Chapter22
1211 Words
CHAPTER 22
The car pulled onto her street, slowing in front of the private entrance to the Penthouse. The driver was just about to step out and open her door when Belle caught a glimpse of someone at the front.
A woman. Standing quietly.
She stepped forward, the light from the doorway catching her face.
Belle’s breath caught.
Jane.
The last person she expected — but the one person who held a truth she’d tried to bury.
Belle opened the car door herself and stepped out.
Jane’s eyes softened. “Hello, Belle.”
Belle blinked, her voice barely a whisper. “What are you doing here?”
Jane didn’t answer immediately. She looked toward the building, then back at her.
“I think it’s time we talked. Properly. Before things get even messier.”
Belle didn’t know whether to feel relief… or fear.
Because Jane’s presence only meant one thing:
The past was no longer content staying silent.
The hallway was quiet except for the soft hum of distant traffic below and the quiet click of Belle’s heels against the marble floor.
She’d brought Jane up to one of the rarely used lounge rooms in the penthouse. It smelled faintly of old leather and sandalwood.
“I didn’t think I’d see you again,” Belle said quietly.
Jane gave a soft nod. “I wasn’t sure I should come. But I watched your ceremony today…”
Belle’s expression didn’t shift. But her fingers curled slightly by her sides.
“I haven’t told anyone,” she said.
“I didn’t think you had.”
“I wanted to pretend you never told me.”
Jane’s voice was gentle. “But you can’t un-know the truth, Belle.”
The words settled in the air like dust.
Belle exhaled. “Do you know what it’s like to wake up every day to the realization that your whole life has been a lie?”
Jane said nothing.
Belle walked to the window and leaned against the sill. “You told me after the wedding,” Belle said. “Just days after I married him. And every night since then, I’ve wondered why you said anything at all.”
“Because you deserve to know who you are,” Jane replied. “And who he is.”
“I know who he is,” Belle snapped. “I know him better than anyone. And I think I've fallen for him. No matter how much I pretend I hate him, no matter how much we fight against each other, I can't just stop thinking about him. I know it's a mistake considering the fact that he's even a threat to the company but it still happened anyway.”
Her voice cracked.
Jane’s eyes softened.
“So Alexander Hamilton… is my father,” she whispered.
“Yes.”
“And Adam…”
“Is your half-brother.”
Silence.
Belle turned, crossing her arms. “Then why don’t you tell me what I’m supposed to do with that, Jane? Am I supposed to walk into that bedroom and confess to Adam? Am I supposed to burn this marriage to the ground just because of something I didn’t even ask for?”
“I don’t have those answers,” Jane said gently. “But I know this — secrets fester. And the longer you keep this one, the more damage it will do.”
Belle blinked hard, forcing the tears to stay back. “I didn’t ask to be born from an affair. I didn’t ask to fall for a man I didn’t know was my brother.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t ask for any of this.”
Jane stepped forward, slowly, carefully. “I know, sweetheart. But it’s yours now.”
Belle’s shoulders trembled for a second — just a second — before she straightened.
She looked Jane in the eye, voice steady again. “I'll take action about it when I'm ready. For now, it remains a secret and I'm trusting you to keep it as one and mind your damn business.”
Jane stood up to leave “I do hope you do the right thing Belle.”
Belle let the door close behind her without another word.
But deep in her chest, something was cracking.
And she knew…
Jane was right. Everything would eventually break up but she wasn't sure if she was ready yet.
She had become chief executive officer, she didn't need Adam anymore. It was only right for her to divorce him. After all, he has been posing as a threat to the company; divorcing him was the only right thing to do.
* * * * *
Belle walked up to Adam's private study hoping to see him. She hadn't seen him for some days now and she was only able to get a glimpse of him at the ceremony.
She knocked on the door then walked in.
There he was, sitting unbothered, looking innocent — like he didn't plan to buy more shares for himself behind her back, or he didn't just try to hide his child away from her.
They looked at each other, none of them saying anything, either of them not knowing what to say. They are supposed to be mad at each other right?
Belle tried to say something. After all, she was the one that approached him first. But her tongue got stuck in her mouth, it was like she went dumb. Then —
“How is Liam?” The words finally came out, but she wasn't sure if those were the right words.
Adam cleared his throat. “How do you know his name?”
“Uhmm.. I did some research.” Belle replied.
“Well, he's alright; if that's what you are asking about.”
Belle nodded. “I see. But don't you think you're being hard on him? I mean isn't he like 5?” She sat down. “Growing up without a parental figure might be difficult for him. Except of course you want him to live the kind of life you lived when you were much younger.”
Adam looked straight into her eyes. “Are you worried about Liam right now?” He paused. “Or is there something else going on in your mind?”
“I'm just saying, nothing serious.”
“Well, he has a caretaker at his beck and call so he'll definitely be fine. Besides, being around me is even more risky for him.”
“Hmm, you never know what people are planning right?”
Adam nodded. “Right.”
Belle noticed the book in his hand. “Isn't that the book I was reading to you the other night?”
Adam smiled. “Yup, I never got to hear how it ended so I decided to see for myself.”
Belle got star struck by his handsomeness when he smiled. She just kept on staring. Then she thought within herself ‘is this the man I'm supposed to divorce?”
Adam distracted her thoughts. “Do you know how it ends?”
Belle inhaled deeply. “Yes… I mean.. no. What don't you read to me this time around.”
Adam chuckled. “Okay princess. So where were we…?”
- Writer
