Chapter 136 The Truth About Jasper
DAVID
“Who could that be?” I muttered, lowering Bella gently onto the bed. She curled into the sheets, her hair spilling over the pillow, her flushed face glowing with post-kiss warmth. My gut tightened, unease bubbling as I strode to the door.
When I swung it open, Mrs. Williams stood there, her perfectly sculpted smile greeting me like a storm waiting to erupt. Her gaze flicked downward for a split second, and a mischievous glint lit her eyes. I didn’t have to look down to know what she’d seen.
“Hope I’m not interrupting anything,” she said, her voice layered with mock innocence.
Heat crept up my neck as I grabbed Bella’s pillow and shifted it in front of me. Her laugh was light but deliberate, like a dagger teasing its target.
“Come in,” I said, stepping aside and silently cursing the timing.
Bella appeared from the bed, her eyes widening in surprise as she rushed forward.
“Mom!” she said, her tone a mix of joy and confusion.
Mrs. Williams enveloped her in an embrace, smoothing down a strand of her daughter’s hair. Her expression softened in a way that almost made me forget she was the same woman who’d just walked in unannounced.
“I’ve been thinking, Bella,” Mrs. Williams said, holding her daughter at arm’s length. “It’s time. I want to announce you as the heir to the Williams Group.”
Bella froze, her hands instinctively gripping her mother’s. “What?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Mrs. Williams turned, her gaze sharp as it landed on me. “It’s time the city knows my daughter is back—my long-lost daughter.”
Bella’s lips parted, but no sound came out. I was the one who finally broke the silence.
“That doesn’t seem fair,” I said, my tone light yet pointed. “I won’t get to see my girlfriend every day if she’s working with you.”
Mrs. Williams let out a laugh, the kind that carried both warmth and steel. “You’ll survive, David,” she said smoothly before turning back to Bella. “I also think it’s time you resigned from the Copperfield Group. You belong here, Bella, with your family.”
Bella hesitated, her brows furrowing as she glanced between us. “Okay, Mom,” she finally said, her voice soft. “You can announce it.”
“Good.” Mrs. Williams beamed, pressing a kiss to Bella’s forehead. “Oh, and one more thing. Could you bring your adoptive father here? He should stay in the mansion. That man deserves the best for how he cared for you.” She smoothed Bella’s hair one last time, her gaze flicking briefly to me.
“And David,” she added, her tone suddenly sharp. “Take care of my daughter.”
The second the door closed behind her, I turned the lock and leaned against it. Bella was glowing, her smile radiant as she perched on the edge of the bed.
“Where were we?” I asked, my voice dropping as I strode toward her.
Bella’s lips quirked into a mischievous grin. “I believe we were at the kissing stage,” she said.
Without waiting, I reached for her, my hands sliding to her waist as I pulled her close. She gasped as my lips claimed hers, the kiss deep and hungry, leaving her no space to think. When she finally broke away, her breath was ragged.
“You’re impossible,” she said, her voice trembling with laughter.
“And you love it,” I murmured, scooping her up effortlessly. Her giggle faded as I laid her gently on the bed, my fingers tracing the hem of her top. She didn’t stop me as I tugged it up, her skin glowing under the dim light.
“You’ve gotten even more beautiful,” I said, my voice thick as I took her in.
Her breath hitched when I lowered my mouth to her skin, tasting, teasing. She moaned softly, my name slipping from her lips like a prayer.
“David,” she whispered, her hands threading through my hair.
When my tongue grazed her abdomen, her hips bucked instinctively.
“I need you,” she breathed, her voice barely audible.
“Not yet,” I teased, sliding my fingers between her thighs. Her gasp turned into a cry, and I smirked at how easily I could unravel her.
“Say it,” I murmured, my tone commanding.
She blinked up at me, dazed. “Say what?”
“You know what,” I said, my fingers moving in deliberate circles.
Her chest rose and fell, her breaths quickening. “David, please.”
“Not good enough.” My voice was firm, though the way her body arched under my touch made it harder to maintain control.
“Please, Daddy,” she finally said, her words breaking on a moan.
I grinned, letting her words settle in the air before I gave her what she wanted.
Bella clung to the edge of the bed, her knuckles white, her voice echoing through the room with every movement I made.
“David…” she gasped, her head thrown back, her hair a cascade of dark silk against the pillows. Her eyes fluttered closed, her lips forming a silent plea as I leaned in closer.
When we finally collapsed together, our breaths mingling in the heavy air, her body molded into mine, and I couldn’t help but laugh softly.
“That,” she murmured, her voice laced with exhaustion and satisfaction, “was… incredible. One of the best…”
“One of?” I teased, brushing her damp hair back from her forehead. “Are you saying I’ve got competition?”
Her laugh was soft, like music, as she snuggled into my chest. “No, you’re the only one who’s ever touched me like this. You know that.”
I tilted her face up to mine, letting my thumb trace the curve of her cheek. “Good. Because I’ll make sure I’m the only one. Ever.”
She raised a brow, her lips quirking into a tired smile. “You’re possessive, you know that?”
“Only with you,” I murmured, leaning down to kiss her forehead, lingering as her warmth seeped into me.
For a while, we lay in silence, the steady rhythm of her breathing almost lulling me to sleep. But the thought that had been tugging at me all morning refused to stay buried. I traced small circles on her arm, watching the way her chest rose and fell.
“Bella,” I said, my voice low.
She shifted slightly, tilting her head up to look at me. “Hmm?”
“There’s something I need to tell you.”
Her brows knitted together, curiosity flickering in her eyes. “What is it?”
I hesitated, the words catching in my throat. This wasn’t something I’d planned on sharing, not yet, but looking at her now so open, so trusting I knew I couldn’t keep it from her any longer.
“It’s about Jasper’s biological mom,” I said finally, my voice barely above a whisper.
Her expression shifted, confusion giving way to shock as she sat up slightly, leaning on one elbow. “Jasper’s mom?”
I nodded, my jaw tightening as memories I’d tried to bury surfaced. I’d never spoken about her to anyone, not even Bella. The truth had always been mine alone to bear.
“I never told anyone about her,” I admitted, my gaze fixed on the ceiling. “But I think… it’s time you knew.”
Bella’s fingers curled around mine, her touch grounding me. “I’m listening,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the questions I knew were swirling in her mind.