Chapter 2: You Are Such a Jerk

Bella woke up, totally dazed.

The room was toasty, like someone cranked up the heater.

Her left hand was hooked up to an IV, and one of the three medicine bottles by the bed was already empty.

The nasty wounds on her calf and left arm, thanks to that jerk, were actually bandaged up.

Her lower abdomen didn't hurt anymore; it felt kinda cool.

That jerk's violent ways had given her an infection, no doubt.

"What the...?"

Did that jerk turn on the heater?

Did he even get a doctor?

Where'd he get the cash?

Benedict strolled in from outside, rocking a white shirt and black pants, standing tall.

His usually fierce face looked surprisingly calm.

"Aren't you gonna gamble? Aren't you gonna bet the house, me, and Susie?"

Her face, now a bit rosy, was streaked with tears, which tore Benedict up inside.

Bella was as stunning as his fiancée Camilla, looking all pitiful and delicate.

Oh well, this rebirth wasn't a total loss.

Plus, he could still find a way to look for Camilla.

"Bella."

It felt weird calling her that.

Before, this jerk used to call her all sorts of nasty names.

"You're overthinking. I went to get you some meds. The wounds are all treated. Your body's cleaned and medicated. You should feel a lot better by tomorrow."

His gentle and calm words felt so unreal to Bella.

"Where'd you get the money?"

"No money needed."

"Are you still you?"

"Well..." Benedict smiled gently, "I guess so!"

Bella looked him up and down, feeling a bit thrown off. This wasn't like him.

Was he trying some new trick for money?

Was he switching to a gentle tactic instead of beating and violent sex?

"If you want money, there's none left."

"If you want the house, take the deed yourself! I'll move to my sister's tomorrow; Susie needs me there."

"I'm begging you, take the deed and don't bet me and Susie anymore. Just be a decent person!"

"Susie is so small and pitiful. You've beaten her so much she doesn't even recognize you anymore. She hates you. Can you be a good father?"

"Aren't you good at driving? Get a job and work properly."

"If you change, I'll pray to God every day."

Her tears flowed endlessly, a desperate plea.

Her biggest wish was for Benedict to stop gambling, for Susie to have a complete home. Even if she had to support him, it would be fine.

Over the years, he had lost so much money. Although most of it wasn't hers, it still pained her to think about it.

A wealthy family was ruined by him.

Benedict came to the bedside and changed the medicine bottle.

He picked up a tissue and gently wiped her tears.

In this tender moment, he thought of how he treated Camilla in his past life and couldn't help but smile faintly.

"Take good care of your body, don't think about anything else."

"What this family lost will come back."

"By the way, let me formally introduce myself. I'm Benedict Capulet."

Bella thought: Has the jerk gone mad? Gotten a mental illness? Reintroduce yourself? I'd remember you even if you turned to ashes!

"To me, having a home, a wife, and a child is the best. Please believe me."

"In the past... it was my fault. It won't happen again."

"If you want a divorce, I agree. I won't threaten to kill you, Susie, and your family anymore. But at least wait until I solve all your problems."

"If you don't want a divorce, that's fine too. I want my wife to be the most beautiful goddess. I want my daughter to be the happiest little girl in the world."

With that, Benedict got up and left.

Bella looked distressed. His words sounded better than a song!

The warm room, the house now had gas, and hot water could be heated.

He administered her IV, applied her medicine, her body felt comfortable as if healing, and his tender words.

Benedict, who dropped out of high school and was pretty much useless except for driving, actually knew medicine?

"Oh my God! Is this for real?"

Bella pinched her arm hard. Ouch! It hurt!

This wasn't a dream.

Had he really changed his personality?

No way.

Bella remembered him shamelessly saying: "A leopard can't change its spots."

God, what is he up to?

Bella was freaked out and uneasy.

Under the influence of the medicine, she fell into a deep sleep again.

When she woke up again, the needle was already out.

She didn't feel any pain.

The room was warm.

The light was dim, and the old glass windows were wiped clean.

The shabby room was super tidy.

She lifted the quilt, ah!

She was wearing a new pink nightgown, brand new, washed, and probably dried on the radiator?

She got out of bed, and the new plush winter slippers on the floor were super comfy.

She went to the bathroom, and the old white tiles on the walls were clean and shiny.

The toothpaste and toothbrush were neatly placed.

The towel looked like it had been ironed.

"He..." Bella was totally puzzled.

In the past, the better he behaved, the more he took from her. This time...

She couldn't help but collapse, despairing, wanting to cry.

After using the toilet, she found that there were even women's wipes placed in a prominent position.

He seemed like a considerate man now.

She came out to the living room and saw that the windows were bright and clean, spotless.

Everything was in order.

Susie's favorite little white bear doll, which used to be dirty, was now super clean.

It was placed on the shabby sofa, with its big black eyes.

This looked like someone else's home, no, even someone else's home wasn't this tidy.

This made her feel a bit better.

From the kitchen came the smell of fried eggs.

On the clean and shiny old dining table, a glass of hot milk was steaming.

In the plate with a chipped edge, the golden-green sandwich looked and smelled delicious.

Bella was completely stunned.

Benedict, who always had everything done for him, could make breakfast?

Where did he get the money to buy things?

What did he do last night?

Gamble? He had no capital.

Steal? Or rob?

At that moment, there was a knock on the door.

No, someone was angrily banging on the door.

"Coming, coming." Bella hurried to open the door.

The fat female owner of The Poker House downstairs, Elise Baker, glared at her and said viciously, "Hurry up and pay back that hundred dollars! Plus twenty dollars interest, a total of one hundred and forty dollars!"

"Ms. Baker, I have no money left. Can you give me a few more days? I'm going to work today." Bella said, extremely embarrassed, lowering her voice.

"No more extensions! You've been delaying for half a year! If it weren't for Susie being sick, would I have lent you money?"

"I told you long ago, don't live with that loser. So many people want to marry you and give you a good life, but you didn't listen. You're really cheap!"

"If you don't pay back the money this morning, don't even think about going to work!"

Bella's tears flowed as she apologized.

"Ms. Baker, you're a good person, please don't make it hard for me, I'm begging you."

"If I don't go to work, I'll be fined sixty dollars for absenteeism!"

"Tomorrow, Susie's preschool tuition is due, and I have to pay for living expenses and uniforms. I also need to prepare for my sister's winter tutoring fees. I really..."

Elise sneered, "Stop pretending to be pitiful! Even if you have to become a prostitute today, you have to pay me back. I'm not someone to mess with around here!"