Chapter 8

Bella's POV

Once my eyelid opened to a bright new day, the first thing I did was rush out of bed and checked my neck to see if there was any other bite mark.

I was glad when I saw nothing and also realized that the first bite mark was already fading, leaving a dark blue moon shaped mark on my neck.

I guess that mark will finally fade away! There's nothing to worry about.

Placing my body back on the bed, I placed my head on the pillow and a soft, cool breeze hit my body. I shivered as a result of the cold and turned to see my window opened up.

I frowned at that. I can't remember opening my window last night. Infact, I do not open my window on any other night because growing up I was made to believe that an animal could crawl into the room during the night and if the person is so unlucky, it could be a wild animal.

Closing it quickly, I checked my room except for the bathroom, whose doors are firmly closed for any signs of intrusion and I only calmed down when I saw none.

I checked the time and realized I still had up to an hour to get ready for work so I sat down to apply some moisturizer on my face. I usually do this anytime I get worried about anything.

As I applied it, I let my mind drift off to the events of the previous day.

At first, Adonis had made himself invisible and now, this mysterious guy had started appearing to people around me.

Dede first then Ethan.

This sends fear down my heart. I shivered at the thought of having a stalker following my every step and move. He's just not stalking me but also asking people about me and also beating them up, bashing their faces in.

The chilling sound of my phone brought me out of my thoughts. I quickly picked it up from my drawer and saw that the call was from someone that I didn't want to get involved in.

I hissed before dropping the call.

As I was about standing up to walk into the bathroom and take my bath, my phone began ringing the second time and I angrily picked it up.

"Why are you calling me?' I yelled.

"Hello to you too, Bella" He answered calmly just like always.

"What do you want, Stanley?" I asked, not ready for his pretense.

"That is no way to talk to your father, young lady"

"Point of correction, stepfather"

I corrected it.

"At least you called me daddy when you were still staying with us, what changed little girl?"

"That was to please my mother but after you've successfully killed her, I do not want to have anything to do with you ever again"

"I already told you that I didn't kill your mother. She slipped while she was in the bathroom" he said, as if regretting her death. As if he was pained by her death.

"It sounds more like you pushed her yourself"

He remained silent and couldn't say a word. He knew that I knew of his actions, how he loses his temper easily and hits anyone or anything that comes his way when he's either drunk or angry.

"You know how precious your mother was to me. I could never hurt her"

"You're a pathetic liar, Stanley. Even if the police couldn't find anything to charge you for her death, you and I both know the truth" I replied.

"The truth might not be what it seems to be, Bella. You might be mistaken" he argued

"Or not. I even heard you're dating this really pretty nurse. The same one who happens to be my mother's best friend's daughter, right?"

"Rumors, my daughter. Those are all just rumors"

"You're a miserable old ass Stanley, you need to get a life and that should start with you not ever calling my phone again" I demanded and he laughed through the phone.

"Your mother made me promise her to take care of you till I die"

"I can take care of myself"

"When are you coming home, Bella?"

"Never"

"It's your mother's first year anniversary tomorrow. You should show her some respect by visiting home and taking some flowers to her graveyard"

I gasped at the shocking revelation. I'd already forgotten that it was my mother's death anniversary. The turn of different events these days has taken over my mind and made me forget about things that are so close and personal to my heart. I hate the fact that I forgot about my mother so quickly and this brought tears to my eyes.

"Bella, are you there?"

"Fuck off, Stanley" I cursed into the phone and dropped the call.

I hit my chest with my hand as a pang of pain hit me right there. I'd kept my mother in that same spot, all of our memories were engraved in my heart and for unknown reasons I'd forgotten about her.

I totally wish I could go for her anniversary but I can't. Not with Stanley in her house. I would've loved to visit her graveside and give her some flowers but I can't afford to have Stanley's hand all over my body.

The last time I went home for her burial, he had tried forcing his hands on me. Thank God I'd gone with Eva, she had walked into the room at that moment after hearing my screams and helped me kick his ass out of the room.

My mother had me when she was still in high school. Her high school sweetheart, who unfortunately happened to be my mother's sperm donor, had promised her heaven and hell, making the rest of the world wonder where they'll live if he actually fulfilled his promise.

But immediately my mother got pregnant, he was the first to leave town. She raised me all by herself till I was sixteen and she got married to Stanley.

Stanley was the beginning of our nightmare and no matter how much I tried convincing my mother to divorce him, she was adamant.

This was the major reason why I picked a college far from home and after college, I refused to go back home until I was informed that she was dead.

My room's door suddenly opened and I quickly wiped the tears off my face. I turned to face Eva with a smile on my face, I tried to pretend everything was fine.

"I know that smile. Don't lie to me Bella, what's wrong?" She got me before I could lie to her.

"Nothing serious Eva. Tomorrow is my mom's anniversary and you know how that is" I answered.

She nodded before she strides to my side and gives me a big hug.

"You'll be fine, baby girl. Will you be going home?"

"No"

"That's okay. That's perfectly okay" she comforted me as she understood perfectly the reason why I wouldn't be going back home.

"The restaurant called me" she informed me minutes later. "They've been trying to reach you on the phone'

"What's wrong?" I asked worriedly.

"Nothing serious. Dede was the one who called and she said the restaurant wouldn't be opening today because Maria got into a serious accident yesterday and your boss wouldn't be able to function properly without hitting Maria's pussy" I laughed alongside Eva as she gave me the message .

"Dede is a clown. I know that's not how she was told to give the message"

"I think I like the girl, she's an amazing kid though"

"Yeah, she is" I agreed.

"So, that means today's your day off and we should go out to have fun"

"Won't you go to work? At least you're not the accident victim" I joked.

"I'm actually on my way to work but I won't be staying for long," she promised.

"Okay"

"I'll see you later, Snickers"

I frowned at the awful nickname and laughed as she walked out of the room.

One thing I love about Eva is how she makes me better anytime I feel down about something. My mother had loved her to pieces when she was still alive even though they haven't met. She'll always ask about her and insist on talking to her anytime she calls me.

Deciding to go out and spend my free day with so much joy as Eva had said, I stripped off, ready to get my bath.

I picked up my toothbrush and walked towards the bathroom.

As I opened the door to my bathroom, my eyes went wild in shock as I saw the shadow of a naked man, sleeping in my bathtub.

I shifted the cotton properly and that woke him up.

When he turned, his eyes were yellow, his skin white and fangs were protruding from his mouth.

Scared out of my mind, I felt light-headed. It suddenly became difficult to breathe and instead of screaming, I began losing consciousness

"Shit! Bella" That was the last thing I heard while embracing darkness.

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