Crushed Affections (Dominic and Bella)
Chapter 371 Shadowing Me

Bella emphasized again, this time with a sharper edge to her tone, "It has nothing to do with me. If you're curious why she's resigning, ask her."

Ethan seemed to realize he had overstepped. "I'm sorry, that's not what I meant... I just—"

Before he could finish, Bella cut him off. "It's fine. I'd probably think the same way if I were in your shoes. Just let Lana know that if there's no serious personal reason, she doesn't need to quit this job." With that, she walked straight into the locker room, feeling like everything was spiraling out of control lately.

What frustrated her most wasn't Ethan's questions but Lana's behavior. Lana now acted as if she were terrified of Bella, practically hiding every time they crossed paths.

If Bella hadn't already discussed things with Dominic, she might have started to believe he had actually done something to Lana.

Lana had gone from blatantly bullying her to slipping seamlessly into the role of a "victim", soaking up sympathy from everyone around her.

Now, everyone believed Lana was quitting because of pressure from Bella's powerful boyfriend, Dominic. Naturally, Bella had become the target of their resentment.

For a moment, Bella felt completely drained. Even in the cramped confines of the emergency department, she couldn't escape these petty power plays. Where could she possibly replace some peace?

That night, she was on the night shift. Thankfully, there were no patients requiring special attention, so, during the quiet hours, she settled into the break room to rest.

The hospital was eerily silent, with the only sound being the wind howling against the windows. It was like something out of a ghost story. Most people would replace it hard to sleep in such an atmosphere. Despite all her years in this field, for the first time, Bella found herself unable to close her eyes in the early morning hours.

She pulled out her phone, but it was as silent as the world around her. Dominic's name sat quietly in her contact list as if it would never light up again.

After her shift the next morning, Bella walked out of the hospital alone. The early morning fog hung thickly in the air, each breath carrying a cold, damp weight.

The sunlight couldn't penetrate the heavy mist, and shadowy figuresz moved hazily around her. Any hint of spring felt hidden away as if winter were still holding on. Today was

especially cold.

The smell of breakfast from a nearby street vendor caught her attention. She wandered over, found a seat, and ordered some sausages.

As she waited, a dark blue car

passed by. Her eyes instinctively

followed it, and her heart leaped for

a second, only for her to realize it was just a similar car and not Dominic's car.

Sometimes, all it took was a fleeting moment for everything to come rushing back. The more she tried to forget, the more he seemed to shadow her at random moments. How could she erase the mark he'd left on her heart after 20 years?

Her appetite vanished. She set down some money for the breakfast she hadn't touched and left.

Back at her apartment, as she slid her keys into the lock, the door next to hers opened.

Wesley stepped out. Unlike his usual casual style, he was dressed in a suit today. Somehow, his young face carried the look surprisingly well.

For a moment, Bella was struck by a strange resemblance to Dominic-though Wesley's bright hair color broke the illusion.

She wondered if she was just being overly sensitive, but as she looked closer, she realized Wesley and Dominic did share a similar build.

Wesley greeted her casually, though he didn't seem to be in the best mood. "Morning."

She nodded in response, then went inside and closed the door, shutting out the outside world. Inside, the silence felt stifling.

In these quiet moments, she kept replaying the words she said to Dominic the last time they saw each other. Did she go too far?

Her mind swung back and forth, torn between regret and stubbornness. She was unable to replace peace.