The silence pressed against Hanley as the lift carried him up alone. Bella's words echoed in his mind, each one cutting through the carefully constructed walls he'd built over the years.
Did you ever regret it?
He'd never thought he'd hear her ask that. Back then, he had convinced himself that moving on was the only path forward—no looking back, no regrets. And yet, here he was, standing frozen in an empty lift, feeling the weight of every choice he'd made.
The doors opened, and Hanley stepped out of the lift, climbed the narrow staircase to the rooftop. the hot afternoon air brushing against his skin like a familiar but distant touch.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a cigarette, his hands trembling just enough for him to notice. With a flick of the lighter, the brief flash of flame illuminated his face, casting shadows that seemed to stretch across his features. He brought the cigarette to his lips, inhaling deeply, the smoke swirling around him like a fleeting ghost.
But the cigarette did little to ease the storm raging inside. His mind refused to quiet, replaying the image of Bella over and over—her eyes filled with that raw, heartbreaking disappointment, the way her lips trembled as she fought to keep her composure. It was a look he had never wanted to see, not from her, not from anyone.
He flicked the cigarette away, watching the ember glow briefly before it dissolved into the shadows. His gaze drifted over the city below—its lights, its movement, a sea of people living their lives. And yet, all he could feel was a profound, sinking loneliness, like he was adrift in a place he didn't belong.
"What if she never forgives me?" he asked aloud, though there was no one there to answer. The question hung in the air, heavy with the weight of its uncertainty. Could he ever repair the damage he had caused? Was there any way to undo the pain, to make things right?
Hanley's phone buzzed in his pocket, and he glanced down to see his mother's name flashing on the screen. For a moment, he considered ignoring it, tempted to let the call fade into silence. But he knew better. Not answering her would only lead to another call, and another, until she finally reached him. Resigned, he swiped to answer.
"Hello, Mom," he said, his tone polite but lacking warmth.
"Hanley," she replied briskly, wasting no time on pleasantries. "I trust everything at the company is in order?"
It wasn't a question as much as a demand for assurance, and Hanley knew the routine well. Her calls were always about the company—never about him, his well-being, or even his personal life. No, her concern lay solely in his position, his influence, his ability to withstand the endless competition from rivals lurking in the background.
"Yes, everything's fine," he said, though his voice felt hollow even to his own ears.
"There's no need to worry."
"Are you sure?" she pressed, as if detecting some crack in his composure. "I know the board has been restless lately. There's talk of them trying to undermine you, possibly supporting someone else if they think you're faltering."
Hanley clenched his jaw, fighting the frustration rising within him. She didn't care about his struggles or his well-being. It was only the power and prestige she cared about, and as her son, he was simply the vessel through which she could ensure it.
"I'm aware of the board's concerns," he said coolly. "But I can handle it."
There was a pause, and he could practically feel her weighing his words, measuring his strength—or lack of it. "Good. Remember, Hanley, your father built that company from the ground up. I won't see all his work wasted because of carelessness. And trust me, those vultures will pounce at any sign of weakness."
Hanley closed his eyes for a moment, willing himself to remain calm. He had nothing left to say, nothing that would satisfy her demands or quiet her constant anxieties about his worthiness as her son and successor.
"Is there anything else, Mom?" he asked, a subtle edge to his voice.
"No," she replied, her tone clipped. "Just… don't disappoint me."
And with that, the line went dead.
Hanley let out a slow breath, lowering the phone and staring at it as if it had somehow betrayed him. Even when he wanted nothing more than to be left alone with his thoughts of Bella, his mother's voice intruded, grounding him back to the ruthless expectations of his family.He slipped the phone back into his pocket and headed back to his office.
Bella sat frozen at her desk, the pencil in her hand barely making contact with the paper. Her webtoon, once her greatest joy, now felt distant and foreign. The familiar blank page stared back at her, the characters she once loved now an afterthought. Her thoughts were far from her art—they were tangled in the storm inside her chest, a storm that had been raging for days.
The ache in her heart was constant, an unwelcome companion she couldn't shake. She could still remember the way he had looked at her, that intense gaze that once made her feel as though she were the center of his universe. After all these years, how was it that his memory could still have this effect on her?
She clenched her jaw, trying to push it away, but the thoughts of him persisted, lingering like shadows in her mind.
Why can't I hate him? The question swirled in her thoughts, bitter and raw. She had every reason to, didn't she? He was the one who left, the one who turned his back on her when she needed him most. He'd chosen everything else over her—his ambition, his world—and in doing so, he'd shattered everything they had built together.
She exhaled sharply, trying to shake the thought away. "No," she muttered under her breath, shaking her head as though she could physically clear her mind. "I'm not going to let him take over my thoughts again."
Vicky burst into Bella's studio, his phone held high like a trophy. "B.S! You're not going to believe this!"
Bella barely glanced up, her mind still tangled in the storm of thoughts that had been plaguing her all day. "What now, Vicky? Did you find a new cat video that's going to ruin my productivity?"
Vicky's grin widened as he leaned in closer. "No, no! Even better. They just dropped a new webtoon by that Luna—the one everyone's been freaking out over. It's already hit number one!"
Bella's eyes immediately snapped to Vicky, her attention piqued. "Luna? As in, Luna? The Luna whose art has literally been my Pinterest board for years?"
"YES!" Vicky practically bounced on his toes. "And guess what? There's a fan meeting next week. We HAVE to go. I mean, you, me, Luna—it's destiny."
Bella blinked a few times, still processing the information. "Wait… are you saying THE Luna is going to be in the same room as us? As in, we could literally be breathing the same air? The air she breathes?"
Vicky laughed, a little too loudly, before replying in a mock-serious tone. "Exactly. And who else am I supposed to go with? You're the only person who appreciates her art the way I do. Plus, who else would survive waiting in line with me for hours?"
Bella couldn't help but laugh, her mood lightening for the first time in days. "Okay, okay, we're going. I'm in. But I swear, if you try to drag me into buying matching fan merch, I'm out."
Vicky put on an exaggerated pout. "No promises. But think about it—Luna's signature! Imagine the possibilities. We could get her to sign our favorite scenes! I'm already picturing it—our wall of Luna memorabilia."
Bella raised an eyebrow. "You know, for someone who's as anti-fan-girl as you claim to be, you're sounding a lot like one right now."
Vicky grinned, clearly unbothered. "That's because I'm converting you. It's a process. The first step is admitting you want to meet the artist, the second step is buying merch, and the third step is dedicating your entire living room to Luna shrine decor."
Bella snorted, shaking her head. "You're insane. But fine, let's do it. But no shrine. I have standards."
"Deal!" Vicky laughed, already scrolling through his phone to find tickets. "It's going to be so much fun! Luna's going to see us and think, 'Wow, those two are definitely the coolest fans here.'"
Bella leaned back in her chair, smiling as she felt the first real spark of excitement she'd had in days. "Yeah, sure. Coolest fans ever. Right after we finish pretending we're not about to totally geek out the whole time."
"Exactly!" Vicky grinned. "Now let's figure out what non-embarrassing outfits we're wearing, because we can't exactly show up looking like we've just rolled out of bed."
Bella laughed. "You're killing me. Let's just promise we won't embarrass ourselves too much. I want to look like an art fan, not a stalker."
Vicky winked. "Challenge accepted."
They continued to banter, their excitement growing with each passing minute. Vicky was already rattling off ideas for outfits, suggesting everything from casual tees with Luna's artwork to something more stylish but still comfortable. Bella playfully shot down every option, insisting they couldn't look like they were trying too hard, but her laughter couldn't hide the warmth in her voice.
"You know," Bella said between giggles, "we should totally bring some of our own drawings to show Luna. I mean, how cool would that be?"
Vicky raised an eyebrow. "Are you serious? You want to show her your sketches?"
Bella grinned mischievously. "Why not? If anyone's gonna appreciate my work, it's Luna. Plus, I'm pretty sure I could impress her with my 'scribbled' masterpieces."
Vicky burst out laughing, clutching his stomach. "Oh, I can already see it now. Luna's like, 'Wow, your fan art is… something.'"
Bella rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing too. "You're terrible. But fine, no drawings. I'll just look like a regular fan and leave the impressing to you."
"I'll just wow her with my amazing fashion choices," Vicky said with a dramatic flourish, and the two of them erupted into laughter again.
The room was filled with their joy, the weight of Bella's earlier tension melting away with each joke and laugh. For the first time in days, Bella felt light—like the world wasn't so heavy, like there were still things that could make her smile, even if only for a moment. As they continued to chat about the fan meeting, Vicky's infectious excitement reminded Bella that having a friend is actually great.
In that moment, surrounded by laughter and the anticipation of what was to come, everything else faded away. The storm inside her chest had finally quieted, replaced by the promise of a day full of inspiration and pure, unfiltered joy.
Meanwhile Hanley was sitting in his chair, mind buzzing with questions he couldn't answer. Bella's voice, her look, her words—they all replayed vividly, filling the silence around him with regret he could no longer ignore.
At his office door, Shane, his personal secretary, glanced up, noticing the look on Hanley's face. Even though Shane had known Hanley for only a short time, he had already begun to understand him. And it was long enough to recognize when something wasn't right.
"Is everything alright, Mr. Hanley?" Shane asked, carefully masking his curiosity with professionalism.
Hanley paused, realizing he hadn't really spoken to anyone since his encounter with Bella. A part of him wanted to keep his walls up, but something in Shane's genuine concern softened him.
"Have you ever looked back on something you thought you'd left behind, only to realize it's still there?" Hanley murmured, almost to himself.
Shane blinked, clearly taken aback by the question. "I think…everyone has regrets, sir. It's just a matter of whether they choose to acknowledge them."
Hanley gave a quiet, humorless laugh. "Acknowledgment isn't as easy as it sounds."
Shane stayed silent, sensing there was more that Hanley wanted to say. After a moment, Hanley took a deep breath and glanced out the window, his gaze drifting as if he could see Bella there in the distance, just as she'd looked when the elevator doors closed between them.
"Years ago, I thought forgetting her was the only way to move on," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "But she was right to ask if I ever regretted it. Because now, looking back, I wonder if letting her go cost me more than I could have ever realized back then."
Shane shifted uncomfortably, clearly uncertain how to respond. It wasn't often that Hanley was this open, this vulnerable.
"Sometimes," Shane replied, choosing his words carefully, "we only understand the weight of our choices when it's too late to change them."
The words sank into Hanley, echoing like a reminder of all he'd been avoiding.
With a slight nod, Hanley straightened, the distant, impassive look returning to his face. "Thank you, Shane. That'll be all."
As Shane left, Hanley settled into his chair, staring blankly at the paperwork in front of him. For the first time in years, he wondered if there was still a chance to mend what he'd left broken.
The office time was over and Hanley sat in the car outside the building, his fingers drumming a soft, restless rhythm on his knee as he checked his watch again.
Through the rearview mirror, Shane glanced at him, catching the subtle tension etched in his boss's expression. The silence between them was thick, weighted by the unspoken. Shane didn't know who they were waiting for—Hanley hadn't mentioned a name—but the quiet urgency in his manner told him enough.
Minutes trickled by until, at last, Hanley's gaze sharpened. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Bella stepping out of the office, exchanging brief farewells with her colleagues. There was a slight hesitation in her step, and for a fleeting second, she looked almost… wistful.
As she reached the bus stop and stood waiting, Bella muttered to herself, "It's been a long day. But life's not so bad outside."
Hanley's heart clenched, a pull he didn't expect. Acting on instinct, he turned to Shane. "Drive over," he said, his voice more guarded than he felt.
Shane nodded and eased the car forward, pulling up beside her. Lowering the window, he leaned out. "Need a ride, miss?"
Bella looked over, her gaze shifting from Shane to Hanley, sitting shadowed in the back seat. A glimmer of surprise, followed by a familiar wariness, crossed her face. If there was one person she'd rather not accept a favor from, it was Hanley.
"No, I'm alright," she replied coolly.
Shane hesitated, then stepped out, making an effort to be polite, but Bella's reluctance only grew. Just then, the hum of an approaching car drew her attention. Sanjay's familiar car rolled up, and he stepped out with a warm smile, leaning casually against his door. "Need any help?"
It was as if the universe had heard her. Bella didn't hesitate this time; she slipped gratefully into the passenger seat of Sanjay's car.
Hanley's stomach twisted as he watched her go, his gaze lingering on the empty space she left behind.
Sanjay glanced at Hanley, a flicker of confusion crossing his face, but he managed a polite wave before sliding back into his car. He couldn't make sense of the moment, but Bella seemed relieved, and he didn't question it further.
In Hanley's car, the tension was thick enough to cut through. Shane gripped the steering wheel tightly, keenly aware of the unspoken frustration radiating from his boss. Though Hanley's face remained unreadable, his silence was charged.
After a beat, Shane ventured cautiously, "Should I follow them, sir?"
Hanley's jaw tightened, but his voice was calm, almost too calm. "No need. Let's go home."
As Shane pulled away, he cast a quick glance in the mirror. The reflection of Hanley's expression—pensive, simmering with something unspoken—lingered in his mind, hauntingly.
Inside sanjay's car,after a few moments of uneasy silence, Sanjay broke it with a lighthearted question. "I thought you weren't one to get into a stranger's car?"
Bella smiled, glancing over at him. "Well, you're not exactly a stranger anymore."
Sanjay chuckled, then glanced at her curiously. "So… did I interrupt something back there?"
"No, not at all." Bella's tone was quick, almost too quick. "He was just talking about the script."
"On the side of the road?" Sanjay raised an eyebrow, amused.
Bella shrugged, trying to keep her tone nonchalant. "Maybe he's just that… workaholic."
Sanjay laughed, but there was a note of disbelief in his voice. "The Hanley I know? He's never cared much for webtoons. Thinks they're a waste of time, actually."
Bella's smile tightened, and she shot him a quick, sharp look. But Sanjay seemed to catch himself, holding up a hand.
"I mean, he was like that. But I guess he's pretty serious about this project."
Sanjay's gaze drifted forward thoughtfully, then he turned to Bella, as if something had just struck him. "Hey, what about your scooter? Did you manage to get it fixed?"
"Almost," Bella replied, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I just need to pick it up today."
Sanjay nodded. "Alright then, where should I drop you off?"
"The workshop near my place," Bella said, glancing at him. "You remember the way, right?"
"Of course," he replied with a grin. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "Why don't you let me cover the repair costs? It's the least I can do."
Bella shook her head firmly, a playful glint in her eye. "Not a chance! You already made me write a whole statement on the accident. I'm not signing up for any more trouble."
They both burst into laughter, the last remnants of tension easing away as their shared humor filled the car.
Sanjay pulled up in front of the workshop and waited as Bella got out. She gave him a quick wave as he drove off, his car disappearing down the street. As she turned back toward the workshop, she nearly jumped—standing right beside her was a young man in a greasy coverall, watching the car with an amused expression.
"Who was that?" he asked, eyes still on the car.
"My boss," Bella replied, still trying to recover from her surprise.
He turned to her, grinning. "But… who are you?"
Bella blinked at him. "Who are you?" she shot back.
"I'm the new guy," he replied with a shrug.
"Oh." Bella crossed her arms, looking him over. "So… do you know who I am?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Should I?"
"Uh, no, no. Doesn't matter," Bella mumbled, feeling a bit silly. She glanced around, hoping to catch sight of someone familiar. "Is Sathyan Uncle around?"
"Nah, he's off in town. Left me in charge." He smiled proudly, though Bella wasn't entirely sure why he looked so pleased with himself.
"Well, um… I'm here for my scooter," Bella said, feeling a little awkward.
He nodded, heading to the back of the workshop. Moments later, he rolled out her old, battered scooter, giving it a pat as if it were a noble steed. "Here you go, held together with sheer willpower and rust. Honestly, you should probably just get a new one."
Bella chuckled, taking the handlebars. "She may be old, but she's faithful."
He laughed. "Faithful? Sure, if 'faithful' means 'might break down any second.'"
Bella rolled her eyes, climbing on. "Thanks for the pep talk. I'll keep that in mind when I'm wobbling down the road."
He waved her off with a smirk. "Good luck! You'll need it!"
With a laugh and a final shake of her head, Bella started up the scooter, listening to it cough and sputter like an old man getting out of bed. But somehow, it kept running. She gave the new guy a mock salute, and with a grin, she rode off toward home, wondering if her scooter and she would make it there in one piece.
By the time Bella reached home, the sky was deepening into dusk, and the clock read seven. She parked her scooter, giving it a soft, almost sentimental pat. "Thanks for hanging in there," she murmured, feeling a quiet gratitude for the old machine that had been with her through so many chapters of her life.
Watching from the doorstep, her mother, Rosamma, shook her head with a smile. "I thought you'd finally get rid of that thing this time."
Bella laughed, walking toward her. "She's got a few good years left in her yet. She'd never leave me," she said, slipping her arm around her mother as they walked inside.
As they settled in, Bella's face lit up with excitement. "I've got good news, Mom" She launched into the story, recounting the thrill of her webtoon being picked up as a major project for the company, the strange characters she'd met, and the whirlwind of new experiences she'd had. Yet, she left out one thing—Hanley. Somehow, she just didn't want her mother to worry about that part.
Rosamma's face softened as she listened, her eyes filling with pride. She reached over, clasping Bella's hands warmly. "I'm so happy to see you like this, Bella. This is the daughter I know, strong and ready for anything. I'm so proud that you took on this challenge."
Bella's gaze fell for a moment, a faint smile on her lips. "I'm sorry, Mom, for all the worry I put you through. But don't worry. I'll make you proud."
Rosamma pulled her into a gentle embrace, smoothing back her hair. "Bella, you already do. Every day. I just want you to be happy."
They held each other close, the unspoken words of love and understanding lingering between them as the comfort of home settled around them.