Chapter 113

ISABELLA

When I woke up again, this time it felt different. The heaviness in my limbs had faded, and the world slowly came back into focus. My first instinct was to check if I was still pretending, but the soft light filtering into the room and the gentle rise and fall of my breath told me I’d actually fallen asleep for real.

I blinked a few times, noticing the familiar shapes of Asher, Knox, and Jax sitting beside the bed, their faces etched with concern. The sight of them, all three of them so close, warmed me, but there was an unmistakable tension in the air. They looked like they hadn’t left my side.

Jax was the first to speak, his tone half-exasperated, half-worried. “Bella, we were worried sick. What happened?”

His words tugged at something deep inside me. It was hard to explain. Everything felt tangled in my mind—Dominic, my mother's letter, the memory of that strange man, Uncle Vinny. My chest tightened again, but I forced myself to focus on the present.

"I—" My voice came out hoarse. I cleared my throat and tried again. "I found a letter… from my mother." I paused, watching their faces shift from confusion to something sharper, more concerned. “The date on it... it’s from after she died.”

The room fell silent. The weight of my words seemed to settle on their shoulders.

“What?” Knox leaned forward, his brow furrowed in disbelief. “That’s impossible.”

I nodded, feeling the strangeness of it all wash over me again. “That’s what I thought too. I was going through some old things with Alex. We found the letter, and when I saw the date... everything started spinning.”

Just then, Alex appeared at the door. He had the letter in his hand, holding it carefully between his fingers like it was made of glass. He hesitated, giving me a soft, reassuring look before he stepped into the room.

“I found the letter,” he said, walking toward me and holding it out. “I didn’t read it, I promise. I wanted you to see it first.”

I took the letter from him, the paper slightly crumpled from my earlier panic.

The letter was brief, yet it carried a depth of emotion and mystery that sent shivers down my spine. As I unfolded the fragile piece of paper, my mother’s handwriting felt both familiar and alien at the same time. I could almost see her sitting at a table, writing these words with a heavy heart, knowing they would only reach me under dire circumstances.

The letter read:

My dearest Bella,

If you are reading this, it means something has happened. I wish more than anything that I could be there with you now to explain everything in person, but I had no choice. Please believe me when I say that every decision I made was to protect you and your father.

There are things I never told you, things I kept hidden to keep you safe. Your father knew nothing of this. He has always been a good man, and you mustn’t hold any of this against him. He loved you more than anything in the world, as do I.

One day, you will understand why I made these choices. I hope, when that day comes, you won’t resent me for the secrets I kept. I pray that you’ll know everything I did was to protect the both of you.

I love you more than words can say. Be strong, my sweet Bella.

With all my heart,

Mom

My hands shook as I held the letter. The words felt like a final message from beyond the grave, a plea for forgiveness mixed with a warning of things yet to be uncovered. The mention of protection sent chills through me, as if my mother had been involved in something far darker than I could ever have imagined.

I had so many questions. What had she been protecting us from? And why hadn’t my father known? The memory of my mother as a loving, nurturing figure seemed suddenly shrouded in shadows.

I looked up at Asher, Knox, and Jax, their faces filled with concern as they watched me silently process the letter's contents.

As I sat there, staring at my mother’s letter, trying to make sense of her cryptic words, Spencer walked in with a tray of food. His face was tight, a clear sign of annoyance. Without a word, he placed the tray on the nightstand beside me and crossed his arms, shooting pointed looks at each of the boys.

“I see no one thought about making sure she ate,” he muttered, his tone sharp but controlled.

Asher, Knox, and Jax exchanged sheepish glances, guilt flashing across their faces. Jax opened his mouth to say something but seemed to think better of it.

Spencer ignored them, turning his attention to me. “You need to eat something, Isabella,” he said, his voice softening as he shifted his focus to me. “You’ve been through a lot, and skipping meals isn’t helping.” He reached out and gently nudged the tray closer, revealing a bowl of soup, some bread, and a small fruit salad.

I sighed, feeling the weight of everything pressing down on me. "Thanks, Spencer," I said quietly, picking up the spoon. Even though I wasn’t that hungry, I knew he was right.

As I took a few bites, Spencer hovered nearby, still watching the boys with a mix of frustration and protectiveness. I couldn't help but feel grateful for him at that moment. His quiet, watchful presence had become an anchor in the chaos swirling around me.

Asher finally broke the silence. “We should’ve thought of that,” he admitted, running a hand through his hair. “We’ve just been so focused on... everything else.”

Spencer shot him a quick glance, but didn’t say anything. Instead, he uncrossed his arms and sat down near the foot of the bed, the tension in his shoulders easing a little now that I was eating.

The letter still weighed heavily on my mind, but for a brief moment, I focused on the warm soup and the steady presence of the people around me, knowing that this was just the beginning of unraveling the mystery my mother had left behind.