Chapter 85 Strange attitude
Edward arrived in Los Angeles that evening.
He came home and saw Bella and her parents sitting on the couch watching television while they talked and laughed.
The sound of the door opening grabbed everyone's attention.
Bella was happy to see Edward.
"Hi! Honey, you're back. How's your new job going?" she asked.
"Things are going well. I completed the introduction procedure today and can officially join next week." Edward said with a faint smile on his face.
"Wow! So soon!" Bella exclaimed, but soon her face shrouded with worry, "But your leg...it's ok?"
"Don't worry. My leg is fine. It's recovering faster than the doctor expected. I can walk without the crutches now. Do you guys want to see it?"
"Sure." They all said in unison, with anticipation in their eyes.
Edward threw away his crutches and walked around the couch slowly but steadily.
"See? I've recovered!"
Bella and her parents all applauded him.
Bella had happy tears in her eyes.
She stood up and jumped into Edward's arms. "I'm so happy for you."
The bitter couple finally had some moments of happiness.
The Whites looked at each other and embraced. They were sincerely happy for their daughter and son-in-law.
To celebrate Edward joining the new job, Mr. and Mrs. White volunteered to cook a celebration dinner for all of them.
Everyone had just settled in for dinner when Mr. White's cell phone rang. He stepped aside to answer the phone and came back with a grim face.
"What's wrong, dad?" Bella asked worriedly.
"It's Lanny. She had a miscarriage."
"What?!" Mrs. White stood up from her chair and asked anxiously, "What's going on?"
"I'm not sure. She's in Santa Barbara. We have to go there to take care of her." Mr. White replied.
Mr. and Mrs. White left hurriedly and did not even say goodbye to Bella.
Bella gazed at the table full of food with a sullen look on her face.
Edward came up behind her and snaked his arms around her shoulders. "You look depressed. What's the matter?"
Bella placed her hands on his arms and whispered, "I was so happy today. They were with me all day. But one phone call from Lanny and they left just like that. I'm jealous."
"I understand, but -" Edward was about to reassure her, but she interrupted him.
"I know Lanny had a miscarriage, and she's miserable. But I just can't help feeling sad. I had a miscarriage two months ago. It was my first child, and I was distraught," her voice gradually choked. "But no one cared about me. David cursed me and broke up with me. Lanny provoked me and my parents ignored me." Bella heaved a sigh and propped her head on her hands.
"You think it's unfair, don't you?"
"Yes. I've always felt it was unfair. I understand that in the werewolf world, there is a hierarchy, and the winner is the king and the loser is the knave. Our natural strength determines our rank in this society. But the way werewolves survive has transformed. Our ancestors lived on hunting. But in our generation, many werewolves get an education and learn skills. They go to the human world to make a fortune."
Her voice choked more and more as she continued. "The educated ones challenged the traditional power-only theory. Even though I have been weak since birth, I am smart and capable enough to gain recognition in the workplace, and they should no longer belittle me for being born without a wolf."
Edward stroked Bella's hair and said patiently, soothing her, "You are right. I can understand you. Although they try their best to make up for their mistakes, we can't ask them to be indifferent to Lanny immediately. That would be too inhuman. Give them a little more time, okay? At least you guys had a good time today."
Bella nodded. "I should have thought of something happy. Jenny and Kelvin miss me, and I want to go back to work tomorrow."
"But I'm worried about your health and emotions."
"No need to worry. I'm fine now. Didn't we plan to go on a trip to Hawaii? I need to work more and save up more money. After the doctor's appointment, the savings are almost gone." Bella said with a pout.
"That's fine with me. Let's eat first."
Bella was only pretending to be strong. Although she rarely panicked and felt anxious during those days, nightmares plagued her every night. She suffered from a sleeping disorder.
Every night as she closed her eyes, unpleasant memories filled her head, from being bullied by Lanny as a child and neglected by her parents to being deceived by David and pestered by Bob. Those unpleasant memories gave rise to various negative emotions that sometimes made her suffer. Sometimes she burned with anger, and sometimes she cried. She struggled with those emotions each night for hours before she could sleep.
The following day, Bella woke up with a nightmare again.
She was sweating and looked pale. To make herself look better, she put on makeup and used mascara to make her tired eyes look more luminous. Her bright lipstick and blush made her look healthier.
Looking at her glowing self in the mirror, she promised to fight back and take her work seriously.
Bella walked into the Skytel building and greeted her colleagues warmly. It surprised her that none of them responded to her greetings.
'It's okay; maybe they're busy.' She reassured herself.
She stepped into the elevator and pressed the button for the respective floor she was supposed to go on.
A strange young man walked in as the elevator door was about to close.
"Hi! I'm the new marketing employee, Carl. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too. I'm the President's secretary. My name is Bella."
Carl gave a surprised look. "So you're Bella? I've heard of you."
"Heard what?" Bella looked at him suspiciously.
"Nothing," he giggled and scratched his head. "Oh, I'm here, bye."
He stepped out of the elevator when it stopped on the floor that he wanted to go on. Bella looked at his departing back and felt confused.
Her colleagues' attitude towards her seemed to have changed after she returned.