Bella rushed home from Daniel's office, what the hell did she just do with him? She had gone there to plead with him to leave her alone but she didn't even do that, she had given him her body instead.
Unbidden, the moment he slid into her jumped into her head and she squeezed her legs together, the sensation of him, right there in her thighs felt like he had never left.
He had said that he wanted her in his life, but she didn't need him in hers, he abandoned and humiliated her years ago when she needed him the most and left her pregnant, no, she cannot forget all that she went through. She does not need him now because she is doing just fine without him.
She won't allow him to mess up her mind and emotions, if he wants to go to court, then so be it, she'll fight him in court.
"Bella, are you alright?" Jason asked as soon as she got home, he took one look at her and his face darkened with anger, "What did that bastard do to you?"
"Oh Jason," Bella said and wrapped her arms around him, she burrowed her face into his chest and cried.
Bella realized that she was crying because of the power Daniel still had over her and her body.
She can't help it but her body yearns for his touch, she wants him to make love to her again and she does not want any of those feelings.
She was about to get married to Jason, if anything, those feelings should be for Jason and not Daniel.
Daniel had told her that he would make her pregnant, he might have succeeded in it unknown to her. She pictured growing round with Daniel's child while married to Jason, it wouldn't be fair to him.
She broke away from the embrace and wiped her eyes
"Bella, did something happen? What did Daniel do to you when you got there?" Jason asked, studying her
"Of course something happened, we made love," Bella thought but didn't voice it out. She avoided meeting Jason's scrutinizing stare, "Nothing happened Jason, Daniel didn't do anything to me, I am fine"
"Did you both talk? Were you able to convince him?" Jason asked. She had told him about Daniel, so, he knew that Daniel was the father of Niko and Nikky.
She avoided his gaze, afraid that he might see the truth in her eyes, the truth that she made love to Daniel. Just thinking about it made her cheeks colored
"Where are the kids?" She asked instead, diverting the topic
"They are asleep" he replied and she sighed
"Please, can I be alone for a moment? I need to be alone " she begged and she saw hurt flash in his eyes but he did his best not to show it. She already felt guilty for hurting him, "damn you Daniel " she thought
Jason shrugged, "Sure, call me if you need anything " he turned to leave but paused, "I'll come see you tomorrow before I go back to the island"
"Jason" Bella called before he could walk out and he paused again and turned to stare at her
"I am sorry," she told him, she felt really sorry.
Jason smiled, "it's okay Bella, see you tomorrow"
Jason walked out of Bella's room, feeling hurt, he loved her so much and would do anything to make her happy but he knew that she didn't love him as he did yet he was hopeful that one day, she would learn to love him but now, he was not so sure anymore. Since her ex-husband had shown up in her life, she had tried to be nice to Jason but he could see how she looked at her ex-husband when they were in the hospital, and now, that she had come back from seeing her ex-husband, he was sure that something had happened between them. Even, when she tries to hide it, he can tell that she still loves her ex-husband.
Jason's heart constricted in pain, he loved her so much and he was not ready to give her up just yet. He had waited years for her to say "yes" to him.
*
*
That evening, Bella was about to have dinner with her kids when they heard the knock on the door, could it be Jason?
Bella knew she had hurt Jason earlier today and wished to apologize to him, he usually visits her in the evenings and either takes them out for dinner or has dinner with them in the apartment. She quickly ran to the door and opened it.
She gasped when she saw Daniel standing right there instead of Jason, and she quickly tried to slam the door shut but he was anticipating her move, his hand shot out and held the door
"What are you doing here?" She whispered fiercely
"I'm here to see my kids"
"What are you doing? They do not know that you are their father" She intercepted him when he tried to walk into her room
"I guess it's time for them to know darling" he drawled and pinched her chin.
Daniel walked past the hand she was using to stop him from entering the house and entered.
Nikky's eyes widened as soon as she saw him, "hey Mister, have you come to see me?" She was excited to see her friend from the hospital
"Of course, I came to see how my little princess friend is doing"
Nikky chuckled, "I am doing great, mom said very soon, I will be well enough and we'll go back home"
Daniel glanced at Bella briefly before his eyes fell back on Nikky
"Really, and do you love it there?"
"Sure I do, I get to play on the shore and count a lot of fishes. Although, I don't like my school"
"Really? Why is that?"
"Because they always teased me that I do not have a Dad, Niko had to punch the nose out of Warren for teasing me"
"Nikky, it's time for dinner" Bella tried to interrupt, she had not heard Nikky talk this much since her surgery
"Oh yeah, that's nice of Niko to punch the nose of that Warren guy, he deserves it"
Niko who had been quietly observing all along perked up at the compliment, "Mum made me apologize even though I didn't want to"
"Ouch, that's something your mother would do" Daniel replied Niko and smiled
"Have you known my mother for long?" He asked, his gaze appraised Daniel and he was much more observant than Nikky, nothing could get past him. Although his eyes were like Bella's, his other features screamed Daniel
Daniel stared at Bella, she was sweating profusely and walking around the house nervously, his gaze went back to the kids who were staring at him with interest and waiting for his answer
"Yeah, I know her very well" he cleared his throat, "we were very close"
"Does that mean you know who my real father is?" Nikky whispered
"Do you know my real father?" Niko asked at the same time Nikky had voiced her questions
"Stop with the talks, we need to have our dinner now" Bella interrupted and Daniel stared at her, his gaze determined
"Are you going to tell them about their dad or should I help you out"
Bella's gazed at him, pleading for him not to do that to her
Both Nikky and Niko stared from Daniel to Bella and then, back to Daniel
"Kids, I know who your real father is," Daniel said, "I am your real father"
*******************************************
There was a moment of silence at his announcement and then, Niko stood up from where he was seated
"You are my real father? It was you who hurt my mum?"
Daniel was shocked at the outburst and he glared at Bella for a moment before turning back to face Niko
"Listen, kid..."
"You didn't love us, why did you leave? Were we bad kids? Why didn't you want us" Niko cried and dashed away from the table
"Do you really not love us?" Nikky asked softly, tears forming in her eyes
"Of course I do" Daniel replied but she had followed the footsteps of her brother and also dashed away from the table.
"How could you?" Daniel gritted as he glared at Bella, "How could you fill their heads with so many lies about me?"
"I didn't....just give me time, I... I'll talk to them and explain the situation to them"
"This is the more reason for me to take them away and show them just how much I love them"
"No, please, they will come around"
"Tomorrow is the hearing, I'll see you in court " Daniel stomped out of the house and Bella stood there for a moment in confusion before going to Niko and Nikky.
*
*
Bella saw her kids huddled together in the room and Bella's heart went out to them, "Hey kids, what was that? Why would you ever think that your Daddy does not want you?" She asked softly
"If he does, why did he hurt you? Why did he leave?" Niko asked, his face was stained with tears
"That he hurt me does not mean that he does not love or want you, stop feeling sad" She wiped the tears away from their eyes and stared at them
"Listen, I never told him that I was pregnant, he didn't even know that you existed but guess the first thing he did when he found out about the both of you"
"What?" They both asked in unison
"He filed for custody"
"What is custody mum?" Nikky asked and Bella smiled
"Filing for custody means he is asking the court for permission to keep the both of you by his side"
"Really? Will the court allow him to do that?"
"I don't know, but I won't let him do that because I can't live without the both of you because I love you both so much"
She hugged both of her kids to her.
Bella had left the both of them more confused because now, they were torn on who to choose between their mom and dad.
They do not want to leave their mom because they love her and do not want to make her sad but they wish that they could have their Dad by their side too.
*******************************************
Bella walked to the court on the day of their hearing with Jason. He had postponed his going back that day so that he could appear in court with Bella.
They ran into Daniel by the door as they were also about to go in.
Daniel stared at Jason from his head to his foot,
"This is just a court hearing by the judge and third parties are not needed" Daniel snarled
"He is not a third party, he is my fiancee and if I decide to come with him, it's certainly none of your business" Bella replied hotly and she thought she saw a flicker of a smile on his lips before it vanished, he entered into the courtroom,
Bella turned to Jason, "I am sorry about his rudeness, I need you to be with me"
"You do not have to apologize on his behalf but I think he might be right though, in a case like this, only both parents are required to be present before the judge, don't worry, I'll be waiting for you outside"
"But..."
"Bella, do not waste more time. I am bit going anywhere, I'm right here okay" Jason said softly and Bella sighed before walking into the courtroom.
Bella saw Daniel smirk when she came in without Jason and she glared at him
The judge walked into the courtroom and shook hands with Nikolai, from his facial expression, Bella was almost convinced that he was a Nikolai Klaus fan and she suddenly felt like a rock was seated right in the middle of her belle, how was she sure that the judge will pass a fair judgment?
The judge cleared his voice, "Can you both sit so that we can proceed?"
Both Bella and Daniel sat down and the judge stared at the both of them
"I have gone through your case and before I can pass a final judgment, I would like to speak with the kids"
Bella gawked, why involve her kids in it, why not just deny Daniel the custody, that way everything would be fine
She glared at Daniel, has he someone interfered with the judge's decision?
"But...y..your honor, why quiz them? You could just grant me the custody and..."
The judge glared at her and she snapped her mouth shut
"Are you doubting my judgment?" He asked and she quickly shook her head, she did not want to offend him so that he would not completely be on Daniel's side
"I am sorry your honor, I will bring in the kids"
Daniel smirked and she felt like removing half of his teeth
"Bring them in tomorrow at 10 am" the judge finalized.
Bella was not pleased with the judgment as she left the courtroom, she was less pleased when Daniel stayed in there to chat with the judge for a while.
She stood by the door and waited for him to finish, she would give him a piece of her mind
She whirled to do just that when he got closer but she suddenly tripped and Daniel caught her just in time.
Instead of falling on the ground, she landed in Daniel's arms.