Chapter 84
Bella felt hot where his arms wrapped around her, she stared into those caramel eyes and felt lost for words.
Daniel slowly raised her so that she was standing on her own feet, he swiped his hand across her lips
"Oh Bella, what am I to do with you?" He murmured and replaced his hand with his lips
Bella sighed as if she had been waiting for it. The world fell apart and they were both in their world. A world where only the both of them exist. Daniel Calvin will always be her downfall and worst distraction.
What the hell am I doing? She asked and broke free from his kiss, they were both breathing hard as they stared hard at each other.
"I won't let you go Mrs. Isabella Calvin" he murmured as he traced his hands on her lips.
Bella suddenly felt vulnerable and she quickly reined in her composure "We have separated already" she managed to whisper
"Separated but not divorced, you didn't sign the divorce paper remember? Which means that before the law, we are still legally married"
Bella blanched and took a step back from him
"Just the other day in my office, you were moaning and screaming out my name, I will make sure I have you screaming out my name every night"
Bella's face colored at his words, he was right after all, she had been moaning and screaming out his name like a wanton
"Even now, you might be pregnant again with my child," he said and his eyes fell on her stomach, "I won't give you up Bella" he repeated and walked away.
Bella watched him leave, her stomach quivering at the possibility that she might be pregnant with his child.
She turned and ran smacked into Jason, she had completely forgotten about him, and from his expression, he had overheard everything that Daniel had said.
Had Daniel seen Jason standing close and did what he did on purpose?
"Is it true? You had sex with him and might be pregnant again for him?"
"Jason..."
"Answer me Bella" his voice was filled with so much anguish that Bella cursed Daniel from deep inside of her
"Yes Jason, I didn't plan it...I just got carried away" she cried, tears streamed down her cheeks and Jason shook his head
"I have to go" he muttered and turned to leave. Bella ran after him
"Hold on Jason, don't just leave, let's talk"
Jason paused and stared at her, "what's there to talk about? That you are still in love with your ex-husband? Or should I call him your husband because you were never divorced anyway"
"Don't say that, I am not in love with him and I will divorce him"
Jason shook his head, he looked so defeated that Bella felt sorry for him, "it's obvious that you are still in love with him. I have seen how you both stare at each other, I saw how the both of you reacted when you are close to each other, and how he gets jealous when he sees me with you"
"That's not true Jason"
"Of course it is and I have realized that no matter what I do, I can never win your heart"
"I am so sorry Jason" she murmured, feeling guilty for hurting him so much
"You have nothing to be sorry for, you fell in love the same way I fell in love with you, I am not angry with you, we are still friends but I will be angry if you do not give your love with him a second chance"
Bella was confused about how to respond, so she hugged him instead, she was grateful to him for always being there for her and she will forever see him as a friend.
Jason said his goodbyes and hopped into a taxi that would take him to the island.
Bella walked into the court with Niko and Nikky in tow, she had told them that the judge would like to speak to them and had almost begged them to tell the judge that they chose to be with her but she has refrained herself from doing so. If they want to be with her, it should be because they want it and not because she cajole them
"Mister" Nikky shouted as soon as she sighted Daniel in the courtroom and Daniel approached them cautiously,
"How is my little princess doing today?"
Nikky smiled at him, "I'm doing great, you really do not hate us" she said it in a bewildered tone and Daniel crushed her to him, "of course not, I'll do anything to have you both by my side"
"Can I call you dad?" She asked and Daniel stared into eyes so much like his own
"You can call me dad if you want to and I promised no one will ever tease you for not having a dad ever again"
Nikky's eyes widened as she thought about the possibility.
"Do you promise never to hurt my mum again? If you do, I'll call you Dad too" Niko asked
"I solemnly promise" Daniel replied and straightened up when the judge entered, he went to his seat and both Nikky and Niko made to follow him
Bella quickly whirled them both around, "Hey sweetheart, we are in the court and you are supposed to sit with me, I need you both with me, please"
"Okay Mum" they both agreed, howbeit reluctantly,
"Hello kids, So tell me, are you ready for today, did your mum tell you what to expect?" The judge asked and both Nikky and Niko nodded seriously
"Come here kids" the judge called the kids as soon as he was seated, and they both looked at Bella. Bella nodded at them to go to the judge,
"How are you, kids?" The judge asked as soon as Nick reached him, "I am fine sir"
"I am going to ask you some questions and I need you to be real honest with me, is that okay?"
"Sure" they both replied
"Who between the two of you is the elder?" The judge asked and Niko signified that he was the one
"I'm going to start with you first, " the judge said
"I am Judge Carter, what is your name?
"I am Nikolai but I am called Niko"
"Impressive, Now, Niko, How old are you?"
"I am five"
"So, when will you be six?"
"
December twenty-second "
"Wow, that's a few months away" Nick nodded but said nothing, "I believe you love your mom right" Again he nodded, "And your dad too?"
"Yes"
"Do you know who your real dad is?"
"Yes"
"How did you feel when you found out about your dad?"
"At first, I was sad because I thought that he didn't want us but when my mum explained how much he loves us and fighting for us, I became happy"
Daniel looked at Bella with a tender expression, despite her fear of losing her kids, she still told them how much he loved them
Bella felt Daniel's gaze but carefully avoided looking his way, her heart constricted at her son's words, she would say anything that would make him happy even if it meant telling them how much their daddy loves them and wants to have them in his life
"And what about your mum? She loves you a lot, right?
"Yes, my mum is the most important being in my life
Tears filled Bella's eyes at his words and she smiled through her tears
"So tell me, between your mother and your father, whom would you like to stay with"
At this point, Niko didn't answer and he wore a confused expression
"Nikolai" the judge called and Niko stared at both Daniel and Bella
"I don't know, I want to stay with my dad but at the same time, I don't want to leave my momma all alone"
The judge turned towards Nikky, "What about you? Whom would you like to stay with between your mom and your dad"
"I want to stay with my Dad but why can't Mum come with us? We are supposed to be family right?"
The judge cleared his throat and gazed at Daniel and Bella, "There will be no need to take this case further, I have made my verdict and that is the two of you will have to resolve your conflicts and take care of the kids jointly"
"What!" Bella gasped, it can't be, she wanted her kids all to herself
"But before then, they will spend the first three months in their father's care and after that, you both can be alternating it monthly. This is my verdict"
Bella sat there dumbfounded even after the judge had gone, "3 months? Her children will be away from her for three months? She cannot be away from them for so long"
"Please, do not take my kids away, I can't live without them for so long"
"I lived without them for five years and you can't live without them for three months?"
"D...Dad" Niko called slowly, testing the word on his tongue before repeating himself, "Dad "
Daniel quietly went to eye level with him and smiled softly, "What is it, son?"
"Can Mom come with us too? She will be lonely without us"
Daniel stared at him for a long time and then at Bella, "Only if she wishes Nikolai"
"Mom?" Nikky called in question and Bella shook her head
"I am not going to your house and my kids ain't going anywhere too" Bella cried and stomped out of the courtroom with Niko and Nikky in tow
"I will be coming by 6 pm to pick them up, you should make sure that they're prepared or I won't mind taking them away from you forever" Daniel warned but Bella didn't even turn back to look at him.
She won't give her kids to him despite the judge's verdict. She simply cannot.
Bella paced her in her tiny room, she won't give her children to Daniel, never, not even for a day
"Mom, can we play outside?" Nikky asked and Bella hesitated,
"Are you sure you're feeling alright"
"Yes Mum, I'm so bored staying indoors already"
"Alright, kids but don't go too far".
Bella stared at the time, Daniel would be coming soon to pick up Niko and Nikky, and she would beg him one more time or probably take him up on his offer to go with them if it still stands but she ain't leaving her kids alone for anything.
She went out so as to call them in, they should be home by now, why aren't they here?
She frowned when she went to the playground but didn't find them. Where could they have gone if not here?
She searched everywhere but there was no sign of them. She became frantic and asked the neighbors but no one had seen them, has Daniel come to pick them up without informing her? How could he?
She quickly dialed his number on her mobile phone, it was the number that she had five years ago and she hoped that he was still using that number.
She exhaled in relief when his voice came over the line, "hello"
"How could you? Why would you take Niko and Nikky without informing me?" She cried
"What are you talking about?" His voice mirrored confusion but she thought he was just pretending, who else would have taken them if not him
"Niko and Nikky, I can't find them"
The line went dead in her hand and only the dial tone echoed in her ears.