She could balance work, her father's health and her own social struggles perfectly well. They all seemed so... significant, yet the latter oftentimes happened to fall short for obvious reasons. Not that Belle herself did anything against that, in fact, she considered reading her only real outlet for the past few months, reading whichever book still available to her after the fire, able to escape for just a moment. Even now with her father being weak and working far too much for his own good, Belle managed to let her own desires slip through the cracks, accidentally, while meeting Adam. Lucky, to fill that gap with something so unattainable, so desirable. A perfectly imperfect piece in her puzzle, jagged and robust, yet completing her all the same.
Fidgeting with her dress, Belle followed his gaze towards the bakery, her eyes displaying her worry, as she was incapable of hiding her feelings whatsoever. "I'm so sorry, I should've known," she couldn't remember. Then again, she couldn't remember if he ever told her. She considered this to be a sign of strength, to, despite everything, return to a place so full of memory, good or bad, to tackle that feeling head on. "Thank you, uhm, some believe I've set that fire myself, to collect the insurance in order to manage. Most of my books perished, old copies, my diary," she stopped, sighing in anger, "I couldn't let my father's inventions burst into flames, they were unique." She'd chosen his possessions over her own, knowing, that every book could be relived inside of her head. Belle smiled. "I always believed you would feel better eventually," one hand reached for his arm, squeezing it ever so gently before letting it fall to her side again, "I never lost that hope." Belle checked on her father once more. Realizing he'd begun to work while sitting, the brunette simply sighed and turned around to her ex-boyfriend. "Busy, apparently," she laughed in disbelief, "if you want to, we could... talk, somewhere else? We have some catching up to do, especially considering you're feeling better. I'm relieved," her brows were furrowed together, relief clearly visible on her face, "things might've been difficult, but I kept thinking of you from time to time, hopefuly to hear from you and how you're doing, Adam."