Farewell to Love: The CEO's Desperate Chase novel Chapter 220

Tyler closed his eyes, trying to shut out the ache. It took him several seconds to get a grip on his emotions.

“Bella,” he said quietly, “there’s nothing going on between me and Vivienne. Not the way you think.”

But Bella just looked at him, her wide eyes making his chest tighten.

“I don’t know how to explain it to you,” Tyler murmured. “Give it some time. One day, she’ll understand—and you will, too.”

“There’s a blue tanzanite stone in the safe at home. It’s beautiful—your mother loved it. I had a jeweler make a set of pieces for you.”

“I don’t want it,” Bella replied, her voice steady. “I’m my mother’s daughter. You’re not my father.”

“I don’t need jewelry or gemstones,” she went on. “Please stop showing off your wealth.”

“I know you’re capable, but I love her.”

She spoke with a composure far beyond her years; she wasn’t even five yet, but everything she said was so clear.

Bella climbed down from the chair. The floppy-eared stuffed dog in her arms bounced as she moved.

“Don’t come looking for me again,” she repeated, glancing at the clock. “It’s late. I need to go to bed.”

With that, she turned to leave.

Tyler stood up, but he didn’t chase after her. “Just this once,” he called softly. “At least take it. I had it made especially for you.”

Bella turned, lips pressed in a thin line.

“Sir, I already told you—you can give it to someone else,” she said.

“Once you accept it, it’s yours to do with as you wish,” Tyler insisted.

“I said before,” Bella replied, “it’s yours, not mine. I’m not taking it.”

She looked him squarely in the eye. “Are you trying to bully a child?”

Tyler ran a hand through his hair, helpless. “That’s not what I meant.”

He just wanted to do something good for her.

But Bella only stared back at him, unwavering.

The director, who’d been standing by the door, finally stepped in. She gave Tyler a disapproving look as someone came to take Bella away. The director remained, watching Tyler, whose lips were tightly pressed together.

——

Time swept by.

The whole city seemed to be swirling with tension and change.

Christian was racing to the old Donovan estate. He had several phones in his pockets—on one, he was on a video call with Emilia and the others; on another, he was gathering updates from inside the house.

And now, he could feel a headache coming on.

Several major investors were headed there, too.

Emilia had already given him a workable plan, but the real trouble was that the boss and Wyatt had shown up as well.

Now that he was gaining more power within the Donovan family, those two wolves would never let him off the hook.

But watching Emilia and the others working so hard to dig up information, Christian steadied himself.

He had to make this work. No matter what.

This was his one and only shot at turning things around—Emilia had handed him the chance. If he blew it, he’d spend the rest of his life crawling in the mud.