Stop Pretending You Don't Love Me

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Married to Caleb Lewis for three years, I'm the Mrs. Lewis everyone envies, yet a lonely woman guarding an empty home.

Caleb Lewis is the prince of J City, wielding power like flipping clouds and rain; I'm just his nominal wife.

The reason is simplehis heart belongs to his first love, Ruby Shaw.

At tonight's business dinner party, amid the scent of perfume, shifting shadows, and clinking glasses, I linked my arm through his, playing the part of the loving wife.

"Caleb, Bella looks stunning tonight." The partner's boss smiled and complimented.

Caleb Lewis gave a faint "hmm," but his gaze swept past the crowd and landed on Ruby Shaw nearby.

My fingertips were cold, but my face still wore a composed smile.

"Stop pretending. Aren't you tired?" Back in the lounge, he pulled his arm away, his tone distant.

"Not tired. This is what Mrs. Lewis is supposed to do." I took off my pearl earrings, my voice steady.

He didn't say another word and turned to leave.

Cradling the cold glass of water, I suddenly felt like stepping out onto the balcony for some fresh air.

Just as I rounded the corner, I caught Ruby's voice.

"Caleb, when are you finally going to be honest with Bella? What are we supposed to be to each other?"

"The timing isn't right yet." Caleb's voice was noticeably deeper than usual.

"Timing? I've been waiting for three years! You clearly don't love her, so why haven't you divorced her? "Ruby's voice was trembling with tears.

I held my breath, my heart twisting as if gripped by an invisible hand.

"Don't love?" Caleb scoffed, "Ruby, there are some things you just don't understand."

"I don't understand? All I know is you keep her close but never even touch her! Is that what you call 'not understanding'?"

"She's not feeling well, I don't want to force her."

"What an excuse! Caleb Lewis, are you falling for her?" Ruby Shaw raised her voice.

The air fell silent for a few seconds, then I heard Caleb's voice, carrying a tenderness even he didn't realize he had.

"She's different."

My knees went weak, and I almost crashed into the wall.

He says I'm different? Then what about these three years of neglect?

Back in the bedroom, I changed into a silk nightgown.

Moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window, spilling onto the floor and lighting up his cold profile.

I walked over slowly and gently wrapped my arms around his waist.

His body tensed, and he suddenly spun around, pushing me away.

"Bella Scott, what are you doing?" His eyes were sharp, unmistakably filled with resistance.

"I'm your wife." I looked up at him, my eyes stinging with tears.

"Stop it." He turned his face away. "I'm going to sleep in the guest room."

The moment the door shut, my tears finally fell.

Different? So this is what 'different' treatment really feels like.

Early the next morning, while organizing his study files, I accidentally knocked over the celadon vase on the bookshelf.

The bottle didn't break but revealed a hidden door behind it.

I froze for a moment, then, as if compelled by some force, pushed it open.

It was small inside, but packed with stuff.

An old hairpin I wore in high school, a professional book covered in my college notes, and even a doodle I did on my birthday last year.

The most noticeable thing was the metal box on the deskfilled with love letters, all written in Caleb Lewis's handwriting.

"Today Bella Scott wore a white dress, like a little gardenia."

"She flunked her math test again and cried on the desk. I really wanted to go over and hug her."

"I'm going to marry her, no matter what it takes."

The handwriting shifts from awkward to mature, spanning a full eight years.

I crouched on the floor, tears falling onto the love letter, smudging the ink.

He obviously cares about me so muchso why does he pretend to be cold? Why make me guard this lifeless shell of a marriage?

"What are you doing here?" Caleb Lewis's voice came from behind.

I stood up, clutching a love letter in my hand, and turned to look at him.

"What is all this?" My voice trembled.

His face suddenly changed; he hurried over, trying to take the things away.

"Who let you in?"

"Caleb Lewis, what do you think I am?" I stepped back, "A toy you call when you want and throw away when you don't? Or just some decoration to pass the time?"

"Bella Scott, let me explain." He reached out to touch me.

I dodged his hand, shaking my head, "No need to explain."

I'm tiredreally tired.

All the years of suspicion, hurt, and hope suddenly turned into a dull blade the moment I laid eyes on those love letters, slicing through my heart over and over.

"Caleb Lewis, let's get a divorce."

He froze, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"What did you say?"

"I said, divorce." I repeated, word by word, "I've had enough of these past three years."

After asking for a divorce, I moved into my best friend Mia Lynn's apartment.

Lying in bed at night, staring at the ceiling, scenes from high school kept flooding back.

The first time I saw Caleb Lewis was at the opening ceremony during our freshman year.

He spoke as the freshman representative, wearing a clean white shirt, standing on the podium, sunlight streaming over him even his eyelashes seemed to glow.

"That's Caleb Lewis, the heir of the Lewis Group." My deskmate nudged me with her elbow.

From that day on, I became just one of his many secret admirers.

I started secretly figuring out his likeshe likes coffee without sugar, he's good at basketball, and he always tops the grade in every exam.

"Bella Scott, can you do me a favor and give this to Caleb Lewis?" A girl in the front row slipped me a love letter.

Clutching that love letter, I waited for him by the basketball court the whole afternoon.

After the game, dripping with sweat, Ruby Shaw handed him a bottle of water and naturally wiped the sweat from his forehead.

"Caleb, are you thirsty?" Ruby smiled, her eyes curving into crescent moons.

"I'm fine." Caleb took the water, twisted off the cap, and handed it to her.

I stood there, the love letter in my hand crumpled and wrinkled.

It was only then that I realized Ruby was his childhood sweetheart, the future partner everyone just assumed he'd have.

But I still couldn't stop myself from liking him.

In senior year, on his birthday, I saved up my allowance for a whole month to buy him a fountain pen.

"Caleb Lewis, happy birthday." I gathered my courage and handed him the fountain pen.

He hesitated for a moment, then Ruby Shaw walked over, glanced at the pen, and smiled, "Caleb doesn't use fountain pens; he only uses ballpoint pens."

My face instantly flushed bright red, and I stood there, feeling completely lost.

"Thank you." But Caleb Lewis took the pen, slipped it into his pocket, and said, "I really like it."

That was the first time he smiled at methe brightest light in my youth.

Later, we ended up at the same university.

I thought maybe there was a chance for something different between us.

"Bella Scott, Caleb Lewis is going abroad to study." Mia Lynn came running over to tell me the news.

I rushed to the airport and saw him standing with Ruby Shaw. Ruby was holding him, crying her heart out.

"Caleb, I'll be waiting for you to come back."

He patted her back, his eyes scanning the crowd. When he saw me, he paused for a few seconds before looking away.

I turned and walked away, my tears blurring my vision.

At that moment, I thought maybe he and I were never meant to be in this lifetime.

But fate has a way of messing with people like that.

Three years ago, the Lewis Family suddenly proposed to the Scott Familywith me as the one to marry.

"Bella, the Lewis Group can help us get through this tough spot." My father held my hand, his eyes full of silent pleading.

I looked at the silver at his temples and nodded.

Even knowing there was someone else in his heart, I still wanted to grasp this last sliver of hope.

On our wedding night, he stood by the window, smoking.

"Bella Scott, I'm sorry for making you suffer." He said.

"I don't feel wronged." I watched his back and said, "As long as I can be with you."

But I never imagined that these three years of marriage would be even harder to bear than I thought.

"Bella, what are you thinking about?" Mia Lynn walked in carrying a glass of milk. "We're going to M Country tomorrow. I've already booked the tickets."

I sat up and took the milk. "Thank you, Mia."

"No need to be so formal with me." Mia Lynn sat on the edge of the bed. "Forget about the divorce for now. Let's go out and clear your mind, and push Caleb Lewis far, far out of your thoughts."

I nodded, but inside it felt like a heavy stone was pressing down, impossible to shift.

Early the next morning, we set off.

The sunlight in M Country was blinding; the sea was as blue as a precious gem.

"Bella, smile!" Mia Lynn called out, holding her camera up to me.

I forced a smile, but it never felt natural.

"Don't hang your head like that." Our other best friend, Rachel Xavier, came over and handed me a cocktail. "I know you're hurting inside, but we're here to have fun."

I took the glass and sipped the spicy liquid that slid down my throat, stinging my eyes.

"How about we find something fun to do?" Rachel blinked and glanced at a man not far away. "See that handsome guy? He's the famous photographer Felix Lopez. Want me to go say hi?"

I followed her gaze to see the man in a white T-shirt and a baseball cap, holding a camera as he took pictures. His profile was clean and sharp.

"Forget it." I shook my head, not interested.

"Come on." Mia Lynn nudged me. "Just think of it as making a new friend. What's there to be afraid of?"

They pushed me forward, and we walked over.

Felix Lopez heard the noise, turned around, took off his hat, revealing a handsome face.

"Hello, we're your fans. Can we take a picture with you?" Rachel Xavier was the first to speak.

Felix smiled warmly, "Of course."

During the group photo, he stood right beside me, a faint scent of mint lingering on him.

"You don't look very happy." He said to me out of the blue.

I froze for a moment, not expecting him to be so straightforward.

"Just... got something on my mind." I answered honestly.

"The ocean can heal anything." He pointed toward the distant horizon. "If it really hurts, just shout it out to the sea."

In the next few days, we ran into Felix Lopez a few times.

He helped us take photos and took us to try local specialties.

"Bella, what do you think of this one?" Mia Lynn came over holding a photo. In it, Felix and I stood side by side by the sea, the sunset washing over us, making us look especially close.

I stared at the photo and suddenly had an idea.

"Mia, send out this photo." I said.

"Are you crazy?" Mia's eyes widened. "If Caleb Lewis sees this, won't he blow up?"

"I want him to see it." I lifted my wine glass and downed it in one gulp. "He doesn't care about me, right? I want to see if he actually gets mad."

Mia hesitated for a moment but eventually did it.

The caption was simple: "The breeze in M Country is so nice."

Less than half an hour after the photo was posted, my phone rang.

This is Caleb Lewis's number.

I stared at the screen, heart pounding, but purposely didn't answer.

The phone rang and hung up, hung up and rang againthis cycle repeated several times before finally falling silent.

Meanwhile, inside the CEO's office at the Lewis Group in J City.

Caleb Lewis stared at the photo on his phone, his knuckles white from gripping it so hard.

In the photo, Bella Scott's smile bloomed brightly, the man beside her handsome from the sidetheir presence together was painfully perfect.

"Mr. Lewis, here's Ms. Scott's itinerary." The assistant gently placed a document in front of him, speaking cautiously.

"Who is the man beside her?" Caleb's voice was cold as ice.

"He's Felix Lopez, the photographer. He's currently on assignment in M Country."

Caleb picked up his phone, his finger hovering over the dial button, but hesitated to press it.

"When will she be back?"

"According to the schedule, in five days."

He threw the phone onto the table, leaned back in his chair, and closed his eyes.

His mind was flooded with the image of Bella Scott asking for a divorceher eyes filled with finality, like a knife piercing his heart.

"Mr. Lewis, Ms. Shaw is on the line."

Caleb Lewis opened his eyes; the emotions beneath were already concealed, leaving only cold indifference.

"Hey."

"Caleb, did you see Bella Scott's photo? How could she do this to you?" Ruby Shaw's voice was filled with anger. "I told you she wasn't a good person."

"None of your business." Caleb cut her off, "It's nothing. I'm hanging up."

After hanging up, he picked up his phone again and opened Bella's social media feed.

The latest update was still that photo, which had already received many comments.

He read them one by one until he saw someone say, "Is Mrs. Lewis about to cheat?", so angry he nearly threw his phone.

"Get the car ready." He said to his assistant.

"Mr. Lewis, where are you headed?"

"To the airport."

But when he reached the office door, he stopped again.

What right did he have to see her? She'd already asked for a divorce; soon, they'd have nothing to do with each other.

He turned back and sank into his chair, feeling utterly powerless for the first time.

Meanwhile, here in M Country, I stared at the missed call on my phone, my heart a mess of emotions.

"He called?" Mia Lynn asked.

"Yeah."

"Pick up!" Rachel Xavier nudged me.

"I'm not answering." I shook my head. "He only remembers me now? It's too late."

That night, I posted another update.

It was a photo of Felix and me at the bar; he was shielding me from drinks, and our pose looked a bit intimate.

"Bella, you're really pushing Caleb to the edge." Mia looked at the photo helplessly and said,

"I just want him to know what it feels like to be ignored." I stared at myself in the mirror, eyes steady. "These three years of suffering can't have been for nothing."

In the early morning, my phone buzzed with a message from Caleb.

"Come back right now."

I stared at those four words, smiled softly, and casually deleted them.

I'm not going back. At least, not yet.

I want him to know that even without him, I can live well.

In the days that followed, I deliberately posted photos of Felix Lopez and me every daysometimes diving together, sometimes watching the sunrise.

Felix seemed to pick up on my intention but didn't call me out.

"Are you angry at your husband?" One night, while we were walking by the sea, he suddenly asked.

I froze for a moment, not expecting him to ask so directly.

"Yes." I didn't hide it: "He has someone else in his heart, but he refuses to let me go."

"So, do you still love him?"

That question left me speechless.

Love? I guess I do. Otherwise, why would I be hurt by his coldness, or get my heart racing over his texts?

"I don't know." I lowered my head, kicking at the sand beneath me. "All I know is, I'm tired."

Felix didn't ask again, he just said, "Whatever happens, be kinder to yourself."

The day before our trip ended, I got Caleb Lewis's second message.

"Bella Scott, if you dare send those photos again, you'll be responsible for the consequences."

I looked at the message and laughed out loud.

He finally panicked.

"What's wrong?" Mia Lynn asked.

"Nothing." I put away my phone. "Let's go back tomorrow."

"Not staying a few more days to have fun?"

"No." I shook my head. "What needs to be faced will eventually have to be faced."

I knew that once we got back, what awaited me would be a storm.

But I was ready; I was no longer the Bella Scott who just let herself suffer.