My Stepbrother, My Baby's Stepfather

Chapter 6

Bella

I’d long since left Diego and his posse to their bickering.

About an hour later, it seemed they sorted out their squabble, and Ana basically ordered me to fetch them tea. The only reason I did, was because Lucia had just woken up, and I was in the stage of teaching her how to be kind to everyone, including strangers.

By the time I carried the tea tray back into the living room, the voices had settled into a fragile sort of civility.

I paused just past the doorway, steadying the porcelain cups with one hand, but as I broke the corner to the sitting room, my heart dipped when I saw Sofia on the rug with her perfect hair falling in soft waves as she held Lucia’s stuffed bunny and hopped it across her lap.

Lucia giggled, the sound light and innocent, unaware of the tension going around the room once I entered, like a damn elephant.

But Sofia’s hand was an inch from my daughter’s hair, brushing a curl away like she had the right.

I stepped in before the touch landed.

“Lucia,” I called gently, keeping my tone smooth. “Sweetheart, don’t go too far. I brought tea.”

She perked up instantly, abandoning her bunny and running to me. Sofia stood slowly, masking her distaste with a warm smile that didn’t reach her eyes.

I could see right through her. She never really liked Lucia. She was just putting on a show for Ana and Diego. If they thought she won Lucia over, then it would only ‘prove’ Ana’s point even more.

“Bella,” Sofia greeted, swaying towards me like we were old friends. “You have such a lovely daughter. She’s as sweet as Diego always said.”

Lucia blushed behind her tea cup at the compliment, but I only offered a polite smile, one of those neutral expressions that held neither warmth nor hostility. I’d learned to master it over years of forced politeness.

“Thank you.”

Sofia drifted toward me with the same elegance she’d worn into the house. It bugged me how hard she tried. It was as plain as day how fake she was, and it annoyed me how no one else seemed to see it.

I could care less if Diego wanted to waste his life away with her. But I wouldn’t let my daughter be raised by someone like that.

“I was just telling Lucia how we all used to go to the amusement park in high school,” she said lightly. “Diego always insisted on riding the biggest coaster first.”

Of course he did. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

I set the tea tray down. “I didn’t know that.”

Her lashes fluttered as she smiled.

“Oh, he probably forgot to mention it. We were always in each other’s space those days. Him, me and Shaw… and anyone else always came second.”

I caught her hidden meaning, but I refused to fan her fire. Her gaze flicked toward Diego, who looked increasingly uncomfortable.

“Last night felt a bit like old times, honestly,” she added softly.

My hand stilled around the handle of the teapot.

Last night?

Sofia continued, oblivious to the silence that settled behind her words. Or maybe that’s what she wanted.

“Diego invited a few of us over,” she said with a soft sigh. “Just a little gathering. Nothing wild. Well, Shaw convinced us to go to the movies afterward, even though Diego said he was exhausted. But you know Diego… he’s always been good at rallying when friends need him.”

My breath lodged in my chest.

Lucia had cried herself to sleep in my arms multiple nights, all because Diego didn’t show up when she needed him. Yet, it was different for his friends, it seemed.

And it wasn’t even anything serious, like these business meetings he keeps mentioning every time Sofia comes up. He was at a movie.

I turned slightly, enough that Diego couldn’t avoid my eyes.

He looked like he wanted to melt into the furniture.

Sofia smiled. “He really is thoughtful, even when he pretends he’s not. He made sure everyone had rides home afterward. It was nice seeing him like that again.”

It was the gentle way she said it that twisted inside me, not out of jealousy but out of a deeper, quieter hurt.

He was always available for them. But never for us.

Something in me wanted to scald their faces with the hot liquid in my hands. But I poured her a cup of tea anyway.

“You must’ve had fun.”

“Oh, it was lovely,” she said brightly. “We could take Lucia sometimes.”

There was a beat of silence, but Lucia no longer seemed happy.

That was my smart girl. She must’ve realized what I did. And she was not happy about it.

“What do you think, Bella?” she asked sweetly. “Wouldn’t it be nice? A family-style outing, you know?”

A family.

Over my dead body. She could have Diego but she was not taking my baby too.

Before I could respond, Lucia tugged at my hand, her eyes wide and unsure.

“Mommy, are we staying here today?” she asked, and I could see that she was now slightly uncomfortable.

I crouched beside her, brushing her cheek gently. “Actually, sweetheart, we’re going to head out soon.”

Sofia blinked. “So early? We only just arrived.”

I stood slowly. “I forgot we had plans today.”

That was all I said, because it was all I needed to say. I wasn’t required to explain myself in my own home. Not anymore.

I reached for Lucia’s other hand, smoothing the wrinkle out of her sleeve.

“We’re leaving now,” I repeated calmly.

“Bella—” Diego stepped forward with a sharpness creeping back into his voice that I knew too well. He was about to order me.

I didn’t look at him.

“Lucia, go get your jacket,” I told her sweetly, and I could feel the eyes following me.

She ran upstairs with a bounce in her step, her bunny held tight to her chest.

Sofia watched her go with an expression I couldn’t quite read.Then she turned to me again with that same gentle smile that now felt too polished to be genuine.

“Are you sure we can’t convince you to stay? I was hoping we could catch up a bit.”

Catch up. As if she hadn’t spent the last twenty minutes recounting my husband’s life in vivid detail, the one he never shared with me.

“I appreciate the offer,” I said smoothly, “but we really do have somewhere to be.”

A shadow of embarrassment crossed Diego’s face, though I couldn’t tell whether he was upset that I was leaving or that Sofia was witnessing his embarrassment.

Good. This was all his fault anyway.

“Bella, you’re being rude,” Ana scolded with a lift of her chin.

“Too bad,” was all I said.

Her mouth tightened, but before another word could form on her lips, Lucia came barreling down the stairs, jacket half-zipped and bunny ears flopping.

“I’m ready!”

I took her hand, and that was all I needed to steady myself.

“Let’s go, sweetheart.”

As we stepped outside, feeling free for the first time in ages.

“Mommy,” Lucia whispered as we walked to the car. “Where are we going?”

“We’re going to see someone.”

“Who?”

I closed the door gently and leaned in close so she could hear the truth without it being echoed back into the house.

“Someone important,” I whispered. “But you can’t tell Daddy yet.”

Her eyes widened with the thrill of a secret.

“I won’t,” she promised.

Once she was settled, I stepped aside and finally pulled my phone from my pocket.

My hands trembled, but it wasn’t fear. It was something far heavier that I had been avoiding, delaying, and burying for years.

Until now when it was too late. But I guess I could still do what I should have all along.

I dialled Miro’s number, and he answered at the second ring, as if he had been expecting me.

“Bella.” Hearing my name in that tone sent a shiver through me. “Are you okay?” The evident concern in his voice did something to my stomach, but I avoided it.

“I need to see my father,” I said, my voice quiet but certain. “Can you please take me to him?”

There was a pause on his end, but it wasn’t hesitation. It felt like understanding.

“I’ll take you,” he said. “Tell me where you are.”