Chapter 13

Hushed silence enveloped the room as all eyes were fixed on Bellatrix, who currently sat on the floor, drenched in champagne and surrounded by the shattered glass. The scene looked like a scene straight out of a movie. But unfortunately for Bellatrix, this was her reality. Her cheeks burned and she bit hard on her lower lip, forcing herself not to cry as she felt the cold liquid run down her skin, leaving behind a sticky feeling in its wake. The first person to break the silence was Damien. He rushed towards her in the blink of an eye, getting down on one knee and placing his hands on both sides of her shoulders. "Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes scanning her body. Bellatrix, however, didn't answer. She couldn't. She was embarrassed, humiliated and most of all, she wanted to curl into a ball and disappear from the watching eyes. The only thing that was keeping her grounded was the pain that came from digging her nails into her palm. But even that, couldn't drown out the shame she felt. The second voice that broke the silence belonged to Regina. Like the innocent soul and ever caring sister she portrayed herself to be, she rushed towards her, unlike Damien, she did not kneel. Purposely, she stood and looked down at Bellatrix with a mocking glint in her eyes. Yet, when she spoke, her voice was laced with faux concern. "Bella, are you okay? That was really reckless of you. No matter how much you love Mr. Walker, doing something like this...in front of Cillian, your husband...it's a bit too much." The moment those words left Regina's mouth, whispers filled the room once more. "Husband? Is that Mr. Laurent's wife?" Someone asked, voice carrying as much surprise as their widened eyes did. Another was quick to add in. "His wife? I refuse to believe it. Mr. Laurent can never marry such a pathetic looking thing." Those words were all direct hits to Bellatrix's heart. Common whore. Pathetic. How much more did she have to listen to tonight? Unconsciously, she looked in Cillian's direction, the first person who was meant to have come to her. Yet, he stood there, rigid, unshaken and without an ounce of remorse. And to him, that was exactly what he was meant to do, after all, she had brought this situation upon herself. If she hadn't tried protecting that bastard, she wouldn't be in such a situation in the first place. So, she had no right to look at him as if begging for help. Since she had chosen to side with Damien Walker, she should handle this situation on her own! He thought. Seeing as Cillian stared at her with no intent of helping, Bellatrix quietly lowered her head. Suddenly, she felt something warm drape across her shoulders. Glancing up, she saw it was Damien's coat and her brows furrowed in confusion. "Get up. You shouldn't have to stay here." He said as he stood and extended his hand towards her. Bellatrix hesitated for a second, then she took it and allowed him to help her up. However, just as she stood, she stepped on one of the slippery glass and her ankle twisted, making her lose her balance. Thankfully, Damien was quick to catch her. But like an instinctive response, Cillian stepped forward and extended his hand without thinking twice. The moment Regina noticed this, she knew herself into his arms, clenching her side and feigning hurt. "What's wrong?" Cillian immediately questioned, his attention shifting from Bellatrix to Regina. "It hurts..." She whimpered, burying her face in his chest. At the sight of this, Damien frowned. But it wasn't directed at Regina, instead, it was directed at Cillian. "And rumours say you're meant to be a smart man, Mr. Laurent. It seems rumours are indeed, not meant to be trusted. Forget being smart, even an animal knows how to pick its own." He said, his tone carrying a hint of mockery. Cillian's eyes immediately darkened. He was about to give Damien a piece of his mind, but Regina's sudden wince stopped him. "I...it hurts, Cillian. I want to go home." She said, her voice cracking as her face contorted in pain. Cillian stared at her with an unreadable expression, then he sighed and pulled her closer. "Come, let's get you home." Wrapping his hand around her waist, he gently led her towards the exit. Bellatrix, now with a blank expression, watched as they walked away, not sparing her a glance. A subtle ache bloomed within her chest and the moment the pain reached her throat, she couldn't help but grit her teeth. "Let's get you out of here," Damien's voice suddenly sounded from beside her, pulling her out of the painful reverie. She turned to him, and nodded, allowing him to help her out of the hotel. ~•~•~•~ After leaving the event, Damien insisted that she needed to have a change of clothes, as well as treat the wound she had gotten on her shoulder as a result of the broken glass. So, after much hesitation, she finally gave in and allowed him to bring her back to his penthouse. As they rode in the car, she sat still, eyes vacant as her thoughts lingered on the events that had unfolded less than an ago. Cillian had publicly humiliated her and not only that, he had completely ignored her and chose Regina over her, again. That was how little her worth was to him and even though she knew, it did not stop it from hurting. Shortly after, they arrived. Once in his penthouse, a rather tastefully furnished surrounding, if you ask Bellatrix, Damien disappeared for a second and returned with a medical kit, some gauze, a shirt and some comfortable looking joggers. "Sit," He pointed towards a nearby chair. "I'll help you patch up." "I can do it myself," Bellatrix insisted, already reaching for the tools when Damien pulled back. "I insist and besides," Guilt across his expression for a second. "It's my fault that happened. If I hadn't asked you to tag along, none of that would have happened. So please..." He said, his tone laced with guilt and remorse. Hearing this, Bellatrix couldn't bring herself to argue. So, she took a seat. "I'll clean up the wound, then you can change into that." Damien said as he took his seat behind her and began treating the wounds. It was a shallow wound, so all he needed to do was apply some antiseptic and cover it with a gauze. However, in the process of wiping down the surroundings area, his eyes landed on a purplish-blue mark on her neck. A love bite and I rather recent one at that. And even though it wasn't his business, he didn't have to think too far before knowing who the giver was. Shaking his head, he decided to divert his attention. "Have you told him yet...that you're dying?" He asked. "No, I haven't and he doesn't need to know. It's my own problem after all." As she said those words, Damien could only but stare at her with pity. Most wives would want to spend their last days with their husbands, yet, here she was hiding her own illness from him. How pitiful. "Alright, all done. Now go change and I'd drop you off. Though, it's gonna be a shame, I really enjoyed seeing you in that dress." He said with a sigh as he stood up and placed the medical kit back where he had gotten it. The corners of Bellatrix's lips curved up slightly when she heard that. That was the dress she had bought to wear for Cillian. However, the last time she wore it, he had called her fat and compared her to Regina. Although their body shape wasn't far apart—Bellatrix being on the more curvier side—those words made her feel truly fat. Because of that, she had gone on a strict diet that led to an eating disorder. So, to hear someone else compliment her based on that same dress, without pointing out her insecurity, made Bellatrix feel a little bit better. And despite the humiliation she underwent, a smile managed to make its way to the corners of her lips.