Chapter 475:
“Of course I can’t buy cheap things for my daughter. Don’t worry, I’m a lawyer. I make a lot of money!” Klein teased.
I chuckled but didn’t argue. I picked up a prepared leather envelope and walked over to Klein.
Bella’s POV:
“What is this?”
Klein took the envelope from my hands.
I smiled and said, “This is the money you lent me last time. I’ve saved enough to return it to you.”
“What do you mean?”
There was something off about his tone—he seemed irritated.
“I borrowed your money. Isn’t it normal to pay it back?”
I couldn’t understand why he looked so displeased. It was just about settling a debt—why wasn’t he happy?
Klein’s expression darkened as he accepted the leather envelope. There was something wounded in his eyes when he said, “Bella, do you think I’m a despicable person? Do you think I want to use the debt you owe me to force you into something?”
His words caught me off guard.
“What are you talking about? Why would I think that?”
L∆Ŧ€$† Ç♄₳þŧëяŞ ¡η g𝓪l𝗇ovєl𝑆.𝒸оm
“When I lent you the money, there were no hidden conditions. I had no ulterior motives. The suggestion I made a few days ago was purely from the heart. If you don’t want to, I would never pressure you. I will still treat you and Lucky the same as before. But now, you’re insisting on paying me back, even though you’re not well-off yet. I don’t understand… Are you afraid I’ll use this debt to force you into a relationship with me?”
Suddenly, I understood why Klein was upset.
He thought I was repaying him because I feared he would use the money as leverage over me.
That wasn’t my intention at all.
Ever since I started working and running my business, I had been looking forward to the day I could return the money. I wanted to be independent, to stand on my own feet. But I never imagined that doing so would hurt him.
Guilt weighed heavily on me.
“Klein, that’s really not what I meant. I never thought about it that way!”
I tried to explain, but he didn’t want to hear it.
Without hesitation, he gripped the envelope tightly in his hands and said, “No need to explain. I’ll take the money. I won’t make you feel uneasy. I’m leaving.”
And just like that, he turned and walked toward the door.
“Klein…”
I called out softly, but he didn’t stop. He didn’t even glance back as he stepped outside and shut the door behind him.
The closed door stood between us, sealing the distance that had just formed.
