Chapter 224: Always Look on the Bright Side

Chapter 224: Chapter 224: Always Look on the Bright Side

And yet, her heart and mind were completely consumed by this man. Even though he had been distant and unpredictable throughout their two years of marriage, she never uttered a single word of complaint.

Knowing he had never held a place for her in his heart, she was still willing to be a moth to a flame—deeply in love, with no regrets. She used to think she could grit her teeth and endure a lifetime of these bland, distant days.

But when she saw him with her own eyes, his attention completely focused on caring for and protecting another woman, the stubborn obsession she clung to suddenly began to crumble.

’Is this life of compromise and sacrifice truly the love I’ve always dreamed of?’

Tristan Forrester’s warm palm gently rested on her smooth forehead, his voice deep.

"Do you want to take your medicine and lie down, or should we get you something to eat first?"

She had just woken from unconsciousness; how could she possibly rest peacefully? All she wanted was to go outside, feel the evening breeze, and dispel the turmoil churning in her heart.

"I’m a little hungry."

Tristan Forrester gazed at her soft and dazed appearance. A faint smile graced his cold, handsome features as he gently helped her up.

"Get dressed and come downstairs. I had a roasted whole lamb prepared especially for you tonight—your favorite."

Bella Thorne unconsciously licked her dry lips as the hunger in her stomach grew more intense. She slowly changed into a long dress and quietly followed beside Tristan Forrester as they walked down the stairs.

On the courtyard lawn, a great bonfire crackled, radiating warmth. A number of people were sitting around it.

Seeing the two of them approach, Shiloh Sloan quickly waved at her with a smile.

"Bonnie, come sit over here."

Bella Thorne subtly pulled her hand free from his grasp and walked slowly to sit down next to Shiloh Sloan.

As soon as she was settled, Shiloh Sloan handed her a glass of warm water and asked with quiet concern.

"Are you feeling any better?"

Bella Thorne nodded lightly. "Much better."

"You really scared us when you were swept away. When we didn’t see you surface for a long time, everyone’s hearts were in their throats. Thankfully, at the critical moment, Mr. Forrester dove into the sea without hesitation to save you. Otherwise, if you’d been carried away by the undercurrent, the consequences would have been unimaginable." Shiloh Sloan’s voice wasn’t loud, but everyone around could hear him clearly.

Elena chuckled and teased, "The way Mr. Forrester looked when he was saving her was certainly the very picture of manliness."

Zane Rivers seized the opportunity to joke, "From the way you say that, does he usually seem otherwise?"

Elena raised a hand to pinch his arm lightly, scolding, "That’s not what I meant at all. Nobody will think you’re mute if you don’t speak."

Zane Rivers took the chance to grab her wrist, leaning down to give it a light peck, his tone playful.

"Are you trying to murder your own dear husband?"

Elena’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson, and she became terribly shy.

’He was always like this, so improper, always spouting nonsense regardless of the occasion.’

Bella Thorne clutched the warm water glass with both hands, her slender knuckles slightly curled. She knew nothing of what had happened after she fell in the water and lost consciousness. She only vaguely remembered waking up briefly at one point, seeing everyone gathered around her, and then completely losing awareness again.

’So it was Tristan Forrester who had jumped into the sea, disregarding everything, to save me.’ But she clearly remembered that before she went under, Justine Hughes had tried to stop him.

The words he had spoken in the room suddenly surfaced in her mind: "Whether or not you get saved is my decision."

She slowly lifted her gaze, her eyes quietly shifting to the man sitting silently not far away, a mixture of complicated feelings stirring in her heart.

She leaned slightly closer to Vesper Grayson, her voice lowered so that only the two of them could hear.

"Sister Vesper, can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Vesper Grayson was holding meat skewers that Jared Hawthorne had given her. Hearing the question, she smiled and handed two skewers to Bella, then deliberately wiped her lips clean before speaking calmly.

"You were swept away by an undercurrent, in mortal danger with your life hanging in the balance. Mr. Forrester completely disregarded his own safety and exhausted all his strength to pull you from the sea. After getting you to shore, he personally performed CPR and literally dragged you back from death’s door."

Bella Thorne stared blankly, then asked in a low voice, "Is that all?"

"Isn’t that enough? Mr. Forrester cares about you far more than you imagine." Vesper Grayson gave a small smile. "Or were you hoping to hear something else?"

Bella Thorne’s gaze dimmed slightly as she said in a low voice, "Before I went under, I saw Miss Hughes stop him..."

"Faced with what happened today, anyone would be worried about the person next to them and try to talk them out of it. The most important thing between a husband and wife is mutual trust."

A faint look of confusion clouded Bella Thorne’s eyes, her thoughts a tangled mess.

"Don’t overthink it. Time will give you the truest answer."

It’s always like this in love. The person who falls first, who reveals their feelings first, is at a disadvantage from the very beginning, and it’s hard not to feel small and timid.

This was especially true for Bella Thorne, who had lost her parents at a young age and was left all alone. She desperately clung to the only warmth and support she had.

The more deeply she loved and cared, the more terrified and insecure she became, afraid that everything she had could vanish in an instant.

She lowered her gaze, taking small sips of the warm water in her cup, her tone tinged with self-deprecation.

"Sister Vesper, maybe he would have saved anyone who fell into the water. For him, it was just a small effort, a responsibility... It was never because he has me in his heart."

Vesper Grayson saw through to the sensitivity and fixation in her heart and sighed helplessly.

"But today, the one in danger happened to be you, and the one he risked his life to save was also only you. In love, the worst thing you can do is get stuck on trivial details. Why not try to look on the bright side of things?"

Bella Thorne pressed her lips together and gave a muffled grunt of acknowledgment.

"I know."

"Come and try this! I picked out the tender lamb chops myself. The texture is amazing!"

Shiloh Sloan walked over quickly with two large plates of fragrant lamb. The rich, mellow aroma of the meat washed over them, whetting everyone’s appetite.

Bella Thorne subconsciously raised her hand to grab a piece, but was gently stopped by Vesper Grayson.

"Lamb is too rich for you right now. You still have a fever, and eating it could easily make your symptoms worse. You absolutely can’t indulge. It would be better to have someone make you a bowl of plain congee."

Bella Thorne silently withdrew her hand, her eyes fixed longingly on the fragrant roasted lamb chops on the plate—crispy on the outside, tender on the inside. A wave of craving washed over her, but she could only suppress it.

Shiloh Sloan couldn’t bear to see her looking so pitiful and wronged.

"Just a couple of small pieces shouldn’t hurt, right?"

Bella Thorne looked at Vesper Grayson, her heart full of hope.

"If you want to delay your recovery and make your illness worse, then by all means, eat whatever you want."

Bella Thorne immediately deflated and obediently gave up the idea. ’Being sick feels awful!’

Shiloh Sloan quickly tried to console her, then turned to have someone in the kitchen prepare some congee.

The gentle evening breeze carried sparks from the fire up toward the starry sky. The central bonfire burned brightly, spreading warmth all around. The golden, glistening roasted whole lamb sizzled as fat dripped from it, and the aroma of various grilled foods filled the air. Everyone sat around chatting idly, their laughter ringing out as they shared recent stories. The atmosphere was lively and warm, full of life and relaxed comfort.

Just then, Elena looked around and asked in confusion.

"Why don’t I see Miss Hughes?"

Everyone looked around, and sure enough, Justine Hughes was nowhere to be seen.

"I didn’t see her earlier either."

Tristan Forrester casually put down the piece of lamb in his hand and spoke calmly.

"I’ll go look for her."

Bella Thorne’s hands tightened into fists as she spoke softly.

"I’ll go with you."

His gaze swept over her already empty bowl of congee, and he gave a slight nod.

"Let’s go."

「In the bedroom.」

Justine Hughes was curled up alone on the sofa. A sharp, bone-piercing pain shot through her chest.

Accompanied by waves of dull, drilling ache, it became difficult for her to even breathe.

She clutched her chest tightly, all the color drained from her face. A fine sheen of cold sweat instantly broke out on her forehead, and the pain caused her entire body to tremble uncontrollably.

’It’s happening again!’

’She’d already lost count of how many times.’

Her gaze fell on her bag on the bed. There were painkillers inside.

’If I can just take the painkillers, I’ll get through this.’

She struggled to her feet, hunching over as she shuffled toward the bed.

A knock sounded at the door.

"Justine, are you in there?"

It was Tristan Forrester’s voice, coming from the other side of the door.