Chapter 117 The Suspicious Invitation
DAVID
"Don’t you think we should tell Bella this time?" Janet’s voice cut through the silence, firm but soft, her words laced with concern. "The last time we didn’t, it broke her. She had to leave the house, and honestly, I was terrified we’d lose her for good." Her lips curved into a wistful smile. "I don’t want to miss out on such a beautiful sister-in-law."
I leaned back in my chair, her words hitting me like a wave. She was right Bella deserved to know. But the fear clung to me like a shadow. What if she couldn’t handle the truth? What if it shattered her all over again? The thought of losing Bella, even for a moment, tightened my chest.
"David." Janet’s voice softened now, a gentle nudge pulling me from my thoughts. "We need to tell her. This is about her, and she has a right to know."
I exhaled, my fingers hovering over my phone screen before I finally dialed Bella’s number. The familiar tone rang once, then twice, before her warm voice came through.
"Babe?" she answered.
"Can you meet me in the garden?" My voice was calm, though my heart raced.
"I’ll be there in a moment," she said, and the line went dead.
Janet raised an eyebrow at me, a knowing look in her eyes. "What’s the plan?" she asked, folding her arms.
"I need to visit Mrs. Williams first," I said, sliding my phone into my pocket.
"Mrs. Williams?" Her brows knitted in confusion. "Why her?"
A faint smirk touched my lips. "I’m not really going for her. I know Mr. Western will be there. He needs to understand that Bella is my woman. If he doesn’t want a repeat of what happened years ago, he’d better back off."
Janet’s response was cut short as Bella’s figure emerged from the garden path, the sunlight catching the soft waves of her hair. She moved gracefully, her presence a calming contrast to the storm swirling in my chest.
"Janet, why didn’t you tell me you were visiting?" Bella asked, settling beside me, her tone light but curious.
Janet grinned, a playful glint in her eyes. "I didn’t want to stress my brother’s pregnant wife."
Bella laughed, and for a moment, the tension lifted. But I knew better than to trust such fleeting peace. I watched them banter, their laughter blending with the rustling leaves around us. They had forgotten I was there, their easy camaraderie a brief escape from the weight of our reality.
I cleared my throat, drawing their attention back to me. "Bella, we need to talk."
She turned to me, her smile fading into a look of confusion. "What’s going on?"
"This is about you," I said, my voice steady but serious. "I need you to tell Elowen about your jade pendant how you gave it to Jasper and how Mrs. Williams found out about it."
Her brows furrowed. "Why does that matter now?"
"I don’t trust Elowen," I said, leaning forward. "I think she knows something about your biological parents. I need to find out what."
Bella’s eyes widened, a mix of shock and realization crossing her face. "You think she knows something? I’ve been suspicious, too. The way she keeps asking questions it’s like she’s fishing for something. She even texted me today, asking to meet her at her apartment this evening."
The air around us grew heavier. "Why does she want to meet you?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.
"I don’t know," she said quietly.
"Then we’re going with you," I decided. "You’ll go in, but I’ll give you a recorder. We’ll be able to hear everything. Is that okay?"
Bella nodded, determination replacing the uncertainty in her eyes. "Maybe this time, I’ll finally get some answers about my parents."
I reached for her hand, my grip firm yet gentle. "Promise me you won’t do anything reckless nothing without me."
She met my gaze, her expression earnest. "I promise, David. I won’t."
For the first time that day, I felt a small measure of relief.
"Janet and I need to grab something from our old mansion," I said, standing and brushing off my pants. I leaned down to kiss Bella’s forehead. "We’ll be back soon."
The drive to the mansion was quiet, the weight of unspoken memories pressing down on both of us. When we arrived, the sight before me stirred something deep and bitter. The once-grand estate, now cloaked in dust and decay, stood as a monument to pain and loss.
Janet glanced at me, her expression unreadable. "It’s strange, isn’t it? How a place full of memories can become something that haunts you."
I nodded, swallowing the lump in my throat. "That’s why Grandpa abandoned it. Losing his only son... It broke him."
We approached the old treehouse, its wooden beams weathered and frail. Janet’s eyes flicked to me, a small smile playing on her lips. "I hid it up there. I’ll climb and get it."
I hesitated. "Be careful. That thing’s barely holding together."
"Relax, big brother. I’ve got this," she said, already pulling herself up. The treehouse creaked under her weight, but she moved quickly, her determination unwavering.
After a few tense moments, her voice called down. "Found it!" A photo and a crumpled newspaper fluttered to the ground.
I bent to pick them up, my fingers trembling as I unfolded the yellowed paper. The headline screamed back at me: December 26, 1980—The Day Tragedy Struck. Below it, a grainy black-and-white photo of my uncle and his wife stared up at me.
Janet climbed down, brushing dirt from her hands. "That day changed everything," she said softly.
I couldn’t speak, my mind racing. Whatever secrets we were chasing, this house held the first piece of the puzzle. And I wasn’t stopping until I uncovered the rest.