Echoes of love

Echoes of love
(Dean)

Unease, worry, a surge of helplessness, all of it scratch it's way through my skin, seeping through every pore.

It's been over five seconds since this strange lady shut the door in my face, and here I am, glued to a spot.

That isn't even the disturbing part, but wheels are already turning in my head at her response. 

She moved in?

If that's not strange, then I don't know what is. 

A pang of uneasiness, fear, and a little bit of anger settles over me.

Maybe if I hadn't freaking silenced my phones, I would have been here in time.

But moving out? Did Bella really do that?

I'm not believing any damn thing till I hear from her, and there's only one way to find out, actually two ways.

Shit… I pause.

I can't contact Derrick, I had angrily deleted his number when I thought Bella left me and I still don't have it now.

Ugh. I run my hand through my hair, and then I lift my eyes and slowly walk over to meet the building's concierge.

He bowed down to greet on seeing me.

I give him a curt nod, and proceeded to ask. I didn't need to describe Bella, with the way I tightened the security around her, they sure know who she is, and what she means to me. "Did you by any chance see Bella moving out?" I ask, keeping my voice steady.

He shook his head. "She stepped out with the twins in the morning, but she didn't leave with any luggage, sir." he asked,

Air escaped me in a rush. "And?" I ask, more impatiently.

"She came back without the twins after a while, that's it,"

Okay, now that's worrisome. And who's the lady in her apartment claiming she moved in.

"So she didn't move out and no one moved into her apartment?" I repeated skeptically.

His eyes are wide open and then he shakes his head. "Nothing of such happened, sir. I suppose it was her visitor, she had one earlier, we can check the cameras if you doubt it," he answered firmly and somehow that tells me all l need to know. 

Sucking in a sharp breath, I look up at him. "Thank you," that was all I said before walking away.

And just then, Ethan's call came in.

I answer the call, pressing the phone to my ear. 

"Have you talked to her yet," Ethan says casually but I can tell he's worried on my behalf.

"No, but something strange happened. I didn't meet Bella but a lady claimed to have moved into her apartment, but the concierge refuted it,"

I hear Ethan exhale. "That's weird, so what now?"

I mean I could go back there and insist on seeing Bella, it's pretty obvious that whoever that lady was, she had no intention of letting me see her.

While I can wait till l see and speak to Bella, I realized one thing. I haven't even tackled this matter from the root. Bella's in there, she's safe.

Now, that brings me to my supposed mother and Ashley. Even as I think of it, my blood boiled.

You know what? I don't care if I have a no contact order on them.

I won't let them get away with this, not this time.

And I'd have to address the press and the public thereafter, no one gets to say shits about my woman.

"I'm heading to Judy's house," I blurted out and I bet Ethan rolled his eyes, my anger is overflowing and it shows in my voice.

Ethan goes silent and after a few heartbeat, he croaked out. "Okay,"

I look at Bella's front door for the last time and stormed off.



Sharing those photos to the tabloids all for what, to ruin Bella's image? It's all I can think about as I forced myself out of the car.

And Ashley?

Arthur said she flew out of the country just this morning, she can hide for as long as she wants but I will get her, oh, I will.

I slam the car door shut and stride to the front door.

I burst inside, ignoring John who bowed to greet me, fury seeping inside me.

Judy comes right out as I step in, I don't miss how her face lights up as she sees me, and I don't see Aunt Elena in here. 

"Dean! Oh my God!" Mother exclaims but it took just a glare to wipe that look off her face.

My face tightens, there's no joy, no warmth, just cold anger. "You did this, right?" I seethe, my eyes blazing with fury.

There's no way she hasn't heard, so I don't bother with details, just cutting straight to the heart of the matter.

Her face falls and slowly she looks up at me. "No, it wasn't me, Dean. I can't possibly do that, knowing how it'd affect you—-,"

I cut her off instantly. "Oh, stop with the bullshit, mother. You do not care about me, you're just a selfish woman. So, I ask again, why did you do this?" I spat, glaring at her with nothing short of disdain.

She's pretending, clearly, all she has ever done is lie to me.

Mother looks at me, wide-eyed and then she shakes her head, but not before I see tears form in her eyes.

Wait, have the aliens beamed my real mother up, never in my life have I seen her showing emotions. Perhaps it's all pretense, it has to be, I can't trust her.

"Believe me, Dean. I know I've been a horrible mother but I didn't do this, trust me."

Trust, believe, in one sentence and coming from my mother? That's rich.

"Believe you?" I scoff, a humourless laugh escaping me. "Why should I trust a woman who has done everything to ruin my life?"

"I was trying to protect you,"

"Protect me? Great job that you did," I sneered dismissively, and take a step forward. "I really don't give a hoot about your pathetic excuses but I'll work this one out, and if I find out that you have a hand in this. I swear mother you'll see Dean Brennan and not the son you once had," I glare at her and she almost cowers.

Her eyes watered but I don't let it get to me, instead I turn around and begin to make my way to the door.

I hear a sob behind me but I don't dare look back at her.

I'm beyond caring right now. All of this is her fault, she could have stopped all of this from happening.

But no, she chose to be Judy Brennan instead of a freaking mother!