A Second Chance
1
Bella sat at the edge of her bed, staring at the wall. The digital clock read 1:43 AM, the numbers pulsing a cold blue in the dark room. The quiet was punctuated by the distant hum of the air conditioner and the occasional clank of a neighbor's window shutter in the wind. Her eyes felt heavy, but sleep remained elusive. Her mind raced with the day's events, the endless paperwork at the office, and the hollowness that waited for her at home.
Her thoughts drifted to James, snoring away in the next room, surrounded by the detritus of his gaming binge. The faint glow from his computer monitor cast eerie shadows on his unshaven face, illuminating the grease stains on his favorite hamburger-stained shirt. His fingers twitched in his sleep, a subconscious echo of the battles he waged in his pixelated world.
With a sigh, she slipped out of bed and tiptoed through the silent house. In the kitchen, she found a half-eaten burger, congealed and forgotten on a plate. The smell of stale meat and onions lingered in the air, a potent reminder of his neglect. Bella tossed the burger into the trash with a grimace, the sound of it hitting the bin too loud in the quiet.
Her hand hovered over the fridge handle before she realized she had no appetite. Instead, she poured herself a glass of water. She took a sip and leaned against the counter, her reflection staring back at her from the kitchen window.
The sight of her own tired eyes and the sadness etched on her face was too much. She missed the days when James would hold her tight and whisper sweet nothings into her ear, when the world outside didn't seem to matter.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the soft creak of the floorboards. She turned to see James, now dressed in his boxers, stumbling into the kitchen. His eyes squinted in the faint light.
"Bella?" he mumbled, his voice thick with sleep. "What's up?"
Her eyes searched his, looking for a flicker of the man she once knew, but all she found was the bleary gaze of a stranger. "Couldn't sleep," she replied, her voice a mere whisper. "Just needed some water."
James yawned and stretched, his eyes finally focusing on the clock. "It's late," he said, his voice a mix of confusion and annoyance. "You should get some rest. Big day tomorrow."
Bella nodded, not bothering to argue. "I know," she said, her voice devoid of emotion. "But I can't help but think about... everything."
James yawned again and shuffled closer. "What's on your mind?" He reached for her, his hand landing awkwardly on her shoulder.
Bella took a deep breath. "Us," she said, the words heavy. "Our marriage... it feels like we're just going through the motions."
James' hand paused mid-air, then slowly dropped to his side. "What do you mean?" he asked, genuine bewilderment in his voice.
"I mean," she began, her voice shaking slightly, "you spend all your time playing games or jerking off to... that stuff. We hardly talk, we hardly touch, and when we do, it feels forced."
"We haven't made love in a year,"
James blinked, his eyes widening in surprise. He opened his mouth to respond, but Bella's words tumbled out before he could form a coherent thought.
"And it's not just that," she continued, the dam of her frustration finally breaking. "You don't even bother to listen to me anymore. My job, my dreams, my life... it's like you're living in some other world and I'm just a character you've forgotten to switch off when you're done with me."
"Bella, please don't be so dramatic,"
James said, his voice filled with annoyance. "You're overreacting."
Bella's eyes flashed with anger, but she bit her tongue. She didn't want to start a fight. Not now. Not when she had to get up in a few hours and pretend that everything was okay.
"Overreacting? You have got to be kidding me, right?"
She turned away from him and took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "I'm not overreacting, James," she said firmly. "I've been trying to tell you for months that I'm not happy. That we're not happy. But you're always too busy with your games or whatever it it that you so in that damned room!"
James's expression shifted from confusion to defensiveness. "You're always working," he retorted. "What do you expect me to do?"
Bella's shoulders slumped. "I expect you to be my partner, James," she said, her voice now laced with exhaustion. "I expect you to care about me, about us."
He scratched his head, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for a response. "I do care," he mumbled, his voice lacking conviction.
"I'm young, but I feel like I'm wasting away!"
Bella's voice cracked, and she felt the burn of unshed tears. "You don't even look at me anymore!"
James shifted uncomfortably, his eyes dropping to the floor. "Look, I know I've been preoccupied," he said, his words trailing off. "But things have been stressful."
Bella's anger simmered. "Stressful? You mean like how I've been carrying this marriage on my own while you play games and ignore me?"
James sighed heavily. "You make it sound like I don't do anything."
Bella's gaze didn't waver. "What do you do, James?" she asked, her voice even. "You come home, you eat, you play games, and you go to bed. And if I'm lucky, you might throw a few words my way."
He stared at her, his eyes reflecting the cold light of the fridge. "You know I love you," he said, but the words sounded hollow.
"But it's not enough," she countered, her voice trembling. "Love isn't enough when it's one-sided. When you don't make any effort to show it." She said walking away.
James followed her into the bedroom, "I don't know what you want from me," he said, his voice rising in frustration. "You're always working, always stressed. What can I do?"
Bella turned to face him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I want you to be present, James," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I want you to look at me and see me, not just as someone who pays the bills and brings home the bacon. I want us to talk, to laugh, to make plans together."
James looked at her, his expression a mix of confusion and irritation. "But I thought you liked your job," he said, his voice tight. "You're always talking about it."
Bella's eyes narrowed. "My job is not the problem! I'm valued there, they see my worth!" she said, her voice firm.
James flopped onto the bed, his arms folded over his chest. "Then what's the issue?" he asked.
"The issue," Bella began, her voice strained, "is that you used to be my everything. Now, you're barely anything. And your business..."
James sat up, his interest piqued. "What about it?"
Bella took a deep breath and turned to face him. "You remember when my boss offered to buy your business two years ago?"
James nodded, his gaze clouding over with a hint of resentment. "Yeah," he said, his tone defensive. "But I didn't want to sell. That was my dream."
"Your dream," Bella echoed, her voice dripping with disbelief. "It was sinking, James. Drowning in debt and bad decisions."
James bristled at her accusation. "It's not like that," he protested, his eyes flashing with defensiveness. "I've got it under control."
But Bella had seen the unpaid bills, the desperate emails, the late-night phone calls he took in the garage. "You've been saying that for months," she said, her voice laced with doubt. "But every time I ask to help, you push me away." She said saying up and going into the bathroom.
James' eyes darkened, and he followed her there, he caged her between the counter and his body. "It's my business," he snapped. "I don't need your help. Or your boss's help. I can handle it." He said his face merely inches from her, she could smell his onion and meat breath.
"I don't interfere in your job, stay the fuck away from mine!" He shook her.
Bella pushed him back, her eyes wide with anger and fear. "Your poor management is going to ruin us, James!" she yelled. "I've been supporting us for months because your business is a sinking ship!"
James' face flushed with rage. "You think you're better than me?" he spat. "With your fancy office job and your high-and-mighty friends?"
Bella stepped back, her heart pounding in her chest. "That's not what I'm saying," she tried to placate him, but the words felt forced.
"You love it there don't you? You love being the center of attention,"
James said, his voice laced with bitterness. "You love being the big shot, while I'm stuck here, trying to keep my dream afloat."
Bella's eyes filled with tears as she looked at him. "Your dream is drowning us, James," she said softly. "I just want us to be happy." James scoffed, as he leaned in closer to her.
"Happy? You think selling out to your boss would make us happy?" His voice was harsh, his breath hot on her face. "You think giving up on what I've worked for would make everything better?"
Bella's eyes searched his, desperation seeping into every word. "It's not about giving up," she said, her voice shaking. "It's about making smart choices. Before it's too late."
James stepped back, his expression a mask of disbelief. "You're taking his side?"
"I'm not taking sides," Bella replied, her voice shaking. "I'm just trying to save us."
James' expression darkened as he paced the bathroom, his bare feet echoing on the cold tiles. "You don't know what you're talking about," he spat. "My business is fine." He said shaking her again, he was holding her tight.
Bella's eyes searched his, desperation seeping into every word. "It's not fine, James," she said, her voice firm despite the tremble in her body. "The debts are piling up, the suppliers are calling, and the rent is due."
James' face contorted with anger. "You don't understand," he said through gritted teeth. "It's just a rough patch. Get it inside your thick skull!"
"You're hurting me, let go!"
Bella's voice was a desperate whisper as she tried to free herself from James' iron grip. He released her, his hands dropping to his sides.
"Bella, I..."
"Don't you dare apologize! You put your hands on me," she sobbed.
James took a step back, his eyes flickering with a mix of anger and guilt.
"I... I didn't mean to," he stammered, "It's just that... I can't lose my business, Bella. It's all I've got."
"What about me?"
Bella's words hung in the air, James stood there silent.
"Im going back to bed," she said scurrying past him. She hid under the covers and waited.
James left the room a few seconds later. Bella cried herself to sleep.
The next morning, Bella's alarm blared, piercing the silence. She rolled over, the reality of her situation crashing down upon her like a heavy weight. She felt sick to her stomach, her body aching from the confrontation with James. She decided to call in sick to work, needing the time to think and process. Her voice cracked as she spoke to her secretary, her words barely audible through the sobs she struggled to hold back.
"I won't be in this morning," she managed to say, her eyes swollen from crying. "But I'll try to make it to the afternoon meeting."
Her secretary's voice on the other end of the line was filled with concern. "Are you okay, Mrs. Hunter?"
Bella took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I'll be fine," she lied, her voice a mere whisper. "It's just a migraine. I'll rest and be there for the meeting."
"Okay, of you say so. Everything will be ready by then,"
Her secretary responded, concern clear in her tone. Bella ended the call and slid her phone back onto the nightstand, her eyes still puffy from the tears she had shed.
Back at the company, Mr. Cullen's ears perked up at the mention of Bella's name in Mrs. Cope's conversation as he passed by. He knew she was usually the first to arrive, so her sudden illness was unlike her. Concern etched on his features, he strode over to Mrs. Cope's desk.
"Everything okay with Mrs. Hunter?" he asked, his Venezuelan accent thick but his words clear.
"She didn't sound good, but she said she would be here for the meeting at one," Mrs. Cope told Mr. Cullen as he approached her desk, her eyes filled with worry.
Mr. Cullen's brow furrowed. "I don't like it," he said in his thick accent. "Bella, she is not one to miss work."
"If she arrives before the meeting tell her to come see me," Mrs. Cope nodded, her hands fluttering to the phone as she promised to relay the message.
Bella arrived two minutes before one, her eyes bloodshot and her makeup a poor attempt to hide the dark circles under her eyes. She had to wear a blazer to cover the bruises in her arms. Her arms hurt and she was very tired. She walked into the office with a forced smile, hoping that no one would noticed she had a rough night. The smell of fresh coffee and the faint hum of the photocopier greeted her as she made her way down the hall, but all she could think about was the image of James, his hands on his cock, watching a video that was a stark reminder of what their marriage had become.
The sight of James's hand wrapped around his cock, his eyes glued to the screen, played on repeat in her mind's eye. The video had been a blur of bodies and moans, a stark contrast to the quiet, lonely nights she endured in their marriage bed. She felt a flicker of disgust and anger, but also a deep sadness. What had happened to them? How much of this could she endure?
The conference room was already filled with her colleagues, their faces a blur as she took her seat. The topic of the meeting was a new marketing campaign, but the words of her husband's indiscretion echoed louder in her mind than any of the PowerPoint slides on the screen. She nodded along, trying to focus on the numbers and strategies being discussed, but her thoughts kept drifting back to the cold, hard reality of their relationship.
The meeting droned on, and Mr. Cullen's gaze kept darting over to her, his concern growing with each passing moment. Finally, he announced the end of the meeting, his eyes never leaving hers. She knew he had noticed something was off.
Mr. Cullen's voice boomed through the hallway, and Bella's heart skipped a beat. She had hoped to avoid his scrutiny, but his concern was palpable, and she knew she couldn't hide forever. She took a deep breath and followed him into his office, her legs feeling like lead. The door clicked shut behind her. Her eyes fixed on her trembling hands.
Mr. Cullen's eyes bore into hers, his expression a mix of concern and irritation. "Bella," he began, his tone firm. "You don't look well. What's going on?"
Bella forced a smile, trying to convince herself it looked genuine. "It's nothing," she said, her voice shaky. "Just a bad night's sleep."
Mr. Cullen leaned forward, his eyes piercing. "You're lying," he said bluntly. "What happened, Mrs. Hunter?" He said as he lead her to the desk area.
Bella's hand flew to her arm instinctively, the bruise that had firmed during the night hurt a lot. She swallowed hard, trying to compose herself. "It's nothing," she repeated, her voice wavering. "Just a little... accident."
Mr. Cullen's eyes narrowed. "Let me see," he said, his voice gentle but insistent.
Bella hesitated, but the concern in his eyes was too much to ignore. She took off her blazer, revealing the purple bruises that marred her upper arm. Mr. Cullen's face contorted in anger.
"What the hell is this?" he demanded, his voice low and dangerous.
Bella's eyes darted to her arm, the bruises a stark reminder of the night before. "It's nothing," she murmured, her voice barely a whisper.
"Who did this to you?"
Mr. Cullen's question was a thunderclap in the quiet office, his rage barely contained. Bella looked down at her arm. She had hoped to hide them, but now they were laid bare, a silent confession of the pain she'd been carrying.
"Mrs. Hunter," Mr. Cullen said, his voice tight. "What happened to you?"
Bella felt the weight of his gaze on her arm, and the dam of her emotions finally broke. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she choked out the words she'd been holding back for so long. "It was James," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "He... we had an argument, and he just... lost control."
Mr. Cullen's eyes darkened with anger, his fists clenching on the desk. "That son of a bitch," he hissed his accent thicker as his anger grew. "Why didn't you tell me?"
Bella's shoulders shook with sobs as she buried her face in her hands. "I didn't want to bother anyone," she managed to say, her voice muffled by her palms. "This has never happened before."
Mr. Cullen's expression grew more severe. "Never?"
Bella nodded, her sobs subsiding to hiccups. "He... he's just been so distant, so... lost in his own world."
Mr. Cullen's expression grew grim as he reached over to pat her hand. "I'm sorry you're going through this," he said, his voice filled with empathy. "But you can't keep this to yourself."
Bella's body trembled with sobs, the weight of her secret finally released. "I know," she whispered. "But what can I do?"
Mr. Cullen leaned back in his chair, his eyes never leaving hers. "You can't let him treat you this way," he said firmly. "Did he say anything today?"
Bella sighed, "No, he was very entertained when I left" she said recalling what she'd seen.
Mr. Cullen's expression grew dark. "I can't believe he'd do this to you," he said, his jaw tightening. "You need to get out of there, Bella. You can't stay with someone who hits you."
"You're going to go home and pack a bag. You're going on a trip. I need you to oversee some business in New York,"
Mr. Cullen said, his voice firm. "I will join you on Monday,"
Bella nodded, the words barely registering through her tears. "I-I don't know what to do," she choked out.
Mr. Cullen's face was a mask of fury. "You don't have to do anything," he said, his voice cold and hard. "I'll deal with James."
Bella nodded, the fear and uncertainty swirling inside her like a tornado. She knew Mr. Cullen wasn't one to be messed with, especially when it came to his employees.
The drive home was a blur of tears and sniffles, her mind racing with thoughts of James and their shattered marriage. She parked the car in the driveway and took a deep breath before stepping inside the house. The silence was deafening as she walked into the bedroom.
She went into the closet and grabbed a suitcase, she began to pack her clothes, her mind racing with thoughts of what to take.
James was in the kitchen, playing his games, when he heard the sound of her heels on the floor. He bolted to the bedroom door, his heart racing.
"Bella?" he called out.
Bella's eyes met James' in the mirror as she zipped up the suitcase. The sight of his reflection brought a fresh wave of anger and sadness. He looked surprised, his eyes wide with confusion.
"What are you doing?" he asked, his voice tentative as he stepped into the room.
Bella didn't look up from her packing. "I'm going away," she said, her voice flat.
James's heart sank as he took in the sight of her suitcase. "What? Why?"
Bella took a deep breath, and walked out of the room.
James's eyes darted around the room, searching for an explanation, a way out. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice cracking. "What's going on, Bella?" James asked, his eyes wide with fear. "Where are you going?"
"I'm going on a business trip, it will give me time to think."
Bella's voice was cold and detached as she walked down the stairs, the suitcase thudding against each step.
"When are you coming back?"
James's voice was strained as he followed her down the stairs, his eyes never leaving the suitcase. Bella paused at the bottom, her hand on the doorknob.
"I don't know, it's going to take a while to do all the work that is needed." She opened the door and stepped out.
"Goodbye, James,"
Bella's voice was a cold whisper as she stepped out of the house, the door clicking shut behind her. James stood there, his heart hammering in his chest. He had never seen her look at him like that before, but what could he say? What could he do?
Double Deceit it's coming, thanks for your patience.