Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)

Felix Quinn was her classmate back in university. Back then, he wasn't the sharp, well-dressed man he was today.

He was always buried in his books, like a poor student. While others in university were falling in love, he only had eyes for his textbooks. Because of his tall stature and striking looks, he received more than a few love letters, but none of them ever succeeded. Bella had a secret she wouldn't share with anyone else. It was that Felix had once pursued her. Of course, she turned him down.

At that time, she wasn't only infatuated with Dominic, but she also maintained a long-term "intimate relationship" with him. She simply couldn't love anyone else.

Meeting Felix again after all these years made her feel a little awkward. If she had known she was going to his home, she would have reconsidered.

Felix, on the other hand, seemed completely at ease. It was as if he had forgotten about the past.

"Yes, I live here now. You wouldn't have guessed, right?" he said.

He continued, explaining, "A friend recommended a piano teacher to me," he explained. When I saw your information, I thought it was just someone with the same name. I didn't expect it to really be you. My sister has a bit of a temper, so I'll be counting on you every weekend from now on."

Faced with Felix's clear gaze, Bella nervously tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, unable to bring herself to refuse. "It's no trouble at all. It's my pleasure."

The piano lessons were scheduled every Saturday and Sunday, three hours each afternoon, at a rate of 500 dollars an hour-this pay was more than enough to keep her motivated. Right now, money was the one thing she couldn't turn down.

After the lesson, Felix offered to drive her home. Before she could politely decline, he found the perfect reason. "It's about to rain soon. You wouldn't want to get caught in it."

He always spoke with a gentle smile, making people feel like they were basking in the warm spring breeze.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

Once in the car, Felix naturally took out his phone. "Let's add each other on WhatsApp. It'll make it easier for me to inform you when I've transferred the payment. Several piano teachers before you were driven away by my sister, but now I can finally relax." Bella didn't hesitate. She exchanged contact with him and thanked him.

Neither of them brought up the past, engaging in light conversation instead. Soon, they arrived at the gates of Miller Manor. As the rain began to fall from the sky, the previous silence was gradually drowned out by the sound of raindrops. "Bella, I want to know... why couldn't we have been together?"

As she was getting out of the car, Bella didn't catch what Felix said. "What did you say?"

Felix smiled. "Nothing. You should go inside before you get wet from the rain."

Standing under the eaves, Bella watched Felix's car disappear into the distance. She hadn't heard him clearly just now, but after thinking about it for a moment, she could guess what he had said.

She could only pretend not to have heard. A person like her wasn't worthy of him.

The rain grew heavier as Bella hurried inside. Her phone buzzed with a Whatsapp notification-it was Felix's payment transfer.

She smiled at it. Feeling it would be rude to stay silent, she politely replied, "The roads are slippery in the rain. Be careful."

Suddenly, she heard footsteps approaching. Startled, she looked up to see Dominic's dark, brooding eyes.

He had already returned, his body still carrying the scent of soap from a fresh shower. He had changed into loose-fitting loungewear, looking a bit more approachable. "Have you eaten?" she instinctively asked.

Dominic didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "Who sent you home?"

She answered honestly, "A classmate from university." She didn't plan on mentioning her part-time job, as it was unnecessary. He would just think she was being pretentious. Suddenly, he grabbed her shoulders, pulling her roughly toward him, his anger barely restrained.

"Besides being a part-time piano teacher, what else have you been doing? Are you that desperate for money? Or are you just trying to use this job to get close to wealthy men? "Bella, am I not enough for you? Do you have to be as cheap as your mother? Is being cheap ingrained in your character?"