Chapter 307

Chapter 307
Bella

I stared at Liam standing in the doorway, my blood feeling like it was flowing backward through my veins. Every part of me recoiled at his presence.

"Why are you here?" My voice came out colder than ice.

Soren's gaze followed mine to the figure in the doorway. I could feel his protective instincts flaring as he took in Liam's possessive stance.

Liam's eyes swept from Soren to me, and I caught the bitter twist of his lips. "I know I don't deserve to see you, but when I heard about your accident—that you fell into the water—I was so worried. I had to come. Don't worry, I won't disturb you. I just need to see that you're okay."

A harsh laugh escaped my throat. "I'm sorry, Alpha Wilson, but you've already disturbed me. So please leave immediately, or I'll have hospital security escort you out!"

Liam's eyes widened in shock. The pain there might have moved me once, but not anymore. He'd made his choices, and I'd learned to live with the consequences.

Liam didn't move. Instead, he stood there stubbornly, as if his presence alone could somehow bridge the chasm between us.

"Bella, are you feeling better now? I've already dealt with Cindy—she won't bother you anymore. You can focus on your work in peace, live the life you want." His words only made my anger burn brighter.

I stared at him with undisguised mockery.

I retorted, "What business is that of yours? Don't forget, you were the one who was cruelest to me!"

"You treated me like a walking blood bank, like I was nothing more than Selina's replacement!" The words poured out of me. "I loved you for years, but you hurt me over and over again. Compared to what you did to me, Cindy pushing me into that lake is nothing!"

Liam stood there speechless, his head bowed and fists clenched, looking utterly powerless. Everything I'd said was true, and no amount of regret could change what he'd done to me.

"I'm done talking," I said flatly. "Now will you get out?"

My patience was completely exhausted. I could feel my face flushing with anger, and my wolf was stirring restlessly beneath my skin.

Soren rose from his chair, moving closer to my bedside. "Bella, let me handle this. You should rest and recover."

I felt a moment of surprise. Soren wanted to talk to Liam? But it would also give me the chance I needed to speak with the doctor privately about my condition.

I replied, "In that case, I'll leave this matter to you, Alpha Soren."

As Soren stood up, Liam immediately protested. "Bella, this is between you and me. Why are you involving a third party? Unless... have you really fallen for him?"

I laughed. "Whether I've fallen for him or not is none of your business. Liam Wilson—I would rather choose Soren than ever choose you again!"

The words hit Liam like silver bullets. I watched him stagger slightly, his hand instinctively covering his heart as if he were in physical pain.

"Bella, I can explain what happened before. Yes, I wanted you to bear my child, but my ultimate goal was for us to have a happy, complete family together!" His voice cracked with desperation. "By then, I'd realized my mistakes. I didn't want to hurt you anymore, didn't want to tell you and risk you misunderstanding my intentions—"

"Enough!" I cut him off ruthlessly. "What's the point of saying this now? Stop bothering me. Every time you appear, you just make me feel more disgusted!"

Liam froze completely. Before he could say another word, Soren stepped between us.

Soren remarked, "Alpha Liam, I have some things I'd like to discuss with you privately."

Liam's gaze fixed on Soren, suddenly filled with hostility. "Fine! Let's talk."

The moment they left, I struggled out of bed and watched them walk away. Then, I headed straight to Dr. Martinez's office.

I asked, "How is my baby? Did falling into the water affect the pregnancy?"

Dr. Martinez looked up from my chart with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. Your baby is healthy. But you absolutely cannot have another incident like this—it could easily cause a miscarriage."

Relief flooded through me. The baby was safe. After my conversation with Freya, I'd decided to keep this child.

As I left the doctor's office, I caught sight of Liam and Soren around the corner. Something compelled me to move closer, stopping just within earshot.

"Soren, we've had dealings before. I never thought you were this kind of person—knowing about my relationship with Bella, yet still daring to pursue her. Do you really think you can make her happy?" Liam's voice was sharp with displeasure, his Alpha authority bleeding through every word.

Soren maintained his gentlemanly composure, his voice calm and measured. "If I can't make Bella happy, then can you? If you could, she wouldn't be so hurt, would she?"

Liam's words were clipped and sharp, devoid of any warmth. "Even so, that's between her and me. What business is it of yours?"

"I advise you not to meddle, Soren. Stay away from Bella, or I won't go easy on you!"

Liam was still the same as always—domineering, possessive, treating me like his personal property.

But why should I be? I was a living, breathing person with my own thoughts and feelings. What gave him the right to control me?

"Liam Wilson," Soren's voice cut through my thoughts, "everything that's happening now is the result of your own actions. You should pay the price you deserve."

"If you truly love Miss Bella, then you should understand how much damage you've caused her. You should stay away from her. Your constant harassment because of your own regret—is that really love? Or is it just possessiveness?"

Soren's words laid Liam's motivations bare with surgical precision.

"Don't presume to understand me, and don't presume to understand Bella," Liam shot back coldly. "Bella is proud—she has her own dignity and self-respect. Your presumptuous attempts to analyze her will only make her despise you!"

With that, Liam turned and walked away, clearly done with the conversation.

Soren watched his retreating figure for a long moment, then sighed.

"Alpha Soren," I said, stepping out from my hiding spot. "Thank you for speaking up for me today."

He turned, unsurprised to see me there. "Was my response satisfactory?"

I paused, then smiled softly. "Very satisfactory. What you said was right. No matter how well Liam knows me, there's no future for us. I can never forgive what he did. If I did, wouldn't that just prove I have no self-respect?"

Soren smiled back, then suddenly reached toward me. I froze instinctively, but he merely plucked a piece of cotton-like fluff from my hair.

"Since filming has been suspended and you're mobile again," he said gently, "would you like to go out for dinner with me?"

I was about to refuse when my stomach betrayed me with a loud growl. Heat rose in my cheeks as I cleared my throat awkwardly.

"I suppose I don't have much choice about that meal now, do I?"