My Love Burns for Anyone Worth It novel Chapter 8

**Title: Vows Became Blame by Mark Twain**

**Chapter 8**

A tempest of anger and betrayal churned violently within Bella, a mix that felt almost too heavy to bear. Standing next to Tessa, she felt like a mere shadow—insignificant in the eyes of both Sebastian and Ronald.

“Of course, Tessa is the sweet, innocent one,” Bella thought bitterly. “And here I am, the vicious villain. I only almost faced assault, so how could that ever compare to her plight? My reporting of the crime nearly ruined her reputation and future.”

The bitterness twisted deeper in her gut. “I should never have gone to the police. Clearly, my humiliation, my near-violation, pales in comparison to her tears. I deserved this, didn’t I? I should have just accepted my fate.”

For the first time, Sebastian and Ronald witnessed a side of Bella they had never seen before—raw, unfiltered fury mixed with an overwhelming sense of despair. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, yet she willed herself to keep them at bay, refusing to let a single drop betray her inner turmoil.

Their hearts ached as they recalled the sight of her from the previous day, bloodied and broken. They opened their mouths to speak, to offer comfort, but Bella had already turned away, her back a wall they could not breach.

As soon as she faced away from them, the dam broke. Tears streamed down her cheeks, hot and unrelenting.

“Everything is fine,” she whispered to herself, trying to convince her aching heart. “Soon, it will all be over. Soon, I won’t have to see any of them again.”

Whether it was the echo of her last phone call that night—filled with desperation that shook them to their core—or Tessa’s relentless attempts to keep them tethered to her, the days that followed saw Sebastian and Ronald showering Bella with gifts and apologies.

But Bella remained resolute, never once opening her door. She was too busy plotting her escape, preparing to sell the old house that had become a prison of memories.

She had made up her mind: she would leave for Juville and never look back.

Given the prime location of the house, it took merely five days for an agent to arrive with a buyer.

“Ms. Shaw,” the agent began, his voice smooth yet slightly hesitant, “I have a client who is very interested in your property and is willing to pay above the market value. However, there is a rather unusual condition; they intend to burn it down as part of a memorial for a deceased family member—a symbolic farewell. Would that be an issue for you?”

Bella paused for a moment, contemplating the implications. “I don’t mind,” she replied, shaking her head firmly. The thought of returning to the house was unbearable, and whether it was reduced to ashes or left standing made no difference to her.

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