Chapter Fifty-Nine

Chapter Fifty-Nine

Pearl knew Bella loved Max dearly, so naturally she wouldn't dare to make Max sad or hurt him. Understanding this point, Pearl raised her voice, “Your father is indeed very rich, because Max married you, that's why he was able to have the position he has today. But think about it, having a wife like you who only knows how to parasitic your husband is like having Max wearing a chain on his leg.”

Pearl's relentless provocations made Bella feel uncomfortable and frustrated. However, if she got angry here, it would only show that Pearl had succeeded in provoking her. Therefore, Bella reassured herself not to get angry with someone like Pearl, as it would be exhausting and negatively impact her mood.

"Whether Max is capable or not, I know best. But not only me, you also know that no matter how capable Max is, he wouldn't be able to climb up to the position of CEO of a company on his own. More importantly, Max's relationships are very limited. Even if he is truly outstanding, without broad connections, it's useless. Are you accusing me of clinging onto or hindering Max's career? Whether it's true or not, ask Max, and you'll find out," Bella said gently but with clear articulation.

Are all adults, Pearl naturally understood what Bella was saying. Ultimately, Max's successful career still relied heavily on Bella. That is an obvious fact that cannot be denied.

The store employees packed the dresses Bella had chosen.

"Madam, the total amount due is $40,900. How would you like to pay?"

Upon hearing the price, Pearl smirked disdainfully and said, "Bella, even if you want to impress me, you don't need to make such a big effort to spend such a large sum on a dress like this."

Bella smiled at the employee and handed over her card for payment, then turned to Pearl and said, "Are you mistaken? This dress is over $40,000, which isn't really expensive for me... You find it expensive because you can't afford it. Do you want a dress too? Last night you wanted to talk to me, but Max kept me because he said he would be lonely without me at home. To make it up to you, I'll give you a dress."

Before Pearl could react, Bella pointed to a dress priced at over $30,000 and smiled, "I want to give her that dress, please pack it for me. I'll use the same card."

After the payment, the staff handed the $30,000 dress to Pearl. Bella chuckled softly, "Consider it a gift from me, no need to thank me. Oh, and by the way, this is all money I earned myself, not Max's money, so you don't need to feel sorry for my husband."

With that, Bella lightly tapped Pearl's shoulder and left the store, leaving Pearl stunned, still holding the dress that Bella had just bought for her.

Bella had never felt so exhilarated before. If it weren't for Pearl deliberately provoking her, Bella wouldn't have acted like this. Although Bella felt a bit sorry for her money, the feeling of triumph was quite satisfying. Spending her hard-earned money on someone she didn't like was unpleasant, but remembering Pearl's pale and foolish face, Bella couldn't help but burst into laughter in the car.

"Deserved it."

With Pearl's current position and salary, it would be difficult for her to spend money on a high-value dress herself. Of course, she still had some expensive clothes and handbags because Max paid for them. Max wasn't the type to extravagantly spend money, but he could still afford Pearl some designer clothes, bags, or jewelry.

What's ironic was that Max had never bought or given Bella anything expensive, but he had bought many expensive things for Pearl. Before Bella discovered her husband was having an affair with Pearl, she believed that in marriage and family life, love and care were enough, and expensive things were just superficial. She never demanded anything expensive from Max, and instead, she tried to save money for her husband.

Yet Pearl had the audacity to accuse her of only spending her husband's money, of clinging onto her husband. It was truly laughable. It's truly ridiculous, that while Max's money is almost spent on Pearl, she still dares to blame Bella.

Perhaps it was because of last night that Pearl could keep Max's attention, so today she could be so arrogant. The more Pearl behaved like this, the more ridiculous it seemed. For the past three years, because Max always ignored and neglected his wife, but doted on his lover, Pearl, she didn't feel uncomfortable with his wife, Bella. But recently, Pearl might have noticed Max's change, fearing losing him, she began to become anxious and scared.

Bella went home to cook dinner because she knew for sure that Max would be coming home. True to her prediction, as soon as the last dish was placed on the table, Max walked into the house. Bella smiled and walked over to greet him, "Honey, you're home. Why are you home early today?"

Taken aback by his wife's welcome, Max was a little bit surprised for a moment but quickly composed himself, embracing her and sweetly saying, "Because I missed you, my wife."

Feeling a bit awkward and uncomfortable, Bella gently pushed Max away, still smiling at him. "Do you want to shower first or have dinner first?"

"If I shower first, dinner will get cold. Let's eat together," Max said softly, looking at the beautifully arranged table full of delicious food. Somehow, emotions stirred within Max, though he couldn't quite articulate them.

Seeing Max standing there silently, Bella spoke up, "Max, is something wrong?"

"Oh, nothing. I just didn't expect you to cook so many delicious dishes," Max replied with a smile, brushing it off as he sat down across from his wife.

Bella frowned slightly but didn't show her discomfort overtly. "What do you mean, Max? I always cook like this. Haven't you noticed at all?"

Max's mind was often preoccupied with thoughts of Pearl, so no matter how delicious the food Bella cooked, he never really paid attention. He always ended up leaving a lot of food uneaten, claiming he had to leave for work.

Perhaps realizing his unreasonable comment, Max started to make excuses, attributing it to his recent exhaustion from work and how the food outside wasn't as good as Bella's cooking. Bella simply smiled and didn't want to continue listening to her husband's excuses.

As they enjoyed their meal together, Bella asked, "Where did you go last night?"

As a habit, Max cited sudden work emergencies that required him to go to the office late at night. Bella seemed accustomed to it and didn't press further.

Bella cut a piece of meat on her plate delicately and said, "I took a day off today. I went shopping in the afternoon. Care to guess who I met?"

Max didn't pay much attention and casually asked, "Who did you meet?"

"I met Pearl," Bella said. As soon as the words left her mouth, Max's complexion turned pale, and he stiffened, looking at her.

But that frozen expression lasted only for a couple of seconds before quickly returning to normal, though his voice trembled slightly. "You met Pearl? What did you two talk about?"

Hearing her husband's question, Bella appeared saddened and vulnerable, making Max even more curious, urging her, "W-What's wrong? What did she say to you? Why do you look so sad? Tell me quickly, Bella."

Bella didn't continue hiding, but she didn't intend to disclose everything either. She teared up, portraying herself as someone deeply hurt and said, "I met her in a rather upscale store, and as soon as we met, she told me that for the past three years, I've only been clinging to you, relying on you. She also said that I'm not contributing anything to your career advancement... She called me a useless wife... I don't understand, Max. I don't understand why she suddenly said such things to me. Am I really that useless?"

Bella cried as if deeply aggrieved and hurt by being publicly humiliated like that. But Bella's straightforward words alone weren't enough to make Max believe.

Quick to comfort her, but he said, "Bella, don't cry... Are you sure you didn't misunderstand? Pearl is your close friend. How could she say such things..."

Bella was certain that Max still wanted to believe in Pearl, but she had prepared for this. While still crying, Bella took out her phone and played a recorded conversation for Max to hear. In that recording, Pearl's voice was unmistakable; both Bella and Max were very familiar with it.

Listening to what Pearl said in the recording, Max's face turned gray again, his earlier comforting tone now replaced with a somber one.

Seeing that her husband's face turned gloomy after listening to the recording, Bella continued to cry and speak intermittently "I didn't intend to record her words, but I felt very scared... Max, you're the only one I have to share my joys and sorrows with. I don't understand why Pearl would say those things to me... Pearl is your personal secretary, could it be that you...?"

Bella trailed off, shifting her suspicion towards Max, causing his complexion to pale even further.

Seeing his wife looking at him with suspicion, Max hastily explained, "Why are you looking at me like that? Yes, Pearl is my personal secretary, but our relationship is purely professional. How could I speak ill of you to her? She's not even my friend that I confide in."

Just a few words from Bella, and Max quickly shrugged off responsibility and his relationship with Pearl, leaving Bella unable to help but laugh mockingly inside. She continued to feign distress and sadness, turning off her phone to avoid hearing that recording again.

"I treat Pearl like family, yet she says I'm just a useless wife, claiming I'm the ball and chain around your ankle, Max. I'm so hurt, I don't understand if I've done something wrong to anger Pearl?"

Max hurriedly approached his wife, gently comforting her. "Bella, you haven't done anything wrong at all. Our love and marriage are natural, how could you be a chain around my ankle? It must be that Pearl is jealous of you, which is why she says such hurtful things. Don't pay attention to what she says."

Max's words of comfort were sweeter than honey and sugar combined, making Bella want to hear more. Bella cannot deny that Max has a very flexible tongue, and because he knows how to say sweet words, all this time Bella has thought that Max loves her very much.