Bella reassured her daughter with a smile. “I’m fine; just a pollen allergy. I’m much better now.”
With Elizabeth’s arrival, Bella lost interest in continuing the conversation with Matthew.
She turned to him. “I’m sorry, but my daughter is here. You should go now.”
Respecting the changed circumstances, Matthew tucked away his phone.
“Rest well,” he said softly, then exited.
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After the door closed, Elizabeth, who had overheard snippets of their conversation, asked Bella, “Mom, was Matthew about to show you something?”
She had noticed Matthew holding his phone out to Bella just as she entered.
Bella was forthright in her response. “He wanted to show me a picture of his wife. Odd, isn’t it?” she asked with a smile.
Elizabeth felt a twinge of unease.
She recalled how people often mentioned her resemblance to Stella, and Matthew’s insistence on Bella meeting Stella.
Could there be a connection between Bella and Stella?
The thought alarmed her.
Noticing Elizabeth’s distraction, Bella worried she had inadvertently reignited her daughter’s interest in Matthew. “Elizabeth, what’s on your mind? You’re so quiet all of a sudden.”
Elizabeth snapped out of her reverie, meeting Bella’s gaze. “It’s nothing, really. I’m fine.”
She quickly changed the subject. “Mom, how are you finding Seamarsh?
Do you want to go back to Dorburn for a while?”
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Bella hesitated, then smiled. “I’d like to, but I promised to stay here with you for some time. Plus, you’re about to start shooting Luther’s new film, and I worry about you being here alone.”
“Mom, don’t worry about me. I can look after myself. The film shoot won’t take long, and I’ll head back to Dorburn as soon as it’s done.”
Bella’s concern lingered, but Elizabeth reassured her.
“I’ve made up my mind, Mom. I won’t interact with Matthew anymore.”
Bella studied her daughter, searching for any hint of deceit. Finding none, she felt a sense of relief.
“Alright, I’ll head back to Dorburn. But I’ll stay until the movie’s opening ceremony.”
Elizabeth nodded in agreement.
She knew that typically only the director and cast attended these events, so Bella wouldn’t encounter Stella.