Bella’s POV
The tension in the room crackled like electricity before a storm. Derek’s eyes burned with sothing dangerous as he stepped closer.
"What exactly is wrong with you?" Derek’s voice cut through the air like a blade.
"This has nothing to do with you, Hugo. Move away. You have a wedding to focus on," Derek said, his hand making a dismissive gesture that made my skin crawl.
But Hugo wasn’t backing down. Sothing had shifted in his deanor, and I could see the protective instinct taking over.
"You’re already married, so what’s your argunt here? And of course this concerns . She’s my friend," Hugo said, though I noticed the slight hesitation before the word ’friend.’
I suspected those text ssages had gotten to him more than he was letting on. Sotis lies have a way of poisoning everything they touch.
"So you’re planning to interfere?" Derek’s arms crossed over his chest, his stance becoming more aggressive.
"I’m not planning to interfere. But if she doesn’t want to marry you, you’re going to back off imdiately. None of us will get dragged into this ss because there won’t be anything to fight about. The conversation ends there."
As Hugo spoke, I realized he still didn’t understand the full scope of what was happening here.
"He’s not just asking to marry him, Hugo. He threatened that if I don’t accept his proposal, he’ll demand DNA testing and take Leah away from ."
The mont I stepped out from behind Hugo’s protective stance to confront Derek directly, I felt the atmosphere in the room shift dramatically.
"What exactly did you say to her?" Hugo’s entire body went rigid as he turned to face Derek.
"What did I say that was wrong? Don’t you want to be involved in your son’s life?" Derek shot back, his tone becoming even sharper, showing no signs of remorse.
"Of course I do, but that doesn’t an I’ll threaten her or fight for custody. Don’t forget you’re the one who told her you didn’t want this baby. So you have absolutely no right to co here now and make threats," Hugo’s voice rose, and I could see Derek’s face darkening at the confrontation.
"Really, you’re going to say that?" Derek hissed, his eyes dropping to look at the phone.
But the screen had gone black. Whatever he’d been hoping to show was no longer visible.
"Oh, I understand now. It’s because you know you don’t have a chance with her. She’s already rejected you in the most brutal way possible. So naturally you want to sabotage my relationship with her too. The thought of anyone else having her is unbearable because you couldn’t have her yourself."
Derek’s words were pure poison, designed to hurt.
"That’s completely false. I never sent those text ssages," I said firmly.
For a split second, Derek looked like he might actually listen, but his pride wouldn’t allow it. He’d beco consud by his own desires.
"I don’t care about any of that. All I care about is getting her to accept , whether you or anyone else approves or not. And if she refuses, then she’ll face serious consequences. Because I will take my daughter," Derek continued his threats while Hugo suddenly grabbed him by the collar.
The change in Derek’s expression was startling. He looked genuinely shocked, hurt, and offended that his friend would physically confront him over .
"Seriously, Hugo? The woman who abandoned you, who sent you all those ssages, and you’re choosing her over your friend? Even knowing that you could potentially get Zack away from her too? You’re still trying to win her approval?" Derek asked.
His voice wasn’t raised, but the venom in his words was enough to make anyone flinch. Even I felt the sting of his accusations.
The way he painted to Hugo made sound like soone who had betrayed him beyond forgiveness.
"All I know is that I won’t allow you to hurt her," Hugo stated with unwavering conviction.
Those words hit like a physical blow. I squeezed my eyes shut and turned away, struggling to maintain my composure.
"Well, I’m nothing like you. I want her. And I’m prepared to fight for her. Even if she’s angry with . I know that once she gives an opportunity, I’ll address every concern and make her understand it was the right decision. That I fought hard for us. And ultimately, she’ll benefit from it. She’ll be thankful that I never gave up," Derek continued, acting as if I had no idea what I wanted or what would make happy.
Derek then shoved Hugo’s hands away and straightened his collar, stepping back while maintaining eye contact before turning his gaze to .
"You’re my mate, Bella. I don’t care what I said before or why I said it. Since you claim not to care, neither do I. All I know is that you belong to ," he declared, pressing his hand against his chest.
As he turned to leave, he stopped abruptly because soone else had witnessed his declaration.
Serena.
"What the hell is happening here?" Serena stood in the doorway, her fingers gripping the fra so tightly her knuckles were white, her voice shaking with rage.
"Co on. I’ll explain everything downstairs," Derek mumbled, trying to rush her away, but she slamd her palm against his arm hard enough to make him stumble.
"What were you telling her?" she scread. "That she belongs to you? Is that the truth? You wanted her? Is that what this is?"
Her voice broke on the last word, and I pressed my hand to my forehead, already feeling drained.
Hugo imdiately moved in front of , his broad shoulders completely shielding from view, but I could still see the confrontation unfolding.
Serena swung at him again, another strike aid at his arm. This ti he caught her wrist before it could connect. She went completely still, staring at him like she couldn’t believe he’d actually stopped her.
"That’s enough," he said coldly. "You’re not going to hit again."
She gasped at his warning tone.
"Oh, so that’s your ga? You’re trying to convince her that I forced you into marrying ?" She whirled around to face directly. "Let set the record straight, Bella. Forced or not, he was incredibly happy afterward. He completely forgot about you. He shared my bed constantly. He planned our honeymoon. He did everything willingly."
Her voice was sharp enough to cut through steel. Even though I wanted nothing more than to be left alone, the mate bond twisted painfully in my chest at her words, an unwanted response I couldn’t control.
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