(Dean)"Make it make sense, Dean. You're not only stalking your ex-wife but a kid too? That's a little too much," Ethan says, eyebrows raised, like he doesn't get it."That's the point, Ethan. It's too much of a coincidence and no, I wasn't stalking the latter," I reply, my voice edged with frustration, as if trying to make sense of everything.Ethan furrows his eyebrows. "How so?""Okay, so I was parked a few blocks away from Bella's apartment," I say, giving Ethan a knowing look and then I continue. "And there he was, the cute little boy from the mall, walking side by side with a woman," I pause, the confusion creeping up my face once again.I look at Ethan. "There's another kid with them, she could pass for his twin, same height, they have to be twins, my guts tells me so but then the woman with them isn't the lady I saw with him at the mall the other day," I added.She could be their nanny, justifiably so but then that's not the nerve-wracking part.They're walking into the same b
(Bella)As l walk my way down the corridor, I spot Cynthia walking to her office, I quicken my step just to meet up.And most notably, she's been oddly calm, that's unlike her, she always seems to be at loggerhead with me, and doesn't fail to show just how much.Right on cue, I step in front of her door before she could touch the doorknob, she looks up at me, her expression blank.I drag in a sharp breath. "Look, Cynthia, about the other day, I'm sorry for snapping at you, it wasn't my intention to, I was just having a bad day," I apologize.She takes a step closer, her eyes narrowing at me and then she spat. "Your business, not mine. I don't care," she says outrightly but I know now that she usually doesn't mean what she says.And from what I'd observed, Cynthia wasn't best at showing emotions and she has a very strange way of showing empathy.She acts like she's bottling up so much, like something is eating her up. I'd like to think that her attitude towards me has everything to do
(Bella)Judy snorted. "That's bullshit! He's going to marry Ashley and your return won't stop that, I'll see that it doesn't," she spat, her voice shaking with anger.I laugh but there's no real humor in it. "Oh really?" I mock. "If you're so sure about that, then why are you here?" I ask, meeting her gaze with a hard look.She furrows her eyebrows at me, her jaw set in a way that tells me she isn't ready to back down. "To remind you of your place. And just so you know, that body can't get you, Dean, not anymore. You can only try. He's better off with Ashley, a more decent woman," she snaps."Is that so? I can try. Wouldn't even have to do too much. Don't you think so?" I smirked, my sarcasm cutting deep.Rebecca's nostrils flare, I could see her frustration bursting forth as she rolls her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous! You're not all that." She sneered, her voice steady but I can see the edge there."Well, If that makes you sleep well at night." I shrug her words off with a bored expres
(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?"
(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
(Dean)"That's enough Dean!" Ethan says as he drags the glass away from me, eyebrows raised."You're only hurting yourself. Drinking won't solve anything," he retorts. "You need to go home and at least hear Bella out,"I chuckle bitterly. "And listen to more lies?" I blurted out. "Those pictures are all the proof I needed. She's a slut, Ethan."Ethan shakes his head. "This is quite confusing. Bella loves you, I'm sure.""Pretense, all pretense, man. She deceived me into believing that. But truth is, she still craves her old life, she wants to be out there fucking them dudes. She's on birth control, didn't want to ruin her perfect shape," I snap."My mother, Aunt Elena, they were right after all. Bella is a filthy slut, no redemption.""You're drunk, Dean. We need to get you home," Ethan says, skipping right past my tantrums.I scoff. "Home?" I laugh. "That's no home. She disgusts me, I can't even stand her," my phone insistently buzzes in my pocket, again, and again.I pull it out, an
(Bella)Judy snorted. "That's bullshit! He's going to marry Ashley and your return won't stop that, I'll see that it doesn't," she spat, her voice shaking with anger.I laugh but there's no real humor in it. "Oh really?" I mock. "If you're so sure about that, then why are you here?" I ask, meeting her gaze with a hard look.She furrows her eyebrows at me, her jaw set in a way that tells me she isn't ready to back down. "To remind you of your place. And just so you know, that body can't get you, Dean, not anymore. You can only try. He's better off with Ashley, a more decent woman," she snaps."Is that so? I can try. Wouldn't even have to do too much. Don't you think so?" I smirked, my sarcasm cutting deep.Rebecca's nostrils flare, I could see her frustration bursting forth as she rolls her eyes. "Don't be ridiculous! You're not all that." She sneered, her voice steady but I can see the edge there."Well, If that makes you sleep well at night." I shrug her words off with a bored expres
(Bella)As l walk my way down the corridor, I spot Cynthia walking to her office, I quicken my step just to meet up.And most notably, she's been oddly calm, that's unlike her, she always seems to be at loggerhead with me, and doesn't fail to show just how much.Right on cue, I step in front of her door before she could touch the doorknob, she looks up at me, her expression blank.I drag in a sharp breath. "Look, Cynthia, about the other day, I'm sorry for snapping at you, it wasn't my intention to, I was just having a bad day," I apologize.She takes a step closer, her eyes narrowing at me and then she spat. "Your business, not mine. I don't care," she says outrightly but I know now that she usually doesn't mean what she says.And from what I'd observed, Cynthia wasn't best at showing emotions and she has a very strange way of showing empathy.She acts like she's bottling up so much, like something is eating her up. I'd like to think that her attitude towards me has everything to do
(Dean)"Make it make sense, Dean. You're not only stalking your ex-wife but a kid too? That's a little too much," Ethan says, eyebrows raised, like he doesn't get it."That's the point, Ethan. It's too much of a coincidence and no, I wasn't stalking the latter," I reply, my voice edged with frustration, as if trying to make sense of everything.Ethan furrows his eyebrows. "How so?""Okay, so I was parked a few blocks away from Bella's apartment," I say, giving Ethan a knowing look and then I continue. "And there he was, the cute little boy from the mall, walking side by side with a woman," I pause, the confusion creeping up my face once again.I look at Ethan. "There's another kid with them, she could pass for his twin, same height, they have to be twins, my guts tells me so but then the woman with them isn't the lady I saw with him at the mall the other day," I added.She could be their nanny, justifiably so but then that's not the nerve-wracking part.They're walking into the same b
(Bella)"Wait, you did?" Derrick raises an eyebrow as I hand him a glass of juice, while I settle into the couch just across him.The twins are out with Anne for a quick stroll around the estate while I'd promised to take them out to grab ice cream next weekend.I was just working on a new client's profile before Derrick came.I nod. "Yes, Rick. I just couldn't keep to myself anymore and if anything, Calvin doesn't deserve to be kept in the dark," I retorted.Derrick let out a long breath, almost in relief. "To be honest, that's just the right thing to do.""I know right. And Dean's been–," I pause, thinking my next words through.Derrick rolls his eyes. "What? Is he bothering you?" his expression shifts to that of concern.I suck in breath. "Not exactly, but he's been a little too much lately, dredging up the past, hurling hurtful words at me as if he'd planned to taunt me at every chance he gets," I reply but my voice has a sharp edge to it.Derrick's expression falters as he holds
(Bella)"Are you okay?" Surprisingly Cynthia asked as l walk down the hallway but l mistook her concern as she trying to pick a fight, like she always do.But I'm not about to engage her.I frown. "Not now, Cynthia." I said in a stern tone as I walk past her, my frustration simmering beneath the surface."Hey, I'm just trying to be nice here but you know what? Screw that," she spat, and next thing I heard the door of her office slammed shut.I ignore that, stepping right into my office, my chest tightening with an unbearable hurt.To think I convinced myself that I've moved past this, but there's never been a time Dean's words doesn't cut deep into my heart.And no matter how hard I try to act nonchalant, unbothered about his opinion of me, the hurt is still there. I want so much to be able to get over him completely.And I think I will need to get hold of all the emotions I'm feeling right now.It's not just hurt, it's even more of anger than hurt.A gentle knock comes to my door, cu
(Dean)"Yes, Humphrey. What is it?" I asked, seeing the look of disbelief registered on his face.He shakes his head, but the small smile creeping up his face doesn't go unnoticed. "Nothing sir. Was just about reminding you of your meeting with Clein's but well—," his eyes moves over my tall frame before his expression returns to it's neutral state.But not before I caught the faintest glimmer of amusement in his eyes. It's understandable though, I barely remember my schedule if he doesn't keep me on track.And I'd long grown accustomed to Humphrey's subtle expressions, and I know that beneath his reserved demeanor, he was probably thinking, "Well, at least you're remembered this time."But it's not just any meeting, this has to do with Bella and me getting back at her, of course I ought to remember!"Great. Drop the files and let's go," I blurted out, skipping right past his observation.He nods and goes over to the desk to do as I had said while I walk away gently, pocketing a hand.
(Ashley)"Patience Ashley. Be patient," Judy says with a glass of wine in hand, her legs crossed like an unflappable matriarch, her posture annoyingly serene.My blood is boiling with a rage I'm struggling to keep contained. So angry that this shameless bitch showed up here and is about to mess things up for me.I'm most certain she's not here solemnly for just business, and the look on her face earlier confirms it.And for that regard I doubt if patience is what we need right now. Best believe, it isn't.But Judy loves to be in charge, in control and since I need her to get to Dean, I will let her for now.Elena, who's sitting just across nods, adjusting slightly on her chair. "Pay that silly girl no mind. She's sharp-tongued, you shouldn't let anything she says get to you,"I want to believe that Bella was just rumbling but something about her confidence unnerves me, those taunting smile of hers puts me on the edge. It was like a stark mockery.The last time we talked, she was in t
(Bella)"Bella?" Calvin called softly, his eyes searching mine for a second. "I'm sorry about the other night, it wasn't my intention to make you uncomfortable," he says quietly. "I didn't mean to overstep,"I sensed the sincerity in his words, and offered a small smile. "You don't have to be, Calvin. It's fine, really." I reassure him.But if there's one thing that is certain from that night. It's Calvin and his feelings for me, he hasn't moved past it like I thought he would.I think I need to outrightly point this out but it's not now, not here, the timing isn't right yet."You sure?" He asks, looking at me keenly.I nod. "Yeah."I see him breath out in relief, his eyes pinned on me. "Thank you, for a moment I thought you'd be mad at me."I chuckle lightly. "What? No, Calvin." I replied earnestly."Well, I'm glad you aren't," he says, a soft smile playing at the corner of his lips.I chuckle lightly and glanced at my wristwatch. "I should go now. It's almost time to pick the twins
(Bella)"Mommy, can we go to the mall later?" Javier ask as we're all seated at the dining table, having breakfast.Jasmine nods her head, like they have some sort of understanding.These two!I give Anne a quick glance before turning my gaze back to Javier. "Uhm okay but why honey?"His face breaks into a smile. "We might see the handsome mister there, mommy." He says, his eyes gleaming from what I can't quite place my hand on.I shift uncomfortably on my chair. I mean, the other day I overheard him and his sister talking about this same handsome mister.At first, it didn't really bother me. I mean that's what kids usually do, they talk about things that excites them.And I thought he'd forget eventually. After all, they're kids.But now, looking at his excited face, while he looks back at me, his expression tells me he's really hoping I'd say yes.But how can I?Not when this is starting to unsettle me in some sort of way.Before I could reply him, Anne steps in, offering a warm smil