BELLADavid’s warm breath brushed against my forehead as he pressed a tender kiss there. I leaned into his broad chest, letting the rhythmic hum of the car engine soothe me. The world outside the tinted windows blurred into streaks of green and gray, but my mind was stuck on a question I had never gotten a proper answer to.Jasper’s biological mother.I’d asked David countless times, but he always deflected, sidestepping the truth with a practiced ease. Early in our relationship, my curiosity had earned me a sharp glare and a clipped response, a warning not to pry. His reaction then only fueled my suspicions. Whoever she was, she wasn’t Lizzy. That much I knew.Jasper hated Lizzy with a passion that went far beyond childish rebellion.Lost in thought, I glanced up at David’s face, his sharp jawline and piercing eyes commanding attention even when he wasn’t trying. Before I could look away, he caught me.“Am I that handsome you can’t tear your eyes away?” he teased, a playful grin tugg
BELLAThe room fell silent, tension crackling like a storm about to break. All eyes were glued to the pendant around Jasper's neck, its polished surface catching the light like a beacon. My chest tightened as Mrs. Williams stepped forward, her gaze fixed on it with an unsettling intensity."Where did you get that?" she asked, her voice tight with something between curiosity and desperation.The words tumbled out of me before I could stop them. “I own it.”Her sharp gaze shifted to me, cutting through the air like a blade. “How did you come by it?” she pressed, her steps drawing her closer.I swallowed hard, heat crawling up my neck. “It was my dad’s,” I managed. “He gave it to me.”Her features softened, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. For a moment, something flickered in her eyes relief, maybe? Regret? “I’m sorry for making a scene,” she said, smoothing her dress as if nothing had happened. “It just reminded me of something I used to have.”“Right,” Mr. Copperfield cut in
BELLAThe sunlight streamed through my curtains, warming my face. I blinked against the brightness, groaning softly. My body felt heavy, the memory of last night a blur. Did I really fall asleep in the car?I sat up, the silky sheets pooling around my waist. My room looked untouched, pristine as always, but the faint scent of David’s cologne lingered in the air. Of course. He must have carried me in just like he carries Jasper when the little boy falls asleep during movie nights. The thought made me smile.A quick glance at the clock wiped the smile off my face. “Crap!” I shot out of bed, grabbing my towel as I rushed into the bathroom.The shower sprayed cold water at first, making me shiver, but I welcomed the jolt. Today was big. A visitor was coming to the office, though my boss hadn’t shared who it was. Not that it mattered. I needed to bring my A-game. Just because David owned the company didn’t mean I could slack off. Nobody except Elowen knew we were together, and I intended t
DAVIDBella’s expression told me everything I needed to know. She tried to mask it with that soft, disarming smile, but I wasn’t fooled. I’ve lived with her long enough to recognize the storm brewing behind her eyes. She’d promised to let me take the lead, but I knew better. The mystery surrounding her parents and Elowen’s cryptic behavior had already consumed her.And that scared me.Elowen’s father, Mr. Western, wasn’t just dangerous he was lethal. The kind of man who didn’t think twice before crossing moral lines. I couldn’t let Bella step into his world unprepared, not when she was carrying my child.Bella brushed past me, her hand brushing mine as she moved toward the bedroom. “I’m tired, David. I’m going to bed.” Her voice was soft, but I caught the faint edge of exhaustion beneath it.I nodded, forcing a smile. “Okay, babe.” Leaning in, I kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes, and for a fleeting moment, I saw the vulnerability she rarely showed. Watching her retreat down the
DAVIDThe early morning air feels crisp against my skin as I sit on the patio, laptop balanced on my knees. The garden stretches before me, lush and serene, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in my mind. I’ve been up since dawn, going over my plans. Today, everything has to fall into place.A faint rumble breaks the silence, growing louder until a sleek black Lamborghini pulls into the driveway. Janet steps out, her stilettos clicking against the pavement, exuding confidence as she walks toward me."Nice car," I say, leaning back in my chair, a smirk tugging at my lips. "But it’s Grandpa’s, isn’t it?"She rolls her eyes, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "You don’t have to embarrass me first thing in the morning. And for your information, what’s Grandpa’s is technically mine too.""Really?" I arch a brow, feigning skepticism. "So you’re his favorite now?""Obviously," she says, settling into the chair beside me. Her smug grin tells me she’s enjoying this little victory."Alright
DAVID "Don’t you think we should tell Bella this time?" Janet’s voice cut through the silence, firm but soft, her words laced with concern. "The last time we didn’t, it broke her. She had to leave the house, and honestly, I was terrified we’d lose her for good." Her lips curved into a wistful smile. "I don’t want to miss out on such a beautiful sister-in-law."I leaned back in my chair, her words hitting me like a wave. She was right Bella deserved to know. But the fear clung to me like a shadow. What if she couldn’t handle the truth? What if it shattered her all over again? The thought of losing Bella, even for a moment, tightened my chest."David." Janet’s voice softened now, a gentle nudge pulling me from my thoughts. "We need to tell her. This is about her, and she has a right to know."I exhaled, my fingers hovering over my phone screen before I finally dialed Bella’s number. The familiar tone rang once, then twice, before her warm voice came through."Babe?" she answered."Can
Adam Bella"What do you mean?" I asked, staring at Michael my boyfriend, or at least, the man I thought he was as he blocked me from entering his apartment.His eyes held no remorse, no flicker of the love we had shared for six long years. The man I thought I knew stood before me now, cold and distant.It was as if I were nothing more than an inconvenience, a piece of trash he could toss aside without a second thought."I'm sorry, Bella, but we can't be together anymore. We can just be friends. I'm focused on building my career, and I need a woman of my class. We're no longer in the same caliber.I know you helped me through school, but I can't end up with you. I'm a manager now, aiming for something higher. I can support you with some money."His words cut deeper with each sentence. My chest tightened, my breath quickened. I blinked rapidly, trying to process what he had just said when a woman's voice cut through the fog in my mind.I turned, and there she was Vivan, my colleague. She
ADAM BELLA I blinked, sure I hadn’t heard him right. "What?"His gaze remained locked on mine, unwavering. "You heard me. Marry me.""Are you insane?" I stepped back, but he held my hand firm, his eyes glinting with something dangerous something determined."No. And I don’t repeat myself twice."The audacity of the man nearly rendered me speechless. Who did he think he was? I crossed my arms, doing my best to mask the disbelief coursing through me. "Well, I’m not interested."I turned, intending to leave this bizarre encounter behind, when his next words stopped me cold."I’ll pay you ten million dollars."I froze, my heart skipping a beat. Slowly, I turned back to face him. His expression was dead serious, not a hint of humor in those ice-cold eyes. "What did you say?""Ten million. To marry me for a year."I stared at him, every nerve in my body screaming that this couldn’t be real. It had to be a joke. But there was no trace of laughter on his face. Only deadly seriousness."I’m no
DAVID "Don’t you think we should tell Bella this time?" Janet’s voice cut through the silence, firm but soft, her words laced with concern. "The last time we didn’t, it broke her. She had to leave the house, and honestly, I was terrified we’d lose her for good." Her lips curved into a wistful smile. "I don’t want to miss out on such a beautiful sister-in-law."I leaned back in my chair, her words hitting me like a wave. She was right Bella deserved to know. But the fear clung to me like a shadow. What if she couldn’t handle the truth? What if it shattered her all over again? The thought of losing Bella, even for a moment, tightened my chest."David." Janet’s voice softened now, a gentle nudge pulling me from my thoughts. "We need to tell her. This is about her, and she has a right to know."I exhaled, my fingers hovering over my phone screen before I finally dialed Bella’s number. The familiar tone rang once, then twice, before her warm voice came through."Babe?" she answered."Can
DAVIDThe early morning air feels crisp against my skin as I sit on the patio, laptop balanced on my knees. The garden stretches before me, lush and serene, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in my mind. I’ve been up since dawn, going over my plans. Today, everything has to fall into place.A faint rumble breaks the silence, growing louder until a sleek black Lamborghini pulls into the driveway. Janet steps out, her stilettos clicking against the pavement, exuding confidence as she walks toward me."Nice car," I say, leaning back in my chair, a smirk tugging at my lips. "But it’s Grandpa’s, isn’t it?"She rolls her eyes, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "You don’t have to embarrass me first thing in the morning. And for your information, what’s Grandpa’s is technically mine too.""Really?" I arch a brow, feigning skepticism. "So you’re his favorite now?""Obviously," she says, settling into the chair beside me. Her smug grin tells me she’s enjoying this little victory."Alright
DAVIDBella’s expression told me everything I needed to know. She tried to mask it with that soft, disarming smile, but I wasn’t fooled. I’ve lived with her long enough to recognize the storm brewing behind her eyes. She’d promised to let me take the lead, but I knew better. The mystery surrounding her parents and Elowen’s cryptic behavior had already consumed her.And that scared me.Elowen’s father, Mr. Western, wasn’t just dangerous he was lethal. The kind of man who didn’t think twice before crossing moral lines. I couldn’t let Bella step into his world unprepared, not when she was carrying my child.Bella brushed past me, her hand brushing mine as she moved toward the bedroom. “I’m tired, David. I’m going to bed.” Her voice was soft, but I caught the faint edge of exhaustion beneath it.I nodded, forcing a smile. “Okay, babe.” Leaning in, I kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes, and for a fleeting moment, I saw the vulnerability she rarely showed. Watching her retreat down the
BELLAThe sunlight streamed through my curtains, warming my face. I blinked against the brightness, groaning softly. My body felt heavy, the memory of last night a blur. Did I really fall asleep in the car?I sat up, the silky sheets pooling around my waist. My room looked untouched, pristine as always, but the faint scent of David’s cologne lingered in the air. Of course. He must have carried me in just like he carries Jasper when the little boy falls asleep during movie nights. The thought made me smile.A quick glance at the clock wiped the smile off my face. “Crap!” I shot out of bed, grabbing my towel as I rushed into the bathroom.The shower sprayed cold water at first, making me shiver, but I welcomed the jolt. Today was big. A visitor was coming to the office, though my boss hadn’t shared who it was. Not that it mattered. I needed to bring my A-game. Just because David owned the company didn’t mean I could slack off. Nobody except Elowen knew we were together, and I intended t
BELLAThe room fell silent, tension crackling like a storm about to break. All eyes were glued to the pendant around Jasper's neck, its polished surface catching the light like a beacon. My chest tightened as Mrs. Williams stepped forward, her gaze fixed on it with an unsettling intensity."Where did you get that?" she asked, her voice tight with something between curiosity and desperation.The words tumbled out of me before I could stop them. “I own it.”Her sharp gaze shifted to me, cutting through the air like a blade. “How did you come by it?” she pressed, her steps drawing her closer.I swallowed hard, heat crawling up my neck. “It was my dad’s,” I managed. “He gave it to me.”Her features softened, a smile tugging at the corners of her lips. For a moment, something flickered in her eyes relief, maybe? Regret? “I’m sorry for making a scene,” she said, smoothing her dress as if nothing had happened. “It just reminded me of something I used to have.”“Right,” Mr. Copperfield cut in
BELLADavid’s warm breath brushed against my forehead as he pressed a tender kiss there. I leaned into his broad chest, letting the rhythmic hum of the car engine soothe me. The world outside the tinted windows blurred into streaks of green and gray, but my mind was stuck on a question I had never gotten a proper answer to.Jasper’s biological mother.I’d asked David countless times, but he always deflected, sidestepping the truth with a practiced ease. Early in our relationship, my curiosity had earned me a sharp glare and a clipped response, a warning not to pry. His reaction then only fueled my suspicions. Whoever she was, she wasn’t Lizzy. That much I knew.Jasper hated Lizzy with a passion that went far beyond childish rebellion.Lost in thought, I glanced up at David’s face, his sharp jawline and piercing eyes commanding attention even when he wasn’t trying. Before I could look away, he caught me.“Am I that handsome you can’t tear your eyes away?” he teased, a playful grin tugg
BELLAThe house was quiet, too quiet.It had been a week since everything unfolded a week since Janet showed a side of herself I’d never imagined existed. I thought David had the monopoly on cold, calculating intensity, but no. It seemed to run deep in the Copperfield bloodline. Janet’s icy demeanor and unrelenting drive had sent chills down my spine.As I sat on the edge of my bed, my hands instinctively rested on my growing belly. My thoughts wandered as I absently traced small circles over the bump. Would our baby inherit that cold fire? That unflinching resolve?“No,” I whispered to the empty room, shaking my head firmly. “I won’t let that happen.”But as I glanced in the mirror, my reflection didn’t look so certain. My hand lingered on my stomach, my mind replaying moments of David’s intense glares, Janet’s sharp words, and even Grandpa’s commanding presence. Would this little life growing inside me carry those traits?The sudden creak of the bedroom door snapped me out of my spi
JANETThe sharp ache in my side dragged me from a restless sleep. My body protested as I sat up, every movement feeling like a battle. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, soft but unrelenting, highlighting the faint dust motes floating in the air. I groaned, my voice raspy and weak, catching sight of David slouched in a chair beside my bed, his head tilted at an awkward angle. Bella was curled up in another chair, her knees tucked to her chest, her face soft in sleep.They must have stayed with me all night. Babysitters. My lips curled in a bitter smile as I shifted my weight, the rustling of the sheets loud in the still room.David stirred first, rubbing the back of his neck before his eyes snapped to mine. Relief flooded his face as he rose and approached. “You’re awake,” he said, his voice low but steady.“Barely,” I muttered, forcing a weak grin.“Are you okay?” he asked, crouching beside me, his eyes scanning my face.I nodded but winced as pain flared through my ribs. “I
DAVIDThe gravel crunched beneath my polished shoes as I approached the decrepit house, its peeling paint and broken windows matching the decay I felt brewing inside me. My guards moved silently, circling the structure like shadows. I raised a hand, signaling them to hold position as I neared the door.Then, I heard her voice. Janet’s voice, strained and trembling.“Do you think David will let you go scot-free?” she demanded, her words sharp despite the pain behind them.“He doesn’t have to find out,” Vivian replied, her tone cold and resolute.My jaw clenched. I kicked the door in with a force that sent it crashing against the wall, the wood splintering under my fury. Inside, chaos erupted. Denise bolted for the window, but he didn’t get far. Two of my guards caught him mid-leap, a solid punch to his jaw sending him sprawling to the floor.Vivian stood frozen, her wide eyes darting between me and the guards dragging Denise back into the room. Her hands trembled as she took a step bac