Bella’s POV
The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife as I turned to face Parker on the deserted road where we had pulled over to talk.
"What exactly was that supposed to accomplish, Parker?" My voice carried more edge than I intended, but I was beyond caring about pleasantries.
Our cars sat parked on the abandoned stretch of asphalt, engines cooling in the afternoon heat. Through the windows of Hugo’s vehicle, I could see my two children absorbed in their tablets, the soft glow of screens keeping them occupied while the adults sorted through this ss.
Tara remained in Parker’s car, isolated from the kids who still refused to warm up to her presence. The arrangent twisted sothing painful in my chest, but I couldn’t force my children to embrace soone they feared. Their comfort ca first, even if it ant these awkward separations.
"What are you talking about? I was helping you," Parker shot back, his tone dripping with incredulity as if I should be grateful for whatever sche he had just pulled.
Derek stepped closer, his jaw tight with frustration. "You need to back off, Parker. Or did you forget you have a wife waiting at ho?" The challenge in his voice was unmistakable as he tapped Parker’s chest with the back of his hand.
Fire flashed in Parker’s eyes as he planted his hands firmly on his hips. "You know damn well why I married Moon and under what circumstances. There’s been absolutely nothing real between us." His glare intensified as he turned the tables on Derek. "If anyone needs to step back, it’s you. You had your chance at happiness, got married, were even planning children. But now you suddenly decide you want Bella back? And you have the nerve to lecture about my marriage vows?"
For the first ti, Parker was fighting back instead of taking Derek’s criticism silently, and I found myself studying Derek’s face without his father’s intimidating presence looming nearby.
Hugo stepped into the fray, his voice steady but cutting. "You destroyed everything good in her life, Derek. The humiliation you put her through was unforgivable."
Derek’s expression hardened as he looked between the three of us like we were speaking a foreign language. "Neither of you has any right to tell what I ruined or didn’t ruin. This is between Bella and ."
The dismissive way he spoke about my pain ignited sothing fierce inside . "Then let make it crystal clear for you, Derek. You absolutely ruined everything for ." The words ca out sharper than broken glass, each one carrying years of buried hurt.
"There it is, straight from her mouth," Parker declared with satisfaction, crossing his arms over his chest.
But Derek wasn’t backing down. "Why is everyone acting like I’m the villain here? I told you exactly what I planned to do, Parker. You didn’t try to stop then. Now suddenly I’m the monster and you’re painting as so disgusting excuse for a man?"
The pieces of their conspiracy began clicking together in my mind, and fury rose in my throat like bile. "So you knew all along, didn’t you? That’s why when I called you that day, you were so cold and distant. Then you showed up out of nowhere, conveniently claiming we were mates to block anyone else from making the sa claim. Because if multiple n announced they were my mate, I’d look like so kind of freak, and I’d be terrified of losing my children if my true identity ca to light."
The calculated nature of Parker’s actions hit like a physical blow. His timing hadn’t been coincidence or fate. It had been strategy, pure and simple.
My gaze shifted to Hugo, the only one who hadn’t been playing gas. Even though he might be the best choice among the three of them, he had never once suggested he wanted to rebuild what we’d had. He’d admitted to having feelings for years ago, but now his heart belonged to my sister. He was planning to propose to her within days.
"I’m done with all of this," I announced, exhaustion replacing anger in my voice. "I’m going ho to rest. I don’t have the energy to keep fighting with any of you, especially you, Derek." I pointed directly at him, watching his brow furrow in confusion.
"You really can’t see how much I love you, can you? How determined I am to win you back?" His words only made slap my palm against my forehead so hard that all three n looked genuinely worried.
"Fine, okay, I get it. I screwed up," Derek admitted quickly, apparently realizing he was pushing toward a complete breakdown. "Things spiraled way beyond what I expected. I honestly thought you’d just accept my proposal and we’d move forward."
He kept talking, but I’d heard enough. I raised my hand to silence him and walked purposefully toward Parker’s car, where a smug smile was already spreading across his face. He moved to his vehicle with obvious satisfaction, clearly wanting Derek and Hugo to witness choosing to ride with him.
Instead, I opened the back door and carefully lifted Tara into my arms.
"What the hell are you doing?" Parker’s smugness evaporated instantly.
"I’m going ho with Hugo."
The mont those words left my mouth, both Derek and Parker’s faces darkened with unmistakable displeasure. Behind , I could hear them erupting into heated argunt, their voices rising as they fought over like I was so prize to be won.
I ignored their drama and carried Tara to Hugo’s car, settling into the front passenger seat with her in my lap. I knew placing her in the back would only upset my children, and they’d been through enough stress for one day.
Hugo slid into the driver’s seat without a word, slamd his door with more force than necessary, and clicked his seatbelt into place. He pulled onto the road while the argunt continued behind us, and familiar uncomfortable silence settled between us like an unwelco third passenger.
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