BELLINGHAM'S GIRL (under editing)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: I'm going away

JUDE'S POV

The next morning, I woke up with a heavy heart. I knew I had to find a way to make things right with Bella. After a restless night, I decided to send her a heartfelt message, hoping she would read it and understand my sincerity.

"Good morning, Princess. I know you're hurt, and I'm so sorry for everything that happened. Hazel showing up like that was unexpected, and I didn't handle it well. I promise you, nothing happened between us. Please give me a chance to explain in person. I love you more than anything, and I can't stand the thought of losing you."

I stared at the message for a few moments before hitting send. Then, with a deep sigh, I got dressed and headed out to get Bella's favorite flowers from a local florist. I knew it was a small gesture, but I hoped it would show her how much I cared.

When I arrived at Bella's house, Benson answered the door with a wary expression. "Hey, Jude," he said.

"Hey, Benson. Can you please give these to Bella?" I asked, holding out the bouquet of flowers.

Benson took the flowers, his expression softening slightly. "I'll give them to her, but I can't promise anything," he said.

"Thanks, Benson. And can you please tell her that I'm waiting outside if she wants to talk?" I added.

Benson nodded and went back inside. I waited anxiously by the door, pacing back and forth, my heart pounding in my chest. After what felt like an eternity, Benson returned.

"She said she doesn't want to see you right now," he informed me.

"Okay," I murmured, feeling devastated and guilty. "Thanks, Benson."

As I left Bella's house, my thoughts swirled with regret. I knew I had to keep trying, to show Bella how much she meant to me. Over the next week, I sent her flowers every day, each bouquet accompanied by a heartfelt note.

Each day, I hoped that she would respond, that she would see how much I cared. But the silence was deafening, and my heart ached with each passing day. I knew I had to be patient, to give Bella the time she needed to heal.

On the eighth day, I couldn't take it anymore. I decided to go to Bella's house one last time, hoping that she would be willing to talk. When I arrived, I knocked on the door, and Benson opened it. He looked at me with a mixture of sympathy and resignation.

"Hey, Jude," he said quietly.
"Hey, Benson. Can you please ask Bella if she'll talk to me?" I asked, my voice filled with desperation.

Benson nodded and went upstairs. After a few minutes, he returned, his expression unreadable.

"She said she'll come down," he informed me.
Relief washed over me, and I nodded gratefully. "Thank you, Benson."

BELLA'S POV

I stood at the top of the stairs, clutching the latest bouquet of flowers Jude had sent me. I didn't want to see him, but a part of me knew that I needed to hear him out. Taking a deep breath, I made my way downstairs and opened the door to find Jude standing there, looking remorseful.

"Hey," I said quietly, not meeting his eyes.
"Hey, princess" he replied, his voice full of emotion. "Thank you for coming down."

I nodded, still avoiding his gaze. "What do you want to say, Jude?"

He stepped closer, his expression pleading. "Princess, I'm so sorry for everything that happened. Hazel showing up like that was a complete shock to me. I didn't know how she got my address, and I was just trying to get her home safely. I swear to you, nothing happened. She kissed me, and I pushed her away as soon as I realized what was happening."