Chapter 99 Bella's POV

Chapter 99 Bella's POV
Chapter Ninety-nine

Bella's POV

My legs felt weak as I walked out of his office.

I didn’t even make it halfway down the hallway before I had to grip the wall just to stay on my feet.

My lungs refused to work and my heart was pounding so loudly I was sure someone could hear it.

He finally knew the secret I was trying so hard to keep.

The secret I had protected with everything I had… the secret I kept even at the cost of my own happiness.

I pressed a shaky palm against my stomach.

Everything I did, every lie I told, every insult I swallowed, it was because of Noah.

I forced myself back into my small office. I closed the door quietly, locked it, and leaned against it.

I covered my mouth with both hands to muffle the sob that escaped.

I slid against the door until I was sitting on the floor, knees pulled to my chest. My fingers trembled uncontrollably.

A part of me should have been relieved that the secret was out and that Xander would be a good father.

But the other part of me was scared because if Elena Knight found out that Xander knew the truth, she would come for us and she would finish what she started.

Elena was too powerful and cruel and I had no idea what Xander was going to do next.

My hands were still shaking when I sat back at my desk.

I pressed my palms to my face, trying to steady my breathing.

“Bella?”

It was Daniel.

He stepped inside, closing the door behind him quietly like he already knew something was wrong.

“I came as soon as I saw your messages,” he said softly. “You said Xander found out?”

“He knows?” he repeated.

I nodded slowly.

Daniel let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. “Damn it, Bella.”

I swallowed hard. “Daniel… he wasn’t supposed to know at all.

“I guess these things happen,” he muttered. “What did you tell him?”

I looked up at him, feeling both guilty and exhausted. “The truth.”

Daniel’s jaw clenched.

“The truth?” he repeated. “As in… everything?”

I hesitated. “He had evidence. I couldn’t lie anymore.”

Daniel exhaled in frustration. “Now Xander is going to come for him.”

My head snapped up. “Come for who?”

Daniel’s eyes softened. “Noah, Bella. He’s going to fight for custody.”

My heart contracted painfully.

“He wouldn’t…”

“He would,” Daniel cut in. “He absolutely would.”

I stood from the floor slowly. “Daniel… you’re supposed to help me, not make me more scared.”

“I am helping you,” he said, stepping closer. “I’ve always helped you. Who pretended to be Noah’s father for four years? Who showed up at the hospital when he had his first fever? Who signed the school forms? Who helped you settle in New York?”

His voice rose slightly. “I did all of that, Bella.”

His words hurt because they were true.

Daniel had been there. He stepped into a role he never had to take.

“You knew the real father was Xander.”

“Yes.”

“And you still let people believe it?”

Daniel’s voice cracked. “Because you asked me to.”

I closed my eyes.

“I didn’t just do it for you,” he said quietly. “I did it because I love Noah.”

My chest tightened.

“And I…” He hesitated. “Bella…”

I was still crying, still trying to breathe, when Daniel reached for me again.

“Bella, please… let me take you home,” he said softly, helping me sit up straighter.

I didn’t even have the strength to argue anymore, my head was spinning.

“I shouldn’t have…”

“It’s okay,” Daniel murmured.
“You’re overwhelmed. Anyone would be.”

He put a hand on my back, reached out instinctively and pulled me into a hug.

I didn’t have the strength to hug him back.
But I let myself lean into him just for a moment.

That was the exact moment the office door swung open.

I froze.

Daniel froze.

And Xander stood there silently.

His eyes landed on the sight of me leaning against Daniel’s chest.

His jaw clenched so hard I heard his teeth grind.

I sat up immediately, wiping my face.
“Xander…

“What,” he said slowly, “is going on here?... The man who pretended to be my son’s father thinks he has the right to touch her?”

Daniel replied. “I was helping her. She needed support.”

“You can support her without your hands on her,” Xander retorted.

Daniel lifted his chin. “She needed support.”

“Then she should have called me,” Xander said sharply with his gaze on him. “I am his father. I’m the one she should be speaking to. Not you.”

My throat tightened. “I didn’t… I wasn’t… he was just…”

“Helping?” Xander finished. “I saw.”

I shook my head. “It's not what you think.”

Daniel straightened. “Xander…”

“Save it,” Xander snapped.

His gaze hardened on Daniel.

“You knew,” Xander said, stepping inside.
“You knew Noah was mine. And you still let me walk around for four years without knowing my own son existed.”

Daniel didn’t flinch, he met his gaze squarely. “She needed someone, and you weren’t there.

“You lied to me,” Xander spat.

Daniel still maintained Xander’s intense gaze. “I did what she needed.”

“Xander…” I whispered.

His eyes were blazing with rage and he fixed them on Daniel.

Xander said. “You don’t get to stand near her again and you sure as hell don’t get to pretend to be part of my family.”

Daniel’s expression hardened. “You can’t make that decision for her.”

Xander stepped closer until they were inches apart.

“I already have.”

He looked at Daniel with venom. “You need to leave. Now.”

Daniel didn’t budge. “She’s not stable enough to be here alone.”

Xander took one step closer until they were inches apart. “I wasn’t asking.”

I stood up quickly. “Stop. Both of you. Please.”

But my voice shook so much it barely counted as authority.

Xander looked at me. “You broke me today,” he whispered.

I felt my heart break.

Daniel turned to me gently. “Bella… let’s go.”

Xander stepped forward.
“She’s not going anywhere with you.”