Chapter 1369

“Ha… You and Iverson are all the same. He must have sent you here to scam Rachel.”

“No, I—”

“You must be up to no good. You operated on the scumbag, and that makes you just as guilty as he is. Get lost! Don’t harass me and Rachel again!” Rachel’s mother glared and shouted angrily at Bella.

Before Rachel’s mother could slam the door, Bella reached her hands to grab the door frame anxiously. “Mrs. Mead, I’m really here to help Rachel. Please give me some time to explain.”

The furious mother grabbed a packet of opened laundry powder on the windowsill and threw it at Bella’s face.

Breaking out in a sweat, Bella could not shy away in time.

Suddenly, a powerful grip pulled her away, and she was enveloped by raw masculinity.

Bella could feel the firm grasp around her waist and Justin’s heavy breathing near her ear.

She was reeling from the shock when she heard a thud.

The packet of laundry powder hit the back of Justin’s head, and the powder sprayed all over his head, shoulders, and back. His black suit was ruined.

“M-Mr. Salvador, are you okay?” Turning white, Ian went to check on him.

With her heart racing, Bella shakily brushed off the powder on his head.

“I’m okay. All that matters is Bella’s safety.”

Seeing that Bella was perturbed, Justin curled his lips and held her cold hand. “Are you scared, Bella? You have become timid.”

“I was worried about you, dummy!”

Feeling sorry and angry, Bella slapped him on the chest. “Do you think I would only think about myself?”

Fortunately, Rachel’s mother simply threw a bag of laundry powder.

What if it was pots and pans? What if it was a brick? What if it was a knife?

How could she not be scared?

Justin grinned. He felt warm and cozy inside because of Bella’s love and concern.

A thunderous slam was heard behind them.

The Meads’ door was shut tight, leaving them out in the cold.

“Sigh. Mr. Salvador, Young Madam, I think we won’t be achieving anything today. She won’t even talk to us.” Frustrated, Ian hung his head down in dejection.

“The timing is uncanny.” Bella rubbed her temples. “We had hope, but since James revealed my surgery on Charles and tarnished my reputation, I must be no better than the Iversons in the Meads’ eyes.”

She smiled wryly. “Ha… Well, I can’t say James tarnished my reputation because I did perform the surgery. I’m an accomplice.”

“Don’t say that, Bella.”

Justin wrapped her in his arms and offered a consoling look. “You are a doctor, and your duty is to save lives. You were focused on helping your patient get better. You couldn’t stop thinking about what would happen to others. Besides, your family was on good terms with the Iversons. You didn’t know about Charles’ true colors. I don’t think you made the wrong choice, even if the public has a different opinion. It’s not your fault.”

“Even so, only we know the truth. What’s the point? I don’t care about my reputation, but my bad reputation impedes our plan from moving forward.” Bella rested her forehead on Justin’s shoulder, her voice reflecting frustration and dejection.

“It’s okay. We’ll take it one step at a time.”

Justin ran his hand along her back and comforted her. “Don’t give up. Be optimistic. Let’s head back and see how else we can go about this.”

…

Left without a choice, the trio returned to the villa.

It was evening when they arrived back.

The pair got out of the car hand-in-hand when a gentle and shy voice crept up from behind.

“Bella…”