CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Busted

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BELLA'S POV
As I put down her phone, I glanced out at the serene scenery beyond my window, trying to process the whirlwind of media attention I had suddenly found myself in. Just then, my phone rang, and I smiled as I saw Jude's name on the screen.

"Hey, darling" I greeted warmly as I answered the call.

"Hey, princess," Jude replied, his voice filled with concern. "I saw all the buzz about us in the news. How are you holding up?"

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's a bit overwhelming, to be honest. I didn't expect it to blow up like this."

Jude paused for a moment before speaking. "Listen, princess, I wanted to ask you something. With all this attention, do you want to go public about our relationship?"

I took a deep breath, considering his question carefully. "I... I think I need a little time before we go public. It's not that I'm not proud of us, darling. It's just a lot to process right now, and I want to make sure we're ready for whatever comes our way."

"I get it, princess. Take all the time you need. Our relationship is our own, and I want you to feel comfortable every step of the way."

"Thank you, darling," I said gratefully. "I really appreciate your understanding."

We talked for a while longer, reassuring each other and discussing their plans moving forward. Jude promised to support my decision wholeheartedly, no matter how long it took.

A few days later, i was scrolling through social media when I came across a video interview featuring Olivia, the well-known actress who had crossed paths with Jude and I at the park. In the interview, Olivia was asked about her personal life and recent projects, but then the interviewer shifted gears.

"Olivia, there have been rumors circulating about Jude Bellingham being spotted with a certain someone recently. Can you comment on that?" the interviewer asked with a sly smile.

Olivia hesitated for a moment, her expression carefully neutral. "I'm sorry, but I have no comment on my personal life."

I frowned as I watched the video. The interviewer pressed further, but Olivia maintained her silence, leaving the speculation wide open. Comments on the video and across social media platforms began to flood in, with many speculating that Olivia was the mystery woman in the blurred photos with Jude.

Feeling a mixture of frustration and confusion, I decided to call Jude. When he picked up, I wasted no time.

"Jude, have you seen Olivia's interview?" I asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Yeah, I saw it," Jude replied, his tone serious. "I'm sorry about all this, princess Olivia's refusal to comment has only fueled the rumors."

Bella sighed. "It's okay, darling, I understand it's not your fault. But I think it's time we address this publicly. I'm ready now. I don't want our relationship to be a mystery or for you to be dragged into unnecessary gossip."

"Whatever you're comfortable with princess. Let's set the record straight then." He said

The next day, I and Jude decided to make their relationship public. Jude posted pictures of us together with the caption "My princess" and tagged me.

As we navigated through the challenges of newfound public attention, I and Jude leaned on each other, knowing that our love was strong enough to withstand any storm.

As school resumed after the holidays, I found myself adjusting to the routine again, though the recent events with Jude going public had brought a new wave of attention and sometimes unwanted scrutiny. I was in the midst of catching up with friends when I noticed Liam approaching her in the hallway.

"Bella," Liam said tentatively, catching me off guard. "Can we talk?"
Bella hesitated for a moment, surprised by Liam's sudden approach. "Sure, Liam. What's on your mind?"

He glanced around before speaking in a hushed tone. "I've been thinking a lot, especially after everything that's happened. I... I miss you, Bella. I never stopped loving you."

I was surprised and annoyed by Liam's confession.
We had shared a meaningful relationship before, but my heart now belonged to Jude. "Liam, I appreciate you being honest, but I'm with Jude now. We've been through a lot together."

Liam nodded slowly, his expression pained. "I understand, Bella. I just had to tell you how I feel. I hope we can still be friends."

Before I  could respond, the school bell rang, signaling the start of classes. Liam gave me a small smile and walked away, leaving me to process his unexpected confession.

I arrived home one afternoon after school, I showered and was doing some research on my room when Bianca came to meet me. She looked curious and concerned.

"Bella, Liam is in the waiting room, asking for you," Bianca said tentatively, eyeing me with a hint of worry.
I furrowed my brows. "Why is Liam here?"

I hadn't expected Liam to come looking for me especially after our conversation earlier at school. Taking a deep breath,I  decided I needed to face this directly.

"I'll go talk to him and ask him to leave," I said, trying to hide my apprehension.

Walking out to the waiting room, I found Liam waiting nervously. He looked up hopefully as I approached, but I  could see the tension in his stance.

"Liam, what are you doing here?" I  asked, keeping my tone firm but not unkind.
"I had to see you, Bella," Liam started, his voice pleading. "I can't stop thinking about you. I made a mistake letting you go."

I sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and sympathy. "Liam, we talked about this. I'm with Jude now. You need to respect that."

Outside, Jude's car pulled up, he entered the waiting room and his expression darkened as he saw Liam standing too close to me.

"What's going on here?" Jude demanded, his voice low and controlled but tinged with anger.
I turned to Jude, relief flooding through me at his arrival. "Darling, it's okay. Liam was just leaving."

Liam glanced nervously between I and Jude, sensing the tension. "I... I just wanted to talk to Bella."

Jude's jaw tightened as he took a step forward, his protective instincts kicking in. "You heard her. She doesn't want to talk to you. Now leave."

Liam hesitated for a moment longer, then nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But Bella, just know that I still love you."

I nodded, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I've heard you, Liam. But things have changed."

With that, Liam turned and walked away, leaving I  and Jude standing together in the waiting room. Jude turned to me, his eyes softening as he reached out to touch my arm gently.

"Are you okay?" Jude asked, his concern evident.
I nodded, leaning into his touch. "I'm okay now. Thank you for coming."

Jude pulled me  into a comforting embrace, holding me close. "I'm always here for you, princess. You don't have to deal with things like this alone."

I sighed, feeling grateful for Jude's unwavering support. "I know, darling. And I appreciate it more than I can say."

They stood together in silence for a moment, finding solace in each other's presence. Despite the unexpected interruption, I knew that having Jude by my side made all the difference.

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