Chapter 81 The Curse
As Edward had booked an appointment with a psychiatrist for 10 o'clock that morning, he knocked on Bella's door at sharp eight.
"Bella, wake up. We have an appointment with the doctor."
"Honey, I don't want to go," Bella said apologetically as she opened the door.
"Well, if you don't want to go today, how about I make an appointment for tomorrow?" Edward asked her.
Bella shook her head. "No, I'm just scared to drive."
The thought of Edward thinking of her as a coward made her feel ashamed and she lowered her head.
"We won't drive. I've already called a car and it will arrive in twenty minutes."
Edward raised her chin with his fingers and softly kissed her.
"If you feel scared, you have me to rely on." Edward turned around and went into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Bella was lost in his touch and stood there for a long time. She bit her lip, which still had Edward's smell on it, and her face turned red as an apple.
It was strange that she could not help but mutter inwardly. It was not the first time she to be intimate with a man. She had been in two or three relationships even before her marriage, and she had been in a marriage with David for five years.
Even so, every intimate moment with Edward made her heart race. She felt like she was a high school student, being shy in puppy love.
'It must be because Edward is so handsome.' That was the only explanation she had.
Bella quickly did her morning routine and got ready. Edward held her hand as they walked out of the house.
Edward noticed that Bella's palms were sweaty.
"Take it easy, baby." He said. His calm voice soothed her nerves.
"I'm okay." She told him.
Her face was pale as her legs shook, and her heart was pounding hard.
It was the first time she had left the house since she had fainted the other night.
The moment she stepped outside, she smelled blood, making her want to vomit.
There was a cab already waiting outside the courtyard.
Edward opened the car door and bent down to greet her as she got in. "Please get in, my -"
"Stop acting. The driver is watching." Bella laughed at his pompous behavior.
The car drove down the road with the jungle on both sides and flocks of geese flying overhead.
Bella slid down the windowpane to let the fresh air in. Nature's mild, muddy scent energized her and swept away from her fatigue.
Edward felt relieved and smiled when he noticed she looked much better than before.
"You like nature, don't you?" he asked.
Bella nodded. When she was a child, she used to live in the isolated wilderness with the other werewolves.
She loved being close to nature. She would have been happier if the other werewolves had not bullied her because she was born without a wolf.
"When we earn enough money, let's go back to the wild." Edward gazed at the beautiful view of her side face, filling his heart with love.
He had all the plans ready. Once the disputes between him and the Garcia family were settled, he would give up his assets in the human world and take her to live the primitive life of the werewolf pack.
"When are we going to save enough money? It costs money to go to a psychiatrist. It costs money to pay the rent. And it costs money to take a taxi, too." Bella sighed.
"Don't worry. Dr. Leonard diagnosed my leg and said it would take only ten more days to recover. One of my friends has reserved a position for me for a good salary. I will join soon." Edward tried to reassure her.
Both laughed and joked on the way, lightening the atmosphere.
After an hour, they arrived at the San Diego Mental Health Center.
The hospital was on a hillside, and quietness surrounded the area, giving it a peaceful vibe.
Bella looked at the white facade of the hospital and felt a little dizzy. Tightly holding onto Edward's hand, she followed him into the hospital.
On the first floor, a front desk nurse checked their appointment information and directed them to the third-floor consultation room.
They climbed the stairs to the third floor through the long hallway. Bella noticed many photos were hanging in the hallway.
The photos on the wall included pictures of doctors and patients. Some images were of patients sharing their illness and treatment experiences.
The patients' smiling faces in the photos ignited hope in her heart.
'I'm going to be okay.' She told herself.
Soon, they reached the consultation room. There was a nameplate with Dr. Lawrence written on the door. Next to the nameplate was a sign with 'Patients Only' written on it.
Bella turned around to look at Edward. She met his worried eyes. Bella squeezed his hand and reassured him. "I can go in by myself, don't worry. You can wait for me outside."
She knocked on the door and waited. After getting a response from Dr. Lawrence, she pushed the door open and walked in.
Dr. Lawrence was a woman in her forties with a long narrow face, thin lips, and a face with a severe expression when she was not talking.
"Hello, have a seat," Dr. Lawrence smiled and gestured for Bella to take a seat.
"May I ask if you are Ms. Bella?" Dr. Lawrence's voice was pleasant and Bella felt relaxed.
"Yes, thank you, Dr. Lawrence."
"You're welcome." Dr. Lawrence replied politely. "May I ask you a few questions?"
Bella nodded, "Sure."
"Well, can you tell me why you came here and what bothers you?"
After hearing those questions, Bella's heart started beating faster and she felt anxious. Dr. Lawrence noticed all of that.
"There are many ways you can tell it. Such as telling a story or drawing a picture without writing the names of real people and places." Dr. Lawrence handed Bella a piece of paper, a pencil, and a tray of watercolors. "Take your time and just think that I don't exist."
Bella picked up the pen and watercolor and started drawing on the paper. After fifteen minutes, she finished a painting.
"I'm done painting." She handed the painting to Dr. Lawrence.
"Okay, honey."
The painting had a house with a road in front of it and a man lying on the side of the road with a pool of blood beside him. A woman was standing in front of the house, screaming painfully as she saw the scene.
Just looking at the picture, Dr. Lawrence felt pain.
"Dear. Can you explain the painting in a story without substituting real life?"
After thinking for a while, Bella explained the painting to Dr. Lawrence.
As Dr. Lawrence had expected, the woman in the painting cared about the house and not the man on the floor.
"The woman and the man are not related, are they?"
"Yes," Bella's eyes slacked and her thoughts drifted back to the night of the incident.
"Then why was the woman in so much pain?" Dr. Lawrence pressed.
"Because he had been trying to destroy her family just before the car hit him. The woman had cursed him earlier and he died soon. The curse comes true."
The thought that she was Bob's killer made Bella feel despaired.