Chapter 7 Not leaving without Bella

Luke was still sitting where he was and lost in thought for a long time. He didn't know for how long but, he came back to when Bella's grandmother called out to him. "Mr. Luke. Hey!" She called him but when he didn't answer, she tapped him.

Luke blinked his eyes at her when he was pulled out of his thoughts. "Am sorry, what did you say?" He asked Bella's grandma.

"I didn't say anything. I just called you. What were you thinking about?" She asked Luke.

Luke shook his head and said. "It's nothing. I was just... I mean, I was just lost. I think it's time for me to go. I need to go. I'll be back tomorrow." Luke said and stood up.

"Please, sit." Bella's grandmother stopped him before he could take a step away. "I want to ask you some questions." She added when she saw that Luke wasn't sitting. Luke took his seat and waited for her to continue. Some seconds after he had taken his seat, she asked. "Why did you come to look for Bella?"

Luke thought not to tell her but, just when he was about to tell her not to worry, he changed his mind and said. "I came to Nigeria especially to look for Bella. I have been searching for years. I..."

"Why have you been searching for her? Do you love her?" Bella's grandmother interrupted what he was saying.

Luke was taken aback by her question. Was he in love with her? The truth is that he had never asked himself that question. He just knew that he had to find her and he must find her. He had never stopped to ask himself why he was hellbent on finding her. Now that the question had been asked, he didn't know how to answer. "I guess you don't love her. Your silence speaks a lot." Bella's grandmother said when he didn't answer her immediately.

"I... I have never asked myself this question. I can't say I don't love her nor can I say that I love her. The only thing that I am sure of is that, I am here for Bella. I have never for a moment stopped thinking about her." Luke answered.

Bella's grandmother nodded her head in approval and said. "That's good. I like your honesty. Now, what's your plan?"

"My plan? Don't know anymore. What I am sure of is that I came for Bella and I will see this to the end." Luke answered after some thought.

"Okay, I don't know what happened between the both of you but just make sure that you don't come into her life and hurt her. I don't want her to get disappointed again!" Bella's grandmother said to Luke. She had been watching him after Bella walked away from him and she saw the tenderness in his eyes when he looked at Bella. She was sure that he loves Bella but he just doesn't know yet. The most important thing is that he has feelings for Bella.

"The only tears I'll make get cry is that of joy. I didn't come here to hurt her. That's not my intention and it'll never be." Luke said with certainty.

"Good. You can go after my girl but, don't disturb my customers by coming here every day. We still have to make money. Okay!?" Bella's grandmother said with a smile.

"Sure, I won't make you lose business instead, I'll make you have more." He answered with a smile. "Thank you so much, ma'am. Thank you for giving me this chance. I won't mess it up." He added.

"It's not like you are giving me or my granddaughter a chance to say no. Will, you stop coming here if I ask you not to?" Bella's grandmother asked him and he shook his head. "So, can I ask you another question?" She asked him.

"Yes ma'am. You can ask me whatever you want. You don't need to ask for permission. Just go ahead and ask me and I'll do my best to answer." Luke said.

"What happened between you and Bella? Why have you come to look for her after so many years?" Bella's grandmother asked.

"Well, what happened is a bit complicated. Today happens to be the second time I am meeting Bella. The first time we met was eight years ago. It was at a party. I didn't even know that she would recognize me. She was drugged and I was drunk. My friends spiked my drink and I entered the room where Bella was kept. When I saw her, she was naked and groaning as if she was in pain. I rushed to help her but we ended up having sex with each other that night. The next morning, I woke up before her and went out of the room to get her food. When I got back, she had disappeared. I had the intention of looking for her but, my parents sent me to some training school that morning and I spent two years there." Luke explained.

Bella's grandmother kept nodding her head as she listened. Bella had never told her what happened. She only said that her father wasn't her father and that's why he sent her to Nigeria. When they found out that she was pregnant? She asked Bella who the father was but Bella just said the person was not important. She had imagined all sorts of things but she never imagined that Bella was drugged. "Do... Do you know who did that to Bella? I mean, who drugged her? Do you know the person?" She asked after a while.

"Yes. I know. I don't have evidence but it's Bella's stepsister. She and her friends drugged Bella. I don't know why she did it but when I found Bella, she was naked and groaning in pain. I only found out from Bella's father when he was dying that, he sent Bella away because, Lily showed him pictures of Bella at a party, Bella getting drunk and leaning on a guy. He also saw pictures of Bella on the bed, naked with a guy on her. That's why he was so furious and sent her away." Luke said in one breath.

"That man is an idiot! How could he be so blind? When my daughter died, I asked him to let Bella stay with me and my husband but he disagreed. He said he could take care of his daughter. Now, he did not only fail to take care of her. He threw her away. Stupid man! Why didn't he come to find Bella when he found out the truth?" She asked Luke.

"He said he was ashamed of himself. He said he felt stupid and he wasn't worthy of appearing in front of you or Bella. He died some months ago." Luke answered her.

"Thank God he didn't show his face here. If he had shown up, I would have beaten him blue and black. I would make sure that I injure his stupid white and ugly face. I don't even know what my daughter saw in him before marrying him." She added with a clenched fist.

Luke couldn't help but chuckle at her actions. She looked so cute while frowning. "I am sure you would have done that. You look so fierce right now. I am already getting scared." He said with a smile.

"You don't look scared tho. I am not blind. I can see that smile that you have on your face." Bella's grandmother said. "Anyways, I have to go and check on Bella and I have a business to run. See you around son. I wish you luck with my granddaughter. She can be very stubborn at times." She added and walked away.

Luke watched her walk away and murmured. "I'll need all the luck you can give me ma'am. Bella..., I am here for you. Just you."