Bella, defending herself, says, "I didn't have time in the afternoon, and the sight of you eating that grassy breakfast this morning killed my appetite. Who even eats that stuff? I couldn't even swallow it."
When Daniel realizes Bella is blaming him for this, he says, "Didn't you skip breakfast because of me? You could've just told me what you wanted to eat. And honestly, missing breakfast for a day won't hurt, but you're already quite weak. You should really start focusing on a healthy diet to boost your stamina."
Bella, irritated, snaps back, "What do you mean I'm already weak?"
Daniel steps closer to her, teasingly, "You are weak because you couldn't handle me that night either."
Hearing this, Bella, flustered, quickly defends herself, "I'm not that weak! It's just that you're way too strong for me. What could I do?"
As soon as Bella finishes speaking, she regrets her words. How could she say something like that? And Daniel was so shameless to make such a comment! How could she even respond like that? She felt so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear on the spot. Her cheeks turned red with shame, and she avoided his gaze.
Seeing Bella so embarrassed, Daniel decided not to push her further. After the IV drip was finished, they sent Bella home. As Bella stepped out of the room, she was shocked to find the entire floor empty.
This sight confused her. This was the best and biggest hospital in the city, so how could it be so deserted? Slowly walking, with Daniel holding her arm, Bella asked, "Why is this floor so empty? Where is everyone?"
Daniel replied, "Because I booked the entire floor."
Bella stopped in her tracks and stared at him. "But why?" she asked.
"Because I don't like people, and I didn't want anyone to see you with me," Daniel answered.
Bella resumed walking with him, thinking about how strange Daniel really was. At the same time, she thought he was recklessly wasting money on such small things. Her grandfather, Mr. Phillip, was also wealthy, but he wouldn't spend his money like this. However, she couldn't deny that Daniel was rich enough to afford such extravagance. In the business world, Bella knew that Daniel's company was unmatched in its profits, and he was a billionaire. Then she wondered, for someone so powerful, how did he even have time to bring her to the hospital?
She shook her head to clear her thoughts, scolding herself for thinking such nonsense.
By that time, they reached the elevator. Daniel, Bella, Jacob, and two bodyguards took the lift down. As they stepped out, Bella saw several more bodyguards already standing by.
Bella asked Daniel, "Are you really that scared of dying?"
Daniel shot a cold look at Bella and replied confidently, "Daniel Smith fears nothing in this world."
"Then why do you keep so many bodyguards around?" Bella asked again.
Before Daniel could answer, his phone rang.
Daniel picked up the call, and on the other end, Jackson said, "Daniel, are you coming over for dinner?"
In a flat tone, Daniel responded, "Uncle, we can't make it tonight. Bella wasn't feeling well, so we're just leaving the hospital. We'll come over for dinner another time."
Jackson agreed and hung up.
Bella, hearing Daniel cancel the dinner, said, "Look, I'm fine now. We shouldn't have canceled. We could still go; it doesn't feel right to refuse."
Daniel responded, "There's no need. You're still weak. Uncle won't mind; we can visit another time."
With that, he helped Bella into the car and sat beside her as they headed home.
When they arrived home, they saw someone had already arrived before them. It was none other than Daniel's Uncle Jackson.
Daniel still had his arm around Bella as they walked in, and Jackson felt a sense of pride seeing them together.
Jackson was proud of his decision. He knew Bella was having a positive effect on Daniel. After watching a video where Daniel angrily destroyed a camera while protecting Bella, Jackson saw the concern in Daniel's eyes. He had been certain from that moment that Bella could change Daniel. Despite Daniel's distance from women and relationships, Jackson believed Bella was different and could be the one to bring Daniel out of his emotional shell.
Bella, feeling embarrassed by Jackson's presence, tried to pull away from Daniel. But Daniel held her tighter and said in a firm voice, "What are you doing? Don't move around too much, or you'll feel dizzy and fall again."
Bella was shocked. Daniel was so shameless, speaking to her like this in front of Jackson! And she wasn't moving around; she was just trying to free herself from his grip. But this man...
Jackson smiled and asked, "Bella, how are you feeling now? Are you better?"
Bella smiled back and said, "Yes, Uncle, I'm much better now."
Daniel then added, "Alright, you should have some dinner."
Before he could say more, Jackson interrupted, "I had dinner prepared for you both, but when you didn't come, I brought it here instead."
The maids had already arranged the dinner on the table. When Bella saw the variety of dishes, her mouth watered. The food looked so delicious and inviting that she immediately broke free from Daniel's grip and exclaimed, "Wow! This looks amazing! I'm going to enjoy this so much!"
Hearing this, Jackson laughed, clearly pleased with her enthusiasm. Even Daniel, watching his uncle laugh, felt a sense of happiness and surprise. He hadn't seen his uncle laugh in years.
Without waiting for anyone, Bella sat down to eat, and the maids began serving her. But as she started, she realized that both Daniel and Jackson were watching her. Jackson with affection, and Daniel with a stern gaze.
Bella quickly apologized, "Sorry, Uncle, I was just so hungry I couldn't wait. Please join me."
Jackson and Daniel both sat down for dinner. Bella eagerly tasted everything, and there were dishes from every cuisine. Daniel, however, only ate healthy options, which Bella noticed and made a face about, though Daniel caught on.
After dinner, Jackson said, "I couldn't host you properly tonight, but next time, you must come. And then we'll have a proper gathering." With that, he left.
Daniel then helped Bella to the bedroom. Bella was touched by his care, but it made her wonder if this was all too much.
Pulling herself away from him, she said, "Don't you think this is going a bit too far? I don't see you as my real husband. So there's no need for you to take such care of me."
She sat down on the bed, letting out a long sigh, as if she had been freed from a burden.
Daniel replied, "I'm not doing this for fun. I was only holding you because if you fell down the stairs and broke your bones, I'd have to take you to the hospital again. I don't have time to keep looking after you. And if you fall and die, people will say Daniel Smith couldn't even take care of his wife. What would be the point of having such a big name then?"
Bella, hearing Daniel's words, widens her eyes and looks at him, wondering how someone can be so strange and say such random things. He seems so self-absorbed, never caring about anyone else. Whenever he opens his mouth, it's always about himself. He acts like he's the most important person in the world.
Seeing Bella staring at him like that, Daniel says, "Don't look at me like that; it feels like you're about to eat me alive."
Bella suddenly bursts out laughing and sarcastically says, "There are many delicious things in this world worth eating. Why would I ruin my taste by eating you?"
Watching Bella make fun of him, Daniel gets really irritated. With a scowl on his face, he storms off to his study. He stays up late, working on his laptop.
When Daniel returned to the room, Bella was already asleep. She looked like a child—cute and innocent. Daniel couldn't take his eyes off her.
He went back downstairs to the poolside bedroom, just like the night before, but he couldn't sleep. There was an unfamiliar restlessness in his heart.
Getting up from the bed, he went back upstairs. He sat down on the bed next to where Bella was sleeping, and for a long time, he just watched her.
For some reason, looking at Bella brought him a strange sense of peace. As she slept, her hair had fallen over her face. Daniel leaned closer to move the strands away.
As soon as he brushed her hair from her face, being so close to her again, he could smell that same intoxicating scent coming from Bella. It was pulling him in. He found himself being drawn closer and closer to her.
Daniel's face was just inches away from Bella's, their breaths mingling. He was about to touch her lips when Bella suddenly turned in her sleep.
It was only then that Daniel snapped back to reality, realizing what he was about to do. He placed a hand over his face, embarrassed by his actions, and lay down beside her. Watching Bella, he eventually drifted off to sleep.