Chapter 13

Bellamy was always like this-brutally straightforward, never leaving any room for herself or others. Fraser stared at her cool, pretending-it-doesn't-hurt expression. His eyes darkened, intense and unreadable. He pulled her hard into his arms, then nodded slightly at the people in the hallway without a word, about to leave with her. "Fraser, wait!" Marianne's tone was soft again, but her eyes told a different story as she looked at Bellamy. Like Bellamy was some shameless stray trying to steal her son away. Marianne turned toward her husband. "Arthur, get someone to drive Bellamy home." "Mrs. Branwell, how about letting me decide that?" Bellamy stayed snuggled against Fraser, her smile bright and playful. "I just clocked my supplier upside the head, so that deal's probably down the drain now. No choice-if I want this project wrapped up on time, I've gotta take a shortcut. So I'll just sleep with your son tonight. By morning, I bet the materials problem will magically disappear." Her shameless words dropped like a bomb in front of everyone, clearly meant to provoke. Marianne went pale on the spot. "Enough." Fraser finally broke his silence, voice low and cold. He shoved her head into his chest, shielding her, and turned to Marianne with a guilty expression. "Mrs. Blake, Bellamy's not doing great tonight. I want to take her home and make sure she's okay. I really can't trust anyone else with her." Even with the apology in his voice, his tone left no room for argument. Marianne opened her mouth, about to speak, when Axel stepped out and cut her off. "Mrs. Blake, let it go. You know how Bellamy is-only Fraser can rein her in. If he doesn't deal with her tonight, who knows what chaos she'll stir up in Cavelle City." He then shot Fraser a look and waved frantically: "Go, man. Why are you still here?" Bellamy peeked up from Fraser's embrace, her eyes bright as she spotted him. "Whoa, Axel! I didn't even notice you there! You're back? Haven't seen you in, what, a month? Dang, you got even tanner!" Axel's face darkened instantly-and not because of a tan. Damn it. And now he got why Fraser could put up with her. The way they talk? Total carbon copy. With Axel running distraction, Fraser managed to get Bellamy out, and the rest of the crowd went their own ways too. Thanks to Bellamy, the night hadn't gone smoothly, and Marianne was beyond frustrated. Still, before leaving, she made sure to pull Lydia aside for a quick word of comfort. "Lydia, Fraser's just known Bellamy since they were kids, and he's always treated her like a little sister. Tonight he just got confused for a second. And Bellamy, well... she's just like that. Anyway, I want to say sorry-for his sake. Forget tonight, okay?" Lydia put on a kind, understanding smile. "Mrs. Branwell, no need to apologize on his behalf. Fraser didn't do anything wrong. I've dealt with Bellamy before-I'm not gonna take it personally. Don't worry." But the minute she got into her car, that sweet expression vanished. God, Bellamy was shameless. No class, no upbringing. No wonder the Hawkins family doesn't acknowledge her. Thinking about that arrogant smirk of Bellamy's made her grind her teeth in rage-but then a sly smile crept across her face. Fine, let Bellamy keep running wild. Let's see just how much more of this Fraser can actually tolerate.