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
DAVID The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows over the winding road as I drove us back to the mansion. The air inside the car was heavy, weighed down by the unspoken truths that seemed to hang between us. Janet sat beside me, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her knuckles white. She stared out the window, but I knew her mind was far from the passing scenery.“I know what you’re thinking,” I said quietly, glancing at her from the corner of my eye.Her gaze didn’t waver. “Do you?”“You want to tell the world that your father didn’t die by accident,” I replied. “That he was murdered. Just like mine.”Janet turned to me, her eyes wide, her lips trembling with words she couldn’t bring herself to say. I reached over, briefly covering her hand with mine. “We’ll figure it out,” I assured her. “With your drawing of the truck driver and the old newspaper clippings, we’re getting closer to the truth.”Her fingers relaxed under mine, and a faint smile tugged at her lips. “We’
DAVID The air in the room was thick with tension, each of us lost in the unspoken questions that hung between us. Bella fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve, her eyes darting toward the drawing on the table. Janet’s hands rested in her lap, clenched tightly enough to turn her knuckles white. I leaned forward, breaking the silence. “Bella,” I said, my voice low but firm, “we need to visit your dad. He might know more about this man.” I tapped the drawing for emphasis, my gaze locked on hers. Her hesitation was brief, but it didn’t go unnoticed. “Maybe later,” she said softly, her words almost drowned out by the ticking of the clock on the wall. I nodded, leaning back in my chair and pulling out my phone. A notification flashed on the screen an unread message from Elowen to, Western. I swiped it open, and my brow furrowed as I read: I think Mrs. Williams has figured out the truth about Bella’s pendant. Do you think you’re still safe, Father? My jaw tightened. A second message
DAVIDThe air was thick with unspoken questions as we drove to Austin Village. Bella sat beside me, her hands resting on her swollen belly, her gaze fixed on the passing scenery. Janet sat in the back, quiet for once, her arms crossed as if holding in the weight of her own thoughts.The tension was palpable. None of us spoke, but I knew we were all thinking the same thing: finding the truth.When we pulled up in front of Mr. Adams' house, it looked as charming as Bella had described it a modest home with a colorful garden that seemed to pulse with life even in the fading light of day. Bella smiled faintly as she stepped out of the car, her eyes scanning the familiar surroundings."I’ll go get my dad. He’s probably in the garden," she said, her tone light but her steps hesitant.I stood beside her, teasing, “We’ll go together. He’s not just your dad anymore—he’s ours now.”She rolled her eyes, pushing me playfully. “Come on, David. Don’t be clingy. It’s just a short walk, and I’ll be b
DAVID“You can’t just leave us at home and go alone, David,” Janet said, her tone sharp, almost cutting through the heavy silence in the room.I leaned back against the wall, crossing my arms as I faced her. Her jaw was clenched, her brows furrowed in defiance. "I can’t risk you getting hurt," I replied evenly, my voice firm.Janet scoffed, throwing her hands in the air. "We’re talking about my parents here!" she snapped, pacing the length of the room like a caged lion."And we’re also talking about my parents!" Bella chimed in, her voice calm but no less resolute as she stood from the couch, one hand instinctively resting on her rounded belly.I exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of my nose. They were both determined, but my mind was made up. Bella was too far along in her pregnancy, and Janet... she was fierce, but she wasn’t trained for this. Not for him.“You’re both staying here," I said, my tone leaving no room for argument. "I’ll bring him back. Once he’s here, you can ask hi
DAVID The house reeked of stale alcohol, the kind that clung to your nostrils and refused to leave. Broken bottles crunched under my boots as I stepped inside, scanning the dimly lit room. A toppled chair lay near the corner, and a table was split down the middle as if someone had taken an axe to it. The place wasn’t just messy it was chaos frozen in time.But Matthew wasn’t here.I raised my hand, signaling the guards to hold their positions. Something felt wrong. The air had a stillness to it, a suffocating quiet that screamed of a trap. Slowly, we began to back out, each step deliberate, calculated.Then, I heard it."David."The voice came from somewhere in the shadows, low and hoarse, like it had crawled out of a grave. My eyes snapped to the source.Matthew stepped into the light, his grey hair wild and unkempt, his clothes hanging loose like they didn’t belong to him. He swayed slightly, his breath heavy with liquor, but his eyes were sharp, unyielding."I knew you’d come," he
DAVID The car screeched to a halt in front of the mansion. My guards yanked Matthew from the back seat, his frail body stumbling as they dragged him across the gravel. He reeked of stale alcohol and desperation, his bloodied face turned downward, too weak to resist. “Where should we put him?” John asked, his voice low but steady. “The basement,” I said flatly, my gaze locked on Matthew. He was barely conscious, but I wasn’t letting him slip away. Not now. Not after all this time. The guards carried out my order without hesitation, disappearing down the hall with Matthew. I stood rooted on the driveway, my thoughts swirling. The man who murdered my uncle, who ripped apart my family’s life, was finally in my grasp. Answers were within reach—answers about him, about Bella’s parents. My thoughts were interrupted by hurried footsteps and the sound of Bella’s voice. “David!” she called, her tone trembling with urgency. I turned to see her running toward me, Janet close behind. J
BELLA The room felt suffocating, the weight of unspoken questions pressing against my chest. I stepped out into the garden, the cool evening air offering little relief from the storm inside me. The golden hues of the setting sun bathed the garden in a warm glow, but my thoughts were far from calm. From a distance, Jasper’s laughter rippled through the air, light and carefree. He crouched beside a patch of marigolds, meticulously arranging his toy trucks in neat rows. His small hands moved with focus, his head tilted in concentration—a gesture so achingly familiar, it stole my breath. I leaned against the gazebo, folding my arms as I studied him. Every feature mirrored my own: the same thick, wavy hair and almond-shaped eyes that seemed to hold the world within them. It was like looking into a reflection of my childhood. My chest tightened. Could it really be true? Could he be my son? I swallowed the thought before it could take root. No assumptions, not yet. Pulling my phon
DAVIDBella’s hand slipped into mine, her fingers warm, steady, like a silent anchor in the storm of my thoughts. I could feel her watching me, the way her breath held just a little tighter, as if she were waiting for me to reveal something important, something heavy. Her gaze was soft, patient, but her eyes those eyes were filled with questions. I had to tell her now, before the silence swallowed us whole.“I need to tell you something,” I began, my voice rough, like I hadn’t used it in years. I pulled in a shaky breath, trying to steady my nerves. “You know I’m Jasper’s biological father, right?”She didn’t flinch, didn’t pull her hand away. Instead, she just looked at me, her brow furrowed slightly as if processing my words. Her lips parted, and I could see the wheels turning behind her eyes. “Yes, I know,” she said quietly, her voice betraying none of the surprise I felt. “Nobody knows except... well, except you. You’ve kept that part of your life a secret.”I swallowed, nodding,
DAVID “Who could that be?” I muttered, lowering Bella gently onto the bed. She curled into the sheets, her hair spilling over the pillow, her flushed face glowing with post-kiss warmth. My gut tightened, unease bubbling as I strode to the door.When I swung it open, Mrs. Williams stood there, her perfectly sculpted smile greeting me like a storm waiting to erupt. Her gaze flicked downward for a split second, and a mischievous glint lit her eyes. I didn’t have to look down to know what she’d seen.“Hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said, her voice layered with mock innocence.Heat crept up my neck as I grabbed Bella’s pillow and shifted it in front of me. Her laugh was light but deliberate, like a dagger teasing its target.“Come in,” I said, stepping aside and silently cursing the timing.Bella appeared from the bed, her eyes widening in surprise as she rushed forward.“Mom!” she said, her tone a mix of joy and confusion.Mrs. Williams enveloped her in an embrace, smoothing do
DAVIDThe shrill wail of police sirens cut through the dawn, jolting me from my restless sleep. Groaning, I pushed the heavy duvet aside and swung my legs over the edge of the bed. A knock sounded at the door just as I raked a hand through my disheveled hair.“Come in,” I said, voice hoarse from sleep.The door creaked open, revealing one of the maids. She stood in the doorway, her hands clasped nervously in front of her.“Sir, the police are here. And, um… there are reporters outside too,” she said, her voice trembling slightly.Reporters? My brows furrowed as I processed her words. I remembered calling the police last night to pick up Western and Peter, but reporters weren’t part of the plan. Unless…“Alright, I’ll be down in a minute,” I told her. She bowed and slipped out quietly.Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I dialed the chief of police. He picked up on the first ring.“We’re at the gate,” he said briskly, his voice almost drowned out by the background chatter.“How d
DAVID“You see,” Peter said, his grin widening, his voice dripping with venom, “sometimes the monsters aren’t hiding under your bed. They’re sitting at the dinner table.”Elowen’s face froze, her breath catching in her throat. She looked at Peter, then at her father, who had shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Western’s usual air of defiance was nowhere to be seen; his gaze was fixed on the cold cement floor, his shoulders slumped like a man carrying the weight of his sins.Peter’s voice turned colder, sharper. “Where do I even begin? Should I start from before you were born, Elowen? Do you even know who your father really is? He kidnapped your biological mother. She never left his side never had the chance to because he made sure of it until the day she died.”Elowen stepped back as if Peter’s words were blows, her trembling hand pressed against her mouth. “What are you talking about?” she whispered, her voice barely audible.Peter smirked, his eyes glinting with satisfaction as he g
DAVIDThe sound of gravel crunching beneath the car tires faded as I stepped out into the cool night air. My guards hauled Western out of the vehicle, his body slumped but still exuding defiance. Shadows danced across his bruised face under the pale glow of the outdoor lights. Without a word, they dragged him toward the basement door, the sharp clink of their boots echoing against the stone walls.I turned to the maids waiting by the entrance. “Take Mrs. Williams to a guest room,” I instructed, my voice calm but firm.Before they could move, her soft voice interrupted. “Can I see Sofia before I sleep?”Her words tugged at something deep within me. Sofia. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to hearing Bella called that, even if it was her given name. I managed a smile, masking my unease.“I’ll bring her to your room,” I promised gently.She gave a small nod, her face weary yet hopeful, and followed the maids inside.Beside me, Janet shifted her weight impatiently. Her silence didn’t fool m
DAVID“If that’s the case, wait by the car. I’ll join you shortly,” I said, waving Janet and Elowen toward the door. Their hesitant footsteps faded down the hallway as I leaned back in my chair and exhaled deeply.Picking up my phone, I dialed John, my head of security.“I need you in my office. Now,” I said, my voice sharp.“Yes, sir,” came his immediate reply.Minutes later, a brisk knock echoed through the room.“Come in,” I called, standing as the door opened to reveal John. He stepped inside and gave a small bow, his expression calm but alert.“I need fifteen of our best men,” I said, walking toward him. “Make sure they’re trained to handle weapons. Bring the finest gear we’ve got bulletproof vests, high-grade firearms, everything. And prepare four bulletproof cars. We’re moving out soon.”John nodded, his posture rigid. “Anything else, sir?”“Yes,” I said, my tone grim. “This mission isn’t a negotiation. If anyone gets in our way, take them down.”“Understood,” he said, and with
DAVIDThe moment I slid into the driver’s seat, frustration bubbled over. My fists slammed into the steering wheel, and I let out a guttural scream that echoed in the enclosed space. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This wasn’t the plan. Everything was crumbling, and Bella God, what would I tell Bella?The car door creaked as Janet leaned forward from the back seat, her touch soft but questioning.“What happened? Where is Mrs. Williams?” Her voice trembled with urgency.I clenched the wheel tighter, the leather groaning under my grip. The memory of the scene played over in my mind like a haunting reel. If only I had forced Mrs. Williams into the car earlier made her stay with Janet this wouldn’t have happened.“Western took her,” I finally spat out, each word like venom on my tongue.“What?” Her voice cracked, her face paling as her eyes searched mine for answers. “How is that even possible?”“There’s no time for explanations,” I said, my voice sharper than intended. “I need a solution
DAVIDThe room was eerily silent, the kind of silence that pressed against your chest. Bella sat curled on the couch, her hands twisting nervously in her lap. Mrs. Williams stood by the window, her arms crossed as she gazed out into the evening light, her expression unreadable. I leaned back in my armchair, fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest. My patience was running thin, but I wasn’t about to show it.The sound of soft footsteps approached the door, and then one of my maids appeared. She bowed slightly before speaking.“Sir, there is a lady here. She claims to be ma’am’s friend,” she said, her voice measured but tinged with curiosity.A smirk tugged at my lips. So, Elowen finally decided to show up.“What’s her name?” I asked, sitting forward, my gaze sharp.“She said her name is Elowen. Should I let her in?”“Bring her in,” I commanded.The maid disappeared, and moments later, she returned with Elowen in tow. Her face, a canvas of shock and confusion, made it clear she hadn