(Dean)Not going to see Bella this past week was the hardest decision I had ever made in my entire life.Fuck, maybe I shouldn't have listened to Ethan, he said he has a hunch that Bella hasn't moved on, that what she needed was space at the moment. It took me all night of tossing and turning to agree to his logic.I couldn't help it anymore, the torture became unbearable, so I decided to send her flowers instead, I had Humphrey scour for the best florist shop, I remember she loved roses, I hope she still does.My nerves are a little short, I feared she'd reject them, the tension and restlessness I felt was slow to leave, I stared at my phone, waiting to get a confirmation from Humphrey, regarding it.I poured myself a drink, hoping it'd help calm my racing nerves, but heck it doesn't. I grip my glass tighter. I guess I was lost in my train of thoughts that I didn't hear the door open."Are you alright?" Ethan eyed me, most likely sensing that I wasn't. Then his gaze shifted to the am
(Bella)"Thank you," I finally smiled at the delivery guy, taking the flower and the gift bag from him.Once I shut the door, I quickly picked Calvin's call before it rings out. "Hey," I mutter, my voice calm as a soft smile coils up on my lips.Calvin's voice comes through with a hint of concern. "Hey, I called in to check up on you in the morning but you didn't answer," he says. "You haven't responded to your emails either, just wondering if you're okay,"Surprised, I paused. Calvin's acting rather normal, I thought he called to check if I've received the gifts.Well, if he was aiming to surprise me then it worked, it actually did.I walk back and settle into the couch, my eyes on the gift bag. I exhaled slowly. "I have been in an incredibly morbid mood today but it's nothing serious, and I was hoping to check my emails later in the day," I explained and then my voice lowers and a grin appears. "But honestly, you didn't have to send me gifts, worrying about me like this, it's enough
(Bella)The next day, Calvin visited. I noticed he has a forced smile all through, and he's more quiet than usual, avoiding eye contact.Once done putting the kids to bed for a nap, I walk back to where Calvin is.Calvin finally shifts his gaze to me. "They're asleep now?" He asks, keeping his voice even.I nod, offering a tiny smile. "Yeah, they must be exhausted from all that playtime,""Yeah, right," he says.There's a tightness around his mouth that betrays his words. I feel a knot form in my stomach.Calvin's shoulders stiffened as his eyes darted on me. "The gifts? They were from your ex?" He suddenly asked, his voice firm like he's so sure.I exhaled slowly. "Yeah, it's from Dean. But I'm not keeping it," I retort.Calvin's expression softens, and the tension in his shoulders eases a bit. "I see," he mutters and then he holds my gaze briefly. "You plan on returning them or..?""I will return them, I see no need why I should accept them anyways," I sighed.Calvin watched me a li
(Bella)It's been two days since my kids asked if Dean could be their father, I haven't given them any explicit answer yet but I have really given it a thorough thought.And by the time I made my final decision, I couldn't tell how my fear of Dean taking full custody dissipated.Perhaps it doesn't really make much sense, I mean, if he wanted to, he would have acted on it.So, yeah. This isn't about me anymore, it's about my kids, and I no longer intend to cavil or compromise.As a mother, my kid's happiness and wellness should be my utmost concern.I want to give them a chance to have both parents regardless of the situation with Dean.Of course my nerves are a little short about it, what it'll all bring moving forward.Ashley's threat played in my mind. Letting Dean play his dad's role will surely agitate her, as much as I always seem unaffected by her threats, I know she's more deadly than she looks.I mean, she has proven that over and over again.But then, am I really going to let
(Bella)"You were a whore Bella and you're still a whore. Jezz, what was I thinking?" Dean lashes out angrily as he threw pictures of me around the room.I haven't seen Dean this angry, it scares me to the pit of my stomach."I swear, Dean. This is all a lie, a mistake, a conspiracy," I wail, on my knees as I beg him to listen to me just this once."Shut the fuckk up, Bella. I'm done listening to you," he seethes. "My mom was right all along, a pig will always remain a pig," he spits the words out, like venom, unfiltered.My heart aches hearing those harsh words from him.Tears stream down my cheeks as I sobbed, but those tears doesn't move Dean, not anymore.My once loving husband, who stood his ground that I was his soulmate, who he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, against his family.He didn't care about their opinion of me.A stripper, an exotic dancer but none of that mattered to Dean. He loved me and married me against all odds."You still crave that life. Don't you?" H
(Bella)My heart bleeds as I watch Dean storm off.He's asking for a divorce, just like that?How did we get here?How did my life turn into a living nightmare in one day?Those pictures, I mutter reaching out to them and picking them up one after the other.Four different men that I've never seen.It looks so real but I don't remember coming in contact with any of this men, not in my past and definitely not now.Something is fishy but I can't seem to place my hand on what it is.Whoever is behind this, just wants to break me and Dean apart.But I won't let them."No," the word slips out of my mouth. "I won't give up on us just like that, I'm going to fight for my man, my marriage, what I have with Dean is worth fighting for,." I say, my voice firm as I dust myself up.How do I go about it?Dean is so angry, I doubt if he'd ever listen to what I have to say.I need someone that can talk to Dean.But who?His mother?I scoff at myself. Judy is the last person I should think of.She has
(Bella)The doorbell rings and jars me awake. I fling my eyes open, pulling myself up from the couch.My back hurts..Just then I realize it's the next day and I had slept off on the couch waiting for Dean.This only means one thing, Dean didn't come home last night.The very first day he's sleeping out.My eyes hurts as fresh tears stride down my cheeks but the doorbell rings again, this time continuously.I spring up. It could be Dean.Quickly I move over to the door, and swing it open.My breath catches in my throat. It's not Dean.Judy, Elena and an older man. And then when she shifts, I spot Ashley standing right behind.Before I could process what's going on, Judy pushes me aside, striding in like the queen of England. Elena, Dean's aunt, gives me a horrific look as she walks in.And then the man and Ashley came in.Ashley casts me a weird look as she brushes past me.I step in. "What are you doing here, the both of you?" I'm forced to ask, as much as I'm exhausted, I can't let
(Bella)I shove the papers on the table and Judy picks it up, her hand running through the papers in excitement.A smile crosses her face as he mutters. "Finally," she turns to Ashley and Elena, giving them a knowing smile and then back to me."Alright. Let's wrap it up real quick. Go in there and pack your things. The buyers are waiting, hurry up Bella," she spat, crossing her legs and relaxing into the couch.I stare at her, all of them, sobbing my eyes out.Where do I go from here?My life has been centered around Dean. I drag my feet upstairs, each step feels heavier than the last. My heart torn apart as I packed my clothes, glancing around the house I'd started to set up as my forever home.The one I'd build a family with Dean and live happily ever after. Fresh tears came pouring out, my eyes feels so heavy, my chest too tight to breathe.Once done packing my personal stuff, I sit on the bed, thinking of where to go.I really do not want to bother Derrick but he'd be so mad if I
(Bella)It's been two days since my kids asked if Dean could be their father, I haven't given them any explicit answer yet but I have really given it a thorough thought.And by the time I made my final decision, I couldn't tell how my fear of Dean taking full custody dissipated.Perhaps it doesn't really make much sense, I mean, if he wanted to, he would have acted on it.So, yeah. This isn't about me anymore, it's about my kids, and I no longer intend to cavil or compromise.As a mother, my kid's happiness and wellness should be my utmost concern.I want to give them a chance to have both parents regardless of the situation with Dean.Of course my nerves are a little short about it, what it'll all bring moving forward.Ashley's threat played in my mind. Letting Dean play his dad's role will surely agitate her, as much as I always seem unaffected by her threats, I know she's more deadly than she looks.I mean, she has proven that over and over again.But then, am I really going to let
(Bella)The next day, Calvin visited. I noticed he has a forced smile all through, and he's more quiet than usual, avoiding eye contact.Once done putting the kids to bed for a nap, I walk back to where Calvin is.Calvin finally shifts his gaze to me. "They're asleep now?" He asks, keeping his voice even.I nod, offering a tiny smile. "Yeah, they must be exhausted from all that playtime,""Yeah, right," he says.There's a tightness around his mouth that betrays his words. I feel a knot form in my stomach.Calvin's shoulders stiffened as his eyes darted on me. "The gifts? They were from your ex?" He suddenly asked, his voice firm like he's so sure.I exhaled slowly. "Yeah, it's from Dean. But I'm not keeping it," I retort.Calvin's expression softens, and the tension in his shoulders eases a bit. "I see," he mutters and then he holds my gaze briefly. "You plan on returning them or..?""I will return them, I see no need why I should accept them anyways," I sighed.Calvin watched me a li
(Bella)"Thank you," I finally smiled at the delivery guy, taking the flower and the gift bag from him.Once I shut the door, I quickly picked Calvin's call before it rings out. "Hey," I mutter, my voice calm as a soft smile coils up on my lips.Calvin's voice comes through with a hint of concern. "Hey, I called in to check up on you in the morning but you didn't answer," he says. "You haven't responded to your emails either, just wondering if you're okay,"Surprised, I paused. Calvin's acting rather normal, I thought he called to check if I've received the gifts.Well, if he was aiming to surprise me then it worked, it actually did.I walk back and settle into the couch, my eyes on the gift bag. I exhaled slowly. "I have been in an incredibly morbid mood today but it's nothing serious, and I was hoping to check my emails later in the day," I explained and then my voice lowers and a grin appears. "But honestly, you didn't have to send me gifts, worrying about me like this, it's enough
(Dean)Not going to see Bella this past week was the hardest decision I had ever made in my entire life.Fuck, maybe I shouldn't have listened to Ethan, he said he has a hunch that Bella hasn't moved on, that what she needed was space at the moment. It took me all night of tossing and turning to agree to his logic.I couldn't help it anymore, the torture became unbearable, so I decided to send her flowers instead, I had Humphrey scour for the best florist shop, I remember she loved roses, I hope she still does.My nerves are a little short, I feared she'd reject them, the tension and restlessness I felt was slow to leave, I stared at my phone, waiting to get a confirmation from Humphrey, regarding it.I poured myself a drink, hoping it'd help calm my racing nerves, but heck it doesn't. I grip my glass tighter. I guess I was lost in my train of thoughts that I didn't hear the door open."Are you alright?" Ethan eyed me, most likely sensing that I wasn't. Then his gaze shifted to the am
(Bella)The rest of the week just flew past without any drama, and for that I'm grateful. I buried my self in work even so more than usual. I don't think I've ever worked that hard but it helped keep my mind away from overthinking.I also didn't have to lock horns with Ashley or Judy and Dean hasn't showed up in that time, perfect.Maybe this will all be fine and I can finally have that quiet and peaceful life I've always wanted.Ivy went back to Canada, promising to keep in touch and that she has been doing. She never fails to call, speak with the twins and I also got to know Aria, she's so soft spoken, I couldn't help but love her the second I heard her sweet tiny voice.All in all, it's been a good week, well not until…"Mommy," Jasmine's voice wafted into my ears and I see her darting towards me."Careful baby, so you don't fall," I tell her, a wide grin appears.Wrapped in my arms, I stroked her hair and say. "Baby, Javier is napping, you should too," I tell her, feigning a frown
(Bella)Derrick stared at me like I've just told one hell of a bad joke. "She found you?" He asked again, his eyes pinned on me as he straightens up.I nod, mirroring his expression. "Yep, Ivy did." I take a sip from my glass. "In the most terrific way ever," I say with a cheeky grin and studied Derrick's reaction.A smile appears, one that stretches into a big grin. "That's —almost unbelievable," he wowed. "I never even for a second thought she'd know, judging from the untraceable background," I give him a wry smile. "Well, technically she only just found out and she also mentioned that we wouldn't have found her no matter how hard we tried, hence the reason she came to me as soon as she had a detailed information,""Hmm, that explains all the hamper then, a bunch of detectives couldn't even find her," Derrick breathed out and then his gray eyes began to shimmer as it perks up. "How's she though? Does she look like Aunt Sarah , or you, perhaps the father? Or is she…,""Slow down Derr
(Bella)I couldn't sleep, I tossed and turned all night, yesterday was….well a lot.Alot happened in one day.If Ivy hadn't showed up the time she did, I could — I could've been drugged. And then Dean showed up suddenly realizing I was innocent after five years.I was angry, hurt, a little sad and perhaps irritated all at once. But now I don't even know what I feel anymore.The rising sun streamed harshly into my room, cruelly informing me that my time for rest has come to an end.I toss one last time and dragged myself out of bed, maybe a long shower is what I need to get me out of this foul mood. But it doesn't.It took me several deep breaths and summoning every ounce of my strength to step out of my room.But unlike me, my kids happily buzzed beside Anne in the kitchen, welcoming the day with a beaming smile.Ignoring the lingering restlessness and my lack of sleep, I managed to paste a smile on my face before entering the kitchen."Mommy!" They both chorused, running up for a hug.
(Bella)"Oh, shoot!" I exclaim as I realize I've been too caught up with the moment to check my phone, it's been on silence all evening.I fumble for it in my purse, sitting in the backseat of the ride Ivy had ordered. When I pull it out, I'm hit by the multiple missed calls from Calvin.He had asked that I text him as soon as I get there, it skipped my mind completely.God, he must've been so worried.There, he left a message, actually tons of messages. I opened them.Calvin: Bella, are you okay? Are you still out with her? You aren't picking your calls, I'm worried, please reply to my messages as soon as you see them.I take a deep breath, choosing to call him instead of texting back, I dialed his number pressing the phone to my ear."My God, are you alright Bella? I've been trying to call you but you didn't answer," Calvin says, his words coming out in a rush.I dragged in a sharp breath. "Sorry, Calvin. My phone was on silent, I didn't hear it ring and I totally forgot to text you
(Dean)Fury scratched it's way through my skin, seeping through every pore as I tried to digest what Arthur had just revealed over the ended phone call.His words still echoed in my head as I gripped my phone tighter. Ashley alongside my mother connived to set Bella up, how despicable."Three out of the men in the photos has confessed, turns out your girlfriend and your— mother paid them to have those pictures taken," Arthur strained through the phone and I could feel my blood run cold. "And the pills were very much planted by Ashley, isn't it?" I had asked."I'm afraid so," Arthur quipped back. "And Bella's ring, I'd have you know that your mother paid for it to be couriered to you, not Bella,"I gasp, finding it hard to breathe."Goddamn it!" Ethan cursed under his breath.Fury coiled within me, quickly turning into molten lava and threatening to erupt.God. How could my mother do this?I knew she was capable of many things but this?How could she intentionally ruin my life?And A