no
one to
play with.” Sophie looked worriedly at her son.
Bella looked at Christopher in shock,
“Don’t worry, Mom. I don’t feel lonely with Bella by my side.”
As sadness fleeted across his eyes, Christopher patted Sophie’s back. “Even if all the kids won’t play with me, Bella won’t ignore
me.”
“Alright. Bella, you must visit us often.” Sophie looked at Bella as if she were still the little girl from 15 years ago.
“Thank you, Mrs. Iverson.”