Chapter 212

The cold wind swirled dead leaves at the neighborhood entrance.

Bella Quinn tightened her down jacket, hiding behind a plane tree. Her fingers unconsciously twisted the fabric as she stared at the apartment building exit.

Susan Thompson froze mid-step when she emerged carrying shopping bags.

She spotted the familiar figure behind the tree.

Tears instantly spilled from her eyes.

"Bella?"

Susan couldn't believe what she saw. Countless nights she'd dreamed of Bella smiling at her by the sea, only to wake to an empty pillow.

Her nails dug into her palms. The pain confirmed this wasn't a dream.

"Bella!" She stumbled forward.

The figure flinched, hastily covering her face to leave.

Susan grabbed her wrist.

"It's really you!" Susan's fingers trembled. "I knew you were alive!"

The body beneath the jacket felt frighteningly thin. Bella kept her head down, red-rimmed eyes visible above the mask.

"Susan..." She finally choked out, embracing her friend. "I'm back."

They clung to each other in the bitter wind.

"Where have you been? Why are you so thin?" Susan cupped Bella's face, noticing her evasive gaze.

Bella adjusted her mask edge. "Fishermen saved me. Susan, I divorced Simon Finch."

She forced a light laugh. "He's hospitalized now. Finally came to his senses."

Susan noticed her white-knuckled grip on the mask straps.

"Let me see your face." Susan reached suddenly.

Bella jerked back—too late.

As the mask slipped, Susan gasped.

Two grotesque scars crisscrossed her face like hideous centipedes.

"Who did this?!" Susan's voice shook. "Was it Michelle Thompson and Nicole Capra?"

Bella lowered her lashes, shadows falling across the scars.

"It's over." She whispered. "At least I survived."

Susan bit her lip hard to stifle sobs. She remembered Bella's former beauty—those crescent-moon eyes when she smiled.

"They'll pay." Susan enunciated each word.

Bella shook her head. "I'm fine now. Have work, a place—"

"Come home." Susan interrupted. "Daniel asks about you daily."

At Daniel's mention, Bella's eyes flickered before dimming. "Looking like this—"

"You'll always be our Bella." Susan gripped her hands.

Suddenly, an enraged voice exploded:

"Bella Quinn! You're alive after all!"

Bruce Bowman stormed over, eyes blazing. "Michelle enters the hospital and you appear—your doing?"

Susan shielded Bella. "Get lost!"

Bruce's gaze landed on Bella's face. His pupils contracted violently.

The face that once captivated him now bore horrific scars.