Chapter 29 Shadows from the Past
DAVID
I wasn’t going to let Lizzy or my brother ruin this. They’d already destroyed enough. As my phone vibrated with Grandpa’s message, inviting me to dinner, I felt a surge of unease. Had he discovered that Eden was back? This dinner might be my only chance to find out.
Eden. His name alone sent a chill down my spine. He didn’t need to hurt me physically; he knew exactly how to twist the knife in my weaknesses. If he learned about Bella about what she was starting to mean to me I had no doubt he’d use it against me. I clenched my jaw. No, I couldn’t let that happen. I couldn’t afford to be careless.
With a sigh, I dialed Bella’s number. She picked up on the second ring, her voice sharp and guarded.
“Hello?”
“We’re having a family dinner tonight,” I said, keeping my tone brisk. “Be ready. We’re leaving in three hours.”
She paused, and when she spoke again, her voice was laced with tension. “Okay, I will.”
It stung, hearing the coldness in her words, but I knew I deserved it. I’d pushed her away to protect her, but I could tell she was hurt. I tried to soften the moment. “I got you something. I’ll have one of the maids bring it over.”
There was a slight shift, almost like a crack in her defenses. “Thank you,” she said, but the call ended before I could say anything else. I looked down at my phone, exhaling. I hoped she would forgive me for how I’d shut her out.
BELLA
A family dinner? Now? I couldn’t shake the thought that David must’ve found out about his ex. Maybe she’d even told him about the way she’d ambushed me. I gritted my teeth, vowing not to let her intimidate me. I wasn’t going to break.
My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Julie, one of the housemaids, entered with a soft smile, holding a small box.
“Ma’am, the boss asked me to give this to you.”
“Thank you,” I replied, taking the box from her hands. My fingers traced the cool surface as I opened it. Inside lay a stunning black diamond necklace, intricately designed, the stones shimmering like a dark ocean under the moonlight. I felt a pang in my chest. Was this David’s way of apologizing?
As Julie turned to leave, I nearly called out to her, my questions bubbling up, but I held back. No one could answer the questions I had about David no one but him. I set the necklace aside and turned to my closet, searching for something that would fit the elegance of the night. My eyes fell on a sleek silver gown, one I didn’t remember buying.
Then I saw it a small note tucked into the fabric: I hope you like it. - David.
For a moment, warmth spread through me. He’d been thinking of me. But the feeling quickly soured. He’d come into my room without asking, dropping off gifts like he could make everything better with a few gestures. Did I hate him for it? Or did I feel…something else?
When I finally made my way downstairs, I found David and Jasper waiting. As usual, I was running late despite my best efforts, and they were both there, looking perfectly composed. I felt a rush of guilt, but Jasper’s eyes lit up when he saw me.
“You look beautiful, Bella,” he said, his small hand slipping into mine. My heart softened at his innocent gaze, and I found myself squeezing his hand gently.
“Thank you, Jasper,” I replied, catching a flash of something was it pride? in David’s expression before he turned away.
The ride to Grandpa’s was tense and silent, the air thick with things left unsaid. Finally, unable to stand the quiet, I murmured, “Thanks for the dress and necklace.”
David glanced over, his face impassive. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you like it.”
The moment we arrived, I spotted her Vivian. She hadn’t seen me yet, but as soon as she did, her face paled, her confident stride faltering. She made her way toward me, her voice trembling with barely-contained anger.
“What are you doing here?”
I raised an eyebrow, forcing a calm I didn’t quite feel. “Why wouldn’t I be here? This is how you greet your sister-in-law?”
Her face twisted, and for a moment, she looked like she might faint. “You…you can’t be married to Mr. David. I won’t let that happen.”
Before I could answer, a warm hand landed on my shoulder. I looked up, meeting Mrs. Thalassa’s soft smile.
“Bella, dear! It’s been too long,” she said, pulling me into a warm embrace. Over her shoulder, I saw the panic in Vivian’s eyes, the way she looked suddenly trapped.
“I missed you, Mom,” I said, returning her embrace.
“Oh, if you really missed me, you’d visit more often,” she teased. I smiled sheepishly, promising to do better.
At dinner, I noticed how Vivian wouldn’t look up from her plate, her mother sitting beside her, doing her best to be invisible.
“Vivian, dear,” Mrs. Thalassa said, frowning, “why are you eating so fast tonight? You’re not yourself.”
“Nothing, ma'am,” she mumbled. “Just…a little hungry.”
She wasn’t hungry. She was petrified. I hid a small smile, relishing the way she squirmed.
“I think Vivian’s lost weight,” Mrs. Thalassa said with genuine concern. “She needs more food, don’t you think?” She looked at Vivian’s mother, who nodded, forcing a weak smile.
It was hard to believe someone as warm-hearted as Mrs. Thalassa could be Vivian’s mother. I was still mulling over the family dynamic when the room fell silent, a heavy tension settling over us.
“Well, well. A family dinner without me?” The voice was smooth, laced with sarcasm. My heart leapt as I looked up, spotting a figure in the doorway.
The man’s resemblance to David was unmistakable, but there was an edge to him, a darkness that made my skin prickle. His eyes swept over the room, lingering on Vivian and her mother.
“And how can a servant sit in my seat?” he sneered, his tone biting.
Vivian and her mother shot up, faces flushed with humiliation. I swallowed hard, realizing who he must be.
This was Eden the man everyone in the room seemed to fear. Even David’s grandfather seemed rattled, pushing his plate aside with barely-concealed anger.