Chapter 88 Shattered Trust
DAVID
The sun pierced through the thin curtains, its brightness pulling me from restless sleep. My head throbbed slightly as the events of last night replayed in my mind. I glanced down at Bella, still nestled against me, her soft, even breaths brushing my chest. Her face, peaceful and serene, held none of the fear that had twisted it hours earlier.
The sight stirred something raw in me a deep, protective ache I couldn’t shake. Gently, I brushed a strand of hair from her cheek, my fingers lingering against her skin. She stirred slightly but didn’t wake.
Reluctantly, I slipped out from under her and reached for my clothes, scattered haphazardly across the floor. My shirt smelled faintly of sweat and the chaos of last night. I buttoned it quickly, then turned back to her. She looked so small and fragile, wrapped in the thin blanket, her lips slightly parted.
Carefully, I gathered her into my arms, the blanket cocooning her against the morning chill. She murmured something unintelligible in her sleep, her head tucking instinctively against my shoulder.
When I stepped into the mansion, the scent of freshly brewed coffee greeted me, mingling with the faint floral aroma Bella’s presence always seemed to bring. My sister, Janet, lounged on the couch, one leg draped over the other, a steaming mug in hand. Her sharp eyes flicked to me, immediately landing on Bella.
“Well, well,” she drawled, setting the mug on the table. “Look who finally decided to come home. Don’t tell me you spent the night in the boys' quarters?”
“Good morning, Janet,” I muttered, shifting Bella slightly in my arms.
“Did you have a pleasant night with your wife, or did you forget you have a sister?” she teased, her smirk widening as she crossed her arms.
“Do you ever stop talking?” I snapped, my patience already thin.
“Not when my brother is carrying his half-naked wife through the house like some fairytale prince,” she retorted, her laughter bubbling over. “Go on, lover boy. Put her down so we can talk.”
I shot her a glare and turned toward the stairs. Bella stirred slightly as I carried her up, her lashes fluttering but not opening. I laid her down gently on the bed, tucking the blanket around her. For a moment, I stood there, watching the rise and fall of her chest, the faint tear tracks still visible on her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Bella,” I whispered, brushing a kiss against her forehead before slipping out of the room.
Downstairs, Janet was waiting, arms crossed and a wicked gleam in her eyes. “So, brother, what’s the plan? Call the cops or handle them ourselves?”
“We’ll talk to them first,” I said, my jaw tightening.
Her grin widened. “You know I’m always up for a little… persuasion.”
We walked in silence to the torture room, the cold stone walls amplifying the tension in the air. The moment I stepped inside, my anger surged. Michael sat slumped in a chair, his face bruised and swollen. Lizzy was restrained nearby, her smug expression faltering as her eyes met mine.
“David,” she cooed, her voice syrupy sweet. “I didn’t think you’d come to visit me.”
“Don’t call me that,” I snarled, taking a step closer. “Why did you poison my drink? What were you trying to achieve?”
Her smile twisted into something venomous. “I wanted your child,” she said simply, as if it were the most logical thing in the world.
“The baby isn’t mine, Lizzy,” I said, my voice low and dangerous.
“It is!” she snapped, her eyes blazing. “I’ve shown you the results!”
Janet stepped forward, her heels clicking sharply against the floor. “The results you forged, you mean?” she said, her voice dripping with mockery. “Here’s the truth, Lizzy. You are pregnant, but the baby isn’t David’s. It’s Eden’s.”
Lizzy froze, her smug façade cracking.
“You were six weeks along when you claimed it was David’s,” Janet continued. “But David wasn’t with you six weeks ago, was he? No, you were busy with Eden, weren’t you?”
“No!” Lizzy screamed, her voice shrill. “It’s David’s baby! It has to be!”
I leaned in closer, my voice cold and steady. “You thought you could trap me, Lizzy? You thought I wouldn’t figure it out?”
Her defiance wavered, her lips trembling as she searched for something anything to hold onto.
“You think you’ve won?” she spat suddenly, her gaze darting behind me. “Why don’t you explain to Bella, standing at the door, how you used her as a pawn in your little game?”
My heart sank as I turned, dread pooling in my stomach. Bella stood in the doorway, her face pale, her eyes wide with betrayal.
“Bella…” I started, but the words died in my throat.
She took a shaky step back, her hands trembling. Her lips parted, but no sound came out. And then she turned and ran, her sobs echoing through the halls.
“Call the police,” I said to Janet, my voice hollow. “Have them take these two away.”
Lizzy’s laughter followed me as I left the room, her voice a haunting reminder of how deeply I had hurt the one person who mattered most. I sprinted after Bella, desperation clawing at my chest.
I couldn’t lose her. Not like this.