Chapter 512

Having lost her mother at a young age, Bella was raised by her three stepmothers. Sasha often took Bella under her wing, introducing her to the thrills of boxing, horseback riding, and archery. Rock climbing, however, held a special place in their bond. Their shared hobby had come in handy today. Bella was about to reach the top when she felt a powerful quake and rumbling. A steady stream of rocks rolled off the cliff. Another landslide was coming. “Seriously, God? I have done a lot of charity, and this is how you repay me?!” As the rock with Bella’s foot on it fell, gravity pulled her down. She had nothing to hold on to. “No… Help!” She widened her eyes in horror as despair consumed her. The fall into the abyss would only crush her. As a tear slipped out, Bella closed her eyes in resignation. “Bella!” A pair of coarse hands grabbed ahold of her wrists and pulled her out of the gates of hell. Feeling an abrupt stop to the free fall, Bella opened her eyes. When she met Justin’s starry eyes, her heartbeat and breathing were on pause for a moment. “Justin…” Was it a dream? Was this all in her head? Her heart thumped right out of her chest. “Don’t be scared. I’m here.” Justin’s intense gaze fell on her discolored face. Fear, dismay, joy, and heartache had a grip on him. Sweating profusely, Justin dug his left fingers into the soil while he clutched her arm shakily. He could feel his body slipping down, so they were not out of the woods yet. There was a possibility they might plunge into their deaths together. “Justin…” Bella called out his name softly as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I don’t want to die…” She had been strong, pushing herself to the limit to climb all the way to the top. However, her feelings got the better of her the moment she saw Justin. It hurt Justin to see Bella, who was normally fearless, cry. “Save the crying for later. Now climb up with everything you have.” Bella sniffled and gritted her teeth to scale her way up as Justin pulled her. “Quick! The cliff is about to collapse!” Distraught, Justin shouted at her. “I know! I’m going as quickly as I can!” Teary-eyed, Bella shouted back. Justin furrowed his brows. She was cuter when she was bawling her eyes out. A flash of lightning bathed Bella’s face in light. Justin felt a sharp pain in his head. Through his blurred vision, he saw an eleven-year-old Bella. A somewhat familiar voice rang in his ear. ——“What’s your name, little girl?” ——“Well, if you don’t tell me, I’ll just call you little girl since you’re so small anyway…” Justin widened his eyes in shock. All he could hear was buzzing in his ear. The dam broke, and forgotten moments flooded back. That little girl, Anna…