When The Love Comes

He whispered, "I'd never keep you waiting."

Blowing her a kiss, I turned to face the man with a face as cold as stone.

... 

Alexander's Pov

"Come on, man, I'm stuck in this condition because of you. Don't I deserve a little fun?" Michael said, his voice laced with sarcasm.

I sighed, feeling the weight of yet another conversation I didn't want to have. "Get to the point, Michael. I've got a lot to deal with—just got out of a long lecture about my supposed wedding."

Michael raised a hand to his forehead, as if I were the most exhausting person he'd ever met. "Poor Bella. She fell in love with a monster who has no intention of marrying her."

His words stung, but I didn't let it show. I silenced him with a glare sharp enough to cut through stone.

Speaking of Bella... I couldn't help but think about her. She'd been nothing but kind to me, yet I'd ignored her because of my grandfather's staged health scare to force me into an absurd arranged marriage. I needed to apologize. I'd been unfair to her.

Michael's voice yanked me out of my thoughts. "You know I used to be a professor at a university in Los Angeles, but because of this injury, I can't continue teaching. My contract with that university is crucial for me, so you'll be taking my place as the substitute professor. You don't have the option to refuse."

His tone was unyielding, and I couldn't ignore the seriousness in his eyes. Ever since he was injured in an assassination attempt meant for me, Michael had refused any form of compensation. No matter what I offered, he wouldn't budge.

"Send me the details of the university and your contract. I'll handle it," I replied, earning an amused clap from him. The man truly knew how to craft the perfect drama to elicit sympathy—even from me.

Before I could delve further into his theatrics, a notification from my assistant interrupted us. It was about a woman named Teal, who had applied to several companies in Los Angeles.

"If any company even considers hiring this girl who can't keep appointments, make sure they go bankrupt," I ordered coldly, not giving it a second thought.

"Who's this woman?" Michael asked, his curiosity evident.

I didn't answer him. Instead, I pulled out another phone, the one I used for personal matters. Bella's name flashed across the screen in several missed calls and messages—all from three days before I'd ignored her at the airport. It had been three weeks since that incident, and I hadn't apologized. I'd assumed she would reach out first, but she hadn't.

"You should talk to Bella," Michael said, his voice calm yet insistent. "I saw something about her in the tabloids a few days ago. They didn't show her face, but I knew it was her. You really went too far this time. A word of advice—don't underestimate her, Alex."

I left the room, pretending not to hear him, my thoughts tangled. It wasn't his words that troubled me—it was the fact that Bella hadn't reached out. She used to update me on her life every hour, even when I didn't respond. Now, silence.

I glanced at Michael's contract and the university's details. "Isn't this the same university where Bella teaches?" I muttered, the realization dawning on me.

Maybe I upset her too much. I should buy her a new car and some jewelry. She loves me—she won't stay mad. Booking a flight to Los Angeles felt like the first step toward fixing everything. Bella had waited long enough. After four years of her patience, I knew I couldn't find anyone like her.

---

Teal's Pov

"Excuse me, sir. I'm here for the interview. I received an email saying I'd been accepted for the job," my voice was confident, but the man's stern expression made my stomach drop.

"Apologies, ma'am, but we've found a candidate more qualified than you. Only the best are hired here. We're sorry," he said, his tone flat and final.

It was the fifth time. Every company I'd applied to had rescinded their offers without explanation. My frustration was boiling over when the secretary at the reception desk approached me, her eyes filled with pity.

"Miss Teal," she whispered, "you're highly qualified, but the man in the wheelchair pressured our boss into rejecting you—or else the company would go bankrupt."

I finally had clarity, but it only deepened my confusion. Who was this man in the wheelchair, and why was he targeting me?

---

Two months passed, and my life at the university found a strange balance. My part-time job at a café wasn't glamorous, but it kept me afloat. I'd even stopped checking Steven's Instagram updates. Self-improvement had become my focus.

"Teal, dear, go ahead to the dorm. I have some errands to run," Ayor said, kissing my cheek before rushing off. I sighed, glancing at my updated class schedule. The university had added a new course, disrupting all my plans.

I barely had time to process it before I heard a voice I never wanted to hear again. "Teal, I didn't expect you to be this cold... and reckless."

It was unmistakably my mother. Her sharp gaze pinned me in place, radiating disapproval. I'd always known she'd track me down eventually, but her timing couldn't have been worse.

Grabbing her hand, I pulled her out of the university building, trying to minimize the scene. "Mom, stop. What are you doing here?" I hissed.

She yanked her hand away, her voice cutting. "I was in a coma for two months, and you didn't even ask about me. What kind of horrible daughter are you?"

Her words froze me. I hadn't expected that. "Mom, stop exaggerating. You're just trying to pressure me. I've told you before—I want to study and become someone valuable. Besides, I've been sending you money for medicine and paying the rent these past months. Everything's under control."

I said loud.