Chapter 78 Accident
Bella was nearing the house when she saw that the one waiting outside was Bob instead of Edward. She stepped on the brake so hard that she almost flew from the driver's seat.
Bob immediately ran to the car and tapped on the car's window. "Bella! Bella!"
Although Bella did not want to entertain him, she slightly pulled the window down, just enough for them to hear each other clearly. "What are you doing here?"
"Bella, please let me inside the car. I have something important to tell you."
"No, Bob. I'm going home." Bella put her foot on the gas and began accelerating, but Bob held on to the window frame and would not let go.
Bella did not have the heart to cause danger to other people. And so, she stopped the car abruptly once again, then snapped her head toward Bob.
"If you have something to say, just say it. You don't have to go inside my car."
Once Bella gave him the go signal, Bob did not hesitate to tell her what he had just discovered about Edward and the president's identity.
"He's been lying to you, and I have proof," Bob added.
"Proof?" Bella laughed without humor. "Have you forgotten what happened on my birthday? I'm tired of all your so-called evidence."
"No! Please listen to me!" Bob insisted. "Lanny has the DNA test result in her hand. She took Edward and the president's hair to be tested."
Bella unconsciously rolled her eyes as soon as she heard Lanny's name. For sure, her sister must be up to no good once again. She thought Lanny must have a lot of time on her plate after getting transferred to a branch office. She found another way to ruin her marriage with Edward.
"Okay then. Show me the evidence," Bella simply said.
"I'll call her right away!" Bob frantically said as he pulled out his phone to contact Lanny.
Seizing the opportunity that Bob was preoccupied with other things, Bella stepped on the gas to escape from Bob's obsession.
However, Bob immediately chased right after her and shouted, "Bella! I have a lot of money now! Just leave Edward and start a new life with me in another city!"
Unfazed by Bob's call, Bella closed the car window, not wanting to hear his voice again.
As soon as Bella stopped the car in front of their house, she heard the screeching sound of tires, followed by a loud crash. Her eyes widened, and she quickly looked back, witnessing a hit-and-run incident.
"Bob!" Bella shouted and rushed out. She tried to follow the speeding car with her eyes, but she could only vaguely identify the color.
It was then her eyes wandered toward Bob. Seeing his lifeless body near the bushes and covered in blood, she froze in place.
A gasp escaped between Bella's parted lips as her jaw dropped.
Bob's sudden death gave her a huge mental shock. Her vision became hazy, and the scene before her gradually faded into white light. Her ears echoed the haunting sound she heard earlier, along with the wailing fawn.
In the yard, the fawn kept banging its body against the fence like it was losing itself. And after many attempts, it finally broke free from the barrier and rushed toward the jungle, disappearing from Bella's sight.
Bella wanted to pull it back despite her blurry vision. Before she could take a step, her legs had gotten weak. She slowly felt her body submitting to gravity as darkness swallowed her consciousness.
***
When Bella finally woke up, she found herself cradled in Edward's arms.
"Edward..." Her voice came out hoarse.
"Shhh... I'm here," Edward gently said.
His eyes were red and swollen. It seemed like he had not taken even a wink of sleep.
"Drink first. You must be dehydrated." Edward carefully picked up the glass of water placed on the bedside table.
"T-thank you..." Bella softly said.
Edward helped her sit up to drink water properly. He held Bella tightly in his arms, constantly blaming himself for not protecting her.
Bella noticed the remorse on Edward's face after she drank. She wore a gentle smile and placed a hand on his cheek. "Please don't blame yourself, or I'll be very heartbroken."
After heaving a sigh, Edward licked his lips and rested his forehead against Bella's temple. He did not say anything and just remained in that position to feel her warmth.
"Bob..." Bella spoke again after a few seconds of silence. "Is he d-dead?"
Edward nodded.
Bella bit her lip but could no longer hold back her tears.
Bob was just talking to her before he got run over by a car. It was the first time she had been that close to death, and the feeling sent shivers down her spine.
All those emotions were perceived by Edward. He pulled Bella into his arms again, hugging her tightly in hopes of making her feel secure.
"Don't be afraid...." Edward softly whispered to reassure him. "From now on, I will never allow anything bad to happen to you. I will protect you from any harm that might come your way. I promise you that, Bella."
Although Bella was still disturbed about what she had witnessed, Edward's words of assurance brought her comfort. She had calmed down and eventually fell into slumber.
Edward gently carried her to the bed and covered her with a blanket. He then sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching over her. He could not help but notice the physical changes she had been through.
Bella's originally plump, heart-shaped face had slimmed down. She had lost weight from the constant stress and pressure she felt after marriage.
Edward began to doubt whether he had made the right decision. He wanted to be with her but did not want her to be in this mess. He thought he could protect her with all his strength, power, and wealth, but he kept failing repeatedly.
If he could do it all over again, he would rather be her brother-in-law for the rest of his life, as long as she would be safe.
Feeling the overwhelming emotions rising in his chest, Edward could not help but shed a tear, which he quickly wiped away. He shook his head and collected his thoughts instead of moping like a kid.
It was not the time for regrets. He had to find out if Bob's death was premeditated or an accident, and he would do anything to get to the bottom of that.
***
Throughout the night, Lanny drove aimlessly through the forest.
The suitcase with 200,000 dollars was sitting on the passenger seat, still stained with blood. She found it next to Bob's body after running him over.
After getting the suitcase, Lanny recalled hearing the fawn wailing from Bella's yard. She took a peek to ensure that no one was around, but she was frightened after seeing a figure standing in the yard.
She was not sure if it was Bella or another person. The uncertainty only filled her more with fear and anxiety about getting caught.