Chapter 62 A Snake in the House
DAVID
Lizzy’s presence felt like a storm rolling in, unexpected and unwelcome. I let go of Bella’s hand, her shock mirroring mine, as Lizzy stood there, smiling as if she had every right to be in my home.
“What are you doing here?” My voice came out sharp, slicing through the tension hanging in the air.
Lizzy tilted her head, her smile as sweet as poison. “I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” she said, her tone dripping with faux innocence. “I thought maybe you could help me.”
My jaw tightened. “You’re not welcome here.”
Her expression faltered for a second, but she quickly recovered. “I came in through the back door the one you showed me,” she added with a shrug, as if that excused her intrusion.
Bella shifted beside me, her body stiff with jealousy. I could feel her pulling away, her silence speaking louder than any words. I swallowed the urge to laugh at her reaction, though the situation was far from amusing.
“You’re not staying here,” I said, my voice low but firm.
Before I could turn away, Lizzy dropped to her knees, her eyes brimming with tears. “David, I’m sorry,” she said, her voice cracking. “I hurt you. I hurt Bella. But I’ve changed. Please, just give me a chance to prove it.”
I looked at Bella, her expression unreadable as she avoided my gaze. After a moment, she spoke, her voice soft but decisive. “Let her stay. Just for a little while.”
I exhaled sharply. “Fine. Two days. You stay in the guest room, and then you’re gone,” I said, my tone leaving no room for argument.
Lizzy nodded, her tears vanishing as quickly as they’d come. “Thank you,” she whispered, but I was already turning away.
Taking Bella’s hand, I led her inside, the irritation bubbling beneath my calm exterior. Lizzy had ruined my evening, and I hated how easily she disrupted my peace.
Once Bella and I were alone, I called for John. He appeared quickly, his demeanor sharp and attentive.
“Sir?”
“Keep an eye on Lizzy,” I said, my voice low. “If she so much as breathes wrong, I want to know. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” he replied, his tone resolute.
As he left, I turned back to Bella, my frustration easing slightly as I looked at her. Lizzy might have forced her way in, but I wasn’t about to let her ruin what I had with Bella.
BELLA
Lizzy’s arrival left a bitter taste in my mouth, but I couldn’t bring myself to send her away not yet. Still, unease curled in my stomach like a coiled snake, its presence impossible to ignore.
I sat at the table, absentmindedly running my fingers over the delicate necklace lying before me. Jasper’s small voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“What’s that?” he asked, his eyes wide with curiosity as he pointed to the necklace.
I smiled, picking it up. “It’s a gift from my mom,” I said softly, holding it up for him to see. “Do you like it?”
“Yes,” he said, his grin infectious.
“Alright,” I said, fastening it around his neck. “But you have to promise to keep it safe.”
“I promise,” he said, his small hand clutching the pendant as if it were the most precious thing in the world.
I leaned down, pressing a kiss to his forehead, but the moment was shattered when the door creaked open. Lizzy stood there, her presence like a shadow cast over the room.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, my tone sharp as I instinctively pulled Jasper closer.
She raised her hands, a gesture of surrender. “Relax, Bella. I just wanted to thank you for letting me stay. I promise, I won’t come between you and David again.”
I studied her face, searching for cracks in her mask of sincerity. “It’s fine,” I said, though the words tasted bitter.
Her eyes flicked to Jasper, then back to me, a faint smile curling her lips. “I’ve changed, Bella. You’ll see.”
I didn’t believe her for a second. Lizzy was a master of deception, and her words carried the weight of hidden intentions.
“I’ll leave you now,” she said, stepping closer as if to hug me. I stopped her with a subtle push, keeping the distance between us.
She hesitated, her smile faltering. “This is just the beginning,” she said, her voice laced with something I couldn’t quite place.
As she left, the weight of her words settled heavily in the room. My gaze fell to Jasper, his innocence a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing within me. Lizzy was a snake, and I’d let her into my home. Now, I had to be ready for whatever venom she planned to unleash.