By noon, I had officially moved in.
Bella moved around me like an excited bee, carrying fresh bedsheets, soft decorative pillows, and a basket filled with her favorite self-care items into the guest room.
"Okay, so technically it's still the guest room," she said, tossing a throw blanket on the bed, "but think of it as yours now. No one else gets to sleep here but you."
I gave her a small smile, feeling thankful, even though my stomach twisted every time I remembered that it's her dad that actually owned the house.
"You’re really sure about this?" I asked, watching her arrange the pillows with a level of focus like it was serious business.
"Absolutely," she said, giving me a playful wink. "I love having you here. And besides, Dad won’t mind."
Well, that wasn’t true.
Nicholas already
