DAVIDThe 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 Bella’s father, 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 arriv
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. Janet’s jaw
DAVIDThe tension in the room was suffocating, every breath heavy with unspoken rage and despair. Matthew sat slumped against the chair, his face battered and bloodied, but his smirk remained mocking, almost taunting us.“How is that possible?” he muttered, his voice hoarse but frantic. “It can’t be… Adam is poor! How could you meet her in this city?” His eyes darted between me and Bella, widening with each realization. “You can’t let her meet Western! If he knows she’s alive, he’ll kill me!”“Why would he kill you?” I asked coldly, my voice slicing through the tension.Matthew’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his fear outweighed the pain. “That night… I was supposed to kill her and return her body. Just like I returned her twin’s body.” He paused, his gaze darting nervously to Bella. “But I couldn’t find her. So I lied. I told Western I killed her, dumped her body in the ocean.”I leaned back, a smirk tugging at my lips. Did
DAVIDMatthew’s voice was cold and detached, a predator recounting his kills. “Let’s just say I watched him drown in a tank of water,” he said, his lips curling into a smirk.I stared at him, my hands balling into fists. How could someone speak so casually about such brutality?“It was about the money,” Matthew continued, his tone devoid of remorse. “Western offered me a hefty sum to take care of him. And I did. Your father… he was too kind, too trusting.” He sneered at Bella, whose tears streamed silently down her face. “He was the type who’d offer his hand to anyone in need. It disgusted me.”Bella's body trembled, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of the table.Matthew chuckled, savoring the pain he was causing. “He even gave me a job at Williams Construction Group, paid me more than anyone else. Can you imagine? A man like him, thinking the world can be changed with kindness.” His gaze darkened. “But I was tired of him. Tired of his good heart.”I could feel the room’s te
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
DAVIDMatthew’s voice was cold and detached, a predator recounting his kills. “Let’s just say I watched him drown in a tank of water,” he said, his lips curling into a smirk.I stared at him, my hands balling into fists. How could someone speak so casually about such brutality?“It was about the money,” Matthew continued, his tone devoid of remorse. “Western offered me a hefty sum to take care of him. And I did. Your father… he was too kind, too trusting.” He sneered at Bella, whose tears streamed silently down her face. “He was the type who’d offer his hand to anyone in need. It disgusted me.”Bella's body trembled, her knuckles white as she gripped the edge of the table.Matthew chuckled, savoring the pain he was causing. “He even gave me a job at Williams Construction Group, paid me more than anyone else. Can you imagine? A man like him, thinking the world can be changed with kindness.” His gaze darkened. “But I was tired of him. Tired of his good heart.”I could feel the room’s te
DAVIDThe tension in the room was suffocating, every breath heavy with unspoken rage and despair. Matthew sat slumped against the chair, his face battered and bloodied, but his smirk remained mocking, almost taunting us.“How is that possible?” he muttered, his voice hoarse but frantic. “It can’t be… Adam is poor! How could you meet her in this city?” His eyes darted between me and Bella, widening with each realization. “You can’t let her meet Western! If he knows she’s alive, he’ll kill me!”“Why would he kill you?” I asked coldly, my voice slicing through the tension.Matthew’s Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth, but his fear outweighed the pain. “That night… I was supposed to kill her and return her body. Just like I returned her twin’s body.” He paused, his gaze darting nervously to Bella. “But I couldn’t find her. So I lied. I told Western I killed her, dumped her body in the ocean.”I leaned back, a smirk tugging at my lips. Did
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. Janet’s jaw
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“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
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
DAVIDThe 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 Bella’s father, 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 arriv
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 "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