Bella washes her hands and turns around, only to find Richa blocking her way. Richa smirks and says, "You're such a shameless and disgusting girl. After everything that happened that night, you're walking around like nothing's wrong. Losing your dignity doesn't seem to affect you, does it, Bella?"
Hearing these words, Bella is deeply troubled, memories of that night flooding her mind. She immediately asks Richa, "How can you be so sure? You don't even know the full story."
Richa, irritated by Bella's response, snaps, "Of course, I know! I was the one who spiked your drink with drugs that night, and I even tipped off the media the next morning. I don't know how you managed to avoid becoming breaking news." Richa's eyes burned with rage and hatred as she spoke.
Bella was stunned, her world turning upside down. She had known Richa didn't like her, but she never imagined she'd go to such lengths to harm her.
Tears welled up in Bella's eyes, threatening to spill. She thought, *Whom can I trust in this world?* She softly asked Richa, "Do you feel no regret for such a despicable act? Do you really hate me that much?"
Richa laughed mockingly. "Stop with this emotional drama. I'm not going to fall for it like Mr. Phillip. Since we were kids, wherever we went, no one noticed me because of you. You always pulled everyone toward you, overshadowing me. Why would I ever think kindly of you? Just remember, if you cross my path again, things won't end well. I hate you, Bella."
With that, Richa stormed off, leaving Bella still in shock. She slowly made her way to a nearby bench, overwhelmed by everything that had just happened.
Meanwhile, Ruby had already eaten lunch while waiting for Bella. When Bella didn't show up after a long time, Ruby called her, but Bella had left her phone behind. Worried, Ruby went off to find her.
Break was nearly over, and classes were about to start. Bella was still trying to calm herself when Ruby found her.
Ruby hurried over and took Bella's hand. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Bella didn't want to talk about Richa, so she stood up and said, "I'm fine, just had a bit of a stomach ache. Let's go, class is about to start." Ruby nodded and followed her.
After their classes ended, Bella and Ruby were walking out of the college together when Bella hesitated and said, "Ruby, I'm confused about something."
Ruby asked, "What is it?"
Bella explained, "I need a new laptop and some other study materials. Do you think I should use the credit card Daniel gave me?"
Ruby's eyes widened with excitement. "Wait, Daniel Smith gave you his credit card? You'd be crazy not to use it! Besides, every wife has a right to her husband's things."
Bella shot Ruby a look. Then she asked, "Would you come with me?"
Ruby immediately agreed, and they headed out to shop. After getting everything Bella needed, they left the store. Just as they stepped outside, Bella's phone rang with a call from an unknown number.
When Bella answered, Daniel's voice was on the other end. "I hope you remember we're having dinner at my uncle's house tonight. I trust you'll be on time, because neither my uncle nor I tolerate people who don't value time."
Bella was taken aback by his rude tone. All she could manage was a "yes" before Daniel hung up.
Bella turned to Ruby and said, "I have to go to dinner with that grump and his uncle. If I'm late, he'll never let me hear the end of it. I better get going."
She said goodbye to Ruby, hailed a taxi, and headed home to Daniel's place. Once she arrived, she carried her shopping bags upstairs to her bedroom. As she climbed the stairs, she began feeling dizzy and weak.
Slowly, Bella made her way into the bedroom, placing the bags on the bed before sitting down, holding her head. She was still sitting there when Daniel walked in from the balcony, talking on the phone. He paused the call and told Bella, "What are you sitting there for? Stop wasting time and get ready. We're going to be late."
Bella grabbed her clothes and headed to the bathroom. Daniel, meanwhile, continued his phone conversation while sitting on the sofa.
Inside the bathroom, Bella felt even weaker. She was experiencing intense cramps and heavy bleeding, symptoms of her painful periods. Adding to the problem, she hadn't eaten anything all day, leaving her body weak.
Bella noticed the excessive bleeding and, feeling faint, stood under the shower. As the dizziness worsened, she leaned against the wall and slowly sank to the floor, eventually losing consciousness.
After finishing his call, Daniel glanced at his watch and, growing irritated, went to the bathroom door. "How long are you going to be in there?" he called out. "Hurry up, we're going to be late!"
But there was no response. Daniel assumed Bella was ignoring him and began pacing the room. But something didn't feel right. He went back to the door and knocked harder. "Bella, can you hear me? Answer me, or I'm coming in."
Still no reply. By now, Daniel was getting really worried. He opened the door and walked in.
What he saw shocked him. Bella was slumped against the wall, unconscious, with no clothes on. Water from the shower was pouring down on her, and there was blood everywhere, some of it running down the drain with the water. Daniel panicked, thinking she had been injured, but when he got closer, he realized it was from her period.
Daniel quickly turned off the shower and gently stood Bella up to clean her off under the water. He grabbed her clothes from the bathroom and dressed her. Since she already had her undergarments with a sanitary pad in place, Daniel found it easier to help her get dressed.
Bella opened her eyes briefly but quickly passed out again. Daniel immediately lifted her in his arms and rushed her downstairs. Jacob, their driver, was waiting in the living room, expecting to leave for dinner. Seeing Bella unconscious in Daniel's arms, Jacob asked, "Sir, what happened to Miss Bella? Is she okay?"
Without answering, Daniel ordered, "Get the car. We're going to the hospital."
Jacob ran outside to get the car while Daniel carried Bella out. Once she was in the car, Daniel told Jacob, "Call my personal doctor and book an entire floor at the hospital. Make sure no one sees us."
Jacob did as he was told. The driver sped to the hospital and parked right in front of the lift. Daniel carried Bella up to the floor Jacob had arranged. Not even waiting for a stretcher, he carried her himself.
When they arrived, Daniel's personal doctor, accompanied by his wife, Dr. Stella, was already waiting. They immediately took Bella in for an examination. Dr. Stella, a gynecologist, assured Daniel, "Don't worry, sir. My wife will take good care of her."
Daniel nodded, too anxious to say much.
Dr. Stella checked Bella and set her up with a glucose drip. Shortly after, Bella regained consciousness. When asked, Bella explained she hadn't eaten all day, and the pain and excessive bleeding from her period had caused her to pass out.
Bella, embarrassed, realized the situation wasn't as serious as it seemed, but she couldn't believe she had ended up in the hospital. Worse, she was mortified to think that Daniel had been the one to dress her.
Dr. Stella advised Bella to take care of herself, eat properly, and prescribed some painkillers and vitamins.
Just then, Daniel entered the room. Seeing him, Bella felt a wave of embarrassment. She avoided his gaze, unable to meet his eyes.
Dr. Stella respectfully addressed Daniel, "Sir, it's nothing serious. Bella simply needs to eat regularly and take care of herself. I've prescribed some vitamins and pain relief medication to help manage the cramps and fatigue."
Saying this, she walks away. Daniel, scolding Bella, says, "You are so weak! Don't you know how to take care of yourself? Are you still a child that you can't even eat on time properly?"
Bella hadn't eaten anything in the morning because breakfast was prepared at Daniel's house, and she didn't find it tasty or edible, so she didn't eat it. And in the afternoon, Richa had upset her so much that she lost her appetite completely.
Bella, defending herself, says, "I didn't get time in the afternoon, and in the morning, just looking at that grass-like breakfast you were eating killed my appetite. Who even eats that kind of food? I couldn't swallow it even if I tried!"
When Daniel sees that Bella is blaming him for this, he says, "You didn't eat in the morning because of me? You could have just told me what you wanted for breakfast. And anyway, missing one meal isn't a big deal, but you've been weak for a while now. You really need to build up your stamina by eating a healthier diet."