Chapter 73 The Intruder
DAVID
“How could this happen?” Grandpa’s voice thundered through the study, the vibrations seeming to shake the very walls. His face was red, veins bulging at his temple as he paced like a lion in a cage. “You’re supposed to be smart, David. How did you let this happen?”
I couldn’t meet his eyes. The weight of my mistake hung over me like a storm cloud. “I’m sorry, Grandpa,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Sorry?” He stopped pacing and stared me down, his piercing gaze making me feel like I was shrinking. “Sorry doesn’t fix this. You’ve dragged our name into the mud. Fix it! Clean up this mess before it destroys the family name,” he snapped, his voice cold and commanding.
“I will,” I said, bowing slightly, more out of habit than respect, before leaving the room.
The heavy oak door clicked shut behind me, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding. My shoulders sagged, the weight of his expectations pressing down on me. As I moved down the dimly lit hallway, the sound of heels tapping against the marble floor caught my attention.
Janet was leaning casually against the wall, her arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips.
“Were you eavesdropping?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at her.
She shrugged, pushing off the wall. “Don’t flatter yourself. I was just waiting to see if my big brother survived the scolding.”
Her teasing tone grated on me, but I didn’t have the energy to argue. “I’m fine,” I said curtly, brushing past her.
“Really?” she called after me, falling into step beside me. “Because you don’t look fine. So, what’s the plan? How are you going to handle the whole Lizzy-is-pregnant thing?”
I stopped abruptly, turning to face her. “I’m not the father of that child. I’m going to get a real test done one that can’t be faked,” I said firmly.
Janet tilted her head, her smirk widening. “Leave it to me.”
“Janet,” I said, eyeing her suspiciously, “what are you planning?”
She tapped a finger to her lips. “It’s a secret,” she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
I reached out to ruffle her hair like I used to when we were kids, but she swatted my hand away. “I’m not a little girl anymore,” she said, sticking her tongue out at me. “If I were you, I’d be heading home to your pregnant wife. Oh, wait…”
“Janet,” I warned, but she just laughed, her voice echoing down the hallway as she disappeared around the corner.
I shook my head, a small smile tugging at my lips despite everything. She was infuriating, but she had a way of lightening even the heaviest of situations.
BELLA
The night had started so perfectly too perfectly, as it turned out. Now, all I wanted was to go home and forget the chaos that had unfolded. I leaned back in the car seat, staring out at the city lights blurring past the window.
The driver’s voice broke into my thoughts. “Ma’am, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” I said quickly, though I wasn’t sure I believed it.
Suddenly, the car screeched to a halt, throwing me forward. “What’s going on?” I asked, clutching the edge of my seat.
A man was standing in the middle of the road, his figure illuminated by the headlights. He didn’t move, even as the driver honked repeatedly. Instead, he walked toward the car, his movements slow and deliberate.
“Should I drive off, ma’am?” the driver asked, his hand hovering over the gear.
“Wait,” I said, my curiosity outweighing my caution. I opened the door and stepped out, my heels clicking against the pavement.
Before I could say a word, the man rushed toward me, wrapping me in a tight hug. His scent was unfamiliar sharp and woodsy and his voice, though warm, sent a shiver down my spine.
“Bella,” he murmured. “I missed you.”
I froze, my arms pinned at my sides. “Do I…know you?” I asked, my voice shaky.
He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes, his hands still gripping my arms. “Of course, you know me. I’m your boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” The word felt foreign on my tongue. I shook my head, stepping out of his grasp. “No, that’s not possible. I’m married.”
His laughter was soft, almost sad. “Bella, don’t do this. I know it’s been a while, but…”
“Stop,” I said firmly, holding up a hand. “I don’t know who you are.”
His expression crumbled, and for a moment, I almost felt sorry for him. But before I could say anything more, headlights bathed us in harsh light, and a sleek black car screeched to a stop.
David stepped out, his silhouette sharp and commanding under the streetlights. His eyes locked on the man, then shifted to me. The fury in his gaze was palpable, making my breath catch in my throat.
“Wat his he doing here?” David’s voice was low and dangerous as he took a step toward us.
The man beside me stiffened, his defiance giving way to fear. I didn’t wait to see what would happen next. I pushed him away, my heart pounding as David closed the distance between us.
“Get in the car,” David ordered, his voice leaving no room for argument.
I didn’t hesitate, sliding back into the passenger seat as David stared the man down. Whatever was about to happen, I wanted no part of it.