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"What should we do now? Are we just going to stand by and watch them give birth to this child? And what about Samantha? What about the baby she’s carrying?" Pamela’s voice quivered as it mingled with the eerie whispers of the night wind.
"I don’t have a clear plan yet. The child won’t arrive for a while, so we still have time to think this through," Itzel replied, her frustration evident as her sharp teeth glinted in the pale moonlight. "But there must be a way. We just need to figure it out."
Pamela’s nerves were on edge as she paced back and forth. "Time is not on my side. Beta Craig is demanding that Samantha leave for another country. I can’t let that happen!" Her voice carried a note of desperation.
Itzel waved her hand dismissively. "Then have Samantha pretend to be ill. That should buy her some time."
Pamela shook her head, her unease deepening. "It’s not that simple. Beta Craig isn’t someone who can be easily fooled. If we claim she’s sick, he’ll send her straight to the hospital for a full check-up. Once the doctors examine her, they’ll discover her pregnancy. And when Beta Craig finds out, he’ll force her to terminate the pregnancy. Everything we’ve worked for will fall apart!"
A heavy silence followed as Itzel carefully considered the situation. After a long pause, she spoke with deliberation. "If there’s no other way, we may have no choice but to inform Beta Craig about Samantha’s pregnancy ourselves."
"No!" Pamela’s response was immediate and filled with alarm. "We can’t let that happen!"
Itzel held her ground, her voice steady. "If Beta Craig learns that Samantha may never have another child, he might reconsider. Even if he’s harsh, he wouldn’t want his daughter to live her entire life alone."
Pamela scoffed in disbelief. "Do you really think he’ll believe that? It sounds absurd."
"It’s not absurd. It’s the truth," Itzel replied, her tone tinged with resignation.
After a deep sigh, Itzel finally revealed what she had been withholding. "There’s something I haven’t told you. Samantha’s pregnancy wasn’t easy to achieve. That’s why I suggested artificial intervention rather than natural methods. To be honest, I didn’t think it would work. But somehow, against all odds, she conceived. If she loses this baby, she may never be able to conceive again."
Pamela froze, the weight of Itzel’s words sinking in. "Why didn’t you tell me this before?" she asked, stunned.
"It wouldn’t have changed anything," Itzel said, her gaze drifting toward the shadowy forest. "You already know Samantha is carrying Alpha Xavier’s child. If there’s a chance to protect that baby, I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure its survival. I won’t let Samantha twist the narrative to frame Bella for anything."
Pamela’s voice cracked as she grasped at straws. "Samantha’s condition worsened because she took something she shouldn’t have, trying to end the pregnancy, didn’t she?"
Itzel nodded solemnly. "That’s part of it. But don’t forget the scheme we orchestrated to make Elinor believe Bella had killed her child. We pushed Samantha to confront Bella, and during their altercation, Bella shoved her. Samantha fell hard, and it caused complications."
Itzel continued, her voice heavy with guilt. "The doctor who performed the procedure later made mistakes, further damaging Samantha’s already delicate body. Her condition is the result of everything we’ve done."
Pamela’s emotions churned with a mix of sorrow and anger. She hadn’t anticipated that their schemes would leave her daughter in such a fragile state. It was a harsh lesson, but Pamela refused to blame Samantha for any of it. Instead, her determination grew fiercer.
"Alpha Xavier is the reason for Samantha’s suffering," Pamela declared. "No matter what, this time she must marry him. I won’t let this opportunity slip away!"
Meanwhile, Beta Craig had sent someone to handle Samantha’s departure while making time to visit Bella and Leo. On this particular day, he arrived at Alpha Carl’s estate with gifts in hand. Bella was outside with Leo when she noticed him approaching.
"Mommy, Grandpa’s here again," Leo said excitedly, pointing toward Beta Craig.
Beta Craig’s face lit up with a cheerful smile as he approached them, holding several bags. "Look, Leo, Grandpa brought you some wonderful presents!" he announced, his voice warm and inviting.
Leo’s eyes sparkled with joy as he saw the gifts. "Grandpa, you’re the best!" he exclaimed, his small hands clapping in excitement.
Beta Craig set the bags down and scooped Leo into his arms, covering the boy’s face with kisses. Leo giggled uncontrollably. "Grandpa, your beard tickles!" he said, squirming playfully.
Watching the scene unfold, Bella felt a pang in her chest. It reminded her of her own childhood. She had vivid memories of Beta Craig coming home from work, lifting her into his arms, and peppering her cheeks with kisses. Like Leo, she had often complained about his prickly beard. "Daddy, your beard is too scratchy," she would say, and her mother, Ashley, would laugh softly in the background, her smile serene.
"Those days felt so perfect," Bella thought wistfully, her heart heavy with nostalgia. Shaking off the memory, she bent down to pick up the gifts Beta Craig had brought, then gestured toward the house. "Let’s continue this conversation indoors," she said.
Beta Craig beamed at her invitation and followed her inside, Leo still cradled in his arms. Once inside, Bella prepared tea and placed a cup in front of him. "Leo, go play with your new toys in the other room," she instructed gently.
Leo nodded and skipped away, eager to explore his new treasures. Beta Craig took a sip of the tea and sighed contentedly. "You make tea just like your mother," he said, his voice filled with warmth. "It’s perfect."
Bella remained quiet, her thoughts swirling. She knew it was her duty to respect her father, but the complicated history between them made it difficult. Beta Craig’s presence stirred a mixture of emotions within her—gratitude, anger, and sadness all at once.