The Rich and Poor 》 l.t Book 1 ✅

Chapter Twenty-Five

I slowly lifted up my shirt to reveal my scarred and bruised stomach. I started turning so my back would face him so he could look at the bruising there but he'd had enough.

"What the fuck?" he yelled, at no one in particular, but yelled nonetheless and scared me.

"I can explain" Harry piped up, holding his hands in surrender.

"Go on"

-Louis's POV-

When did this happen to her. Her once completely healed cheek now had a big blue bruise there. Her arms were full of cuts, her neck had a bandage on it and her stomach.... So many bruises and cuts. I had a small glimpse of her back, which just seemed to be bruised, but that's still bad.

"Well?" I asked Harry once he hadn't answered me the first time. "Tell me what the fuck happened!" I snapped. 

Bri was shocked and a little scared, Bella had moved next to Bri because I knew she was scared to. Harry on the other hand was calm. He's seen my moments when I snap and go over board on anger, but this time, I have a right. I need to go tell someone what's happening to her, whether she likes it or not. 

"Lou. Stop. Calm down" Harry said calmly to me, holding my shoulders and looking me dead in the eye. I looked up at him, from my glance that was on the door, then to Bella and Bri, who were scared right now, then back to Harry. "The girls are scared and you're not making Bella feel any better, she was nervous about seeing you, so let it go for now" he said in the same tone, just quieter so no one else heard.

I nodded and he let me go, my anger slowly going away. I walked up to the two girls and quietly apologised for my behaviour. They both forgave me, I looked at my feet, feeling stupid. I felt somone's hands on mine before I saw it. When I saw Bella's hands, I looked up to her face. She smiled, a forced smile, but she smiled, proving to me she's staying strong. I reached up to her face and gently touched the bruise, I felt her wince under my touch so I retracted my hand immediately. 

"I'm sorry" I said, loud enough for only her to hear. 

Bri had gone to stand by Harry, I guess he was going over things with her, like my anger.

"It's fine" she shrugged.

"It's not fine. How stupid am I to let you go back there? I should've made you go to Harry or Bri's!"

"Louis, I'm okay. See" she smiled, again forced.

"Stop lying to me!" she flinched and I mentally face palmed. I'm supposed to be the one she comes to for comfort, not the one she runs for the hills for. 

It grew silent and awkward. Harry and Bri stood quietly a few steps away from Bella and I. 

"We're going to wait out here" Harry said as he and Bri went to leave my room. I wanted to protest to let them stay but I couldn't, I needed to talk to Bella. 

I walked off to sit on my bed and she followed. She sat on the bed with her legs crossed facing me, while I sat on the edge facing the wall. We didn't say anything, what could I say? Explain? That'd be a start.

"Look, Bella. I'm sorry. Sometimes when I get angry I get a little over board. I can't help it either" I admitted sadly. That's one of my traits that I hate, my anger. "And about me, in Australia, I'm sorry about everything-"

"Stop talking Lou. God, we said everything's fine, stop  bringing up the past, all I want is you" she said, sounding annoyed at me. "As for your anger, we'll work on that" she smiled leaning in to kiss my cheek, but I didn't want that. I wanted to feel her lips again. Even though our last kiss happened minutes ago, I still needed them.