Shattered Longings Novel

Chapter 35 Cutting Off the Long Hair She Grew for Him

Bella was startled. She gasped as the pain from the wound on her forehead intensified, causing her face to turn pale.

Once she saw who it was, she frowned and asked, “What are you doing?”

It was Magdalena, who sighed in relief and said, “It looks like you want to wash your hair, but it’s not convenient for you. Let me help you. It would be a shame to cut off such beautiful hair.”

Bella was about to decline, but Magdalena had already gone to the bathroom to get hot water.

She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. First, Dominic had stopped her from taking a shower, and now someone was inexplicably preventing her from cutting her hair.

Suddenly, she remembered something. She had kept her hair long because Dominic liked it.

He had once, while drunk and pressing her beneath him, shown a fascination with her long hair, often playing with it between his fingers. Since then, she hadn’t cut it.

But now, there was no need for her to humiliate herself, trying to please him anymore. If that was the case, there was no point in keeping it.

Glancing toward the bathroom, Bella picked up the scissors, took a deep breath, and cut her hair off at shoulder length, tossing it into the trash bin

If she was going to start over, she would do it completely.

When Magdalena came out and saw the empty courtyard and the hair in the trash, she froze for a moment. A woman who cut off the long hair she had kept for years must have made a significant decision.

Bella couldn’t sit still, so she returned to work at the hospital the next day. The trouble from the previous Incident seemed to have passed.

Without a leader, those small troublemakers couldn’t cause much of a stir. As long as she didn’t bring any problems with her, the hospital wouldn’t suspend her.

While sitting in her office, she faintly heard the sounds of a funeral procession approaching.

She got up and walked to the window to check. A funeral procession carrying a coffin and a portrait passed by the hospital.

The local customs favored a grand entrance into the world and an equally grand exit.

When she saw the face in the portrait, her heart missed a beat. It was the man who had nearly killed her. He hadn’t escaped after all… he was dead.

Even though she was a doctor, accustomed to life and death, watching a life end before her eyes, especially when it wasn’t due to illness or natural causes but something connected to her, still made her uncomfortable.

She couldn’t help but think about Leonard firing that shot, and a wave of fear and dizziness washed over her.

That evening, as Bella was leaving work and heading home, she ran into Leonard, who was crouching at the entrance, talking on the phone. He greeted her, “Hey, did you cut your hair?”

Seeing the smile on his face, Bella couldn’t help but think of his ruthless side. She nodded in response

ting Off the Long Hair Shi Grow for Him.

and hurried back to her room.

Leonard felt a bit puzzled but didn’t dwell on it.

As Bella thought it over, she realized it might be best to move out. She had returned here because it was her birthplace, but everything that had happened since had soured her feelings toward the place.

There was no peace to be found here anymore. She began to seriously consider the idea of moving elsewhere and starting fresh.

Once the thought took hold, it was hard to let go.

She didn’t want to discuss it with Leonard in person, so she sent him a text, letting him know she planned to move out.

To her surprise, Leonard immediately pushed open her door. “Move out? Where do you plan to go? We agreed on a three–month lease with one month’s deposit. If you don’t stay the full three months, you won’t get your deposit back.”

Bella couldn’t meet his eyes. “… I’m just letting you know. I don’t want the deposit back, just refund me the rent for the time I didn’t stay…”

Leonard stared at her intently. “What’s going on? There’s definitely something on your mind. If you don’t explain, you’re not leaving this room.”

Bella bit her lip. “It’s nothing. I just don’t want to stay here anymore.”

Leonard gave her a knowing look, his curiosity piqued. “Could it be because Dominic showed up?”

Not wanting to argue, Bella replied casually, “Sure, whatever you say.”

As soon as she spoke, she caught sight of someone standing in the courtyard outside the door, and she, couldn’t help but gasp in shock.