Sincere hug.
Bella stroked his back like a cat. Very sweet. He did not care what Bella said before. Because that hug is what he needs.
It was so long that Justin never felt that from a woman. All this time, the women who approached him were nothing but for the sake of wealth. They never once understood her feelings.
Maybe, what Bella did was to avoid bills. However, it was undeniable that the hug felt warm and made him comfortable. He wanted to feel it again. Maybe that is the reason, why Justin wants her to be his girlfriend, even if it is just a pretended.
Bella's arms loosened. Justin looked at her and could feel the anger in her eyes. He should not have made such a strange request.
"Do you think I am a slut?" Bella asked, irritated.
"That is not what I meant. I want you to be my fake lover." Justin scratched his head. "Erm, I have to attend my stepmother’s party this week. I know it is not an ordinary party. It is a matchmaking event. So, can you help me out?"
Justin took a card from his wallet, which he thought was his name card, and threw it on the table. "You will regret it."
Justin left Bella. He was sure Bella would not refuse after reading his card. He did not care if Bella used him to get close to Steven. If Bella took the bait, then everything would go according to plan.
The car entered the yard slowly. For the time being, Justin will not be living in the apartment. He would be waiting for the call from Bella at his house.
The day has changed. Justin has been peeking at his cell phone a thousand times. He hoped there was a message or a call from Bella. However, the fact is absolutely nothing.
Day by day, A similar incident occurred. To the point that Justin thinks maybe Bella did not take the business card that, he gave her last night. Or perhaps, she dared not take the risk to stand beside the heir of Eagle Eyes to be her fake lover. Justin was almost frustrated by it.
Bella is a smart girl. Bella probably thought that his request was bait or a trap. Should he meet Bella?
"Hey, if you were planning to run away from me, then forget it. Because I would not let you go before you tell me who the girl that was with you at the club, that you claimed to be your girlfriend," Kheil slurred. He pushed Justin back into the office.
"Should it be when I have an important meeting to attend?" Justin argued.
"I have asked your secretary. She said there is nothing important scheduled for you today." Kheil turned around Justin's chair, "Sit down! This chair will be the hottest seat for the next few minutes."
Justin knew Kheil would insist. Justin did too. He sat down where Kheil had provided him.
Justin took quick steps towards the exit from his study. At the same time, Kheil appeared before him with a big smile.
"So, who is she?" asked Kheil.
"Bella. Her name is Bella."
"I have never heard that name."
"We just met."
"So, she was a girl whom you met on the street and got hard fuck with you at The Hotel California last night? I know you were lying, Justin. I know you very well. You are not a bad guy like me. You would not date a woman that you pick up from the street. Tell me the truth, who is she?" Keil inquired.
"I told you. Her name is Bella."
"Who is Bella?”
“The prosecutor.”
Kheil shocked. "Is she the female prosecutor who arrested Jofran? Bella Aveline?”
“Yeah.”
He nodded. Kheil stared.
“Damn it! Are you crazy?”
“What do you think?” Justin asked back.
"Oh, my god. You have got to be kidding. Dating her will only make a real war between you and your father." Kheil looked at Justin seriously. "What exactly are you planning? You are not hiding anything from me, are you?"
"She is that girl, Kheil. The girl that I took out of Steven's shed ten years ago."
"Wait, what!" Once again, Kheil was shocked. He stayed silent while digesting Justin's honesty slowly. "Did you say she was undergoing treatment in a psychiatric hospital, didn't you?"
"She was fixed," Justin said.
"How far have you improved it?" said Kheil. "That girl has been destroyed. Completely destroyed. Are you sure you have repaired her brain properly?"
"Yes. I have confirmed it. The memories of her past have been erased and replaced with new memories. The old Bella has died with the death of her parents. The current Bella has good memories with her parents. She goes to school in a good place and gets a job she dreams of."
Kheil took a deep breath. He could not believe it had happened and started to worry. "You created a time bomb for yourself. Are you aware of that? Have you considered the risks? What if her memory recovers? What if Steven finds out her real identity? You did not save her, Justin. You only delayed her death. Black Phantom must have been tracking her whereabouts until now."
"That is why I have to stand beside her," said Justin, confident.
"And that is the only stupid way you could think of? Oh God, you have strayed too far. I can't help you. I am leaving." Kheil took his anger out of Justin's room.
“Kheil! Listen to me!”
Justin was also annoyed. He did not know what he really wanted. Did he really only use Bella as a tool to defeat his father, or was it just an excuse? So, he could give Bella a decent life as redemption from guilt. Or maybe, more than that.
"What was I thinking? She is just a prosecutor that I set up to arrest Steven. No more than that," Justin said to himself.
***