Chapter 104 Bella's POV

Chapter 104 Bella's POV
Chapter Hundred and four

Bella’s POV

I went to the hospital and took Noah home that evening.

He was still weak, but his condition was stable. Xander insisted that three different doctors check him before we were discharged.

Inside my ‘simple’ apartment, Noah was lying on the couch with his blanket when his voice broke through my thoughts.

“Mommy… where’s Daddy?”

I froze. “D… daddy?” I repeated quietly.

He nodded. “When are we going to live with him again?”

My throat tightened. He wanted to see Xander again.

“Baby,” I whispered, forcing a smile, “Daddy’s busy.”

“W… will he come here? To see… me?” Noah asked again.

“We’ll see,” I said softly.

But Noah wasn’t done.

“Call him?” he whispered. “Please? I wanna tell Daddy goodnight.”

My chest squeezed. I was not ready for this at all. But still, I nodded slowly and dialed Xander’s number.

Xander picked up on the first ring. “Bella?” he said.

“Noah wants to talk to you,” I murmured.

“Put him on.”

I handed Noah the phone, and immediately his eyes shot up.

“Daddy?”

Xander sighed through the phone. “I’m here, son. How do you feel?”

“No more pain in my chest” Noah whispered. “I… I want to see you.”

Xander paused for a moment, as if he was processing what Noah just said.

“I… I miss you too,” Xander said, barely above a whisper. “I’ll see you soon. I promise.”

Noah smiled with his eyes half-closed.
“Okay… Daddy… goodnight…”

Xander took a shaky breath. “Goodnight, Noah.”

When I took the phone back, Xander didn’t hang up.

“Bella?”

“Yes?”

“You sound tired.”

“I’m fine,” I whispered.

“You don’t sound fine.”

I sighed and rubbed my temples. I wasn’t ready for this conversation tonight.

“Xander…”

I was about to tell him goodnight when a knock sounded at my door.

Noah flinched and his eyes popped open in fear.

I muted the call and hurried to open the door only to find Daniel standing there and breathing hard like he rushed over.

“Bella,” he said quietly. “I came to check on you… both of you.”

My stomach twisted. Why was Daniel here by this time of the night?

His expression softened as he ran his gaze through me. When he saw the phone in my hand, he asked. “Was that him?”

I nodded slowly. “Noah wanted to talk to him. He’s his father.”

Daniel’s jaw tensed but he nodded slowly. “Can I at least come in? It's cold outside.”

I nodded and stepped aside for him to enter.

Noah's face lit up when he saw Daniel.

Noah waved excitedly at Daniel. “Hi, uncle.”

Daniel smiled and ruffled Noah's hair a bit. “Hi, Champ. Ready for bed?”

“Yes I am.”

“Why don't you just go play with your toys while your mommy and I have some adult conversation.”

“Okay.”

And with that, Noah left the living room to his bedroom.

“Hello? Bella? Are you still there? Who's that at the door?” Xander asked.

I literally forgot that I still had Xander on the call.

I ignored the questions intentionally.

“I'll talk to you tomorrow. Goodnight, Xander.”

“You didn't answer the question,” he continued to press. “Who was that?”

I stuttered. “I… uh… it was my neighbor. Don't worry.”

“Your neighbor? Do I need to come over right now?”

“No,” I answered too fast. “No, don't worry. It's all settled.”

“Oh, uh okay,” he replied, but he didn't sound too convinced.

“Goodnight, Xander.”

And with that, I ended the call. I certainly do not need Xander arriving at my door when Daniel's here.

“Already having happy family conversations, huh?” Daniel asked sarcastically.

“It’s not that serious, Daniel. Noah just wanted to speak to his…,” I cleared my throat before completing my sentence. “His dad.”

Saying ‘His dad' out loud sounded so weird in my ear. I wanted to shake my head and wish this was a dream.

“Bella… you know you don’t have to go back to him just because the truth about Noah is out.”

My grip on the phone tightened.

“I’m not ‘going back’ to anyone.”

He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“I’m just saying. Who knows what else Xander might do? I mean buying a hospital? Seriously?

“Daniel, please let's not talk about this,” I whispered. “I’m overwhelmed. I can’t do this right now.”

His expression softened. “I just… don’t want you to get hurt again,” he murmured.

Before I could reply, Noah called out from inside his room.

“Mommy… is Daddy coming?”

Daniel’s entire face fell.

“No, honey. Just keep playing with your toys, I'll soon be there.”

I sighed and looked at Daniel. He looked as if he was being pricked by a needle.

I wrapped my arms around myself.

“Daniel… just stop. I've accepted it. The truth was going to come out anyway. Xander is in our life now.”

“I won’t,” he said quietly. “Because I love you.”

My breath caught.

He took another step closer.

“I love you, Bella. And I have for years. I loved you when you were scared and hiding. I loved you when you were pregnant. I loved you when you were alone.”

I froze.

“Daniel…”

“I stepped up when no one else did,” he whispered. “Including him.”

I swallowed hard.

“You were kind,” I said shakily. “You helped me. You supported me. And I am grateful…”

“That’s not all it was to me,” he whispered.

I tried to take a step back, but he followed.

“Daniel… listen…”

He reached up and gently cupped my cheek.

I stiffened.

His thumb brushed my skin slightly.

“Daniel… Noah is in the next room. Can you for his sake…”

“You deserve someone who chooses you,” he murmured, ignoring my warnings. “Someone who doesn’t hurt you. Someone who sees you. Someone who loves Noah because they love you.”

“I…Daniel, stop.” My voice cracked.

He leaned in closer.

“Bella,” he breathed, “just let me…”

“Daniel, don’t,” I whispered urgently.

But he ignored it.

He closed the gap between us. His warm breath fanned my face. He slid his hand to the back of my neck…

I froze as panic rushed through me when suddenly a loud, low voice came from behind us.

“What the hell is going on here?”

It was Xander.