To Love is To Let Go

Not long after they returned from the hospital, Seth received a call from the auction house.

When he told Faye, she lit up with excitement and ran back to her room to pick out clothes.

After a moment, he looked over at Bella, sitting quietly on the couch.

He said, "You can come too. Consider it a favor, since you donated blood to Faye."

Bella opened her mouth to refuse, but he was already walking back to his room. He hadn't left her space to answer.

…

At the auction, Seth didn't hesitate. Anything that caught Faye's interest, he raised his paddle and bought.

Bella sat still beside them the entire time, her expression vacant and disinterested. She didn't raise her paddle once.

Then, a hush swept through the room as a new item was brought out—an exquisite jewelry set of rare value. Gasps rippled through the audience.

Faye leaned in, her voice soft and coaxing, "Seth, I want to wear that on our wedding day. It'll be the perfect moment."

Without a second thought, Seth raised his paddle again. The bidding escalated rapidly before he secured it for 17 million dollars.

People around them murmured in awe—calling him a man hopelessly devoted to his fiancée.

Bella didn't so much as glance up, not until the next item was introduced.

"And now, this next piece is of significant historical value—a bullet casing left behind by Captain Cordon Ramsey during a battle ten years ago."

Cordon Ramsey.

Her father's name.

Bella's head snapped up, eyes wide with disbelief. Her gaze shimmered, the corners tinged red. She didn't hesitate—her hand shot up with the paddle.

Seth didn't bid this time. He only looked at her with a complicated expression.

"Forty thousand going once…

"Forty thousand going twice…

"And sold to Bella—"

"Wait!"

Faye, who had shown no interest in the item until then, tugged Seth's arm.

"Seth, I want the bullet casing too. Let me have it?"

Maybe he knew what it meant to Bella. Maybe that's why he hesitated.

But when he saw the pleading look in Faye's eyes, he turned to Bella, his tone laced with compromise.

"Bella, let it go. I'll buy you anything else you want. But this—this one's for Faye."

A slow sorrow washed over Bella's face. She said nothing. Just lifted her paddle again, stubborn and silent.

Seth's eyes darkened, like something in him had made up its mind. He raised his hand, and gestured toward the auctioneer—three fingers.

"30 million!" someone gasped.

"God… he's serious. Truly a simp for his girl."

The buzz around the room grew louder, but Bella's face grew even paler.

He knew what that casing meant to her. And still—

Her eyes dimmed completely. She nodded with tears in her eyes. "Alright."

She let go of the paddle.

And with it, she let go of all the years she had held onto Seth.

Without another glance, she bent down, picked up her bag, and walked out of the hall. Seth stared after her, stunned.

A message popped up on her phone—it was a flight confirmation for tomorrow at 6 p.m. It was also the day of her kidney donation.

Bella checked the time and exhaled, a quiet, private relief.

Just one more day, and she'd be gone.

Back at the villa, she packed quickly. Strangely, even though she had lived there for more than ten years, her belongings didn't take up much space. Less, even, than Faye's.

She had just zipped up her suitcase when the door flew open with a violent kick.

Seth stood there, his expression thunderous. The air around him was heavy and suffocating.

His eyes were sharp, cold as a blade.

"Bella," he snapped, "what the hell have you become? Just to get what you want, you'd stoop so low as to steal?"

She froze, utterly bewildered.

Before she could speak, he cut her off.

"I know that bullet casing was your father's. I was going to give it to you after Faye got bored with it. But now? You've let me down."

His fury consumed him. His voice trembled from rage.

"You turned out like this because I failed to teach you right. But I owe your parents. I owe them the truth of raising you properly."

His anger overtook him. He raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

Her head turned from the force, the sting blooming across her cheek in the shape of his palm.

She stared ahead, dazed, lips parted in disbelief.

All these years, this was the first time he had ever struck her—and it was for something she hadn't done.

As soon as he lowered his hand, his phone rang.

"Hello, is this Faye Walter's family member? She's in the ER right now. Please come immediately."