Bella closed the door behind her and looked at Jeff who was lying down on a bed in the room. Her heart clenched a bit when she saw all of the machines that were attached to him. She walked to him and stood by his bed. He was a handsome man. His blond hair had fallen on his forehead messily. His face was covered by light stubble. His body was not as muscular as Mason's, but it was fit from the few hours he was spending in the gym in the small times he had between the university and working in a hospital.

"Jeff!" she called softly and moved his hair away from his forehead.

Jeff's eyes fluttered open and he looked up at Bella. "Bella?" he asked with a raspy voice and squinted his eyes, unable to believe what he was seeing. "Is this a dream?"

Bella smiled down at him sadly and caressed his forehead. "No, Jeff." she said. "I'm really here. What are you doing in New York?"

"I came here for a conference. But my main reason was seeing you." answered Jeff and Bella looked at him shocked. Jeff took her hand which was placed ideally on the bed. "Bella, I was an idiot that I thought my job and studies are more important than you. After a month I saw I can't bear your absence in my life. When I came to your flat, I found out you have come here. So I came here when I found a chance. Please come back with me. Please."

Bella looked at his pleading eyes. He was the one who ended everything. She was in the hard days of her life. She had lost her job and was late for paying university funds. She couldn't ask her mother, knowing she had enough problems herself. When she had asked Jeff to help her enter the hospital he was working in as an intern, he told her that he couldn't risk his carrier because of her. He had clearly told her that his studies and job were more important for him than her problems. And so they ended everything there.

"Bella?" called Jeff and Bella looked at him snapping out from her daze. "I screwed everything between us, but please forgive me."

"Jeff. You left me when I needed you the most." she said. "You never loved me. Even now you are here because of that conference, not completely me."

"I know, I was an idiot, but please give me another chance." pleaded Jeff. His eyes were sincere but Bella couldn't. Mason's face was in front of her eyes constantly and her heart fluttered whenever she was remembering him. She had no feeling for Jeff anymore. Besides she couldn't trust him to not leave her again in hard days that would come surely.

"I can't, Jeff. I'm sorry." she said softly.

Jeff's eyes become hard and he looked away. But he didn't release her hand. "You have met another man, haven't you?" he asked coldly.

"Yes." she said. "Three months have passed from when we ended everything, Jeff. And we were not on best terms on the last few months of our relationship."

"There is no hope for me, am I right?" sighed Jeff.

"I love him, Jeff." she said. "I can't imagine my life without him."

"Is it alright if you stay here for a few hours?" he asked defeated.

"Of course." said Bella and sat on a chair next to the bed. "I can stay for a while."

***********************

Mason parked his car in a parking lot next to the hospital and got out. He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down. Why the heck that fucker was muttering his Bella's name? Why was he here in New York? More importantly, why was Bella here? Did she still love him?

His blood ran cold at the last thought and he clenched and unclenched his fists to calm himself down. He was shocked when he had seen Damien's text and had come to the hospital instantly. He was ready to beg Bella if needed. If she wouldn't listen to him, he simply would kill the man she had come to see and would lock her in his room in the mansion until she forgive him. He straightened his suit jacket and walked into the hospital and climbed the stairs. He saw Damien and Xander who stood as he walked to them.

"She is in that room." said Xander and pointed to a door.

Mason nodded. "Thank you." said Mason. "Now go to school."

The twins nodded, knowing well to not argue with him. He looked emotionless, but being brothers, the twins knew that he was pissed and angry. Mason walked to the door and took a deep breath before opening it silently.

Bella had sat on a chair next to a man's bed. His blood boiled when he saw she was holding the man's hand with both of her delicate hands.

"I thought you have forgiven me." he said trying to sound gentle and not scare her. Bella's head whipped to him and she looked at him surprised. She put her index finger on her lips indicating for him to be silent. She gently put the man's hand on the bed beside him and stood and walked to Mason.

She grabbed his arm and gently guided him out of the room and eyed him up and down, scrunching her face at the sight of the few cuts on his face. "Let's talk outside in the garden of the hospital." she said.

"Okay. You go. I will join you in a minute" said Mason.

Bella nodded and walked towards the garden. She sat on a bench and looked at the tall bushes of roses around. Her mind was clouded by many thoughts. She couldn't deny the feeling she felt when she was around Mason. Jeff was a good man. He would become a good doctor one day and could easily support a family. But she couldn't trust him. He had proved a few times that he was not a man you can count on in difficult moments of life. On the other hand was Mason. He was a ruthless criminal who was leading a mafia. Yet he was loyal, he was someone you could count on highs and lows of life. He was someone whose family was the most important thing in his life.

A few minutes later, she felt him sit beside her and offered her a cup of coffee which she accepted gladly.

"What is he doing here?" asked Mason trying to sound normal, but Bella could feel edginess in his tone.

"He is here for a conference." said Bella and took a sip of her coffee. "As a side plan, he wanted to meet me as well and ask me to go back with him. He says he regrets leaving me."

"And your answer was?" asked Mason coldly.

Bella glanced at him. His eyes were fixed forward. His face was emotionless and cold, but she had become an expert in reading his mind. He was afraid of her answer. Desperate and frustrated.

"What do you want, Mason?" she asked and Mason's head turned to her and his sharp gray-blue eyes bored into her blue ones. "Do you want me to stay?"

Mason put his cup down and then did the same with hers. He grabbed both of her hands and sat closer to her. "You know my Answer, Bella." he said. "I want you to stay forever. I'm nothing without you. You have given meaning to my life. I know I fucked up two nights ago but I swear it will never happen again and I never leave you alone in difficulties. I will swear on my life, Bella. I love you."

"I know." said Bella softly and caressed his cheek. "That is why I told him that I can't go with him and I love another man."

Mason didn't waste any time. He dived down his head and hungrily kissed her lips. His arms snaked around her waist and pulled her in his lap and deepened the kiss. He would never get tired of her, ever. If anything, he was becoming more thirsty for her with each passing second.

"Thank you, Bella." he panted after their pulled away. "I thought you will going to leave me for a moment."

Bella stared at his eyes. "Ask me out." she said, "I know we are in a bad time, but you are mighty Mason King. Ask me out on a date."

Mason pecked her lips. "Arabella Harris," he said seriously. "Come out with me on a date tonight."

Bella smiled. "Okay." she said. "So let's go home. I should get ready for tonight."

"Your wish is my command, my love." smiled at Mason and kissed the tip of her nose.

he then stood and put Bella on her feet and they both walked into the hospital and toward Jeff's room.

Jeff was awake when they walked in. His body went rigid when he saw Mason walking in holding hands with Bella.

"Oh, you are awake." said Bella. "Jeff, this is Mason. Mason, this is jeff."

"So you are the one who has caught her heart." said Jeff and looked at Mason but sighed and looked away. "Just take care of her. What I didn't. I was a coward. She deserves a world."

"I will." answered Mason curtly. He growled a bit when Bella released his hand and walked to Jeff and kissed him on the cheek.

"Goodbye, Jeff." she said. "Call me if you needed help here."

She said and then walked out with Mason by her side, feeling free and light-hearted and in love.

****************************

Alison groaned as her back hit the mat. Two weeks had passed since the mafia gathering. There was no sign of Volkov anywhere. It seemed he had been evaporated from the surface of the world. Mason and Mark West had ordered their men to look under every rock for Volkov but he was nowhere to be found and that has caused Mason to be overprotective over his girlfriend, Bella. He has asked her to be his girlfriend the night of their first date and she had accepted gladly.

"That was a record." said Xander as he looked at his watch. "You stood against Damien for seven minutes."

"I was tired after training with you for hours." groaned Alison and grabbed Damien's outstretched hand.

Damien smirked and pulled her to his feet. "You did good, sisy. Don't be so sad." he said.

It was an hour since they were training and Alison was so tired. She looked at Damien hopefully. "That means I can leave? I'm so tired." she whined.

"You were only practicing for an hour, you lazy ass." said Hunter teasingly.

"You know that I can beat your ass even now that I'm tired. So, shut up." she snorted and Hunter rolled his eyes and cursed under his breath. Alison looked at Xander with puppy eyes. "Can I go now?" she asked.

"Yes you can, you brat." Xander chuckled and ruffled her hair and she huffed annoyed.

Suddenly the doors opened and Eva walked in while talking on her phone. "Yes, yes, she is here. wait." she said and walked to Alison and held the phone out for her. "Alison, It's Ashley. She says she wants to talk to you and it's urgent."

Alison's heart dropped. Ashley had never called her for an urgent matter. She quickly grabbed the phone and put it on her ear. The boys looked at her confused.

"Ash?" asked Alison nervously.

"Alison Harris." yelled Ashley angrily. "Why the fuck are you not answering your phone?"

"Wow, Ash, calm down." said Alison. "Sorry. I was training with boys."

"Alison, something bad has happened." said Ashley with fear laced with her words. "But don't freak out too much. It's going to be fine."

"God, you are scaring me. Are you fine? Are Ed and Logan fine? Ash you are killing me what's wrong?" burst Alison now worried sick. But what Ashley told her next made her pale visibly and freeze in her place.

"Alison, he is out." said Ashley. "Fred. He is released from juvie."