Chapter 273
Christopher’s lips curled into a graceful smile as he savored his tea. He exuded the air of a
sophisticated young aristocrat in the modern world. The two of them chatted as they
caught up with each other.
Bella learned that Christopher had dedicated himself to looking after his mother during
her recovery in Sentania. His mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, which led to a
gradual decline in her ability to take care of herself. Despite having numerous
opportunities to return to Savrow, he remained in Sentania to care for his mother and
develop his career.
She remembered that the Iverson family dynamics were quite intricate. The Iverson family
included four children, among them Christopher, who had two older brothers and one
older sister. The trio shared the same mother. On the other hand, Christopher was the
child of the second wife, introducing an additional layer of complexity to the family
structure.
Bella had limited knowledge about Mrs. Iverson. Even though their families were once
close when she was a child and she had visited the Iverson estate, she still had no
impression of that lady.
Bella asked again, “Why did you suddenly come back this year?”
“Home is where the heart is. After all, I am a son of the Iverson family. I wanted to come
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtback and reclaim a part of what belongs to me,” Christopher said, lowering his eyes. He
played with the delicate teacup with his slender fingertips.
Bella nodded slightly, understanding his meaning.
Children born into wealthy and prestigious families were often caught in a power struggle.
Those who did not navigate the power struggle were exploited and ultimately ended up
with little to show for their privileged backgrounds. After all, a close-knit and happy
prestigious family, like the Thompsons, were rare.
Christopher suddenly asked with a smile, “There’s still some time before dinner. What
would you like to do?”
“Huh?” Caught off guard by the sudden suggestion, Bella was momentarily stunned.
Christopher continued, “I can take you to see the roses under the sunset.” He leaned
towards her slowly, sincerity evident in his eyes. “I have a private rose garden, and we are
having a public exhibition today. Let’s go enjoy the flowers together.”
‘Roses?’ Bella’s heart fluttered, and her eyes sparkled. Roses were her favorite flowers.
She personally maintained a small rose garden in Yara Park’s backyard. She had not taken
care of it herself in the past few years. Mila and the others had taken turns looking after it.
She readily agreed, without hesitation. “Sure! Let’s go for a stroll.”
On the way to the Rose Manor, Bella sat in Christopher’s luxurious Bentley. Given their
parents private friendship and longstanding acquaintance, going in separate cars and
meeting at the destination felt superfluous.
The Bentley glided smoothly ahead, closely trailed by Steven. Steven gripped the steering
wheel tightly.
Bella had just gotten rid of Ryan. Now, Christopher popped out of nowhere. It was evident
that Christopher radiated a higher level of sophistication than the flirtatious Ryan.
In the past, Christopher had discreetly followed Bella to her neighborhood. This time, he
had somehow replaced Bella’s blind date to meet her.
It showed how scheming this man was.
Steven took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering on the Bentley ahead. Having witnessed
how much Jerkface Justin had hurt Bella, Steven swore not to let any man harm her again.
He was determined to do everything within his means to protect her.
The Bentley’s atmosphere was pleasant.
Bella had removed her disguise and had not bothered to wear makeup. Instead, she
showcased her natural beauty. Her long, flowing hair was loosely tied into a simple bun
with a hairpin, dismissing any concerns about maintaining the image of a wealthy young
lady.
Christopher remained composed while stealing a glance at her from the corner of his eye.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHer radiant, flawless face exuded natural beauty and calmness.
He steadied his tumultuous thoughts and asked softly, “Do you remember what you called
me the first time you saw me that night?”
“Huh?” Bella blinked, feeling a bit dazed. “I… Really don’t remember.”
Christopher whispered, “You called me
‘Critter’.”
This man either left Bella embarrassed or at a loss for words.
Christopher explained, “My dad used to scold me that way when he disciplined me. You
overheard it one day and started teasing me like that.”
“We all said the dumbest things when we were kids… I apologize for my childish and rude
behavior back then,” Bella muttered, feeling embarrassed. A hint of blush appeared on her
cheeks.
Christopher said with a playful smile, “It’s okay. If you want to call me that now, you can.”
“Oh
my… What am I? Twelve?” Bella muttered under her breath, feeling a bit awkward. She
waved and said, “Let’s just stick to calling you Christopher. We’re not kids anymore.
Besides, you’re a man of status and have a reputation to uphold. I can’t be disrespectful.”
Christopher smiled gently as he leaned slightly closer to her. His gentle voice was infused
with tenderness as he said, “Sure, whatever makes you happy.”