Chapter Forty-Eight

Chapter Forty-Eight

Bella's vision began unclear and somewhat hazy, with a lingering bitter taste of alcohol in her mouth. She wanted more to drink, but Levi stopped her, supporting her waist as her body leaned entirely on him.

"Didn't expect to see you like this. I wonder if I should thank Max for missing out on such a woman," Levi signaled a nearby waiter and then carried a drunk Bella upstairs of the bar.

Bella was still inebriated, not feeling sleepy, so when Levi lifted her, she struggled uncomfortably, saying, "I still want to drink more, let me go."

"There's plenty in the room. Drink as much as you want," Levi chuckled, wondering if Bella's self-restraint stemmed from knowing her own tendencies when drunk. Yet, he found her drunken antics endearing, except for the fact that she wasn't rambling as usual when intoxicated but surprisingly coherent.

Bella pushed Levi away forcefully, standing upright, her flushed face the only indicator of her intoxication.

“Let me help you.” Levi offered to carry her, but Bella brushed him off firmly.

"No need, I'm not so drunk that I can't walk. Lead me to the room," Bella insisted.

Faced with the woman's stubbornness, Levi could only laugh and lead the way. He had witnessed many drunken states in women, but Bella's was different. She seemed visibly intoxicated yet determined to appear sober, walking steadily albeit slowly.

Shouldn't she rely on him in such situations? Levi shook his head, unsure if it was Bella's high alertness or sheer foolishness.

"We're here," Levi said and saw Bella sleeping right in the hallway, her sleeping posture was no different from someone clinically dead, making others couldn't help but laugh.

Levi couldn't find the words for the current situation. He shook his head and chuckled, "Clearly, you're drunk yet pretending not to be. You should be grateful that I'm the one accompanying you."

Bella was carried princess-style by Levi. He was tall and Bella was slim, so when viewed from behind, he could cover Bella's whole body. Bella breathed softly, her vision was hazy and unclear, but she still clearly heard what the person next to her said.

"Don't forget... it's me... who hired you... I'm paying, not asking for favors. Don't act like you're so kind. It's laughable, isn't it?" Bella spoke, her tone laced with resentment toward the man.

Levi gently placed Bella on the bed, observing her dazed state before saying, "You're right, everything you say is right. But it seems you have some resentment towards 'good' men."

Bella sat up, taking a deep breath. Despite the alcohol clouding her mind, she knew where she was and who was beside her.

"Max was once a very good man. That's why I loved and married him," Bella said softly.

Levi understood. He and Max were once classmates, innocent and untouched by money and power. Before being blinded by wealth and influence, Max was indeed considered a good man.

The atmosphere became quiet and somewhat awkward, unlike before. Bella was calm and composed, even in her drunken state.

Levi thought she needed time alone to think, but as soon as he stood up, Bella grabbed his hand.

"Where are you going?" she asked.

"I thought you wanted to be alone to think," Levi replied.

But upon hearing him, Bella laughed, "Why? Weren't you the one who always took advantage of me being drunk before? Why are you suddenly so kind and considerate today?"

Amid Bella's teasing, Levi smirked, deliberately ensuring her comfort, yet in Bella's words, he seemed like a fool.

"Why don't you answer—"

Before Bella could finish, Levi pushed her down and pinned her, surprising her into silence.

"This is what you asked for. Don't blame me for being bad when you wake up. Bella, tonight, you're the one making me into a villain," Levi teased, gently caressing Bella's blushing face as he spoke.

"Ha- That's what I want," Bella chuckled, boldly pulling his collar closer, closing the gap between them to mere inches. "Tonight, I'm paying you to serve me, so drop the kindness and generosity."

"How can I refuse when the prey comes willingly to my mouth?" Levi laughed, surprised by Bella's proactive and enthusiastic demeanor, giving him a different perspective on this seemingly demure woman.

And so, Bella spent the night outside, not returning home. After all, her husband never truly cared whether she waited at home or not.

A demure woman, a dutiful wife like Bella, seemed to have never experienced the thrill of spending the night outside until she met Levi.

"Kiss me... I want more," Bella, lost in intoxication, no longer in control of her senses, eagerly embraced Levi, passionately kissing his lips. It seemed that the identity of the recipient didn't matter anymore; she just wanted to make herself forget the unpleasantness.

Levi curled his lips and smiled. It was rare for Bella to take the initiative, which made him very interested, even more interested than the way she reluctantly kissed and made love.

"Demand more from me, Bella. I will fulfill every request of yours," Levi whispered softly into Bella's ear, his warm, husky voice and masculine warmth enveloping her, intensifying her comfort and arousal.

...

"Enough, Pearl," Max pushed Pearl away from him, feeling no interest whatsoever. Pearl was perplexed by being pushed away, kneeling in front of him, unable to comprehend his demeanor. Clearly, his cock was aroused, yet he pushed her away.

"What's wrong, Max? What did I do to displease you? Tell me, I'll do it again..." Pearl's demeanor was on the verge of tears, immensely pitiable.

But this time, Max felt completely disinterested, even feeling bored and dull about the whole affair.

Max avoided Pearl's gaze, getting off the bed and dressing again to leave, but she pulled him back, "Where are you going? You're already here, and it's midnight. Where else would you go?"

Max sighed, originally he didn't want to go back to her house with Pearl but he accidentally came here so he planned to have sex with Pearl, thinking he would have fun making love but now he felt bored and wanted to go home.

"I'm sorry, I'll make it up to you some other time. Tonight, I'm just not interested," Max withdrew his hand from hers, speaking coldly.

Max, the man who always pampered and wanted to be with her, now claimed to have no interest and not want to be with her? Max's words felt like a cold splash to Pearl's face, leaving her pale.

"You've never been like this before," Pearl whispered, feeling drained.

Max didn't hear clearly what she said, but he knew his indifference today had made her sad, so he tried to console her, "Don't be sad. I've been too busy these days, exhausted, not because I don't want to be with you, Pearl."

Max's words failed to convince her. Pearl had been by his side for nearly six years, through his toughest and busiest times, yet she had never seen him so disinterested and tired of her presence.

Adding to her unease were Bella's words from earlier today and the romantic dinner picture of Max and Bella posted last night, constantly haunting her thoughts.

Seeing Max preparing to leave, Bella's victorious face and smile flashed in her mind. Pearl hastily embraced Max from behind, tears streaming down her beautiful face.

"You're lying, aren't you, Max? You want to go back to Bella, right? This morning at the office, you were irritated with me just because of the way I addressed you in the company. And after work, weren't you deliberately waiting for Bella downstairs?" Pearl spoke amidst warm tears. She didn't want Max to leave, even though she knew he preferred obedient and compliant women.

Everything Pearl said was true; indeed, when they finished work, Max intentionally waited for Bella in the parking garage to take her out for dinner. For some reason, he wanted to be with Bella, perhaps because he thought Pearl had already gone home.

"Pearl, you're overthinking. You have to understand, that Bella and I are married. Taking her out for dinner is normal and obvious. If I make her happy, she'll help me ease things with Mr. William, her father. Think about it; lately, I've neglected her without caring," Max turned Pearl around, making her face him.

"But..." Pearl furrowed her brows, knowing that Max and Bella were a married couple, and she was just the third person in their marriage, but she didn't want to continue being in the shadows like this.

Max let out a soft sigh. What he detested about women was their tendency to lean too much on emotions, lacking enough rationality to decide in crucial moments.

"Pearl, reconsider this. We've been together, our relationship like this, for nearly six years now. Yet, I've only been married to Bella for over three years, but in these past three years, I've never touched her, always neglecting her every night. If you were Bella, would you accept it without any doubt?"

"But she doesn't doubt you." Pearl looked up at Max and said, observing that although Bella had changed a lot in appearance, there was clearly no sign of suspicion towards Max and Pearl.

"True! But how can you be sure she doesn't doubt? Even if she doesn't doubt, we've been married for three years, yet I've never touched her. If you were Bella, would you feel that's normal? If your husband never touches you, never makes love to you, would you feel it's normal?"

Listening to this, Pearl felt it was very logical. Max had followed her wish, not touching Bella. Therefore, in the three-year marriage between Max and Bella, whenever Max had needs, he came to Pearl to resolve them, and as a result, never touched Bella, even when they shared the same bed.