Hearing Bella's words, a smile appears on her grandfather's lips, and he says, "Child, now there's no use in these false reassurances. So, if you follow my advice, you should accept this truth too."
Bella starts wiping the tears from her eyes. Her grandfather places his hand on her head and says, "Child, your mother was just as innocent as you. Whenever I see you, I'm reminded of her."
Bella is a bit surprised by this, as her grandfather never liked to talk about her parents. She had never heard him mention them before. Bella looks at her grandfather with questioning eyes.
Her grandfather continues, "Bella, your mother was as beautiful as you are; anyone who saw her would just stare. I had raised her with great love and care from childhood, never letting her feel any lack. She was so dear that I wanted to fulfill every wish she had."
"Even during her college days, I never stopped her from anything. But one day, when I came home, your uncle was shouting at your mother, scolding her for something. As soon as I entered the house, your mother hugged me and started crying. Your uncle was yelling at her, saying, 'That's why I gave you so much freedom, that you would disgrace our family by associating with that low-class boy, wandering around with him in public. You never once thought about us. That boy doesn't have the means to make you happy; you will never be happy with him.'
She was crying and saying, 'Papa, I love that boy very much, and he loves me too. We both want to marry each other.' I tried to convince her, but she was adamant. The boy didn't match our status, but I gave in to my daughter's stubbornness and approved their marriage after seeing her happiness.
People started talking about how Phillip Evans was marrying his daughter off to someone below their status. But no one had the courage to say anything to us. Your mother was as happy with my decision as your uncle was angry.
At that time, our business was thriving, and your uncle, Nick, wanted your mother to marry the son of my business partner and a close friend of Nick's, to further advance our business. That's why he was very angry with my decision.
The wedding date had been set, but the day after the engagement, the boy your mother loved died in an accident. Her life seemed to plunge into darkness. When she learned that the boy she loved more than her own life, the one she had defied the world for, was no longer in this world, she lost her mental balance.
My sweet little girl went mad. Soon after, we found out she was pregnant with you, Bella. Those days were the worst in my life. I took her to many doctors, but none could cure her. Considering her madness and mental instability, I even thought of making her abort the child, but thank God, I couldn't bring myself to do it. My heart couldn't accept that.
When you were born, she handed me a tiny baby and left this world forever. I thought that even if you didn't get your parents' love, I would give you every happiness.
But forgive me, child, for I am leaving you alone in this terrible world at just your 21st year. I know your uncle and aunt don't like you at all. The only regret I have is that I couldn't arrange a happy life for you after my departure.
I had made a will to give you 50% of my property, but somehow your uncle got wind of this and deceitfully transferred all the property to his name. How unfortunate I am to leave you among these people."
As her grandfather spoke, tears kept flowing from his eyes. Bella held his hand with both her hands and rested her head on it. Tears were also continuously streaming from her eyes. She had never known much about her parents until now. Today, she had learned everything about them, and it was truly horrifying.
Then, her grandfather starts patting Bella's head. Bella was looking at him. Suddenly, his hand starts falling, and he closes his eyes. The tears from the corners of his closed eyes had not yet dried. Seeing him not breathing, Bella panics. She quickly calls for the doctor.
Seeing her grandfather not breathe, Bella is struck with shock. The doctor arrives soon after. Looking at him, the doctor says, "Mr. Phillip is no longer in this world." By then, Bella's aunt, Richa, and Henry all arrive.
Hearing the doctor, they also begin to cry as if they are deeply saddened. Bella's tears showed no sign of stopping. Her world had shattered today. Everything in her life was about to change.
On the other hand, far from the city, in a beautiful place surrounded by greenery, distinctly different and more beautiful than the hustle and bustle of the city, stood a palace-like house.
A shining car was coming towards the villa through a road in the garden. The security guard immediately recognized them and let them through. One of the guards stationed at the villa's entrance quickly went inside.
Jacob was sitting in the hall, working on something related to Daniel, when the guard came and said, "Mr. Jacob, Jackson Sir has arrived."
Hearing this, Jacob stands up in fear. He asks, "Did you see with your own eyes that it is really Jackson Sir?" The guard, confidently, replies, "Yes, Sir, I saw him arrive in his car myself."
By then, the sound of many people arriving could be heard. A powerful man, probably around 50-55 years old, enters the villa with eight to ten bodyguards.
He was wearing a black suit, and his personality and behavior seemed very intimidating.
As he entered, his bodyguards stopped at the villa's entrance.
Jacob quickly goes to them and, while greeting them, says, "Hello Sir, you've come here, but Daniel Sir is not at home."
Cutting him off, Jackson says, "I came to meet Daniel, not you." Hearing this, Jacob becomes fearful.
Jacob, trembling, says, "Yes, Sir, if you needed something from me, you could have called me; I would have come myself. You wouldn't have had to come here."
While Jacob is saying this, Jackson sits on the sofa, and Jacob stands in front of him, signaling the maid to bring something for them.
Jackson asks, "Who is that girl?"
On hearing Jackson's question, Jacob becomes sweaty. He thinks about how he could have forgotten such an important thing; Jackson Sir knows everything about Daniel.
Wiping his sweat with a handkerchief, Jacob says, "Yes, Sir, that girl... she is..."
Jackson remarks, "The AC is on full, yet you're sweating," and just then, the maid arrives with a tray of coffee, snacks, and water, and places it down.
Jackson, with a hint of sarcasm, says to Jacob, "I think you need this," handing him a glass of water.
Jacob says, "No, Sir, that's... I..." Before he can finish, Jackson throws the glass of water at Jacob's face and stands up.
Quickly wiping his face, Jacob says, "Sir, please forgive me; I made a mistake. I can explain everything to you."
Then, without pausing, Jacob continues, "Sir, last night Daniel Sir had a dinner meeting with Mr. Brown. I had checked everything thoroughly, but somehow he mixed something in Daniel Sir's drink. I wasn't with Sir last night because he had sent me out on another task. When I reached his room in the morning, there were many media people outside, so I called Sir, but he didn't answer. I called another bodyguard, but by the time he arrived, Sir had opened the door and..."
After that, Jacob falls silent. Jackson looks at him with questioning eyes.
Jacob then turns on a video on a laptop on the center table. The video, taken from the morning, was from behind, showing Daniel and the girl in the same frame. Jackson quickly watches the video.
A frightened, innocent girl in a bathrobe is seen crying and covering her face with her hands. Daniel steps between the camera and the girl. His eyes show intense anger as he throws the camera to the ground and looks at the girl with concern, as if he wanted to protect her from everything.
Seeing this video, Jackson couldn't believe his eyes and watched it repeatedly. After watching it at least ten times, he closed the laptop and asked Jacob, "Who is this girl? And how did the media find out about this?"
Jacob replies, "Sir, this girl is Phillip Evans's granddaughter, Miss Bella Evans. And the media was here for her, not for Daniel Sir. It seems someone wanted to defame her."
Jackson, in anger, tells Jacob, "Find out who Brown hired for this dirty work and get me all the information about that girl."
Jacob quickly says, "Yes, Sir, I'm trying to find out."
As Jackson is about to leave, he warns Jacob again, "I told you to take good care of Daniel. I will not tolerate any negligence towards him. There should be no such mistakes next time, or you know how I am."
Frightened by Jackson's threat, Jacob replies, "Yes... yes... Sir... There won't be any mistakes next time."
To find out what happens next, read "From Lust to Love..."