Chapter ten
1223 Words
Her purse and car keys fell from her hands at the sight of who was standing there...
Bella froze in place, her heart pounding erratically. She struggled to process the sight of Luke standing at her door. He looked impossibly composed, his tailored black suit fitting him like a glove, his sharp features betraying nothing of the emotions she imagined he must be feeling. For a moment, Bella couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. Her children, standing behind her, exchanged confused glances before Oliver spoke.
“Mom? Is something wrong?” he asked cautiously.
Bella snapped out of her trance, her maternal instincts kicking in. She bent to pick up her purse and car keys, her hands trembling as she did so. Straightening up, she forced a smile onto her face and turned to her children.
“Go back inside for a moment, okay? Mommy needs to handle something,” she said, her voice unnaturally bright.
Oliver and Olivia hesitated, glancing curiously at Luke before obeying their mother’s request. As soon as they were inside, Bella stepped out, shutting the door firmly behind her. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared at Luke.
“What are you doing here?” she demanded in a hushed tone, her voice laced with anger and panic.
Luke’s lips curved into a small smile, one that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Good morning to you too, Bella.”
“Don’t play games with me,” she hissed. “I asked you a question. Why are you here?”
Luke shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned slightly against the doorframe, exuding an infuriating air of calm. “I think you know why I’m here.”
“No, I don’t,” Bella shot back. “And I don’t want to know. I told you to leave me alone.”
“That’s going to be a little hard to do,” Luke replied, his tone casual but firm. “I’ve already let you push me away once, and I won’t make that mistake again.”
Bella stared at him, incredulous. “You let me push you away? Are you kidding me right now? You had no business looking for me in the first place!”
Luke’s smile faded, and a flicker of something crossed his face. hurt, regret, determination? crossed his face. “Bella, I need answers. I can’t move on without them. And if you’d stop running for five minutes, maybe we could have a real conversation.”
“There’s nothing to talk about,” Bella said, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to sound confident. “That night was a mistake—a horrible, stupid mistake. And I’ve moved on from it.”
“But have you really?” Luke asked, his gaze piercing. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re running scared.”
Bella flinched, his words cutting deeper than she cared to admit. She took a step back, putting more distance between them. “I don’t owe you anything, Luke. Not my time, not my explanations, and definitely not my life.”
Luke took a step forward, closing the gap she’d just created. His expression softened slightly, but his resolve was unyielding. “You’re right. You don’t owe me anything. But I’m not here for me—I’m here for you.”
Bella laughed bitterly. “Spare me the noble act. You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough,” Luke said quietly. “I know you’re hurting. I know you’ve been carrying a burden that you shouldn’t have to carry alone. And I know that whatever it is, it’s eating you alive.”
Bella opened her mouth to retort, but no words came out. Her throat tightened, and for a terrifying moment, she thought she might break down right there in front of him. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Leave,” she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. “Please, just go.”
Luke studied her for a long moment, his jaw tightening as if he were waging an internal battle. Finally, he nodded. “I’ll leave—for now. But this isn’t over, Bella. I’ll be back.”
With that, he turned and walked away, his footsteps echoing in the quiet hallway. Bella waited until she was sure he was gone before sagging against the door, her legs trembling beneath her. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her racing heart.
Back inside, Oliver and Olivia were waiting for her in the living room, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity. Bella took a deep breath and forced herself to smile as she joined them.
“Everything’s fine,” she said, hoping her voice sounded more convincing than she felt. “Let’s get going, okay?”
The twins exchanged a glance but didn’t press the issue. They trusted their mother, even if they didn’t fully understand what was going on. Bella was grateful for that. The last thing she needed was for them to start asking questions she wasn’t ready to answer.
As they headed to the car, Bella couldn’t shake the feeling that her carefully constructed world was beginning to unravel. She had spent years building a life for herself and her children, keeping the past firmly in the past. But now, with Luke back in the picture, everything felt precarious.
For the next few days, Bella threw herself into work, determined to keep her mind occupied. She avoided her grandmother’s knowing looks and ignored the occasional questions from her children about the man at the door. She told herself that she was doing the right thing, that protecting her children was all that mattered. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the nagging doubt that crept into her thoughts late at night.
Meanwhile, Luke was just as determined. He spent his days juggling his business responsibilities and his quest to uncover the truth about Bella’s past. The more he learned, the more convinced he became that there was more to the story than she was letting on. He couldn’t ignore his findings, the children. His children.
By the end of the week, Luke decided he couldn’t wait any longer. He needed to see Bella again, to confront her directly. He arrived at the restaurant just as the evening rush was starting. The place was bustling with activity, but his eyes immediately found Bella behind the counter, her movements graceful and efficient as she handled the orders.
She didn’t notice him at first, too focused on her work. But when she finally looked up and saw him, her entire body tensed. For a moment, they simply stared at each other, the noise of the restaurant fading into the background. Then, with a determined expression, Bella wiped her hands on her apron and walked over to him.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice low and measured.
Luke smiled, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I told you I’d be back.”
“You don’t give up, do you?”
“Not when it comes to you.”
Bella crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing. “What do you want, Luke?”
“Answers,” he said simply. “And this time, I’m not leaving until I get them.”
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